tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15123971388227798802024-02-24T14:07:53.048-05:00Discover West Virginia A blog about hiking and photography in West Virginia. Highlighted are waterfalls, wildflowers and landscapes. Ed Rehbeinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14543961915772555728noreply@blogger.comBlogger83125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1512397138822779880.post-48172075561735163152023-09-26T14:17:00.000-04:002023-09-26T14:17:52.502-04:00<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: x-large;"><i><b>Autumn in West Virginia: 2024</b></i></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">This calendar highlights fall in West Virginia with 12 dazzling images of autumn in various locations around the State. The images are displayed below. </span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">To purchase a calendar, please send a check for $20 ($15 + $5 postage and tax) to: </span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Ed Rehbein, 1600 Maxwell Hill Rd, Beckley WV 25801.</span><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Thank you for your interest in my photography.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Questions? Contact me via happyhiker1@suddenlink.net</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: xx-large;"><i> Front Cover</i></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgawyesSPSbNI8A4gqLryidF2HaEnqaQgWTzbmxjAVa3liyfVylfKCOQ8j-MfT7KkjZTfgMrIwgk16wsZDP9wgzRMXrjC3xxIHFUTMuSbFwUYucobSeWx4ioFfEJAuFuWh8VBgUGkv4EjaQ2eeK_JC0t9ZfyS25SRykyM24FMdlDxGIHyuhKMYCbD0uRW4/s3235/Front%20Cover%202024.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2487" data-original-width="3235" height="419" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgawyesSPSbNI8A4gqLryidF2HaEnqaQgWTzbmxjAVa3liyfVylfKCOQ8j-MfT7KkjZTfgMrIwgk16wsZDP9wgzRMXrjC3xxIHFUTMuSbFwUYucobSeWx4ioFfEJAuFuWh8VBgUGkv4EjaQ2eeK_JC0t9ZfyS25SRykyM24FMdlDxGIHyuhKMYCbD0uRW4/w545-h419/Front%20Cover%202024.jpg" width="545" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: x-large;"><i><b>January</b></i></span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlt8bxwN_DrRuLRBropPDluok2yguPSVvd_fEUGo37OLTrZTRudoTEzUICPPWj2OoY9pigwK0ZK2WbjdU6KnrGb4aFPEgpaUE0kurnghcIxpPxfxj39zaeehT0zCEaQrFwB2tumYrfGmSVWqgEqSHOsNYqR8nPg1IUa1mXm1eqoagT3uVJ-1Fp1iPJgmM/s4288/CSC_1916.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2848" data-original-width="4288" height="357" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlt8bxwN_DrRuLRBropPDluok2yguPSVvd_fEUGo37OLTrZTRudoTEzUICPPWj2OoY9pigwK0ZK2WbjdU6KnrGb4aFPEgpaUE0kurnghcIxpPxfxj39zaeehT0zCEaQrFwB2tumYrfGmSVWqgEqSHOsNYqR8nPg1IUa1mXm1eqoagT3uVJ-1Fp1iPJgmM/w538-h357/CSC_1916.JPG" width="538" /></a></p><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-large;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><i><b>February</b></i></span></span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMB_JFyJQlBfWz7dJKiQbvqMFrb_UpgeNWnmj46h0qU1K1xaFQJoBdUTTr-gQDKnHCkjzJd8_f5QT4Fhw8siOtjFqCQs6TlMkMrehsXc6DWNmSWOlQNYD_BUja8nQ9EEaCPKkM6cUVh195XTgul2yfUcu9_VXl0vNdgBTI1-RkjAMHTPPsB--0oG955F8/s4288/Ed_Rehbein_2_Glade_Creek_DSLR_20x30.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2848" data-original-width="4288" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMB_JFyJQlBfWz7dJKiQbvqMFrb_UpgeNWnmj46h0qU1K1xaFQJoBdUTTr-gQDKnHCkjzJd8_f5QT4Fhw8siOtjFqCQs6TlMkMrehsXc6DWNmSWOlQNYD_BUja8nQ9EEaCPKkM6cUVh195XTgul2yfUcu9_VXl0vNdgBTI1-RkjAMHTPPsB--0oG955F8/w541-h360/Ed_Rehbein_2_Glade_Creek_DSLR_20x30.jpg" width="541" /></a></div><div><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-large;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><i><b>March</b></i></span></span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB0MOLVkHd9oRxSqvzSwdGgVHGvOzG7itLokFLtwTtuZaDUHFukK0ybdM7ebPw-5pCl73MOBwfIU5O9C-DCzL8dWEUG8Z-QrSOj9mZQgsLIVcIRC4kaXyhVbocgjcweyf1zoC5q9lrsTZzdqS6fzYolsNNFJ9UN1Pg2pPshCeEtg0pbJc36YuQrLYlcfI/s3268/DSCN0054%20copy_Nxd%201.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2442" data-original-width="3268" height="396" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB0MOLVkHd9oRxSqvzSwdGgVHGvOzG7itLokFLtwTtuZaDUHFukK0ybdM7ebPw-5pCl73MOBwfIU5O9C-DCzL8dWEUG8Z-QrSOj9mZQgsLIVcIRC4kaXyhVbocgjcweyf1zoC5q9lrsTZzdqS6fzYolsNNFJ9UN1Pg2pPshCeEtg0pbJc36YuQrLYlcfI/w530-h396/DSCN0054%20copy_Nxd%201.jpg" width="530" /></a></div><div><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-large;"><i><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><b>April</b></span></i></span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUEYBDYbRSqkui0bgMybG6gFySH9trn54UfgBo8mAyotpvj2uFg1iu3EtAMsb443w96uOUzFgefHI05VKXcwKt1ftd1cCN4L5IY1Q_JP707gS3JsUjDwq7VSuGDcChG0wYrJ3hUb8MYXXXiXVGbNNsITf7CrrbLLgYUiucpls4_WOF_9jMbuogUrxI71I/s3236/A%20Day%20at%20Dolly%20Sods%20copy.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2424" data-original-width="3236" height="417" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUEYBDYbRSqkui0bgMybG6gFySH9trn54UfgBo8mAyotpvj2uFg1iu3EtAMsb443w96uOUzFgefHI05VKXcwKt1ftd1cCN4L5IY1Q_JP707gS3JsUjDwq7VSuGDcChG0wYrJ3hUb8MYXXXiXVGbNNsITf7CrrbLLgYUiucpls4_WOF_9jMbuogUrxI71I/w556-h417/A%20Day%20at%20Dolly%20Sods%20copy.jpg" width="556" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: x-large;"><div style="text-align: center;"><i><b>May</b></i></div></span><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: x-large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: x-large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYAnPav5OpV2RwMJaLYaD5SS8Yf3SV-3n9QR09ZE8IiVgQkhu8vZ7uuoRkoNmyK_H8Z_lfz0jRJz3nY9H_Q0_9hQTDjQU4_MYMLopdkmnyuuS3sW4iMRk0etfu-PmQDBYIZDMuEVIVFWKJ8pxrxI29WcHntBMq9KZuyoHidZ5HG0talMzSigZOfFVT8Uo/s4288/DSC_1508_20x30_PS.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2848" data-original-width="4288" height="366" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYAnPav5OpV2RwMJaLYaD5SS8Yf3SV-3n9QR09ZE8IiVgQkhu8vZ7uuoRkoNmyK_H8Z_lfz0jRJz3nY9H_Q0_9hQTDjQU4_MYMLopdkmnyuuS3sW4iMRk0etfu-PmQDBYIZDMuEVIVFWKJ8pxrxI29WcHntBMq9KZuyoHidZ5HG0talMzSigZOfFVT8Uo/w550-h366/DSC_1508_20x30_PS.JPG" width="550" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: x-large;"><i><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: x-large;"><i><br /></i></span></p><b><div style="text-align: center;"><i><b>June</b></i></div></b></i></span><br /><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFGMrZHwqhqgALq7TEYRm84dodYxiWB3YYxGsHH9PpPDrjjd9Z5tu2tzLhMirXZyT8qosMrjVWqxX8femM10m3tueqOMiVlZPxcSM0zhSXRD6_eL0j2z86Lzs_5cKvjVYynFfF6p0Uhq239GW1_5aopsaC2yZnKNhrdrebxxTw_T8gobSN4YJx6pbCsvo/s4264/CSC_3428%20copy.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2795" data-original-width="4264" height="341" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFGMrZHwqhqgALq7TEYRm84dodYxiWB3YYxGsHH9PpPDrjjd9Z5tu2tzLhMirXZyT8qosMrjVWqxX8femM10m3tueqOMiVlZPxcSM0zhSXRD6_eL0j2z86Lzs_5cKvjVYynFfF6p0Uhq239GW1_5aopsaC2yZnKNhrdrebxxTw_T8gobSN4YJx6pbCsvo/w521-h341/CSC_3428%20copy.jpg" width="521" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><i style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: x-large;">July</span></b></i></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPWpq2Mi-fbU1c7PpVkbHb4Ki-BW9w7x0yfMwkOOBsr7lrRfKqdQEx89BiMf2bASyjiP2InT2UVViHSbY8bARxlhAkjy3LfTxdNZz12QUrSWfmE8F4UucX_IivQTvduH_JdyHtSVsSQ-a5Kc8SGr4Y1y2-HaHz-1GCJE5uxFHmKnSpa0LBETDz7GLsEGI/s4288/CSC_2956%20copy1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2848" data-original-width="4288" height="343" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPWpq2Mi-fbU1c7PpVkbHb4Ki-BW9w7x0yfMwkOOBsr7lrRfKqdQEx89BiMf2bASyjiP2InT2UVViHSbY8bARxlhAkjy3LfTxdNZz12QUrSWfmE8F4UucX_IivQTvduH_JdyHtSVsSQ-a5Kc8SGr4Y1y2-HaHz-1GCJE5uxFHmKnSpa0LBETDz7GLsEGI/w519-h343/CSC_2956%20copy1.jpg" width="519" /></a></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: x-large;">August</span></b></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkqBQYKRo9KJJfStgrD-I9bGDlENfDpqTUO3qTgzhqC-PiLh1L7M7KQB6NKeNt36ZAp1Td__Z_i8xyet9IsRG1aybE-UJcwqoSOx5kdPc-LJJ7DXqtoZmf6zM9TrAHcs0lwI_7m-ehIOS5b3JE0rBKbyIiAcW_FbeI_Pp7n7wXwJmq8S0OYpA4NF0aK9E/s3837/BAB%20DSC_2830%20copy.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2255" data-original-width="3837" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkqBQYKRo9KJJfStgrD-I9bGDlENfDpqTUO3qTgzhqC-PiLh1L7M7KQB6NKeNt36ZAp1Td__Z_i8xyet9IsRG1aybE-UJcwqoSOx5kdPc-LJJ7DXqtoZmf6zM9TrAHcs0lwI_7m-ehIOS5b3JE0rBKbyIiAcW_FbeI_Pp7n7wXwJmq8S0OYpA4NF0aK9E/w509-h298/BAB%20DSC_2830%20copy.jpg" width="509" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: x-large;">September</span></b></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwlbixysasTdfXJ68gko4iDyUsjc0-dR5vfm5qjCfdVB3p9DtQ4FJ2upvAPeKYzN38lRgQ0RerTWE6qcFYX24SYkK57mqN22yAXUr7MwLijDxdhTcoNxMAUPxuyFyJk96sEd9Nt6lfU9n0yBuM0t8C9uVkZYJrNwIqAbBzvgy7R5IM339gRa2LHM1T_0s/s4288/DSC_2488%20copy%201.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2848" data-original-width="4288" height="328" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwlbixysasTdfXJ68gko4iDyUsjc0-dR5vfm5qjCfdVB3p9DtQ4FJ2upvAPeKYzN38lRgQ0RerTWE6qcFYX24SYkK57mqN22yAXUr7MwLijDxdhTcoNxMAUPxuyFyJk96sEd9Nt6lfU9n0yBuM0t8C9uVkZYJrNwIqAbBzvgy7R5IM339gRa2LHM1T_0s/w493-h328/DSC_2488%20copy%201.jpg" width="493" /></a></div><div style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; text-align: center;"><i><b><br /></b></i></div><div style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; text-align: center;"><i><b><br /></b></i></div><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: x-large;"><i><b>October</b></i></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbSEJTM5Pgmj7oSJg0knAHK8O4s6YNlyuBRJrNjZCLMxA7br-md-Yc2yH0Jjw435Na_pbydjMGhekhkiTXBw7BOklpdWI5ee8mC6RUr4noCT560zkSlEj9m5BoKM65pjjVIJBzonAM41qLiqZ-9jnG1hvIPl9xWwWuucxrsAcfHUa3YUGKTazFPD4yKs0/s4288/DSC_1748_PS%20copy.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2848" data-original-width="4288" height="329" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbSEJTM5Pgmj7oSJg0knAHK8O4s6YNlyuBRJrNjZCLMxA7br-md-Yc2yH0Jjw435Na_pbydjMGhekhkiTXBw7BOklpdWI5ee8mC6RUr4noCT560zkSlEj9m5BoKM65pjjVIJBzonAM41qLiqZ-9jnG1hvIPl9xWwWuucxrsAcfHUa3YUGKTazFPD4yKs0/w495-h329/DSC_1748_PS%20copy.jpg" width="495" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: x-large; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">November</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNnhQ2kS72K7LH6wbj4K27zhapSeSGQjn-1M1ss9pi6zxJpln1bmCuSCSRG9rHLh_UhkYbrf6XckF930HvkgUjD1h61vss3FJogo52beuumSws6UNWx0dICKjPiJ-jD11XVayDR_pTqx1KuMVoOEPTWBcCZtQmZNRCdo7hqcTSGVMeYNMvHkI-98gYJ2M/s4182/DSC_4862_AC%20copy%201.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2848" data-original-width="4182" height="337" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNnhQ2kS72K7LH6wbj4K27zhapSeSGQjn-1M1ss9pi6zxJpln1bmCuSCSRG9rHLh_UhkYbrf6XckF930HvkgUjD1h61vss3FJogo52beuumSws6UNWx0dICKjPiJ-jD11XVayDR_pTqx1KuMVoOEPTWBcCZtQmZNRCdo7hqcTSGVMeYNMvHkI-98gYJ2M/w495-h337/DSC_4862_AC%20copy%201.jpg" width="495" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><i><b><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: x-large;">December</span></b></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: x-large;"><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW8s7RCO5YKoJUkYREjLQO3eXDLZX91QRG4pMyHIAaWlMyLa3lpIZew5R1GtX7t56jSpP8CRM78ZlotD17H8l8ASfSuXVTenwsuxaFSN_xVCMyS9MUpAKZ-cn0umc7bl8GpAlOWTX_PM2BZw2FViJ5ao2PS3JYh9LJlk7xnM6te-sl3-ip5mtfZjOSRUg/s4288/DSC_2822%20copy.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2848" data-original-width="4288" height="323" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW8s7RCO5YKoJUkYREjLQO3eXDLZX91QRG4pMyHIAaWlMyLa3lpIZew5R1GtX7t56jSpP8CRM78ZlotD17H8l8ASfSuXVTenwsuxaFSN_xVCMyS9MUpAKZ-cn0umc7bl8GpAlOWTX_PM2BZw2FViJ5ao2PS3JYh9LJlk7xnM6te-sl3-ip5mtfZjOSRUg/w485-h323/DSC_2822%20copy.jpg" width="485" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: x-large;"><b><br /></b></span></div><i>Back Cover</i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: x-large;"><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8Rz0amosKISNuZRnn7u9M0HXXW-RUjHrPCjJcm8nOCnkyYUP-qcCtaa7GOQfgaJ4SO1koSEMQ2znLXONeyan9GX4KZir4jkA50riRhTVupHuFh5EfjiVghrK8cVEcM4dvmSGna3aXSBuOwGvI6Iv5d7X7erP6Fjpko5y8rw5XF5VxLBzKFhklB3xTf60/s3265/Back%20Cover%202024.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2495" data-original-width="3265" height="393" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8Rz0amosKISNuZRnn7u9M0HXXW-RUjHrPCjJcm8nOCnkyYUP-qcCtaa7GOQfgaJ4SO1koSEMQ2znLXONeyan9GX4KZir4jkA50riRhTVupHuFh5EfjiVghrK8cVEcM4dvmSGna3aXSBuOwGvI6Iv5d7X7erP6Fjpko5y8rw5XF5VxLBzKFhklB3xTf60/w513-h393/Back%20Cover%202024.jpg" width="513" /></a></div><br /><i><br /><br /></i></b></span><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: x-large; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div>Ed Rehbeinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14543961915772555728noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1512397138822779880.post-35123456624669573592017-08-15T13:52:00.000-04:002017-08-15T13:52:03.880-04:00Nuttallburg: A Trip Back in Time<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">At Nuttallburg, deep in the New River Gorge, the National Park Service (NPS) has turned back the clock for you. Through federal grants, the NPS has restored the coal mine and town site of Nuttallburg and opened it for the public in 2011. The coal mine was first established by English entrepreneur John Nuttall in 1870 and became the second town in the New River Gorge to ship smokeless coal. Nuttallburg was a bustling mining community by the turn of the century, continuing to thrive under the direction of his heirs after Nuttall's death in 1897. In 1920 Nuttallburg gained national attention when the automobile industrialist Henry Ford took over the mines. He pioneered new engineering and management systems including a conveyor system called “button and rope.” Nevertheless, Ford’s innovations failed to thrive at Nuttallburg, and he sold his interests eight years later in 1928. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8d_z0r5X5uSuUINqU597gi618vt2HSxbGLHhyphenhyphen46C7djkRWlp7xghNa1XL7Na4Emv4DkWpL8FOfOrRIDcYJN36JZo7NyrfSXM-XTjNbNZ7uZDtU-r9OeYjYHLTRdBCqO93scP8-aZcy9A/s1600/Tipple_DSC_7255.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1063" data-original-width="1600" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8d_z0r5X5uSuUINqU597gi618vt2HSxbGLHhyphenhyphen46C7djkRWlp7xghNa1XL7Na4Emv4DkWpL8FOfOrRIDcYJN36JZo7NyrfSXM-XTjNbNZ7uZDtU-r9OeYjYHLTRdBCqO93scP8-aZcy9A/s400/Tipple_DSC_7255.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Nuttallburg Tipple</b></span></td></tr>
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<h3>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Mining Site Restored</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; white-space: pre;"> </span></span></h3>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">After passing through three different owners, the mine was finally closed in 1958. Mine structures began to decay, buildings collapsed leaving only their stone foundations behind, and a forest of trees and vines progressively concealed the disappearing town. However, due to the vision of NPS historical architect Richard Seegars, the NPS began a three phase program to restore the site. Phase I began in 2005 with the stabilization of the tipple. Phase II was directed toward refurbishing the conveyor and headhouse. Financed by funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, the project was finished under Phase III which involved vegetation removal, the felling of more than 1200 trees, final structure stabilization, trail building, fencing and interpretative signs, and road renovations. Now, according to author Eve West, “Nuttallburg is considered one of West Virginia’s finest examples of an early-twentieth century coal-mining community and one of the best coal-related industrial sites.”</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj2ncL3YY1Xpuwrlhg5OUJJ_Np2xAPtb8aGKecyJaelPTjPJ5KMluo01vP-X3Xq3w8-3OY6Xaf5H6lilYIcUj6pzIJ0dFuxaelcjJGUVV_xLZXilAXNBp32XxL1N9T_HhBOZEytk3kV6s/s1600/Nuttallburg++Conveyor_DSC_7270-1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1063" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj2ncL3YY1Xpuwrlhg5OUJJ_Np2xAPtb8aGKecyJaelPTjPJ5KMluo01vP-X3Xq3w8-3OY6Xaf5H6lilYIcUj6pzIJ0dFuxaelcjJGUVV_xLZXilAXNBp32XxL1N9T_HhBOZEytk3kV6s/s400/Nuttallburg++Conveyor_DSC_7270-1.JPG" width="265" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Nuttallburg Conveyor</b></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">To get to Nuttallburg from the Canyon Rim Visitor Center, drive north on US 19 0.3 miles to the next intersection and turn right onto Lansing-Edmond Road (County Route 5/82). Follow Lansing-Edmond Road (becomes CR 82) 6.0 miles to Winona. Turn right onto Keeneys Creek Road (CR 85/2), continue past the houses (do not cross the creek) as the road turns to gravel. Travel 4.1 miles to the main Nuttallburg parking area and restroom. Parking for disabled visitors is located an additional 0.1 miles beyond the main parking area. Due to the narrow, curvy access road, large RV’s are not recommended.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuzh9D6oo-yxlWwWoJwpSz8WOK35VhNWubnVI8oDq_amjG7VzIXZZXMam0NFowqvZAsbpeKGI-AOro1AFi9LWB4XKRqKpSFPWr2iX30qo9jNqOSw1zxNmtqE5iPAI7nRd28Pq7x8HDCIQ/s1600/Nuttallburg++Beehive+Coke+Oven_Phyllis_7300.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1203" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuzh9D6oo-yxlWwWoJwpSz8WOK35VhNWubnVI8oDq_amjG7VzIXZZXMam0NFowqvZAsbpeKGI-AOro1AFi9LWB4XKRqKpSFPWr2iX30qo9jNqOSw1zxNmtqE5iPAI7nRd28Pq7x8HDCIQ/s400/Nuttallburg++Beehive+Coke+Oven_Phyllis_7300.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Beehive Coke Oven</b></span></td></tr>
