Sunday, July 31, 2016

Exploring Kumbrabow State Forest

Nestled high in the mountains of southern Randolph Country, Kumbrabow State Forest is definitely off the beaten path. Its 9,500 acres straddle Rich Mountain and range in elevation from 3,000 to 3,900 feet, making Kumbrabow the highest state forest. From the south it’s about 5 miles to Kumbrabow on a gravel road out of Monterville, WV, and from the east it’s 4 miles from US 219 out of the town of Elkwater (GPS Lat. 38.63292, Long. -80.02257).
Kumbrabow Cabin

Worth the Effort

You have to work to get to Kumbrabow, but it’s worth it. Indeed, seclusion is part of its charm. Kumbrabow offers something you can’t find in the high-tech world of cable TV, cell phones, and palm pilots--a chance slow down and experience the unspoiled, natural beauty of forests and streams at an unhurried pace. 


Rustic Log Cabins

For example, there are five rustic log cabins at Kumbrabow. They’re grouped in a grassy meadow adjacent to Mill Creek, which forms a lovely waterfall at the north end of the cabin area complete with swimming hole and rope swing. When my wife and I drove into the cabin area, we both started whispering. The solitude was so pure, we just wanted to respect it and enjoy it.

Plenty To Do

When you’re not enjoying the solitude, there’s plenty to see and do at Kumbrabow. About 400 acres of the forest lands have been set aside for reaction. There’s picnicking, hiking, hunting, and fishing. Indeed, Kumbrabow offers unique trout fly fishing packages, which include cabin rental and fly fishing lessons on the nearby Elk River by a reputable, licensed trout fishing guide. Within the park, there’s good fishing for native brook trout along Mill Creek.
Clay Run Hiking Trail

Hiking Trails

If you’re not packing a rod or rifle, you can always hike on the 12 miles or so of trails. Some of trails lead along streams. Many take you to ridge tops for spectacular vistas. My favorite trail is Clay Run that runs along an abandoned narrow gauge railroad. The traihead (GPS: Lat. 38.631275, Long. -80.084154) is right across from the forest Headquarters. You start by crossing a meadow. Soon you’re faced with crossing Mill Creek. You can rock-hop and maybe get your boots wet or cross on log that has been felled across the stream. I preferred the log; it is wide and easy to walk.
Gazebo

After crossing Mill Creek, you enter a West Virginia forest at its finest–lush and green and rich in variety. What I like about the Clay Run trail are the ferns. They cover the forest floor like a carpet and lap up against the path of the trail. The trail runs straight as an arrow through this carpet of ferns. If you like the color green, this trail is for you. I can only imagine the trail in the fall, when the ferns change color. The trail is about 0.8 miles long and ends at an overlook.  



If you’re looking for break from this fast-paced world, a trip to Kumbrabow could be just what you need. Here's a link to their Website.





Saturday, July 30, 2016

Discover West Virginia: Photographing Sunsets at Snowshoe Mountain Resort

Discover West Virginia: Photographing Sunsets at Snowshoe Mountain Resort: Most photographers are looking for great sunrise/sunset shots. With plenty of deep mountain vistas, West Virginia is a great place to find ...

Photographing Sunsets at Snowshoe Mountain Resort

Most photographers are looking for great sunrise/sunset shots. With plenty of deep mountain vistas, West Virginia is a great place to find perfect sunrise and sunset locations. Bear Rocks at Dolly Sods in Tucker County is famous for its glorious sunrises as is Grandview National Park in Raleigh County. Beauty Mountain in the New River Gorge in Fayette County is known for its fabulous sunsets.
Snowshoe Mountain

Snowshoe Mountain Resort

A couple of weeks ago, my wife and I went looking for sunset shots at Snowshoe Mountain Resort. Sitting at elevations of 4700 to 4800 feet, Snowshoe Mountain towers above neighboring ridges and highlands. I felt this mountain had to have great sunset or sunrise potential. My hunch proved correct. Checking Bing Images I found a sensational shot taken at Snowshoe by master photographer Ed Heaton.   

11,000 Acres of Beauty

It couldn’t have been more perfect. Mountain ridges receded into the horizon, the valley lay below, flowers graced the foreground, and the sky was ablaze in orange and red. But I didn’t know exactly where at Snowshoe this shot was taken. Covering 11,000 acres, there was a lot of territory to check out at Snowshoe.
Snowshoe Mountain
Fortunately, Charleston photographer and musician Al Peery had visited Snowshoe in the spring and posted some of his shots on Facebook. One of his posts caught my eye. It was from THE SPOT where Heaton took his epic sunset. So I messaged Al, and he was kind enough to give me a “scouting report” of scenic shots at Snowshoe, including the sunset locale.

Look for the Helipad

To find this location look for the Helipad below South Mountain. Its GPS coordinates are Lat. 38.401956, Long. -79.995285. Al Peery says this is the old Hawthorne Trail. It obviously was a ski run at one time. At any rate, the location is picture perfect. There’s a long grassy slope with wildflowers for foreground interest. The view descends into a series of valley bottoms backed by multiple ridge lines. Below is a sunset I got on the second evening at Snowshoe. It isn't epic, but I like it. And I can't wait to go back and try again! 

