Where were you today?

Inks Lake area and a beautiful day …

 

This weekend I went to the New River Gorge National Park, Prince, WV. Did the Glade Creek Trail. Follows an old Railroad grade. 7.5 Miles. Had a mix of Rain, Snow and Sun. Creek was really flowing with recent rain.
The Trail


The Swimming Hole

 

It’s flowing good ain’t it. You ever fish those waters when it’s calmer DL?

 

I haven't. I used to fish when I was younger but not anymore.
The section I was in is Catch and Release for trout. I've seen fishermen there when I have been before.
The Dept of Natural Resources stocks it with trout, I read there's a mix of Brooke, Cut throat and Rainbow trout there.

 

Hiked a 113 mile section of the Arizona Trail last week. (5 nights out). Was really cool to see so many different changes in terrain and just to be out hiking for that long again.

 

This weekend I visited the ghost town of Thurmond, WV. Part of the National Park now but still has about 5 residents.
It was a bustling train town 100 years ago. Servicing the area coal mines and towns.
The movie Matewan was filmed here about the mine wars.

The train depot. Now a museum and visitor's center. Amtrak still stops here.






The train depot was featured in the movie.


New River


Post Office


What's left of Main Street




The Coaling Tower that loaded the trains with coal.


Town Hall


Old houses being renovated




I think this was the Boarding House in the Matewan movie


Also made a quick stop in Whipple, WV. The old Coal Mine Company Store.

 

This weekend I did the Bridge Buttress Trail that overlooks the New River Gorge and Bridge.
The trail is mainly used by rock climbers.

With the recent rains the New River was really high. White Water Rafting season just started. They had just took some rafts out when I got there.


New River Gorge Bridge


Trail goes to the top of the cliffs.




Had to scramble up about a 10 ft rock ledge.


Overlooking the bridge


Can see the snow storm coming down the Gorge. Wind was pretty nasty, I didn't stay long.

 

MTB trail maintenance, will continue tomorrow. The Big Boy is just awesome, I'm very impressed with it.

 

that first pic!!!

 

love mine. I keep the blade sprayed often with dry silicone spray lubricant, keeps it sawing smooth

 

What teeth size are you using?
I feel like I should have went with the xl (6.5 teeth per 30 mm / yellow handle), as a lot of these pines are a bit rotten and tend to clog the middle (10 teeth per 30 mm) teeth faster.

 

XL for me.
You can buy just the saw blade, then you'll have both options

 

True, they also have large (7 teeth per 30 mm) straight blade too. A sheath that holds the saw and a spare blade would be awesome.

 

Mom wanted to go on a hike for Mother's Day, so got Dog and went to Kanawha State Forest. Took them on a couple new trails. About 5 miles total.





Castle Rock


Alligator Rock


The stream disappeared under this boulder


Dog


Davis Creek


Hill People Gear Junction pack

 

Love that spring green explosion. Jealous of the openness of all those trails too, Gotta go quite a ways to find that anywhere near to me.

 

Saturday I went to New River Gorge National Park again. Did Endless Wall Trail. It was voted Best National Park hike in 2015, due to all the overlooks of the Gorge and New River. Also popular for mountain climbers and white water rafting. Could see a few rafts in the river below, but the river was pretty nasty due to recent rain. Passed a lot of climbers on the trail too.








New River Gorge Bridge in the distance.


Rhododendrons were just in peak bloom.




Several ladders for access to the bottom of the cliffs.