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<h3>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">The Tipple Trail</span></span></h3>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">There are seven trails at Nuttallburg that rank from very easy to very difficult. The Tipple Trail ranks first in interest in my estimation. It’s an easy 0.6 mile trip. From the parking lot, you’ll pass the tipple and get good views of the imposing conveyor structure. It’s an impressive sight and quite an engineering feat as well. After passing the conveyor, the trail splits and encircles a long bay of beehive coke ovens. The lower split of the trail passes by the openings of the coke ovens. At the end of the coke ovens the trail circles around the foundation of the Company Store and returns to the tipple. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMosCD0vmJMh3xI8Yu7XOWKyWjePDnl5Wa4G5QatG2hF_L76Qo04zO4cF7SSyqazIylYB2yfP4SJZPeT11aFuK_RcxdxmyG3FHfIdws1jOuFrFO_2Gq8_8JS7RG2cJMTJqmQkxuArqkJc/s1600/Seldom+Seen_7326.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1008" data-original-width="1600" height="251" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMosCD0vmJMh3xI8Yu7XOWKyWjePDnl5Wa4G5QatG2hF_L76Qo04zO4cF7SSyqazIylYB2yfP4SJZPeT11aFuK_RcxdxmyG3FHfIdws1jOuFrFO_2Gq8_8JS7RG2cJMTJqmQkxuArqkJc/s400/Seldom+Seen_7326.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Seldom Seen</b></span></td></tr>
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<h3>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Seldom Seen</span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; white-space: pre;"> </span></h3>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">At the Company Store a new trail takes off toward a place with an intriguing name, “Seldom Seen.” Seldom Seen served as a small residential community for some families of those employed at Nuttallburg. All that remains of the town now are a few foundation stones. It’s an easy 0.6 mile round trip.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEWRYMus6QbdmBOqkMCYbRqDbL9zH27QQQCkalCQzqJzI3LSGqrdXPh7GRf6tsQE1wtWEuSFSYqxPJyoUqNVOELYRNcSiAfkWi9Ht-ucTEDi_pot3PoPI64ry2BCk7KUfmpAtG9ONGXEE/s1600/Coke+Oven+Tr_Daises_7281.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1042" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEWRYMus6QbdmBOqkMCYbRqDbL9zH27QQQCkalCQzqJzI3LSGqrdXPh7GRf6tsQE1wtWEuSFSYqxPJyoUqNVOELYRNcSiAfkWi9Ht-ucTEDi_pot3PoPI64ry2BCk7KUfmpAtG9ONGXEE/s400/Coke+Oven+Tr_Daises_7281.JPG" width="260" /></a></div>
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<h3>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Town Loop Trail<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span></h3>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">When back at the tipple, I recommend you take the Town Loop Trail (0.5 miles). As the name suggests, this trail loops through the old town and by several foundations. Because the town facilities were segregated, you’ll see the foundations of the white church and white schoolhouse as well as the remnants of a small home. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZYV_oTGrNwFxj_RefhY5KIyAA2hwVnO4uIvRGHKhsBZL-cL8FDZfRg7AUrdLxfTvmhyphenhyphendi28J_qFIDQQYQTPeNKdo8dknhDVBb-JqPbGATKkftqqs4uqAmEPETyts6KOJnoI90QQ4PVWk/s1600/Nuttallburg++Company+Store_7305.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="987" data-original-width="1600" height="246" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZYV_oTGrNwFxj_RefhY5KIyAA2hwVnO4uIvRGHKhsBZL-cL8FDZfRg7AUrdLxfTvmhyphenhyphendi28J_qFIDQQYQTPeNKdo8dknhDVBb-JqPbGATKkftqqs4uqAmEPETyts6KOJnoI90QQ4PVWk/s400/Nuttallburg++Company+Store_7305.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Company Store</b></span></td></tr>
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<h3>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Keeny’s Creek Trail</span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; white-space: pre;"> </span></h3>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">For those who are looking for a longer hike, I suggest taking the Keeney’s Creek Trail (3.3 miles). This is a rail trail with a gentle 4% grade. This trail crosses under the conveyor and over several trestle bridges that offer spectacular views of the rugged cascades of Short Creek. Trail connections can be made from this trail to the Conveyor Trail and Town Loop Connector Trail.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmfNlassAj9jzLPqV7Fab9bVqow8ELoTv01h2aB5thjOLjkNk9_TBu2E3KAAGx-eBNs4RCCgZBpcQDGbQ4daF0s_1D4IgNNwqjppFWuU2ISI5FKeEm0c-ZL7WVCI71jajf6UmzsRgXg6Y/s1600/Short+Crk_Below+Bridge_7900+copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1063" data-original-width="1600" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmfNlassAj9jzLPqV7Fab9bVqow8ELoTv01h2aB5thjOLjkNk9_TBu2E3KAAGx-eBNs4RCCgZBpcQDGbQ4daF0s_1D4IgNNwqjppFWuU2ISI5FKeEm0c-ZL7WVCI71jajf6UmzsRgXg6Y/s400/Short+Crk_Below+Bridge_7900+copy.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Short Creek</b></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Wherever you choose to explore Nuttallburg, you’ll find excellent interpretative signs complete with historic photos and informative explanations. Nuttallburg is a great place for history buffs and day hikers alike. For more information on the trails visit <a href="http://www.nps.gov/neri/planyourvisit/nuttallburg-trails.htm" target="_blank">NPS Nuttallburg Trails</a>.</span><br />
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Ed Rehbeinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14543961915772555728noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1512397138822779880.post-13734829769164972842017-08-04T13:52:00.000-04:002017-08-05T14:23:31.569-04:00Wildflowers on the Greenbrier River Trail: Part Two<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Greenbrier River Trail (GRT) is undoubtedly one of the best hiking and biking venues in West Virginia. But a closer look at the GRT reveals that there’s much more to being a traveler along this long and winding road through our State. For my wife, Phyllis, and me the main attraction is wildflowers. From the first bloodroot of spring to that last blossom of fall, we search the state for wildflowers and their hang-outs. The New River Gorge is a haven for spring wildflowers, but by summer we turn our attention elsewhere to maintain the hunt. Last July, on a tip by our friend Drema Morgan, a WV South writer and photographer, we headed out to the GRT. She reported seeing a Turk’s cap lily on the southern end of the trail. That was enough to send Phyllis and me out the door and down the road. After downloading a trail map, we decided to start at the North Caldwell trailhead at milepost 3. From Beckley it was an easy drive on I-64 East to Exit 169 at Lewisburg. From there we drove north on US 219 for ½ mile, turned east (right) onto Brush Road (Rt. 30), then, after ½ mile, continued onto Stone House Road (Rt. 38) for another three miles to the trailhead.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixhktjBZ0e0CLLNruOjkgy61ayim3snTgL6GRSJJMmH34o-JoAwTXQB7cKWW_x4ZbksHYsGc3rCdm3fR7NzxmgPbV6FyVNskz98NAPz2bFZuLYi2eWabVKShvoBiLzqZj_6EV3q40soxc/s1600/ERehbein_Deptford+Pink_DSC_9449-srp_.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1245" data-original-width="1600" height="311" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixhktjBZ0e0CLLNruOjkgy61ayim3snTgL6GRSJJMmH34o-JoAwTXQB7cKWW_x4ZbksHYsGc3rCdm3fR7NzxmgPbV6FyVNskz98NAPz2bFZuLYi2eWabVKShvoBiLzqZj_6EV3q40soxc/s400/ERehbein_Deptford+Pink_DSC_9449-srp_.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Deptford Pink</b></span></td></tr>
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<h3>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Wildflowers Aplenty</span></span></h3>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We had barely filled our backpacks with lunch, wildflower identification books, and photographic gear and taken a few steps out of the parking lot before some interesting flowers stopped us. The wildflowers, new to us, were everlasting peas of pink, white, and purple hues. The group of shocking pink blossoms stood out like stop signs inviting a look-see. Off to a promising start, we already felt good about summer wildflower hunting on the GRT. We weren’t disappointed. The wildflowers along the GRT were many and varied. Deptford pinks, delicate flower blossoms no bigger than the tip of your little finger, were sprinkled here and there along the trail. We also found other tiny beauties such as thimbleweed and a patch of wild lettuce. Continuing on our trek, early goldenrod caught our eyes as did some fresh joe-pye weed. A couple of my favorites, tall coreopsis and early goldenrod, glowed brightly in the sun, showing off their rich golden hues. Bouncing bet, St. Johnswort, and garden phlox lined the trail, too. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPv-9IumiA9UDqc1Hc3uWSUEKXDhv9UVXKZy7zBwRUS7evjt44SOLGfQ8a5jiy3uY6zyknTTpF-Ntq5D7X2ldzzw-sHGOT5OVnIjRuxRc0hzy_nAXyfyuQmBAO5KqSbfKyzqhq3ZZsCV0/s1600/ERehbein_Basil+Balm_DSC_9473-sx_.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1107" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPv-9IumiA9UDqc1Hc3uWSUEKXDhv9UVXKZy7zBwRUS7evjt44SOLGfQ8a5jiy3uY6zyknTTpF-Ntq5D7X2ldzzw-sHGOT5OVnIjRuxRc0hzy_nAXyfyuQmBAO5KqSbfKyzqhq3ZZsCV0/s400/ERehbein_Basil+Balm_DSC_9473-sx_.JPG" width="276" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Basil Balm</b></span></td></tr>
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<h3>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">One and a Half Miles and 21 Wildflowers </span></span></h3>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Besides enjoying some of our favorite wildflowers, blooms we had not identified before popped up to challenge us. We spent a good bit of time with wildflower identification books in hand hunched over a flamboyant dark purple and white flower. While Phyllis thumbed through the pages, I rolled on the ground trying to photograph this mystery plant. After mulling it over, we thought it fit the description of showy skullcap. Heads bobbing side-to-side scanning for more flowers, we continued walking slowly upriver. Being a rail trail the grade was slight—barely noticeable. The fine limestone gravel surface made the hiking easy, too. The only holdup to hiking were the wildflowers, many new to us, which we stopped to identify. After hiking only 1 ½ miles on the GRT, we had already listed 21 wildflowers. Our hike on the GRT was fast becoming a stroll through a long and narrow wildflower garden. But we were still looking for the prize, wildflower number 22, the Turk’s cap lily that Drema said she had spotted on the trail. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUW_eJw7xzizk8oNulbvdNPqL9nYeTS7jlF8Fz_Z_tNRgB_wsLD-Taw0vx9_oPF9TtLYnIuSoZTbT58oJ3Be2hz7SCHKL9O8XrLFTnRJD0pVScMXu9RniZ07RjIO0_dsC1WeNUZMsBNqY/s1600/ERehbein_Showy+Skullcap_DSC_9480_.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1082" data-original-width="1600" height="270" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUW_eJw7xzizk8oNulbvdNPqL9nYeTS7jlF8Fz_Z_tNRgB_wsLD-Taw0vx9_oPF9TtLYnIuSoZTbT58oJ3Be2hz7SCHKL9O8XrLFTnRJD0pVScMXu9RniZ07RjIO0_dsC1WeNUZMsBNqY/s400/ERehbein_Showy+Skullcap_DSC_9480_.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Showy Skullcap</b></span></td></tr>
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<h3>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The Prize Arrives</span></h3>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We found the prize right where Drema said it would be—at the tent campsite at mile marker 4.7. The promised Turk’s cap lilies glowed in the sun like orange-gold light bulbs. Even if wildflowers don’t interest you much, the shear brilliance of Turk’s cap lilies is bound to delight. The lilies capped off a pleasant wildflower jaunt on the GRT. We doubled back at this point and enjoyed a second look at the wildflower display along the trail. As just amateur wildflower enthusiasts, we counted 22 wildflowers along the 1.7 miles of the trail that we traversed. It was easy hiking and pleasant hunting. I can only imagine what the remainder of the 80 trail miles holds in the way of wildflower wonders.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjef3NaakIkVHW3x3aPGGu1AVMYKYl4JWonRdhwAUKJwLnfH9ZFfqOgb1u75qhAXKZUsw0r3KG9XDj-5j2Lp1S60k_P9p3tnXGczO20Zx-NaTw1jTufkIM_JBwQchWfBthnWz_IloWKZlE/s1600/Turks+Cap+Lily_DSC_9634.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="858" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjef3NaakIkVHW3x3aPGGu1AVMYKYl4JWonRdhwAUKJwLnfH9ZFfqOgb1u75qhAXKZUsw0r3KG9XDj-5j2Lp1S60k_P9p3tnXGczO20Zx-NaTw1jTufkIM_JBwQchWfBthnWz_IloWKZlE/s400/Turks+Cap+Lily_DSC_9634.JPG" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Turk's Cap Lily</b></span></td></tr>
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<h3>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">References, Resources, Activities & Suggestions</span></h3>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Researching an 80 mile long State Park might seem a bit daunting. But there are a host of references and resources to guide you. The single best source to plan a venture on the GRT is the “Greenbrier River Trail” brochure published by the West Virginia State Parks system. In addition, here’s a listing of some informative GRT websites: The West Virginia State Park system <a href="http://www.greenbrierrailtrailstatepark.com/" target="_blank">Website.</a> The Pocahontas County Convention and Visitor Bureau maintains a very useful site at <a href="http://www.pocahontas.org/" target="_blank">Website</a>; and a new website, maintained by the Greenbrier River Trail Association, is online at <a href="http://wordpress.greenbrierrivertrail.com/" target="_blank">Website</a>. These websites post maps, and contain listings of trail resources such as nearby grocery stores, lodging, outfitters for bike and canoe rentals, shuttles, and guided fishing trips. Also check the “Pocahontas Nature Club” Facebook <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/pocahontasnatureclub/" target="_blank">Page</a> for activities such as their annual Wild Edibles Festival. While on Facebook, check out “The Friends of the Greenbrier River Trail,” too, and learn more about the annual Great Greenbrier River Race, which includes a 3-mile Run, a 4-mile Paddle, and a 10-mile Pedal. (<a href="https://www.facebook.com/Friends-of-the-Greenbrier-River-Trail-146607805360223/" target="_blank">Facebook Page</a>). </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-VkwQ5Ax_ufKO1kDwh_sNxWQiJLJM7eYtDQp_atAwD-bzgBCyCeW7knLt7hnue07FuitkqJNQg1t-uia6pXu_UwgnA3tC3gez53pnWODebnK9wl2QK6EAmj8v5bIxTfj5OCc_luFBpdw/s1600/Tall+Coreopsis_DSC_9465.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="919" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-VkwQ5Ax_ufKO1kDwh_sNxWQiJLJM7eYtDQp_atAwD-bzgBCyCeW7knLt7hnue07FuitkqJNQg1t-uia6pXu_UwgnA3tC3gez53pnWODebnK9wl2QK6EAmj8v5bIxTfj5OCc_luFBpdw/s400/Tall+Coreopsis_DSC_9465.JPG" width="228" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Tall Coreopsis</b></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Last, but not least here are two things to bear in mind: 1) Poison Ivy grows along the trail, too, so keep a close eye out for it, and 2) Please don’t pick the flowers. Well that’s the long and the skinny of the Greenbrier River Trail. There’s plenty of fine outdoor fun for everyone. So enjoy! </span><br />
<br />Ed Rehbeinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14543961915772555728noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1512397138822779880.post-52467832822650119792017-08-04T12:41:00.000-04:002017-08-05T14:32:04.490-04:00Greenbrier River Trail: Part One<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Can you
imagine a West Virginia State Park about 80 miles long and only 100 feet wide?