Snowshoe Mountain

Friday, July 29, 2016

Wildflowers on the Highland Scenic Highway: Part 2

Most people drive the Highland Scenic Highway for the scenery—and rightly so. There’s not another highway in West Virginia that offers such continuous vistas. Nevertheless, as the Parkway crosses such high elevations, it creates and accesses some unique environs for plant communities. Wildflowers and meadows thrive in the abundant rainfall of the high country. Particularly in the summer months, I find as much to see and enjoy by the side of the road as at the vistas. Indeed, it seems as if the entire 23 mile length of the Parkway is lined with summer wildflowers, both common and rare. It’s like a narrow garden winding across the summits of the Allegheny Highlands.

TEA CREEK MEADOW

Across from the Little Laurel Overlook north of the Williams River crossing, lies the Tea Creek Meadow (GPS: Lat. 38.341527, Long. -80.163410). This 40-acre man-made meadow is composed of fill dirt created by the road cuts on the Parkway and is chock full of wildflowers all summer long. Early in the summer, buttercups carpet this gorgeous field in gold. Scattered among the buttercups are other wildflowers such as yellow goat’s-beard and rough-fruited cinquefoil.
Purple Cone Flower
In late summer, large patches of crown vetch dot the meadow, along with purple cone flower, tall bellflower, black-eyed susan, virgin’s bower, field thistle, and teasel, to name a few. Lovely stands of sweet goldenrod grace the meadow in September.
Sweet Goldenrod
You can walk among the wildflowers down an easy path mown through the meadow. The path is part of the Tea Creek Interpretive Trail (TR 489) that runs the length of the field and then descends the foot of the fill dirt pile into a small wetland and beaver pond area where a new set of wildflowers grow. Interpretative signs and benches help educate the mind and rest the weary feet. The trail loops back up the slope of the fill dirt and onto the flat meadow where another mown path leads back to the trailhead. The entire trail loop, probably no more than 0.8 miles, is an easy excursion and well worth it for the wildflower display.
Tea Creek Meadow

RED LICK OVERLOOK

Continuing to the north end of the Highway, the Red Lick Overlook (GPS: Lat. 38.309662, Long. -80.137348), the last overlook on the Highway, is a worthy wildflower stop. In the middle of the parking lot and around the periphery, some gracious souls have planted a wildflower garden where beauties abound. Bee balm, tall bellflower, evening primrose, fringed loosestrife, and a Turk’s cap lily plant flourish in this garden in the wild. The view from the overlook is pretty sweet, too.
Turk's Cap Lily

Bee Balm
Phyllis and I are eager to explore the Parkway again this year, for we know that more beautiful wildflowers are just waiting to be found. Whatever species we discover, a trip along the Parkway in summer is like driving down a wildflower garden 23 miles long. Add the scenic overlooks, and you have beauty afar and beauty at your feet. What more could you ask of a lovely summer day in West Virginia?
Red Lick Overlook

Thursday, July 28, 2016

Wildflowers on the Highland Scenic Highway

While cruising the Highland Scenic Highway a few years ago, my wife, Phyllis, and I spotted a young couple hunched by the side of the road photographing something in the ditch. Being a photographer, this piqued my curiosity, so of course we stopped. We discovered that the young lady was a Ph.D. Candidate at the Department of Biology at Duke University. The two had found a somewhat rare fen orchid just a few inches tall. Phyllis and I are wildflower enthusiasts, so we shared in the excitement of their find. But we weren’t entirely caught off-guard by the discovery.


Wildflowers Abound

Earlier that day, we had already found and photographed some large purple fringed orchid plants along State Route 39/55. Moreover, we were en route to a patch of wild columbine along the Highland Scenic Highway. We knew the wildflower delights this highway had to offer. Indeed, wildflowers are as much a part of the Highland Scenic Highway experience as the scenic views from which it draws its name.
Large Purple Fringed Orchid


Wild Columbine

Two week ago we cruised the Highland Scenic Highway again and found plenty of wildflower action. Found a nice patch of Wild Columbine on the east side of the road just a little south of the Highway's junction with FS #461. This is close to the North Fork Trailhead (TR 272). GPS coordinates are Lat 38.292741, Long -80.247213.
Wild Columbine
Bee Balm
It must be a good year for Bee Balm because we saw plenty of it. The Bee Balm grew in large stands particularly on the south end of the Highway (south of the crossing at the Williams River Road). Turk's cap lilies were also blooming well. Several plants and groups of plants were seen. 
Bee Balm

More about wildflowers on the north end of the Highland Scenic Highway in my next Blog. 

Click Part Two.

Turk's Cap Lilies


 

About Discover West Virginia

This blog is about exploring the beautiful State of West Virginia. My wife and I have been hiking in West Virginia for the past 20 years and have found some unique and beautiful places off the beaten path. I am also a photographer and have published more than 60 magazine articles, many in Wonderful West Virginia, describing our discoveries. I am especially interested in the waterfalls, wildflowers, and landscapes of West Virginia. Hope you'll join me as we Discover West Virginia.