We hiked into the lower part of the Otter Creek Wilderness. There were only five who joined me: Pam Peters, Idress and Armin Gooden, Ian Jaeger, and Diana Burke Ross. We all were able to tour most of the USFS Fernow Experimental Forest in Diana’s big SUV. We parked at the Big Spring trailhead on the ridge-top, and hiked down into Otter Creek about a half-mile. We estimated the "Big Spring" flow to be only 1 quart/second on this beautiful day when all streams were low. It managed to keep a trickle in the lower 1/4 mile of the bed in most places. This was a Greenbrier Limestone seep source. (Turkey Run, 3/4 mile above, has little also, but all the beautiful tributaries above are too acid and infertile and have had no fish since the first logging.) We walked half way to Turkey Run but the trail got a little bad, so we returned and waded across the stream to the east side (as all hikers do). The trail was easy, and the stream was pretty. We saw a strong spring flow entering from Coal Run and another equally large flow entering opposite it. We waded over to look at the 8' waterfall and found its source to be a cave only 200' from Otter Creek.

Otter Creek water was tea colored, not clear as in normal May and June levels when you can see clear to the bottom. In fact we only saw 3 trout when I expected to see 300. We only had to hike 2 miles along the stream by coming in as we did. We might go in upstream another 2 miles the next time. There are more and bigger pools there. However, it was a nice hike, a nice afternoon, just great people showed up; and it felt like we did five miles.

The backpack trip on the southern half of North Fork Mountain and Dolly Sods North enjoyed near-perfect weather. Seventeen people went on water-free North Fork Mountain, and 11 people opted to spend a third day on Dolly Sods North. Hang gliders were active at their platform on North Fork Mountain near the old cattle road.

On Sunday morning we were treated to clear blue skies as we looked down on cloud banks in the valley of North Fork of the South Branch and in all the valleys to the east --an enchanting scene if ever there was one. Only one problem with boots developed on the very steep descent on the pipeline swath down to Seneca Rocks "Discovery Center." The scenery on Dolly Sods North provided an unforgettable experience.

Terry Major, Dave Paxton, Jeff LeBlanc and Susan Bly gathered to hike to the fabled High Falls of Shavers Fork on the Cheat River. After starting near Glady, we passed through the railroad tunnel without much fanfare, except for wet feet and boots. We were thankful for the cool spots of shade here and there on the railroad grade as it was a warm day. The sunny weather only piqued our interest in the watering hole ahead.

After lunch under the arms of a spruce, we headed up the High Falls trail, grateful for a change in terrain, even though the going was a tad more strenuous than the flat North Fork trail. We enjoyed the views due to clear cuts and we really like how the spruce and hemlocks are regaining their territory on top of the mountain. As we descended past slices of glacial boulders, we spotted the railroad tracks and as the Cheat Mountain Salamander excursion train passed by.

Upon reaching the falls we admired the railings, steps and viewing platform constructed by the Operators of the West Virginia Central Railroad. The area was well maintained and relatively trash free. After gazing over the ledge and watching some students of the diving art do belly flops into the pool below, we scrambled down ourselves to test the waters. They were delightfully cool and refreshing as we lowered ourselves into the basin sculpted out by millennia of rushing torrents. After our dip we drip-dried in the sun, evaporating and soaking in the sun’s rays for awhile before wrenching ourselves from this pleasant scene.

Another few miles of walking on railroad ties lay ahead of us. At Greenbrier Junction we admired the railroad bridge crossing Shavers Fork, even daring one another to cross the bridge. (No problem.) Another bit of interesting history was that of a coil that resembled the apparatus of a moonshiner’s trade. It’s fun to imagine what that coil might have been used for.

We were all glad to end our 11.5 mile hike back where we had started near Glady. Biking the North Fork trail might be an excellent option next year.

Hikers Peter, Marilyn, Mary, and Diane hiked north from the Old Timberline development through the narrow valley between Cabin Mountain and Pocono Ridge, reaching after three miles the broad expanse of McDonald Glade. The trip started at the Sand Run Lake dam and continued down Sand Run. Old maps such as the Blackwater Falls Quad and the sketch map showed a trail there-- labeled "Railroad Grade" or "Jeep Trail." However, for the first two miles it is almost entirely either non-existent or underwater, and there was some rough going.

After the first mile, Sand Run turned west, leaving us on the low wetland divide between Sand Run and Glade Run. This is a region of impressive beaver engineering. There is a chain of six or more ponds, most of which are active and of recent construction. There are also some beaver built transport ditches that look almost machine made-- deep, wet and straight. We met one of the beavers.

After another mile, the water started flowing north-- this is Glade Run. The trail emerged east of the stream. We finally emerged at the junction with the extension of the A-Frame Road, coming down from Cabin Mountain, and went perhaps a quarter mile further to a point where the trail went straight down the middle of a good sized lake. We then went up on the slope to the west (Pocono Ridge), had our second lunch and took pictures of McDonald Glade. The vista here is gorgeous. We were situated on a broad open slope, and sitting on ruins of an old building foundation. The view includes miles of glade, Brown Mountain to the northwest, Snowy Point to the northeast, and also the low ridge that comes down between Glade Run and the Little Blackwater River. The trees are hardwood, mostly quaking aspen and cherry. However, there are many ATV trails here and we met several ATV riders.

We walked back along the Pocono Ridge Road. This is a well-maintained gravel road, now used just for logging and ATV’s. This whole ridge has been recently logged, and the job is still in progress at the end near Timberline. It is fairly clean and has left the ridge top still attractive.

All of this land belongs to Allegheny Energy. It will likely soon be transferred to either the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service or to home developers. You know how we want that to turn out.

We are grateful to Bruce Sundquist (the outing leader), Pixie Potts (a participant and a nurse), Tucker County emergency medical personnel, the West Virginia State Police, the U.S. Forest Service, and the West Virginia DNR for their skilled and respectful handling of the situation. Joe was an experienced hiker and backpacker, 67 years old, with personal and familial history of heart problems. Joe was obviously aware of the risks, and made a choice to live life to the fullest -- a choice that both he and we would agree was Joe’s and Joe’s alone to make.