If so, then you have pictured the Greenbrier River Trail State Park, which has
the distinction of being both the longest and the skinniest State Park in West
Virginia. It is long and skinny because it is a former railroad bed that has
been converted into a trail. Previously part of the Greenbrier Division of the
Chesapeake and Ohio Railway (C&O), trains carried freight and passengers
along the banks of the Greenbrier River in Pocahontas and Greenbrier Counties for
nearly 80 years. But when the line became unprofitable in the 1970s, C&O eventually
donated the corridor to the state in 1978. By 1980 the old railroad bed had
been authorized by the State Legislature for public use as a rail trail
according to Jody Spencer, Park Superintendent. Gail Hyer of the Pocahontas County
Convention and Visitors Bureau noted that the trail suffered damage in the
flood of 1985 that wasn’t fully repaired until 1994. More damage occurred in
the flood of 1996 that took three years of restoration. The flood of June 2016
also damaged the trail. Repairs are now underway, and the trail is gradually
being restored.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2HlcahtDyNyViLyCSBpRJ3MyVeTPLl9r0tXTxVQsx9kg-3OIeFdxNdHz6eCkzgnPaSfmgukYsHZ2yD8GMr-nS4kemfYrqKpoNua9-A60fPdlbdHh8TLkDKjQxZwlA4O11RjQyK7IrGmo/s1600/PCCVB_Family+on+Greenbrier+River+Trail.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1143" data-original-width="1600" height="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2HlcahtDyNyViLyCSBpRJ3MyVeTPLl9r0tXTxVQsx9kg-3OIeFdxNdHz6eCkzgnPaSfmgukYsHZ2yD8GMr-nS4kemfYrqKpoNua9-A60fPdlbdHh8TLkDKjQxZwlA4O11RjQyK7IrGmo/s400/PCCVB_Family+on+Greenbrier+River+Trail.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Pocahontas Conv. Bureau</b></span></td></tr>
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<b><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Nationally Recognized</span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Despite the
setbacks, the Greenbrier River Trail (GRT) has not only survived; it has thrived.
Today the GRT is one of West Virginia’s most successful and popular
rail-to-trail conversions. Backpacker Magazine ranked the GRT as one of the top
ten hiking trails in the United States. Moreover in October 1999, the GRT
became one of 50 of the Nation’s Millennium Legacy Trails. Selected from
nominations by the governors of the United States and its Territories, these
trails reflect the essence and spirit of our nation.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmXl_d4X8P4dNs0urRI4NmguW21B2_NWNHvgaprRm6xPptApx9RCqnxOOOiPJDTnNAWyPwhbrOYTFvI-Q1HcN3iQk6gfgpyD_NgOETAqXeJkceWzVeZFwTHsuyNoeVJq7FO0zMb0viiqo/s1600/PCCVB_GREENBRIER+RiverTrailBIKING-1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="979" data-original-width="1500" height="260" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmXl_d4X8P4dNs0urRI4NmguW21B2_NWNHvgaprRm6xPptApx9RCqnxOOOiPJDTnNAWyPwhbrOYTFvI-Q1HcN3iQk6gfgpyD_NgOETAqXeJkceWzVeZFwTHsuyNoeVJq7FO0zMb0viiqo/s400/PCCVB_GREENBRIER+RiverTrailBIKING-1.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Pocahontas Conv. Bureau</b></span></td></tr>
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<b><i><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">A Recreation Gateway</span></span></span></i></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Running 80
miles down the spine of the Allegheny Highlands of West Virginia, the GRT sports
unique recreational opportunities in the State. The trail traverses 30 bridges
and two tunnels and is a gateway to some of West Virginia’s most refreshing
scenery.</span> <span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The trail
passes through the Monongahela National Forest; Cass, Watoga, and Droop
Mountain State Parks; and Greenbrier and Seneca State Forests. With 19 trailheads scattered along its length,
the trail can be broken into dozens of short hikes, either round trip or one
way. There are a few primitive campsites along the trail, for those who want to
take a few days and traverse the entire length. Sources of drinking water and
toilets are scattered along the route, as are grocery stops. Lodging at State
Parks, local</span> <span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">motels,
privately-owned cottages, and bed and breakfasts is also available along the
trail. It is little wonder that the trail is busy with bikers, hikers and
horseback riders. As GRT follows the banks of the Greenbrier River through
rural Greenbrier and Pocahontas Counties, the river meanders in a wide,
shallow, gravel-lined bed that comforts the eye and in summer, invites fishing,
wading, canoeing and paddle-boarding. The trail surface is primarily ¼” crushed
limestone and electric-powered chairs and scooters are permitted for disabled
use only.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb8QGO6m_C9RAdrN6YBKVCas1VnG65FHYCZYRq5hAhrZH3_kMy7fKKpcnWsRYTk_gmbdKriQ-ACiGw5GP1a9o4OLdpHZVIP23Kobcut_zMhnUdSyiJUVX6lwLYGVkTl-4m4FW0Ree9ens/s1600/Drema+Morgan_Paddle+boarder+GBR.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1046" data-original-width="1600" height="261" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb8QGO6m_C9RAdrN6YBKVCas1VnG65FHYCZYRq5hAhrZH3_kMy7fKKpcnWsRYTk_gmbdKriQ-ACiGw5GP1a9o4OLdpHZVIP23Kobcut_zMhnUdSyiJUVX6lwLYGVkTl-4m4FW0Ree9ens/s400/Drema+Morgan_Paddle+boarder+GBR.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Photo by Drema Morgan</b></span></td></tr>
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<b><i><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">But Wait, There’s More!</span></span></i></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The GRT is
undoubtedly one of the best hiking and biking venues in West Virginia. But a
closer look at the GRT reveals that there’s much more to being a traveler along
this long and winding road through our State. For my wife, Phyllis, and me the
main attraction is wildflowers. From the first bloodroot of spring to that last
blossom of fall, we search the state for wildflowers and their hang-outs. The
New River Gorge is a haven for spring wildflowers, but by summer we turn our
attention elsewhere to maintain the hunt. Last July, on a tip by our friend
Drema Morgan, a WV South writer and photographer, we headed out to the GRT. She
reported seeing a Turk’s cap lily on the southern end of the trail. That was
enough to send Phyllis and me out the door and down the road. After downloading
a trail map, we decided to start at the North Caldwell trailhead at milepost 3.
From Beckley it was an easy drive on I-64 East to Exit 169 at Lewisburg. From
there we drove north on US 219 for ½ mile, turned east onto Brush Road (Rt.
30), then, after ½ mile, continued onto Stone House Road (Rt. 38) for another
three miles to the trailhead. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0973YqfmWLYegK-2sauZbh_nkr4zLhazW3wFxgRGON-R4IQwLY_6xfZKx0govYD5lOOBqQx15JeEC7rfCSFyTGeZ0ZRgxx-ctrbir28UJ4Kpgkw2Qvj3hz3xRK0g1nn57HmLjrs4_9-Q/s1600/ERehbein_Turks+Cap+Lily_DSC_9628_.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1254" data-original-width="1600" height="312" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0973YqfmWLYegK-2sauZbh_nkr4zLhazW3wFxgRGON-R4IQwLY_6xfZKx0govYD5lOOBqQx15JeEC7rfCSFyTGeZ0ZRgxx-ctrbir28UJ4Kpgkw2Qvj3hz3xRK0g1nn57HmLjrs4_9-Q/s400/ERehbein_Turks+Cap+Lily_DSC_9628_.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Turk's Cap Lilies</b></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">My next blog
will have more about wildflowers on the GRT. <a href="http://discoverwv.blogspot.com/2017/08/wildflowers-on-greenbrier-river-trail.html" target="_blank">Click here.</a></span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
Ed Rehbeinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14543961915772555728noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1512397138822779880.post-23518040857411221662017-06-02T12:10:00.001-04:002017-06-15T11:02:14.891-04:00Exploring the North Fork of the Blackwater River: Kennedy Falls<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Though the falls of Douglas are striking and dramatic, there are many more falls on the North Fork as it makes its descent into the Blackwater Canyon. Indeed, an intriguing entry in Philip Pendleton Kennedy’s Blackwater Chronicle led me to look for one of them. In Kennedy’s description of his scramble down the North Fork below Douglas Falls, he wrote: “This level of the stream, however . . . leads you to a second large fall, a clear pitch again of some forty feet.” When I read that, my eyes widened. A second large fall as high as Douglas? I had neither read of these falls in any modern travel guides nor seen photographs of them. Was Kennedy exaggerating–merely caught up in the thrall of the cascades? </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhss8FplrDqP2_Lvm4RRJSDq6PyVD3LZTlFnRQNFQeCTjJ9-FDwZzCLPo9A3GWZMizRtm39BEaiAMj2q2TeIRj8z2AO5NuAf0QHkFa4GXvl3d7Zb41Hyp6qulCRRcrGeRWB_q9mDrYpjY/s1600/DSC_4449+copy_edited-1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1142" data-original-width="1600" height="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhss8FplrDqP2_Lvm4RRJSDq6PyVD3LZTlFnRQNFQeCTjJ9-FDwZzCLPo9A3GWZMizRtm39BEaiAMj2q2TeIRj8z2AO5NuAf0QHkFa4GXvl3d7Zb41Hyp6qulCRRcrGeRWB_q9mDrYpjY/s400/DSC_4449+copy_edited-1.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Kennedy Falls</b></span></td></tr>
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<h3>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Following in the Footsteps</span></h3>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I had to find out, and the only way to do so was to follow in his footsteps. With the help of some kayakers who ran the North Fork, I found the falls. I’ll call them Kennedy Falls after Philip Pendleton Kennedy, the man who first wrote of them.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
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<h3>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Finding Kennedy Falls</span></h3>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">To find Kennedy Falls (Lat 39.1202, Long -79.5205) continue down the railroad grade along the North Fork. Scrambling along the stream bed is difficult at best and somewhat dangerous. If you read Kennedy’s account, you’ll know what I mean. It’s much better to parallel the stream along the road and then descend straight into the canyon at the point of the falls. Hiking about a quarter of mile below Douglas Falls should put you at the point of descent into the canyon. If you come to a rock cairn composed of sandstone cobbles, you’ve gone too far. The falls are indeed directly downslope from the cairn, but there’s an easier way down the side of the canyon. Backtrack about 86 paces or 215 feet to find the best point of entry into the woods.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2jvjVEepZiPcKUnEix_3QHYDZhGTEHcEeYs14_VZQaUaA4TJ1VjTPUWSzPsDQz6XPzCufKrBFOW2OHEx0FJ7lSP_lsK_NwLCa61knf-_NFa592kEmSJach8TWLfJH1mKMwGPKFIQcV5c/s1600/DSC_4494+copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1063" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2jvjVEepZiPcKUnEix_3QHYDZhGTEHcEeYs14_VZQaUaA4TJ1VjTPUWSzPsDQz6XPzCufKrBFOW2OHEx0FJ7lSP_lsK_NwLCa61knf-_NFa592kEmSJach8TWLfJH1mKMwGPKFIQcV5c/s400/DSC_4494+copy.JPG" width="265" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Kennedy Falls</b></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Descend into the canyon at this point and head straight down the slope. But use caution. The slope is very steep. When you reach the bottom of the canyon, you should be near the falls. Bear right and downstream a little to reach the head of the falls. You can scramble around the falls on the right to see them from below. The falls are about 30 feet high and lovely indeed. A rocky gravel bar in the middle of the stream provides a great frontal view. The levels above the falls beg for attention, too. The rocks are red like those at Douglas Falls and finely sculpted by the river. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4jluZ6TdEw5Oe9_2iAUU0LnUjRfehT7SC1zNyLq1JT0kYdKaLOHff60rOwwyQuymKOUSWUlOPdopOLlO9xjbWbSVX8gLurE_hSS5jsLKjVL6da7fiMsNmCh8r2lT57MyyyhdMp35mUYA/s1600/DSCN8499_01+copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4jluZ6TdEw5Oe9_2iAUU0LnUjRfehT7SC1zNyLq1JT0kYdKaLOHff60rOwwyQuymKOUSWUlOPdopOLlO9xjbWbSVX8gLurE_hSS5jsLKjVL6da7fiMsNmCh8r2lT57MyyyhdMp35mUYA/s400/DSCN8499_01+copy.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Kennedy Falls</b></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<h3>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Standing in the Foot Prints</span></h3>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Aside from some intrepid kayakers, I don’t believe many people have seen these falls. When viewing them, you could be standing right in the foot prints of Kennedy and his fellow explorers. As you turn back for cabin or camp or cottage having walked in the footsteps of these frontiersmen, perhaps you’ll feel as Kennedy did when he finished his first day exploring the North Fork:</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3LBQTQTLnAOVc44pg-3xsayx7EhwPKH7_0ujx6_9FKvdWpSMaJqNoM2jPMK5FnLGX-ihCkCea-lGlAjaeiL6ij4aCL-lgiJ_1j2-lYQrTf_iFu5rrIUIhPfNsveB3bD3xNhApnTH437w/s1600/KennedyFalls-2+copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1203" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3LBQTQTLnAOVc44pg-3xsayx7EhwPKH7_0ujx6_9FKvdWpSMaJqNoM2jPMK5FnLGX-ihCkCea-lGlAjaeiL6ij4aCL-lgiJ_1j2-lYQrTf_iFu5rrIUIhPfNsveB3bD3xNhApnTH437w/s400/KennedyFalls-2+copy.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Kennedy Falls</b></td></tr>
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<h3>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Kennedy’s Parting Words</span></h3>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">“The sun broke out, and we proceeded on our way up the steep ascent–rainbow over-arching the waterfalls, and the spray everywhere golden with sunbeams. At length, reaching the top of the grand chasm, and standing again on the brink of the impending rocks where we first hailed so rapturously, the leap-down of the river–we took a last look of the wild scene and went on our way to the camp.”</span><br />
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Ed Rehbeinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14543961915772555728noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1512397138822779880.post-28427542518439707002017-05-25T14:12:00.004-04:002017-06-15T11:01:20.641-04:00Exploring the North Fork of the Blackwater River: Douglas Falls<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">“Perhaps in all this broad land of ours, whose wonders are not yet half revealed, no scene more beautifully grand ever broke on the eye of poet or painter, historian or forester. The Blackwater here evidently breaks its way sheer down through one of the ribs of the backbone of the Alleganies. The chasm through which the river forces itself thus headlong tumultuous down, is just wide enough to contain the actual breadth of the stream. On either side, the mountains rise up, almost a perpendicular ascent, to the height of some six hundred feet. They are covered down their sides, to the very edge of the river, with the noblest of firs and hemlocks . . .”</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdAtVpJGgn2yhDqbnaom0hLNBIHgB562xb5ZdYpYZOOLLSFtydBKPKIDyUvr_APHEYKuQN4zNr-BecLbbx2jeMyWA1gE6-_OlM8PzYmiDUv5_20-_64PYjoXGJu-1iR2plSbGg0Z22vTE/s1600/DSC_3982_2-crpwbw.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1215" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdAtVpJGgn2yhDqbnaom0hLNBIHgB562xb5ZdYpYZOOLLSFtydBKPKIDyUvr_APHEYKuQN4zNr-BecLbbx2jeMyWA1gE6-_OlM8PzYmiDUv5_20-_64PYjoXGJu-1iR2plSbGg0Z22vTE/s400/DSC_3982_2-crpwbw.JPG" width="303" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The Blackwater Chronicle</span></h3>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Philip Pendleton Kennedy penned those words in 1852 in a colorful account called The Blackwater Chronicle: A Narrative of and Expedition into the Land of Canaan. And who could blame him for waxing poetic. He was leading a party of fellow adventurers into a raw and relatively unexplored region of West Virginia–Canaan Valley and the upper watershed of the Blackwater River. The explorers were lured by the keeper of the Tower’s Inn in Gormania who boasted: “Gentlemen, if you can only reach the fall of the Blackwater, you can take more trout in an hour than you ever took before in all your lives.” That did not prove to be an exaggeration. Kennedy and his company caught native trout, which had never before seen a baited hook, by the hundreds. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVvNrt-NMcpOblgwiKowTRHmAJJv0BWgWUt7doXgIq9C0O20mWOo5SHCGx0kdymtwxgTPHLiOK0xdb6eN7NyX2nCfcQYZZIZL-wXGUOJ0vtAb-YiRp3BhNptOmCoeBFv7S-S30TpntU6M/s1600/DSC00744+copy+crop.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVvNrt-NMcpOblgwiKowTRHmAJJv0BWgWUt7doXgIq9C0O20mWOo5SHCGx0kdymtwxgTPHLiOK0xdb6eN7NyX2nCfcQYZZIZL-wXGUOJ0vtAb-YiRp3BhNptOmCoeBFv7S-S30TpntU6M/s400/DSC00744+copy+crop.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Douglas Falls</span></h3>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The wilds of Canaan, however, did not easily yield their treasures. These men sloshed through dank swamps and slashed through dense laurel thickets. The going was tough, but the rewards were grand. Kennedy’s party had crossed Backbone Mountain and were descending the North Fork of the Blackwater River when they came upon an inspiring scene. Kennedy breathlessly described it this way: </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">“Turning a rocky promontory that jutted the mountain side, the Blackwater, some hundred yards ahead, seemed to have disappeared entirely from the face of the earth, leaving nothing visible down the chasm through which it vanished, but the tops of fir-trees and hemlocks . . . The expedition stepped out upon the furthest verge and very pinnacle of the foaming battlements, and gazed upon the sight so wondrous and so wild, thus presented to their astonished eyes.” </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaUAQy_mFSDHPFtz_RO0tTd_B4Wo9h2AhJYTtAT2AKCb7A849t4g7IhX1LsM8g6Oj17-_yXRS448HCdAG67tBFbIdJTffrcJJq337Mfikxd4LBzjhUHwTkWRdK969NtFD0RSFYqlH0o_g/s1600/DSC_4528+copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1063" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaUAQy_mFSDHPFtz_RO0tTd_B4Wo9h2AhJYTtAT2AKCb7A849t4g7IhX1LsM8g6Oj17-_yXRS448HCdAG67tBFbIdJTffrcJJq337Mfikxd4LBzjhUHwTkWRdK969NtFD0RSFYqlH0o_g/s400/DSC_4528+copy.JPG" width="265" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">They were approaching the brink of what is now called Douglas Falls–the point at which the North Fork of the Blackwater River begins its precipitous descent into the Main Fork. Further discoveries lay ahead as chronicled by Kennedy in his book. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Exploring the North Fork<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span></h3>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">But is there any adventure left for us in the Land of Canaan some 150 years later? Can we follow in the footsteps of these explorers and experience the wonder they felt? The answer is, “Yes!” If you’re lodging at Blackwater Falls State Park or in surrounding areas and are willing to stay a few more days, then I suggest you spend some time exploring the North Fork of the Blackwater River. It’s only 4 miles from the state park. If you do, you’ll get a taste of adventure and discover for yourself some scenic gems that few people have seen since Kennedy and his men forged the way in 1852. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR_EMghM3vZwkXKqq1mcSS_dG6qapWOvw7huplMSceGMfkGGNvtcQEsmVDf0Vt4VGFtkrzoY0y2C-zW4bqLWNzb2ubAr5Q54oAUjYcwU-KUwDKvJTIsK6cOnMGMJVY4NNwoiMnMh1aFPg/s1600/DouglasFalls-3+copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR_EMghM3vZwkXKqq1mcSS_dG6qapWOvw7huplMSceGMfkGGNvtcQEsmVDf0Vt4VGFtkrzoY0y2C-zW4bqLWNzb2ubAr5Q54oAUjYcwU-KUwDKvJTIsK6cOnMGMJVY4NNwoiMnMh1aFPg/s400/DouglasFalls-3+copy.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">How to Get to Douglas Falls</span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span></h3>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">An excursion on the North Fork should start at Douglas Falls (Lat </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">39.12403, Long<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>-79.51965)</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">. Beginning from the entrance to Blackwater Falls State Park at State Route 32, drive about two miles north on Route 32 until you come to the Douglas-Coketon Road on your left. After leaving Route 32, drive about a mile to a bridge crossing the North Fork. Immediately after the bridge look for a gravel road to the left, which is an abandoned railroad grade that runs along the length of the North and Main Forks of the Blackwater River all the way from Thomas to Hendricks. It’s a great bike path. Up to Douglas Falls, it’s also passable by vehicle. But I wouldn’t try it with my sedan. It has some deep potholes that require a vehicle with high clearance. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4k4royjfebo2R_iidvWGfJbWSHMGVbSNLvuctvOt36k_KVd5OLnfg7xZGZLT5WptQadhlASh8A0MXPss5Sk-G-ugvymWvJ9ORVvK50YcIFtYd-s7Z4f2JP3MWTGZdc9UW3wGWXk3rpkc/s1600/NorthFork-3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1035" data-original-width="1600" height="257" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4k4royjfebo2R_iidvWGfJbWSHMGVbSNLvuctvOt36k_KVd5OLnfg7xZGZLT5WptQadhlASh8A0MXPss5Sk-G-ugvymWvJ9ORVvK50YcIFtYd-s7Z4f2JP3MWTGZdc9UW3wGWXk3rpkc/s400/NorthFork-3.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Beehive Coke Ovens</b></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Beehive Coke Ovens</span></h3>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Since Douglas Falls are just a mile down the road and the way is fairly level, you can hike, bike, or drive it pretty easily. On the way keep your eye out for some abandoned coke ovens on your left. One look at the structures and you’ll know why they were called “beehive” coke ovens. The way is strewn with wildflowers, too, and occasional glimpses of the North Fork of the Blackwater. Although this is a fairly flat stretch, the river does make a couple of short leaps and runs over sandstone ledges.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTQP0TI_GOQ9IWZs8kDhDBwWmcXwFuHc2dNN5ga3SJ5diGxuuECydtx8fnh6zLj-_Bf3cUiODnOVNsUv2C-0f6heizIWbESxRdOSnGHDnc_OmJAezWRfEO49cDRBwX1UaJkIEUYx2Dpt0/s1600/DSC_2149+copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1063" data-original-width="1600" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTQP0TI_GOQ9IWZs8kDhDBwWmcXwFuHc2dNN5ga3SJ5diGxuuECydtx8fnh6zLj-_Bf3cUiODnOVNsUv2C-0f6heizIWbESxRdOSnGHDnc_OmJAezWRfEO49cDRBwX1UaJkIEUYx2Dpt0/s400/DSC_2149+copy.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>North Fork of the Blackwater R.</b></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">When you reach a Forest Service gate across the road, the falls will be immediately to your left. Take the path that leads down to the falls and explore them. The falls drop some 40 feet into an emerald plunge pool surrounded by huge prisms of rusty-red sandstone. The rocks are tinted red by iron-bearing minerals leached from acid mine drainage upstream. The coal mines have since been reclaimed, but the boulders are colorful reminders of the past pollution. Douglas Falls are not as high or as wide as the Great Falls of the Main Fork of the Blackwater, but they are picturesque and beautiful nonetheless. In fact I find them stunning.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeqVJbyfzpFXNaTLayiKxKi_9zQU2Ne7L6hcB0TsoWmgR2nPokklHJkJHS9QqCVc4y-FjRry3G8xvwvybOZxE6uAU2m4sCXrLEsU5ijG-FuKENx_C6mSTOWpU1pJ6GG7nYy-EQz0wsPRA/s1600/DSC00740+copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeqVJbyfzpFXNaTLayiKxKi_9zQU2Ne7L6hcB0TsoWmgR2nPokklHJkJHS9QqCVc4y-FjRry3G8xvwvybOZxE6uAU2m4sCXrLEsU5ijG-FuKENx_C6mSTOWpU1pJ6GG7nYy-EQz0wsPRA/s400/DSC00740+copy.JPG" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Douglas Falls</b></td></tr>
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Ed Rehbeinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14543961915772555728noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1512397138822779880.post-69632488246819275992017-04-26T15:13:00.000-04:002017-06-15T10:57:21.955-04:00Five Viewpoints for Photographing the Babcock Grist Mill<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The Glade Creek Grist Mill at Babcock State Park is one of the most photographed sights in West Virginia drawing more than 200,000 people every year. You’ll find pictures of the mill at Babcock on calendars, postcards, magazines, and travel brochures. Most of the visitors to Babcock have a camera in their hands wanting to take home their own photos of this West Virginia icon. In photographing the Babcock Mill and the Glade Creek Falls for the last 15 years, I’ve learned that many points of view (pov) can be found to capture the falls and the mill, but generally most people settle for two traditional views.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">View from the Rocks at the End of Stairs</span></h3>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">For their first shot of the falls and the mill, most people traditionally take the stairs behind the lodge down to the pond and shoot from the rocks at the end of the stairs. From this pov both the falls and mill are close and produce good composition.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpig2noILWke4yUUOpM3CFPpORCpNGXwtm5znBuUIfDs7m4zdWxNDwh8SlXmxesbemFi2YsR3pzvDglOQ4KcYXvZdC6ZgUlIdHzhCBGQ7AEdYAtvDqgQB024dsbXjTwXoOhHdkkgt41GQ/s1600/Bab+Mill+Spot_1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="237" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpig2noILWke4yUUOpM3CFPpORCpNGXwtm5znBuUIfDs7m4zdWxNDwh8SlXmxesbemFi2YsR3pzvDglOQ4KcYXvZdC6ZgUlIdHzhCBGQ7AEdYAtvDqgQB024dsbXjTwXoOhHdkkgt41GQ/s400/Bab+Mill+Spot_1.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">View from Sewell Road Opposite the Dam</span></h3>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Another traditional point of view is to walk down Sewell Road along Glade Creak on the opposite side of the parking lot and shoot back toward the mill and falls from the road. Good compositions along the road are possible until reaching the end of the pond and the small dam that forms it. From this pov, the falls and the mill adopt an eye pleasing alignment. With a little zoom added, the photo below shows the scene on the road directly above the dam.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFfU3ORORIlZgOCdW6_VAKFZQUSXqwa4ZE42CGkXp6Hu7yqqT6l43m1kB8J292ks2mUYasIL7r3QUD3YEhJlg89FCZbm1BXGghmYPSRoftgc0BvZtWPgSB_g7f03PrsZsRXWUWNHZmp9Q/s1600/DSCN6525-en.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFfU3ORORIlZgOCdW6_VAKFZQUSXqwa4ZE42CGkXp6Hu7yqqT6l43m1kB8J292ks2mUYasIL7r3QUD3YEhJlg89FCZbm1BXGghmYPSRoftgc0BvZtWPgSB_g7f03PrsZsRXWUWNHZmp9Q/s400/DSCN6525-en.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">View from the Dam below Sewell Road</span></h3>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Shots from these two traditional povs nearly always produce good results giving the falls and mill a serene look. However, I have experimented with three other povs that interject a different, perhaps more dynamic mood. For instance, to capitalize on reflections from the old swimming pool, I prefer to take a few shots at pool level. To get down to pool level, I take a short trail that begins at Sewell Road right above the dam and leads down to the dam abutment below the road. Safe set-ups can be made on the end of the dam or just behind it. The resulting pov offers better reflections of the pool and interesting views of the stone retaining wall below Sewell Road. The example photograph shows the scene from this location. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOmvxR1AsBCGLpXs3WpYObiCVS4m1kNybI8VpGsEdXcHYmeOn8cY7fcH-xUEMRhLI7sejrpS0xvKJ96F8I4GRaIjRrVaL278FaXUBtLofB95or20cT5NQLAXfsxbVQpjT6PA1KS8sUs1E/s1600/bab+mill_3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="287" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOmvxR1AsBCGLpXs3WpYObiCVS4m1kNybI8VpGsEdXcHYmeOn8cY7fcH-xUEMRhLI7sejrpS0xvKJ96F8I4GRaIjRrVaL278FaXUBtLofB95or20cT5NQLAXfsxbVQpjT6PA1KS8sUs1E/s400/bab+mill_3.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">View from the Lip of the Falls of Glade Creek</span></h4>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">After shooting from pool level, I usually climb back up to Sewell Road and walk about half-way up it. Right at the rim of the falls, there’s a short trail from the road leading down to the lip of the falls. It’s not a precarious position and offers a pov that profiles the falls. The grist mill is partially obscured, but I don’t think this takes away anything from a photo taken here. Below is an example of the scene from this pov.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpgHxfNUn5rVF9XaTfYVB8FfE34XD10VgV8kyYrIGcFE3lM_bJ6_4EdjhwtMHnX-SoOqHcVmiF8A1u3srVw1oaFdvhFaZxo2-xJShYA-0mhydp6hbCEwA2w2kZFEpfcAKhaHw8bSHpn5o/s1600/bab+mill_4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpgHxfNUn5rVF9XaTfYVB8FfE34XD10VgV8kyYrIGcFE3lM_bJ6_4EdjhwtMHnX-SoOqHcVmiF8A1u3srVw1oaFdvhFaZxo2-xJShYA-0mhydp6hbCEwA2w2kZFEpfcAKhaHw8bSHpn5o/s400/bab+mill_4.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">View from the Large Rock in Glade Creek</span></h3>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The last set-up I’d like to mention is taken from atop the large rock that sits in the middle of Glade Creek and appears in the upper right of the photo above. In my opinion setting-up on this rock yields a good pov because stream action in Glade Creek and the mill are highlighted. Images from this pov are dynamic and attention grabbing. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjehZFC4DkyMT2cPGmT0TKue53fso2LolNlOSnYL_iFQUja4PxowKsmiN965slTzEwS_rqKlCGYcSSnqA_kAm_mJOTte0zUkTlmvPPs0t-u7OTkTtkiagopv26A88mmxy0lFxALHkuU5J8/s1600/bab+mill_5.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="260" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjehZFC4DkyMT2cPGmT0TKue53fso2LolNlOSnYL_iFQUja4PxowKsmiN965slTzEwS_rqKlCGYcSSnqA_kAm_mJOTte0zUkTlmvPPs0t-u7OTkTtkiagopv26A88mmxy0lFxALHkuU5J8/s400/bab+mill_5.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The mill and falls at Babcock State Park look good from just about any pov. These five spots are just suggestions. There are many other fine locations such as on the grass on the parking lot side of the Glade Creek and down at creek level on this side. Furthermore, when Catawba Rhododendrons are blooming, povs including them are going to make good photographs, too. So relax and enjoy photographing Babcock. The Park will almost certainly reward your efforts. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxV-SVck8wZO8ANNMZ5bpWqb9n39NnHWh6VnHxjr2vFVz94pRWm4_16_fbYyws_4id48iz1t-5G7D7IrgfG8kI7ezPNSGiK8o_dgiZmg4xVFnjJvdh1fQ9s8qja2jujo9L8kg4GsLhpBs/s1600/N+BabMill+Rhd+7x10_6613.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxV-SVck8wZO8ANNMZ5bpWqb9n39NnHWh6VnHxjr2vFVz94pRWm4_16_fbYyws_4id48iz1t-5G7D7IrgfG8kI7ezPNSGiK8o_dgiZmg4xVFnjJvdh1fQ9s8qja2jujo9L8kg4GsLhpBs/s320/N+BabMill+Rhd+7x10_6613.JPG" width="224" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">For more about the mill at Babcock see this blog entry <a href="http://discoverwv.blogspot.com/2016/08/five-facts-about-mill-at-babcock-state.html" target="_blank">Five Facts about the Mill at Babcock.</a></span><br />
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Ed Rehbeinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14543961915772555728noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1512397138822779880.post-52638930590598248212017-04-21T14:16:00.001-04:002017-06-15T10:55:53.889-04:00Hiking the Waterfalls of Big Branch<br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">If you like waterfalls, you’ll love the Big Branch Trail of the New River Gorge. Depending upon how you count them, you’ll see six or seven waterfalls in the space of ¾ mile. For the sheer joy of seeing water descend over rock, the Big Branch Trail is hard to beat. I won’t describe all the waterfalls in this blog, but we’ll take a look at most of them.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_Na9k66eZREoRCrlcNh2NIVaytO0yG6o5-HPNCHGBTjepmLKrsC90ecLX33A283jGyORSBGSbXwzwVKM8FLdxFnFIBJsWjuG0qdI4IPBRIzefeXgkwMlerP-jdH6Vv9ISNY1pXSSeE7Q/s1600/Big+Branch+Falls_CSC_0446+copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="387" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_Na9k66eZREoRCrlcNh2NIVaytO0yG6o5-HPNCHGBTjepmLKrsC90ecLX33A283jGyORSBGSbXwzwVKM8FLdxFnFIBJsWjuG0qdI4IPBRIzefeXgkwMlerP-jdH6Vv9ISNY1pXSSeE7Q/s400/Big+Branch+Falls_CSC_0446+copy.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Big Branch Falls</b></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Trailhead</span></h3>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The trailhead is about 4 miles from Hinton on the River Road—the road that takes you to Sandstone Falls. Look for the trailhead across the road from the Brooks Falls overlook. Starting at the trailhead, take the left-hand fork, which after about 500 feet of woodland walking leads to the streambed of Big Branch. At this point the trail crosses Big Branch for the first of four times. Since this stream doesn’t have a large watershed, it’s generally a trickle in summer and fall. But in winter and spring, it’s full enough that you should plan to get your boots wet when crossing.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQQRV0-_rNbNgKMB8Ci1ivyQBGd13dJuci6OBJ1680mFtBfyVvHK8lXUqITfygD5m5H0wL3pWoGc1PvSli0t-hZS2_rvNH05Epn72pTbsFo27RcSs2K1zoSPWvq7ZbEa6BltIE5K83urA/s1600/First+Waterfall_CSC_0450+copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQQRV0-_rNbNgKMB8Ci1ivyQBGd13dJuci6OBJ1680mFtBfyVvHK8lXUqITfygD5m5H0wL3pWoGc1PvSli0t-hZS2_rvNH05Epn72pTbsFo27RcSs2K1zoSPWvq7ZbEa6BltIE5K83urA/s400/First+Waterfall_CSC_0450+copy.JPG" width="265" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>First Waterfall</b></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">First Waterfall</span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; white-space: pre;"> </span></h3>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Before crossing the creek, look for a trail running downstream and take it for about 100 feet. The first waterfall on Big Branch will be to your right. It’s a nice waterfall that takes about an 8-foot drop before spreading out across a large, flat bedrock surface. The water is shallow across the bedrock plain, so you can walk across it and set up a tripod wherever you please to snap a few photos of the falls. Backtrack to rejoin the Big Branch Trail, make the first stream crossing, and head uphill. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5JFWfHP1PZd9sQVyu7o2BaAiK_JydxIep8cxFim3Xg6szwBRQVB4HPX1YKO_Wb_meBAv3QoTHEqWED3unMgSr7xtSNsVLErT1qA7rOrg-NPPIXytwbughLccSEhfa_rPlC-q08WqdAck/s1600/Rockys+Fall+DSCN0379+copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5JFWfHP1PZd9sQVyu7o2BaAiK_JydxIep8cxFim3Xg6szwBRQVB4HPX1YKO_Wb_meBAv3QoTHEqWED3unMgSr7xtSNsVLErT1qA7rOrg-NPPIXytwbughLccSEhfa_rPlC-q08WqdAck/s400/Rockys+Fall+DSCN0379+copy.JPG" width="296" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Rocky's Falls</b></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Rocky’s Falls<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span></h3>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The trail hugs the course of Big Branch all the way to the top waterfall, so when you’re not relishing a waterfall you’re being serenaded by the music of a babbling brook. At the second crossing there’s a fair size riffle, but do continue for more waterfall action. The next waterfall is named after Randall Sanger’s dog “Rocky” who was fond of splashing in it and getting into the photos Randall was trying to take of the falls. Though “Rocky’s Falls” is just a 4 to 5-foot plunge, don’t let its size fool you. This is a very lovely and photogenic waterfall.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib7DpH4AHhJfYGZwYFxn6nHHGXHQkBjh4B5RwhKpH4oQ7os6oDFcHNaZYh0NJO7U4KYPk_NxVJ8FJHwkkzEMH_JiDAhZozCWJL81F2l51NmlV-m6QpGX_u34_oeUCFALGtkE2sOMONCKM/s1600/Double+Falls_DSCN0398+copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib7DpH4AHhJfYGZwYFxn6nHHGXHQkBjh4B5RwhKpH4oQ7os6oDFcHNaZYh0NJO7U4KYPk_NxVJ8FJHwkkzEMH_JiDAhZozCWJL81F2l51NmlV-m6QpGX_u34_oeUCFALGtkE2sOMONCKM/s400/Double+Falls_DSCN0398+copy.JPG" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Double Falls</b></span></td></tr>
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<h3>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Double Falls</span></span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; white-space: pre;"> </span></h3>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">After the third creek crossing, you’ll come to “Double Falls.” Actually Double Falls is composed of several stair-stepping drops, but has two primary falls. The trail runs right above them and makes a perfect platform for some tripod locations. Or you can easily climb down to creek level for some shots. Continuing upstream you’ll pass “Log Falls.” It’s a small waterfall with a couple of prominent logs near it. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI3KPgXcRmWw4n0EhdWfWGxHhdc97Oh0bBkzgEpKJxpdqGzuKGG-zqd7wvJXrbZcG5kDCLyv1kRzUeLjNT-83Y_Psfl6tkgEb-5bYiIBgxhtAUYNfAnzUZYGmvvdPqp0hW3b6tkqG4A94/s1600/Big+Branch+Falls_CSC_0340+copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI3KPgXcRmWw4n0EhdWfWGxHhdc97Oh0bBkzgEpKJxpdqGzuKGG-zqd7wvJXrbZcG5kDCLyv1kRzUeLjNT-83Y_Psfl6tkgEb-5bYiIBgxhtAUYNfAnzUZYGmvvdPqp0hW3b6tkqG4A94/s400/Big+Branch+Falls_CSC_0340+copy.JPG" width="265" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Big Branch Falls</b></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Big Branch Falls</span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large; white-space: pre;"> </span></h3>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Because of its 30-foot drop, the next waterfall is the main attraction on Big Branch. I call it “Big Branch Falls” because it is the largest waterfall on the creek. It sits in a semi-rounded cove and begs for exploration. Patience when approaching this waterfall is rewarded. Instead of bushwhacking a way to the falls when you first spot it from the trail, stay on the steeply inclined trail until you’re almost level with the top of the waterfall. At this point, an easy trail takes off downhill to the right and will deposit you at the base of the waterfall. The ground is relatively flat around the base of the falls, so you can move about freely. Right, left, and center, good photo ops abound. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOe5vwj_SWQVl8IirSK1PCDrXOsLA359Q6HbkmbYXTT3Zfh4xolRlT5OXPG3XQym4RTKWWhWEdy_4FY86HGwOdVfDrCXyTCzVzLGvAD6Pq1nVogO4ZVRWnl8O88D5ePIu9v1GMywF5dd4/s1600/Top+Fall_DSCN0439+copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOe5vwj_SWQVl8IirSK1PCDrXOsLA359Q6HbkmbYXTT3Zfh4xolRlT5OXPG3XQym4RTKWWhWEdy_4FY86HGwOdVfDrCXyTCzVzLGvAD6Pq1nVogO4ZVRWnl8O88D5ePIu9v1GMywF5dd4/s400/Top+Fall_DSCN0439+copy.JPG" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Top Falls</b></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Tops Falls</span></h3>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">After surveying Big Branch Falls, backtrack to the main trail and continue uphill. The next waterfall is not far. The Big Branch Trail flattens out for a bit and crosses Big Branch for the fourth time right above what I call the “Top Falls.” This waterfall is about ten feet high and sits across from the ruins of an old homestead. A rusty bucket and the remains of a stone house mark the location of the Berry family home. To learn the history of the home site check this web address <a href="http://www.nps.gov/neri/historyculture/discovering-berry-holler-and-big-branch-trail.htm" target="_blank">Berry Homestead</a>. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">At Top Falls I generally back track to the trailhead at Brooks Falls. But if you’re willing to hike another 1 ¼ mile, you can complete the loop trail. When the leaves are off, several scenic views of the gorge and river can be seen along the ridge top. The trail then descends steeply to the trailhead, offering scenic views of Brooks Falls along the way.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirHCZWmh9_E6ZiljtyQs43ryY9lGAokb3gmDRmIBKlm-mBffkuwQmNUbyDYM1gSdBSgkKfs54Br16yhshE2oJGXNoq9bA_hblQbW232wqZHseT6ZWFPr8SIs5BUkiyViEoZ1at1W-jc6s/s1600/Virginia+Bluebells_DSC_1130_01.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirHCZWmh9_E6ZiljtyQs43ryY9lGAokb3gmDRmIBKlm-mBffkuwQmNUbyDYM1gSdBSgkKfs54Br16yhshE2oJGXNoq9bA_hblQbW232wqZHseT6ZWFPr8SIs5BUkiyViEoZ1at1W-jc6s/s400/Virginia+Bluebells_DSC_1130_01.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Bluebell Patch</b></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Virginia Bluebell Patch</span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">If you’re exploring Big Branch in early spring, you might find the Berry homestead covered in Virginia Bluebells. Indeed, the Big Branch Trail is a hot spot for early spring flowers. So you can enjoy both waterfalls and wildflowers on your trek up the trail. The Big Branch Trail is a win-win for day hikers.</span><br />
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Ed Rehbeinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14543961915772555728noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1512397138822779880.post-4255919029989411992017-04-13T11:55:00.000-04:002017-04-15T10:04:55.834-04:00The Art of Wildflower Photography:<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Since spring is here, some tips on the art of wildflower photography might be appropriate. Let me begin by saying that I am only expressing my opinions about the subject. In my view, the qualities of a good wildflower photograph are those that: exalt the beauty, uniqueness, and character of a wildflower as seen and felt by the photographer in its natural setting. Delving deeper into the art of wildflower photography, I believe a good image employs the wildflower as a means of evoking emotions, provoking thoughts, and inviting the observer to explore the nature of self and the world. In this blog, I would like to share eight images that illustrate my approach to the art of wildflower photography.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipckciYc9WMzwQ7FHxbiTBm8GeApgoqb_ZAmdqzgP2NMcSUn0jofDtcp6Sajm7ylZDwnLxDEgfpq1i165X9SCz5oeK2svyWvw8-Xgx8gmKcdpcsiSmMA3e6kBEVOM2OsZiB8f0nKzlfis/s1600/Rehbein_purple+fringed+orchid.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipckciYc9WMzwQ7FHxbiTBm8GeApgoqb_ZAmdqzgP2NMcSUn0jofDtcp6Sajm7ylZDwnLxDEgfpq1i165X9SCz5oeK2svyWvw8-Xgx8gmKcdpcsiSmMA3e6kBEVOM2OsZiB8f0nKzlfis/s400/Rehbein_purple+fringed+orchid.JPG" width="278" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Purple Fringed Orchid</b></span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">Focus on the unique:</span></span></b><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif";"> </span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif";">This image of a purple-fringed
orchid highlights the intricate fringes of the orchid. By taking a profile view
of the flower head and by eliminating any background detail that would distract
or obscure the blossom, the fine structure of the fringes are highlighted. On a
deeper level, to me, the flowers resemble angels with out-stretched wings.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRhvgioWOIpVytk1jsSXBHpIgj_US9CzcLYfeDcvUnaYE6FD7_nPb6i9Z2z1GiJISnJbftmcwzF_X0crPSJ5L2lUPR6TdJpb3FEEQaIoKJsuPKG5IvBpvkB_A5ImXtLEIIBxiHhbztM2k/s1600/Rehbein_white+avens.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRhvgioWOIpVytk1jsSXBHpIgj_US9CzcLYfeDcvUnaYE6FD7_nPb6i9Z2z1GiJISnJbftmcwzF_X0crPSJ5L2lUPR6TdJpb3FEEQaIoKJsuPKG5IvBpvkB_A5ImXtLEIIBxiHhbztM2k/s400/Rehbein_white+avens.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>White Avens</b></span></td></tr>
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<h3>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Negative Space:</span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">In this image, a lone white avens sits by itself on a stem. When photographing a flower, it’s common to fill up the entire frame with the subject. But negative space, the area between and around the subject, often puts not less but more emphasis on the subject. In addition, the negative space assumes its own meaning. The image suggests that the flower is reaching out into a nebulous void in search of something enigmatic.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFz3AVrEO78dg9ZXJ3TRBg16GF5ncUBZZ-YM9QvdGr3PIoaH03BiG5CWac1JoJVoQa6Jkqkoa6mvrB26d2rPr0kAsZkSf5eJUVpvjp3yBv2izrIYkzm0T0QJVlWIydgt9aocYnQ0UJpo4/s1600/Rehbein_wild+columbine.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFz3AVrEO78dg9ZXJ3TRBg16GF5ncUBZZ-YM9QvdGr3PIoaH03BiG5CWac1JoJVoQa6Jkqkoa6mvrB26d2rPr0kAsZkSf5eJUVpvjp3yBv2izrIYkzm0T0QJVlWIydgt9aocYnQ0UJpo4/s400/Rehbein_wild+columbine.JPG" width="270" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Wild Columbine</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<h3>
<b><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">Concentrate
on the Bokeh:</span></span></b><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif";"> </span></h3>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif";">Bokeh
(pronounced Bough-kay) is a Japanese term for the subjective aesthetic quality
of out-of-focus areas of a photographic image. Simply put, it is “the
background blur.” Bokeh is a powerful tool that can richly add meaning to a
wildflower image. This is an image of a wild columbine. They are by nature a
very showy flower and can grow prolifically. In a patch of wild columbine, all
the blossoms seem to shout for attention. I lined up the background and
adjusted the blur, the bokeh, in this image to showcase the bloom—to let it
“show-off.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT1gbpI_iPJGNFs5Vv1A33Q81d9SUNHFEysbYHBMXRvmJ4OA1qIM7mjoyUinAmtJx0WprPFKDYawCmv_D7DMY7ZKMsOVyWaE0nOlRI9vKL33kCo1J9KWCIWjuO52Wk9i8gva_15jeheZk/s1600/Rehbein_Still+more+excellent+way.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT1gbpI_iPJGNFs5Vv1A33Q81d9SUNHFEysbYHBMXRvmJ4OA1qIM7mjoyUinAmtJx0WprPFKDYawCmv_D7DMY7ZKMsOVyWaE0nOlRI9vKL33kCo1J9KWCIWjuO52Wk9i8gva_15jeheZk/s400/Rehbein_Still+more+excellent+way.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<h3>
<b><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">Leave
Areas Out of Focus:</span></span></b></h3>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif";"> It seems counter-intuitive not to put an
entire flower blossom into clear focus. Yet, leaving part of the blossom softly
out of focus has a strong artistic effect. On one hand, the portion of the
flower that is in focus catches the eye and becomes the center of attention.
Meanwhile the soft focus region instills depth to the image, creating, in
effect, a three-dimensional feel.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnDfgq_D5gPS6Dxqxz55cWKUIE2uPF2B6leIxlu3IVrwiave3dP3nngp4mm3tpopCbOo96bwnilpWTTOfcUUAcme_lPNzcCidBuRsMuALSq6aWOdCMuUU0lkIyhbfloxAtbIm-OFzo4HU/s1600/Rehbein_turks-cap+lily.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnDfgq_D5gPS6Dxqxz55cWKUIE2uPF2B6leIxlu3IVrwiave3dP3nngp4mm3tpopCbOo96bwnilpWTTOfcUUAcme_lPNzcCidBuRsMuALSq6aWOdCMuUU0lkIyhbfloxAtbIm-OFzo4HU/s400/Rehbein_turks-cap+lily.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Turk's Cap Lily</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<h3>
<b><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">Black
Backgrounds:</span></span></b></h3>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif";"> A
colorful flower, such as this turk’s-cap lily, set against a black background
almost always produces a stunning image. In the studio, background color is
easy to control. In the wild, it takes more thought and technique. To achieve a
black background in the field, I lined up the shot so the flower was set in
front of the darkest background I could find. Then I set my light meter on spot
metering and centered it on the flower blossom. In full sun, the showy flower
was the brightest subject. My camera automatically lowered the exposure level
of the whole image, so the bright blossom was not over exposed while darkening
the background.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNtedmXhf139I2PZDYlKRsQwr3OPlqxm6IjM-9pWuK_LYqd1ugav9vihgxBrSz8SGSRWgcdF_F6zTiYE-W7NFipkg5YfPayfGOEBZiG-6GKTzS-OCVw5IpfDCkC0jXt9zI9S6ChWulIVw/s1600/Rehbein_tall+ironweed.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNtedmXhf139I2PZDYlKRsQwr3OPlqxm6IjM-9pWuK_LYqd1ugav9vihgxBrSz8SGSRWgcdF_F6zTiYE-W7NFipkg5YfPayfGOEBZiG-6GKTzS-OCVw5IpfDCkC0jXt9zI9S6ChWulIVw/s400/Rehbein_tall+ironweed.JPG" width="271" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Tall Ironweed</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<h3>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Maximize the Macro: </span></h3>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Macro settings and lenses allow for extreme close-ups, which enlarge the minute details of a wildflower bloom. The tall ironweed pictured here stood alone in a large field. A photograph of the whole plant or even the entire blossom head might not have been very interesting. But the macro lens image highlighted the fascinating and intricate flower structure. Frankly, I had not realized before the beauty inherent in the complex design of the ironweed wildflower. Although macro photography can be revealing, it can also be overdone. In my opinion, wildflower photography is not primarily an exercise in macro photography.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA6leBt7n4nW9pdlA7o_Ka86uwDyBtr6piokLnM44Qo7G9ocUTsQTrPfO6UDspkDAUGjFVt_myaPZdbg9EwTs59U-hMvz7hgHnw7rOOOHPreeCI_V8OeQsVX65CHVDATwz4vihhsIVArY/s1600/Rehbein-showy+sunflower.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA6leBt7n4nW9pdlA7o_Ka86uwDyBtr6piokLnM44Qo7G9ocUTsQTrPfO6UDspkDAUGjFVt_myaPZdbg9EwTs59U-hMvz7hgHnw7rOOOHPreeCI_V8OeQsVX65CHVDATwz4vihhsIVArY/s320/Rehbein-showy+sunflower.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Showy Sunflowers</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<h3>
<b><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Include Context: </span></span></b></h3>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">A
macro of one of these showy sunflowers might have made a good image. But
wildflower photography is naturally done in the wild. Capturing where
wildflowers live, their context so to speak, is important to me. So I chose to
put the lead flower in focus and let the others illustrate the beauty of the
whole stand of flowers.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbu8AN3zK2lfRhNa9qVBsCvSvMV5VUZ3T-8_XhM38H4fyZmydt28EAmk_3wj1gsYv0_BkWmPZY6voADcLlxJSsJRuFo_OkQzuQeoZn0d3INyCKqsCy_GY_GeQBr7M3mYHHI8c2xZbWVUU/s1600/Rehbein_deptford+pink.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="370" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbu8AN3zK2lfRhNa9qVBsCvSvMV5VUZ3T-8_XhM38H4fyZmydt28EAmk_3wj1gsYv0_BkWmPZY6voADcLlxJSsJRuFo_OkQzuQeoZn0d3INyCKqsCy_GY_GeQBr7M3mYHHI8c2xZbWVUU/s400/Rehbein_deptford+pink.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Deptford Pink</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<h3>
<b><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">Combine
Ideas: </span></span></b></h3>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif";">The blossom
in this image is a deptford pink, which is no larger than the tip of your
little finger. Yet, the fine detail of the flower is amazing. In this image I
tried to apply multiple ideas to bring out the best of this small wonder. I
used a macro lens to capture the fine detail of the flower. But I gave the
blossom some negative space to showcase its angular, grass-like structure. And
I employed the bokeh by varying the patches of background color. The light
yellow on the right profiles the newly forming bud while the green on the left
makes the pink flower stand out. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
Ed Rehbeinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14543961915772555728noreply@blogger.com28tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1512397138822779880.post-91412265623887165502017-04-06T13:08:00.001-04:002017-04-15T10:03:07.852-04:00Spring Wildflowers of the New River Gorge: Big Branch Trail<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The Big Branch Trail of the New River Gorge is another spring wildflower hot spot. Located on the River Road to Sandstone Falls, the Big Branch trailhead lies opposite Brooks Falls about 3.8 miles from Hinton. Across the road from Brooks Falls pick up the Big Branch Trail and take the left-hand fork when the trail divides. Before it reaches Big Branch, the trail, for a short stretch, parallels the River Road. In mid-April, along this part of the trail you can find Jack-in-the-Pulpit in bloom. After a short descent you meet Big Branch for the first time and must cross the creek. Since the stream does not have a large watershed, it’s generally a trickle in summer and fall. But in winter and spring, it’s full enough that you should plan to get your boots wet when crossing. In the lower stretch of Big Branch before the first stream crossing, bloodroot blossoms. As one of the first wildflowers to bloom, it really stands out among the colorless forest floor. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlNrLyIte8bXIe5ZWKs0M1lCAhLx4XrQHr5YI-E5T0OPQZL4aFw4is6bFm50EDWFCpokJbISrxMzKn1JQOHXTuMECNFsSfV92YOBwOC0WuTx1VvSajxx4RvDYXEeYmPmXPmtxkrAYF2DI/s1600/BB+Spring+Beauty_DSCN8141.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="340" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlNrLyIte8bXIe5ZWKs0M1lCAhLx4XrQHr5YI-E5T0OPQZL4aFw4is6bFm50EDWFCpokJbISrxMzKn1JQOHXTuMECNFsSfV92YOBwOC0WuTx1VvSajxx4RvDYXEeYmPmXPmtxkrAYF2DI/s400/BB+Spring+Beauty_DSCN8141.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Spring Beauty</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">After the first stream crossing, the trail ascends for about ¾ mile alongside the stream before leveling off at an old homestead. At this point, the Big Branch Trail crosses the creek a fourth time above a waterfall and leaves the stream. The trail continues from here for about a mile traversing the north slope of the Big Branch watershed and then making a steep descent to the New River and the trailhead. But as far as wildflower hunting goes, the old homestead is a good place to stop and turn around. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJXdtwiJP1aFlanG0DHZ9nXlpnwRHcPznnwX1U4NLbn7p5P9oJDQS8aHEIjS8kXO3MYU9metaVJ0a2uQX8thuCs-E5nx9gDDWdrhyyraKuFPeSSNCNQeo0BiT90gK2BU2k0bXLDG01e5U/s1600/BB_DSC_7094.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJXdtwiJP1aFlanG0DHZ9nXlpnwRHcPznnwX1U4NLbn7p5P9oJDQS8aHEIjS8kXO3MYU9metaVJ0a2uQX8thuCs-E5nx9gDDWdrhyyraKuFPeSSNCNQeo0BiT90gK2BU2k0bXLDG01e5U/s400/BB_DSC_7094.JPG" width="288" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Jack-in-the-Pulpit</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<h3>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">A Wildflower Revelation</span></span></h3>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The ¾ mile ascent of Big Branch is a wildflower revelation. Coltsfoot, an early bird of spring wildflowers, is common next to the stream. Purple trilliums cling in number on the banks of the trail opposite the creek. Spring beauty, foam flower, and cutleaf toothwort abound as well. Also present are miterwort, blue cohosh, wild ginger, large-flowered bellwort, toad trillium, rue anemone, wood anemone, trout lily, mouse-ear hawkweed, and Canada violet. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibBjO8uTDP2ZzrsPYaIkmpL-XXI9ZPjvyObGYEeLaQJ-qy5_Uu_OyXC3boyMGsVmeSxAdJzsiFB5JlHWFYgMmwVBTaW8jL9ANV_xfnVzhDHt_8dLNGQwEpcrOHEIcX6x4uoyHyMBYjP4A/s1600/BB+Trout+Lily_DSCN0576.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibBjO8uTDP2ZzrsPYaIkmpL-XXI9ZPjvyObGYEeLaQJ-qy5_Uu_OyXC3boyMGsVmeSxAdJzsiFB5JlHWFYgMmwVBTaW8jL9ANV_xfnVzhDHt_8dLNGQwEpcrOHEIcX6x4uoyHyMBYjP4A/s400/BB+Trout+Lily_DSCN0576.JPG" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Trout Lily</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<h3>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Dutchman’s Breeches</span></span></h3>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">But what I like most about the Big Branch trail are its large stands of Dutchman’s breeches and squirrel corn. I had always admired Dutchman’s breeches in identification books, but for some unknown reason never expected to see them in the wild. Yet I saw them first on Big Branch. Dutchman’s breeches is a brilliant white flower shaped like bloused, baggy pants hanging upside down in a row on a wash line. Because of their unusual shape, they are endless fun to photograph. In mid-April just after the Dutchman’s breeches fade out, squirrel corn pops up. Squirrel corn is a lovely, white, heart-shaped flower that also begs to be photographed. Squirrel corn and Dutchman’s breeches grow on the Rend Trail, too, but I like them best on the Big Branch Trail.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIcNcZ9YTcMUam9dYeu9X2dCYNsd7k-IuU7VuxWaFYZ8vHuJBOLbs3KH7Id8XzC72jXqCJXyBGzuofjEMtPXOVmjSKKtwheXpdzxBP6Sl32JC2dNpStM8zF97TeIimecltOqOVCDYNsSA/s1600/BB+CSC_6657_white+vin.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="258" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIcNcZ9YTcMUam9dYeu9X2dCYNsd7k-IuU7VuxWaFYZ8vHuJBOLbs3KH7Id8XzC72jXqCJXyBGzuofjEMtPXOVmjSKKtwheXpdzxBP6Sl32JC2dNpStM8zF97TeIimecltOqOVCDYNsSA/s400/BB+CSC_6657_white+vin.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Dutchman's Breeches</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<h3>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Virginia Bluebell Stand</span></span></h3>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The Big Branch Trail distinguishes itself with yet another wildflower display. At the ¾ mile turnaround point, the ground surrounding an old homestead is covered with a gorgeous stand of Virginia bluebells. In my opinion, this is one of the nicest displays of bluebells in the New River Gorge. It varies year to year, but I have found peak blooming time to be around mid-April.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWXcMzU3fheZFJLzPKmcVFryu-hUhht6_69L9oZaBpTFZGhhZhsBSEyv6WO6OELKF05bhhyphenhyphenQhTObP3yxplgXvIb1AnzWj7ohVHgJLEb6Q2Vj1Pw_j5ZgSuasPn27WJQKIkv4JIUwvBAaQ/s1600/BB+Virginia+Bluebells_DSC_1130.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWXcMzU3fheZFJLzPKmcVFryu-hUhht6_69L9oZaBpTFZGhhZhsBSEyv6WO6OELKF05bhhyphenhyphenQhTObP3yxplgXvIb1AnzWj7ohVHgJLEb6Q2Vj1Pw_j5ZgSuasPn27WJQKIkv4JIUwvBAaQ/s400/BB+Virginia+Bluebells_DSC_1130.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Virginia Bluebells</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<h3>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">14th Annual New River Gorge Wildflower Weekend</span></span></h3>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">If you would like to go on some guided wildflower hikes consider attending the Fourteenth Annual New River Gorge Wildflower Weekend hosted by the NPS and West Virginia State Parks. This year ranger-guided programs at local National and State Park sites will be held on April 28-30, 2017. For more information call Jodi French-Burr at 304-574-2115 or 304-465-2632.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi532XuSbdqbK8hvGlOPM6cvdaRur6RER6p36ZbLfVl4iluxIaNyE3V4MftCHjx3GghV7SEhW-UxExgzjA77NXDKCIGnsQWodRYmlZYZMW2WvQuwqmQG54aRjGMlZAOy_vqtsSD2sP00Bs/s1600/BB_Squirrel+Corn_DSC_7377_02.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="390" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi532XuSbdqbK8hvGlOPM6cvdaRur6RER6p36ZbLfVl4iluxIaNyE3V4MftCHjx3GghV7SEhW-UxExgzjA77NXDKCIGnsQWodRYmlZYZMW2WvQuwqmQG54aRjGMlZAOy_vqtsSD2sP00Bs/s400/BB_Squirrel+Corn_DSC_7377_02.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Squirrel Corn</b></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">For a book about exploring other scenic spots in West Virginia see this blog entry <a href="http://discoverwv.blogspot.com/2017/01/exploring-wilds-of-west-virginia.html" target="_blank">Exploring the Wilds of West Virginia.</a></span><br />
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Ed Rehbeinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14543961915772555728noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1512397138822779880.post-6284241208011323872017-04-01T14:18:00.000-04:002017-04-15T10:02:17.990-04:00Spring Wildflowers of the New River Gorge: The Rend Trail<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">As the last snows of winter linger, it’s comforting to know that spring will come and flowers will bloom. And it’s true what they say about spring wildflowers; they sprout up out of nowhere. As chaotic and uncertain as the world seems to be, we can still count on spring wildflowers to carpet the forest floor. The best place to spot spring wildflowers are on the trails that run along the bottom of the New River Gorge. The National Park Service (NPS) maintains many such trails. In this blog I’d like to feature one of these trails and point out which spring wildflowers to look for.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi08DT0Askx9EiGwlZxRqN59fFELTNJ8JHpRC74qWhW9ZnVfJewYQiPzzbVsa_0JbCVywbVEFTWV1KnuTtjzn2oQJe2PTR9s1OFmlQhzB4M0Xv4KMA5RWmkDn5frTCtRpsREPb3_vSWqAo/s1600/Rounded-leaved+Ragwort_CSC_5475.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi08DT0Askx9EiGwlZxRqN59fFELTNJ8JHpRC74qWhW9ZnVfJewYQiPzzbVsa_0JbCVywbVEFTWV1KnuTtjzn2oQJe2PTR9s1OFmlQhzB4M0Xv4KMA5RWmkDn5frTCtRpsREPb3_vSWqAo/s400/Rounded-leaved+Ragwort_CSC_5475.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Rounded-leaved Ragwort</b></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">The Rend Trail</span></span></h3>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Hiking the NPS Rend Trail will reward spring wildflower seekers. The Rend trailhead is on the road to Thurmond and is not far from the Stone Cliff trailhead. Directions according to the NPS are as follows: “From U.S. Route 19 north of Beckley, take the Glen Jean-Thurmond exit. Take an immediate left, and go 0.5 miles to Glen Jean. Take a right and follow the signs to Thurmond (WV Route 25). The trailhead is on the left, 5.1 mile down WV Route 25.”</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAwGCARoK4PhwDPxIUczjHJxgYMMqSFY8wts13EbRyCwYn212ZSZK6U9xuzBr2mRatdboZpz7pp8MiGR1525qfmToanvPhoIt5imiTePW0Cz3iiXmW1LDYBVBrq4Js0DefZMZU4aCGrr0/s1600/Common+Fleabane_DSC_5374.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAwGCARoK4PhwDPxIUczjHJxgYMMqSFY8wts13EbRyCwYn212ZSZK6U9xuzBr2mRatdboZpz7pp8MiGR1525qfmToanvPhoIt5imiTePW0Cz3iiXmW1LDYBVBrq4Js0DefZMZU4aCGrr0/s400/Common+Fleabane_DSC_5374.JPG" width="265" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Common Fleabane</b></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Mid-April</span></span></h3>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Rather than finding a lot of the earliest spring wildflowers, Phyllis and I like the Rend Trail for wildflowers that bloom in middle to late April. Common fleabane, wild strawberry, wild blue phlox, Dutchman’s breeches, squirrel corn, Solomon’s seal, false Solomon’s seal, and wild geranium are common. But the main attraction of the Rend Trail for us is Jack-in-the-Pulpit and a special stand of trillium. Jack-in-the-Pulpit abound on the Rend Trail. This uniquely formed spring wildflower is a favorite of ours. About a mile from the trailhead, it is found in numbers on the uphill banks of the trail. Along this segment of the trail, Jack seems to pop his head up every other step you take. Being photographers, we like the challenge of trying to capture images of Jack-in-the-Pulpit, which is not easy since “Jack” likes to hide under a large, overhanging leaf. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj59bLfoqqLLHfRUvvU3S8e_ERzdCXX_hxm1v4FHHQdAnLSg4T4B2OgA218oi0StZxfSuCmneY36wg9HMeLowsv4geppHvAhyphenhyphenQJfRHn9V0Y0ESIRKq8Iz6bPy9bgVV0z6lk4IqT_PHJl-8/s1600/CSC_7268.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj59bLfoqqLLHfRUvvU3S8e_ERzdCXX_hxm1v4FHHQdAnLSg4T4B2OgA218oi0StZxfSuCmneY36wg9HMeLowsv4geppHvAhyphenhyphenQJfRHn9V0Y0ESIRKq8Iz6bPy9bgVV0z6lk4IqT_PHJl-8/s400/CSC_7268.JPG" width="265" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Jack-in-the-Pulpit</b></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Trillium Galore</span></span></h3>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">About 1 ½ miles from the trailhead, the Rend Trail meets the Arbuckle Connector Trail, which descends to the South Side Trail. Take this connector trail to its intersection with the South Side Trail. Near the intersection of the two trails, there’s a stand of trillium well worth seeing. The trillium is white wake robin that extends on both sides of the trail in lavish numbers. If you time it right and catch the trilliums when they’re fresh, the abundant blossoms are a sight to behold. To be sure, this stand of wildflowers is a little off the Rend Trail, but is worth the extra effort. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH7mf1Map1INcysL2v684IaqHWrPIKLjJ3hcM060y_Y_LQhLmfQCBixnEX2L4k13jhyduerGZ4iF343Wop0DP2d4eO3cU_L0sz3OMgiU0iVxZiDOQPb3PvsYdbiuji_j5A7iv7H5qKMa4/s1600/DSC_4899.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH7mf1Map1INcysL2v684IaqHWrPIKLjJ3hcM060y_Y_LQhLmfQCBixnEX2L4k13jhyduerGZ4iF343Wop0DP2d4eO3cU_L0sz3OMgiU0iVxZiDOQPb3PvsYdbiuji_j5A7iv7H5qKMa4/s400/DSC_4899.JPG" width="265" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Trillium</b></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Note:</span></span></h3>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Judging by what I saw on March 30th of this year, I’d say the trillium will be out early. I estimate they will hit peak around April 7th.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKtYEKyc1gJt9G0IjFMXUo9ebhtfp2FTBpQ8TR4omsPEXGROOM3t7MbGjISMdcjpgVyNtkEKHCBjmhu__dlYZ2tExxO-LEpuAJO6ssJh-7EsSCCEstKajCZPdS3O9uSVZk7JQGWEu7F9Q/s1600/Wild+Blue+Phlox_CSC_5387.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKtYEKyc1gJt9G0IjFMXUo9ebhtfp2FTBpQ8TR4omsPEXGROOM3t7MbGjISMdcjpgVyNtkEKHCBjmhu__dlYZ2tExxO-LEpuAJO6ssJh-7EsSCCEstKajCZPdS3O9uSVZk7JQGWEu7F9Q/s400/Wild+Blue+Phlox_CSC_5387.JPG" width="265" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Wild Blue Phlox</b></span></td></tr>
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Ed Rehbeinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14543961915772555728noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1512397138822779880.post-42167893522406199372017-03-25T13:16:00.000-04:002017-04-15T09:55:58.887-04:00Spring Wildflowers of the New River Gorge: Stone Cliff Trail<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: 0in;">As winter gives way to spring, wildflowers begin a mad dash to grow and reproduce. Sunlight drives this sudden spurt of flowers, for spring wildflowers must do all their lovely work while the forest is not yet fully leafed out. Spring wildflower plants must grow, blossom, set seed, and store energy for next spring while sunlight still hits the forest floor. The spring flowers cannot flourish on the forest floor if shaded by trees fully leafed out. Thus spring heralds a rush of wildflowers gracing the woodlands of West Virginia. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiooK-dG-MiZbR8vAj2Juqr8gFdrLoXItfskbLYVEUPIwCVLkPWCWUssuaPIaT9JZ8sx9HA8TnRAw8Ub_KBiBNwsqpivgxGp-MDVM6gCOd_O8BH-dzTlWiUSwlJ8JdkgIu6fgQULKqcuJo/s1600/Hepatica++DSC_5765_109.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="388" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiooK-dG-MiZbR8vAj2Juqr8gFdrLoXItfskbLYVEUPIwCVLkPWCWUssuaPIaT9JZ8sx9HA8TnRAw8Ub_KBiBNwsqpivgxGp-MDVM6gCOd_O8BH-dzTlWiUSwlJ8JdkgIu6fgQULKqcuJo/s400/Hepatica++DSC_5765_109.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Hepatica</b></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: 0in;">First Blooms in Mid-March</span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Here in southern West Virginia, spring wildflowers first begin blooming in mid-March to early April near the bottom of the New River Gorge where it is the warmest. It’s no surprise then that the best place to spot spring wildflowers are on the trails that run along the bottom of the gorge. The National Park Service (NPS) maintains many such trails. In this blog I’d like to feature one of these trails and point out which spring wildflowers to look for. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYQrivaH-Vr8OrAsZU7y8N-_FNP9pYFfQyS5E4pMbeyI8VgqhsX3BSwDimvjyXmHvIrOIW50zO7I7xsU7NrlY1nD8pjzIev6Oz_4d4eUkvSlQ4LQosBcTQk4Or33UQeuwW0_UTEpTrb2k/s1600/Persian+Speedwell_CSC_4867.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYQrivaH-Vr8OrAsZU7y8N-_FNP9pYFfQyS5E4pMbeyI8VgqhsX3BSwDimvjyXmHvIrOIW50zO7I7xsU7NrlY1nD8pjzIev6Oz_4d4eUkvSlQ4LQosBcTQk4Or33UQeuwW0_UTEpTrb2k/s400/Persian+Speedwell_CSC_4867.JPG" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Speedwell</b></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: 0in;">Stone Cliff Trail: A Wildflower Hot Spot</span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">For the past four or five years, my wife Phyllis and I have found the NPS Stone Cliff Trail to be a spring wildflower hot spot. Here are directions to the trailhead as posted by the NPS: “From U.S. Route 19 north of Beckley, take the Glen Jean-Thurmond exit. Take an immediate left, and go 0.5 miles to Glen Jean. Take a right and follow the signs to Thurmond (WV Route 25). Continue for 6.0 miles to a three-way intersection. Bear right and go 1.5 miles on this road. Take a right on the gravel road, just before the bridge crossing over the New River. Continue past the boat launch to the parking area. The trail begins beside the picnic area.”</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM6r3It9uI-W5feinYaFiC5zfPi7JAx529p0aZA4BaZqt46lriq40EoG9uQAF_tYJxoz12G-tCpz1aCxSXTGSxstDO5uojJp-jQr8vVcDh3SPsI_PWBPI3Uzio4VelhsnyKHx66tHLgUA/s1600/Bloodroot_DSC_5538-2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM6r3It9uI-W5feinYaFiC5zfPi7JAx529p0aZA4BaZqt46lriq40EoG9uQAF_tYJxoz12G-tCpz1aCxSXTGSxstDO5uojJp-jQr8vVcDh3SPsI_PWBPI3Uzio4VelhsnyKHx66tHLgUA/s400/Bloodroot_DSC_5538-2.JPG" width="308" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Bloodroot</b></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: 0in;">Earliest Wildflowers</span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Some of the earliest wildflowers grow on this trail. Bloodroot is an early spring wildflower that is common along this trail. Its brilliant white flower is always a welcome sight. After a mild winter, we spotted the first Bloodroot about the middle of March. It might blossom a week or two later after a seasonable winter. Another early spring wildflower prolific along this trail is sharp-lobed hepatica which blooms in late March and early April. Its lavender to deep purple petals really brighten up the forest floor. Trout lily are also common. They are easily identified by their curved, bright yellow flower petals and mottled green leaves. These also bloom from late March to early April. Most of the wildflowers are easiest to spot growing on the bank on the uphill side of the trail. Many also grow on top of the bank. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5RiO6Y3FrE_RokY4u25gWycRlJp-ZFcHHtweEgZguNmHc1JgJ223n8dbYVZc-IwmC-pE7tRObflsi4h0Xx3otiN5EVAYlkWXtHioq8mbAZ5rIpTW3awp7E6V3JbmPOq68sQH4BCvSKXw/s1600/Toad+Trillium+DSC_6542+copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5RiO6Y3FrE_RokY4u25gWycRlJp-ZFcHHtweEgZguNmHc1JgJ223n8dbYVZc-IwmC-pE7tRObflsi4h0Xx3otiN5EVAYlkWXtHioq8mbAZ5rIpTW3awp7E6V3JbmPOq68sQH4BCvSKXw/s400/Toad+Trillium+DSC_6542+copy.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Toad Trillium</b></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Mid-April Bloomers</span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Later in mid-April, trilliums are found along this trail. Wake robin or purple trillium is common. Also present is the ever beautiful large-flowered trillium with its brilliant white petals arranged in a cluster of three. But the real attraction in the trillium family is the less common sessile trillium or toad trillium. Phyllis and I found toad trilliums on the Stone Cliff Trail back in 2013 and have kept watch on them every spring since then. Toad trillium differs from other trillium in that the flower head is stalkless, emerging directly from the three leaf whorl. Unlike other trilliums, the leaves are mottled green and dark green. Finally the flower petals do not open, but remain closed and standing upright. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr6anYQraHcs5LQ-bz30M232I4Lf0hiGYn-iH6EK4mlBhd9Ryzzkz0fkg-wSAVq4Bc6As-oDWAnROR12_ZPxoOxTrvWhRgXZR2GvkjJOLB_IvT9RlTArrhmRk9MpN8HxIPTgWa4qPl3HU/s1600/DSC09006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr6anYQraHcs5LQ-bz30M232I4Lf0hiGYn-iH6EK4mlBhd9Ryzzkz0fkg-wSAVq4Bc6As-oDWAnROR12_ZPxoOxTrvWhRgXZR2GvkjJOLB_IvT9RlTArrhmRk9MpN8HxIPTgWa4qPl3HU/s400/DSC09006.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Spring Beauty</b></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br />Many other species of spring wildflowers line the Stone Cliff Trail including spring beauty, long-spurred violet, rue anemone, star chickweed, windflower (wood anemone), golden ragwort, and Canada violet. This isn’t a comprehensive list, but suggests just how prolifically spring wildflowers grow on the Stone Cliff Trail.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL_5aJqCLy72lvu6xIC4PYcxj2h8VioCFCKpEPX3JHZt7LCDuovo4Cxxj4QH18QHsxj0t4jEdNLPJMmvQbq43sUDBgU8bg127GHyymZQp-Jn3XrJ0v84pE5NbfJ_Wvf5HIca851d7IcHY/s1600/CSC_4619.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL_5aJqCLy72lvu6xIC4PYcxj2h8VioCFCKpEPX3JHZt7LCDuovo4Cxxj4QH18QHsxj0t4jEdNLPJMmvQbq43sUDBgU8bg127GHyymZQp-Jn3XrJ0v84pE5NbfJ_Wvf5HIca851d7IcHY/s400/CSC_4619.JPG" width="265" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Trout Lily</b></span></td></tr>
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Ed Rehbeinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14543961915772555728noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1512397138822779880.post-48189870839300145172017-02-06T12:17:00.000-05:002017-04-15T10:04:06.534-04:00More Adventure from my book “Exploring the Wilds of West Virginia”: Wolf Creek Falls<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Wolf Creek is well named. It’s wild, intimidating, and untamed. It charges down the slopes of the New River Gorge like a wild animal. Not surprisingly, Wolf Creek Falls are rough and rugged, too. Fortunately, you don’t have to hike far to find them because they’re just off a paved road. But as if lying in wait, they are quite hidden from the road, and undoubtedly thousands of visitors to the gorge drive right by them unaware of the awesome waterfall just a few feet from them.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1n1YwYwTOTH5Dfbe-T2dzR70NcdGWzHT9LZt_DmS6DyEin9FWl9OD81MyfxprqHKSzVdJDKJxHXOVsO36_K-iOnc2NS3aHmk7QIhJDm9F4cv8Wp3IqCpCIvpFfWjFCTEn_IGZ8GYgvVA/s1600/WC+DSC_9919+copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="245" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1n1YwYwTOTH5Dfbe-T2dzR70NcdGWzHT9LZt_DmS6DyEin9FWl9OD81MyfxprqHKSzVdJDKJxHXOVsO36_K-iOnc2NS3aHmk7QIhJDm9F4cv8Wp3IqCpCIvpFfWjFCTEn_IGZ8GYgvVA/s400/WC+DSC_9919+copy.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Wolf Creek Falls</b></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Hidden Treasure</span></h3>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">To find this hidden treasure of the gorge, you’ll need to drive into the New River Gorge and back out again. Starting from the Canyon Rim Visitor Center at the north end of the New River Gorge Bridge turn right out of the parking lot and drive two-tenths of a mile. Make a very sharp right hand turn, and proceed downhill a tenth of a mile to a junction with the Fayette Station Road. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcFDINvOLqF99hHzC2EcFZKWhHRPCEJIxpt2kJtlefMerCcgeLfYYir3C2qWD1EOCiEk_cLKT6DVrMyOXxzfGw4RGti8TtGV8eLCuaVwmZpE7olUzFvSOd3fd_BR3y7M1rbtNFfdfQpmo/s1600/CSC_0188+copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcFDINvOLqF99hHzC2EcFZKWhHRPCEJIxpt2kJtlefMerCcgeLfYYir3C2qWD1EOCiEk_cLKT6DVrMyOXxzfGw4RGti8TtGV8eLCuaVwmZpE7olUzFvSOd3fd_BR3y7M1rbtNFfdfQpmo/s400/CSC_0188+copy.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>View from Fayette Station Bridge</b></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Fayette Station Road</span></h3>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Fayette Station Road is a one-way, paved road that switchbacks its way down the north side of the New River Gorge and up the south side. The road goes under the New River Gorge Bridge twice, crosses the New River on Fayette Station Bridge, and has numerous views of the gorge and the river. Four-wheel drive isn’t needed for this road, and it’s the best route by car to get a feel for the beauty and majesty of the New River Gorge. Stop before you cross Fayette Station Bridge and walk out on the bridge for great views of the New River Bridge and Gorge. As you ascend the south side of the gorge look for a trailhead in the middle of a very wide switchback. This is the trailhead parking for NPS Fayetteville Trail (#5) and Kaymoor Trail (#8) (GPS: Lat. 38.05950, Long. -81.08051).</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpz08-62qhojrUeyH5HphDyk5b9wYQqe_4b63gFSWuEPVnD8eB9E-8vUpod7pWBMkuJdpzGsZf_tbaugwSNNBPK7jvGTtXz053NbSMZq3L6RiDEoH0P1XFuYz5PJY5j5b12uuiL4cz8zQ/s1600/WC+DSC_9968_PS.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpz08-62qhojrUeyH5HphDyk5b9wYQqe_4b63gFSWuEPVnD8eB9E-8vUpod7pWBMkuJdpzGsZf_tbaugwSNNBPK7jvGTtXz053NbSMZq3L6RiDEoH0P1XFuYz5PJY5j5b12uuiL4cz8zQ/s400/WC+DSC_9968_PS.JPG" width="265" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Wolf Creek Falls</b></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Wolf Creek Falls</span></h3>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Wolf Creek Falls is below the road and a little downstream from the trailhead parking. Walking downhill on the outside edge of the switchback, you’ll notice a few indistinct paths dropping down to the creek. These will lead to Wolf Creek Falls. Be forewarned, the descent is steep, rocky, and choked with rhododendron. Wolf Creek Falls has a picturesque drop, massive boulders at the bottom, and a lovely, emerald-green plunge pool. Wolf Creek Falls is truly a hidden treasure of the New River Gorge. But then, there are many other such jewels in the gorge. So if you have a taste for adventure and discovery, head for the New River Gorge.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMT46uqcFpPRDcLgB9A76XQs3lI0ozmWn0ppDquJHNEM7IHnX88s-0nKzBuQ7eyTRqAujX1GR_T0-IAE_7VmGxSJg7DmFthNx3XCbBVxMrksY03uPcGA42Vj1az80BrZXopbBkxikqUL0/s1600/WC_Falls+copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMT46uqcFpPRDcLgB9A76XQs3lI0ozmWn0ppDquJHNEM7IHnX88s-0nKzBuQ7eyTRqAujX1GR_T0-IAE_7VmGxSJg7DmFthNx3XCbBVxMrksY03uPcGA42Vj1az80BrZXopbBkxikqUL0/s400/WC_Falls+copy.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Wolf Creek Falls</b></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">This and other waterfalls of the New River Gorge are highlighted in my new book, “Exploring the Wilds of West Virginia: A Hiker’s Guide to Beauty off the Beaten Path.” See a prior post about my book at <a href="http://discoverwv.blogspot.com/2017/01/exploring-wilds-of-west-virginia.html" target="_blank">NEW BOOK</a></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>New Book</b></span></td></tr>
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Ed Rehbeinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14543961915772555728noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1512397138822779880.post-2240951782182452432017-01-23T14:03:00.000-05:002017-01-24T14:49:31.803-05:00The Wonder of White Oak Falls<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">“As I approached White Oak Falls on my second visit, a shaft of light was shifting across the face of the falls. I had to work fast to get this shot. I scampered up the rocks and into the basin below White Oak Falls, hurriedly set up my tripod in the stream bed, and, while trying to keep my wits, started shooting as quickly as possible. You just never know what you're going to find when you take a walk in the woods with your camera. The world changes day-by-day, minute-by-minute. How exciting!” from <b><i>West Virginia Waterfalls: The New River Gorge</i></b> by Ed Rehbein and Randall Sanger. Click <a href="http://our-wv.com/photography/photographers/ed-rehbein-wv-photography/books/west-virginia-waterfalls-the-new-river-gorge/" target="_blank">HERE.</a> </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>White Oak Falls</b></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The Great Mystic</span></h3>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">White Oak Falls is the great mystic of southern West Virginia waterfalls. A beam of light seemingly sent from the heavens illuminates the falls adding a magical quality that few other waterfalls possess. What’s more it happens regularly—usually mid to late afternoon. Photographs of this blade of light crossing the face of White Oak Falls create a uniquely moody waterfall image.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7m2JvFalki9wZWQd0mH_DHZJKzBV1Sep_xKD5np0BvY8rgptrQi3WwemwogeVlB88AY2oMf-cjGEvpo1qpU7EedQDUAiluBuW7HtE2Giu4218fwKHrJuh-AOFwtWF-MbhObMl60XarYo/s1600/WO+DSCN8880+copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7m2JvFalki9wZWQd0mH_DHZJKzBV1Sep_xKD5np0BvY8rgptrQi3WwemwogeVlB88AY2oMf-cjGEvpo1qpU7EedQDUAiluBuW7HtE2Giu4218fwKHrJuh-AOFwtWF-MbhObMl60XarYo/s400/WO+DSCN8880+copy.JPG" width="295" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">White Oak Falls</b></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Easy to Get There</span></h3>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">White Oak Falls is both easy and difficult to get to. It’s easy in that it’s about a 1.75 mile hike from Brush Creek falls (described in an earlier post <a href="http://discoverwv.blogspot.com/2016/09/brush-creek-falls-trail-short-hike-to.html" target="_blank">BRUSH CREEK FALLS).</a> The trail is very gently graded and follows Brush Creek to its confluence with the Bluestone River. It then parallels the Bluestone River to its confluence with White Oak Creek. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXePTZbupRJlrgQGi6blzKS7RSvbjo03RB0aC-bIz2RtshJtjieml2pOVcF2bZuhYdYxbwhxAq7tsBOYGCWUxnp5Etyey9q20wyqOqKMLz76sbGxLq3hkok2qBcu-30v6-y2DFW-C2pJ4/s1600/WO+DSC_0587+copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXePTZbupRJlrgQGi6blzKS7RSvbjo03RB0aC-bIz2RtshJtjieml2pOVcF2bZuhYdYxbwhxAq7tsBOYGCWUxnp5Etyey9q20wyqOqKMLz76sbGxLq3hkok2qBcu-30v6-y2DFW-C2pJ4/s400/WO+DSC_0587+copy.JPG" width="333" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">White Oak Falls</b></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Difficult to Climb</span></h3>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It’s difficult in that the trail ends at the shores of the Bluestone where White Oak Creek meets the river. The lower falls of White Oak Creek begin right at the Bluestone, where White Oak Creek makes a couple of short drops and runs before flowing into the river. The upper falls, barely visible from the bottom, are sheltered by a large rock amphitheater protected on both sides by steep slopes.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHhTTZdJ7T6J7GHFoFa5PVTMIjsyZ6ZKjEDd6dY-YoY6bQyy3f8mK5MIpti_VTp6gasvHvC4z3O8NJUq7RrEAYcZnj0HgToWtmPN0pb9hwsYrdDu-LRwLBRcGONOJhEktXIRBUdDmegmk/s1600/WO+DSC_1052_BW_BRT38.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHhTTZdJ7T6J7GHFoFa5PVTMIjsyZ6ZKjEDd6dY-YoY6bQyy3f8mK5MIpti_VTp6gasvHvC4z3O8NJUq7RrEAYcZnj0HgToWtmPN0pb9hwsYrdDu-LRwLBRcGONOJhEktXIRBUdDmegmk/s400/WO+DSC_1052_BW_BRT38.JPG" width="321" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>White Oak Falls</b></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Worth </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">the Effort</span></h3>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Looking up at the falls, the right-hand side seems to be the easier path to the amphitheater. But there is a tight spot where you must hug a small round cliff to get upstream. It’s easier, but riskier. The left-hand side requires more climbing, mostly on very steep soil slopes, but I believe with a good pair of hiking boots, it’s the safer way. At any rate, it’s a difficult ascent but for the hale and hearty it’s worth the effort. </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>White Oak Falls</b></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">For more about White Oak Falls see my new book “Exploring the Wilds of West Virginia: A Hiker’s Guide to Beauty off the Beaten Path.” Click here for a <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R_H91uioGBs" target="_blank">VIDEO</a> and for more info or to purchase click <a href="http://our-wv.com/photography/photographers/ed-rehbein-wv-photography/books/exploring-the-wilds-of-west-virginia-a-hikers-guide-to-beauty-off-the-beaten-path-clone/" target="_blank">HERE.</a> </span><br />
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Ed Rehbeinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14543961915772555728noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1512397138822779880.post-60095666360072381082017-01-16T14:39:00.001-05:002017-01-23T14:04:26.814-05:00Exploring the Rock Pinnacle at Meadow River<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Towering sandstone cliffs, a boulder-lined riverbed, and rolling whitewater rapids–sounds like the New River. But it isn’t. And there’s more. A rock walled grotto, a 30-foot sandstone pinnacle, a little stone chapel, and a couple of waterfalls. Where is this place? I’m referring to the Lower Meadow River. In some respects, it’s like the New River and then some. Indeed, if I had only one day to hike in Southern West Virginia, I’d head for the Meadow River. It offers so much and is so accessible. In my new book “Exploring the Wilds of West Virginia,” I point out a couple of hikes and points of interest along the Meadow River. Let me mention one of those in this blog—the sandstone pinnacle. </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Meadow River</b></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">How Do You Get There?</span></h3>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">So how do you get to this wild river? It’s surprisingly easy. The best access is at the Kevin Ritchie Memorial Bridge, which crosses the Meadow River on U.S. Highway 19. While driving U.S. 19, I noticed from time to time a few cars parked off the berm just north of the bridge (GPS: Lat. 38.15305, Long. - 80.92434). I made a mental note to check it out some day. And my only regret is that I didn’t do it sooner. As it turns out, this is a great spot from which to explore the Meadow River both upstream and downstream. By the way, if you enjoy exploring areas that are off the beaten path, then be watchful for parking spots such as this one. They may lead you to some interesting places.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">At any rate, hike down the dirt road that parallels U.S. 19. After passing a waterfall on your left, a few yards further down look for an obvious fork in the road. It’s next to a large rock outcrop with an overhanging ledge. The left fork is the best way to explore the Meadow River upstream. Take this road to its end at the Meadow River and turn left on a road that runs along the north side of the river. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFjNnkWRc2CMmWTtoZ_uVTeU_Ayt6XL6_rzy85v891Iau8o5Cb1PdqUeF5hOiVGWhIhFnpUYbcg4JZ9OE3wzAMz9ZG4oFwFwTvUEn1DXQZGQpobYgMjss6bW9gqkJoAmqCLl_D7xVZaCM/s1600/1stBt_66-68+copy_01.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFjNnkWRc2CMmWTtoZ_uVTeU_Ayt6XL6_rzy85v891Iau8o5Cb1PdqUeF5hOiVGWhIhFnpUYbcg4JZ9OE3wzAMz9ZG4oFwFwTvUEn1DXQZGQpobYgMjss6bW9gqkJoAmqCLl_D7xVZaCM/s400/1stBt_66-68+copy_01.JPG" width="288" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>The First Buttress</b></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Upper Meadow Walls</span></h3>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">To explore the upstream cliffs called the “Upper Meadow Walls,” hike the road for about three quarters of a mile. Look for a faint path breaking off to the left toward the cliffs. If you come to a little camp by the river’s edge, you’ve gone too far. Backtrack about 80 paces to find the trail to the cliffs. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz4ixIt8H9hyphenhyphenciPn_-azqmLpd_pxgGy-v6XNMZd4sNsahaSTIbN93149QYyL8r1-8pLLNHDWyBdb1GrH0O4xgqLwg8MUUBkeCZtRepAuUhGTEG5ON_y5vZ-KJNJtIQsQuFYOss_IZt-iQ/s1600/Rock_Pinnacle-2+copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz4ixIt8H9hyphenhyphenciPn_-azqmLpd_pxgGy-v6XNMZd4sNsahaSTIbN93149QYyL8r1-8pLLNHDWyBdb1GrH0O4xgqLwg8MUUBkeCZtRepAuUhGTEG5ON_y5vZ-KJNJtIQsQuFYOss_IZt-iQ/s400/Rock_Pinnacle-2+copy.JPG" width="265" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>The Pinnacle</b></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The Pinnacle</span></h3>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The trail leads to the base of one of the tallest set of cliffs that I’ve seen in the New River Region. Called the First Buttress, it’s a vertical to slightly overhanging wall of sandstone some 120 to 140 feet high. The wall is orange and brown from weathering and will have you craning your neck to appreciate it. Continue to the right along the base of the cliffs to the Second Buttress, and remember there are surprises around every corner. In this case, you’ll be amazed by a column of sandstone some 30 to 40 feet high. Pinnacles or pillars of stone are fairly rare around here and are exciting to find. This one is mushroom shaped with a tree growing on top. The pinnacle guards the entrance to a deep V-shaped notch in the cliff wall. This secluded cove of stone, called the “Grotto” by rock climbers, has a couple of small caves, some overhanging roofs of stone, and a trickle of water down the back wall. </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">The Pinnacle</b></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">There’s much more to explore at the Meadow River all of which is covered in my new book “Exploring the Wilds of West Virginia: A Hiker’s Guide to Beauty off the Beaten Path.” </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">For more info or to order book online click <a href="http://our-wv.com/photography/photographers/ed-rehbein-wv-photography/books/exploring-the-wilds-of-west-virginia-a-hikers-guide-to-beauty-off-the-beaten-path-clone/" target="_blank">HERE.</a></span><br />
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Ed Rehbeinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14543961915772555728noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1512397138822779880.post-89801683194341993332017-01-07T14:23:00.000-05:002017-04-15T10:08:34.799-04:00Fascinating Places Described in “Exploring the Wilds of West Virginia” <h3 style="margin-left: 0in; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: 0in;">A New World Emerges at Summersville Lake </span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">When the Corps lowers the water to winter levels at Summersville Lake, fascinating landscapes emerge. Nestled in the woodlands of West Virginia, an island of dry, desiccated, desert-like scenes arise from the once water-covered land. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbuLhU9RywJ7iBOQ1D_LE_8iy3_q7UO8GeMX95LuyfIXC5OOr9h2rlxP9viuldoZdqWUtXDkiQTKPS6Q8G8WYlgevJe2hvxzbgYBY2ZMNXEIT4JR5jExJHNCV81YhUmh-BgV1LM5GhQ0o/s1600/SL+Castle08-11xx-crp-en+copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="341" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbuLhU9RywJ7iBOQ1D_LE_8iy3_q7UO8GeMX95LuyfIXC5OOr9h2rlxP9viuldoZdqWUtXDkiQTKPS6Q8G8WYlgevJe2hvxzbgYBY2ZMNXEIT4JR5jExJHNCV81YhUmh-BgV1LM5GhQ0o/s400/SL+Castle08-11xx-crp-en+copy.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Long Point</b></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: 0in;">Beautiful Boulders</span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Perhaps the first thing you’ll notice are bold, beautiful, snow-white boulders of all shapes and sizes. The rocks are rough and angular and piled chaotically. It’s like a scene from another world. The rocks are brilliant white because they’re below the water level during the summer and being submerged for so much of the year, they aren’t stained by the oxidation and weathering of iron-bearing minerals. So the rocks are in their most pristine state. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQEa3JR4hBMPicZXO7YFdhGPszb7nZzTw-OE8tArmSYRIVLC5vQ449Ah9WRzihggA-0RsGjG98fDVYnYZp3VPYmfh2U9IKTM-TB50Rjf1nlY7ih8JzprS6hZRIjBt-qBHtTVZdpi5wLZ0/s1600/SLP-MoonRx+copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="245" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQEa3JR4hBMPicZXO7YFdhGPszb7nZzTw-OE8tArmSYRIVLC5vQ449Ah9WRzihggA-0RsGjG98fDVYnYZp3VPYmfh2U9IKTM-TB50Rjf1nlY7ih8JzprS6hZRIjBt-qBHtTVZdpi5wLZ0/s400/SLP-MoonRx+copy.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Long Point</b></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Stunning Cliffs</span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">These beautiful boulders have fallen from the gorgeous cliffs that circle Summersville Lake. Long Point stands out like a stone fortress. It’s a photographer’s delight presenting dramatic poses from several viewpoints. At Pirate’s Cove a waterfall pours over the cliffs, and at Whippoorwill trees precariously cling to the cliffs. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4t07rGHXFp3NLWNJb6ZZ1UMZ-Vro5Wul68r6ZQnNpdu6Im6WBIaQ6cWiwkWIEjZJalRczk5_nrrj5FfEheOsXMSTjiLiEZ1wWj7xzW6W7QFQBsdbN9KRERX30kyQ4Ri8k1NILEFrDzsY/s1600/SL+Back+Cover_1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4t07rGHXFp3NLWNJb6ZZ1UMZ-Vro5Wul68r6ZQnNpdu6Im6WBIaQ6cWiwkWIEjZJalRczk5_nrrj5FfEheOsXMSTjiLiEZ1wWj7xzW6W7QFQBsdbN9KRERX30kyQ4Ri8k1NILEFrDzsY/s400/SL+Back+Cover_1.JPG" width="290" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Long Point</b></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br />Phantom Forests</span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">You’ll also notice tree stumps poking up between the boulders. The stumps were left when the Corps cleared the slopes of the lake in the early 1960's prior to filling it. Since all the soil has been winnowed away by the waters of the lake, the roots of the trees have been laid bare and resemble the arms of an octopus. The textures of the tree stumps are fascinating, too. The bark is gone, but the wood beneath is not rotten. Rather it’s dried, cracked, and desiccated and either chocolate brown or silver gray in color. A cluster of these old tree stumps looks like a phantom forest. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsG7rs8YT3ZBlPr2pqM2HsWAzidEMZ0pjt5gHuseE2kAnKAxmayUXQqvxVys2DhyphenhyphenOASq5tXBXnJC_uRAY3NuYQlGibtzc4PaqqCx0QnOkoyKwBuPXAanZl4hfzaNo7_7Sl-ub0HwcOTnM/s1600/SL+Rehbein-SumLake-14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsG7rs8YT3ZBlPr2pqM2HsWAzidEMZ0pjt5gHuseE2kAnKAxmayUXQqvxVys2DhyphenhyphenOASq5tXBXnJC_uRAY3NuYQlGibtzc4PaqqCx0QnOkoyKwBuPXAanZl4hfzaNo7_7Sl-ub0HwcOTnM/s400/SL+Rehbein-SumLake-14.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Pirate's Cove</b></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: 0in;">Three Handy Access Points</span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">So how do you see these unusual sights? Three handy access points are described in <b><i>“Exploring the Wilds of West Virginia.”</i></b> One is Long Point, which is reached by a 1.75 mile trail that starts near the archery range at the lake. Second is near Pirate’s Cove. The trailhead is just north of the US 19 bridge crossing the lake. And the third is off Whippoorwill Road just south of the bridge. All three hikes are described in detail in the book.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxNRekb5380ewGjGABYyJGrgR4_vRBfJtimKnYjo7TiioZ2CysV9qEt55lKO6ZYYulu4R9UjQFIZFCqqKg0kYIuxprjK7zx0vn2tqK5kTbIt5dRx9EEl02_Xu-YNgNaJd7_mT4DqEmB8s/s1600/SL+DSCN7457+copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxNRekb5380ewGjGABYyJGrgR4_vRBfJtimKnYjo7TiioZ2CysV9qEt55lKO6ZYYulu4R9UjQFIZFCqqKg0kYIuxprjK7zx0vn2tqK5kTbIt5dRx9EEl02_Xu-YNgNaJd7_mT4DqEmB8s/s400/SL+DSCN7457+copy.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Whippoorwill</b></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">As I mentioned, the terrain below the water level at the lake resembles a desert. The rocks are bare and craggy, and the vegetation is sparse. If you didn’t know better, you might think you were in Arizona or New Mexico. But for West Virginia, it truly is a new world.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy1ga_PZsOFhHhv5zMFSewOKCi49lw5KUbp50_o8W3FDqVFr549P60G1nO9mJB5cc-l-Qkbj0icUaXMQMDJ_R71RyW2TKV-VK07ELVGfGo88CITel6MGBRy9DwKGqrk3LMKCyJF3hVHD0/s1600/SL+DSC_5087+copy+copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy1ga_PZsOFhHhv5zMFSewOKCi49lw5KUbp50_o8W3FDqVFr549P60G1nO9mJB5cc-l-Qkbj0icUaXMQMDJ_R71RyW2TKV-VK07ELVGfGo88CITel6MGBRy9DwKGqrk3LMKCyJF3hVHD0/s400/SL+DSC_5087+copy+copy.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Pirate's Cove</b></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">For more information about the book or to purchase click <a href="http://our-wv.com/photography/photographers/ed-rehbein-wv-photography/books/exploring-the-wilds-of-west-virginia-a-hikers-guide-to-beauty-off-the-beaten-path-clone/" target="_blank">HERE</a></span></div>
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Ed Rehbeinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14543961915772555728noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1512397138822779880.post-60582714301483206382016-12-19T14:51:00.001-05:002016-12-19T14:59:07.202-05:00Six Waterfalls of the Midland Trail<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">“The Midland Trail is more than a road; it’s a virtual history book. Originally a crude pathway worn by buffalo and the early pioneers, it stretches from White Sulphur Springs westward to Kenova, zigzagging along rivers, over mountains and through lush valleys. Along the way it touches just about every aspect and time period of West Virginia’s story—coal mines and chemical plants, Civil War battlefields and historic churches, ancient Native American burial mounds and African-American slave quarters” (Highway to History, by James E. Casto).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">To celebrate this historic road, I’ve chosen to highlight some of the waterfalls that line U.S. 60 from just east of Gauley Bridge to Charlton Heights. Some of these waterfalls, like Cathedral Falls, are well-known landmarks. But most are smaller and lesser known seasonal waterfalls that flow best in the winter and spring months during periods of rain and thaw. Although they don’t run all year long, when in season, these waterfalls are as pretty as any the State has to offer. So starting at Cathedral Falls and running west on U.S. 60 here are photographs of six waterfalls along the Midland Trail.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLiPm5w8i4zsEF1GJndSW42IcZ_gLHYDI1VT4h__eE16FdcCmt0dLbmniId8yNB6rSBtSN3qJX5ns4X5FxC8C-SwF2pkJrxK3sfFZz8VLjoFAJQIrwVVjH8lgVWlK6YwOjSetWW96qQl0/s1600/DSC_4588+copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="230" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLiPm5w8i4zsEF1GJndSW42IcZ_gLHYDI1VT4h__eE16FdcCmt0dLbmniId8yNB6rSBtSN3qJX5ns4X5FxC8C-SwF2pkJrxK3sfFZz8VLjoFAJQIrwVVjH8lgVWlK6YwOjSetWW96qQl0/s400/DSC_4588+copy.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Cathedral Falls</b></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Cathedral Falls</span></h3>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Cathedral Falls is located at a roadside stop a mile east of Gauley Bridge on US 60. This is one of the premier waterfalls of West Virginia. Lucia Hyde Robinson mentions in her Forward in West Virginia Waterfalls: The New River Gorge, a book of waterfall photography by Randall Sanger and me, that Cathedral Falls might have been named by her father, the renowned West Virginia photographer, Arnout Hyde, Jr. That would be fitting because more than any single individual, Arnout Hyde, Jr. popularized the natural beauty of West Virginia.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_K8B97cKLrR1VorLNSXzsqkHqPg34bbtu6XG7Tqmc6XClul92HnVUYaMfcRwnqEzCUCNug1BsvlPDed4C4QibLdN-k5M9PTVaVslfH_e4ixmY2rVix9hNb4lKq3bpi9quVbkFonyZtew/s1600/Laurel+Creek+Falls_381-83+copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_K8B97cKLrR1VorLNSXzsqkHqPg34bbtu6XG7Tqmc6XClul92HnVUYaMfcRwnqEzCUCNug1BsvlPDed4C4QibLdN-k5M9PTVaVslfH_e4ixmY2rVix9hNb4lKq3bpi9quVbkFonyZtew/s400/Laurel+Creek+Falls_381-83+copy.JPG" width="293" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Hidden Falls</b></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Hidden Falls</span></h3>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Lying on Laurel Branch, Hidden Falls is about a half a mile west of Cathedral Falls on U.S. 60. To be sure, this waterfall seems unimpressive, if visible at all, from the highway--thus the name Hidden Falls. But there are pull-offs on the river side of the highway for parking, and the hike up to the falls is short. Your hike will be rewarded by a waterfall with a single vertical drop of about 60 feet. Hidden Falls has the distinction of being the last waterfall in the New River Gorge. Just a half a mile downstream, the New River merges with the Gauley River to become the Kanawha River. In addition to being the last waterfall in the Gorge, it just might be the tallest, too. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPust0hu3UCRg3HJs8iyu8A84tuFDzdJii6HRoDWcEIxH0yt75hW5CvBGaUG7IWgE6OA7scbKl0h-3fYde_ZTqsu6v6M95D7x6TSwwhD4_3_eqtTT74PtKwtMwc1a8R7SFsaRUjlV-goc/s1600/DSC_3836+copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPust0hu3UCRg3HJs8iyu8A84tuFDzdJii6HRoDWcEIxH0yt75hW5CvBGaUG7IWgE6OA7scbKl0h-3fYde_ZTqsu6v6M95D7x6TSwwhD4_3_eqtTT74PtKwtMwc1a8R7SFsaRUjlV-goc/s400/DSC_3836+copy.JPG" width="265" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Riggs Branch Falls</b></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Riggs Branch Falls</span></h3>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Another hidden, but very attractive waterfall lies on Riggs Branch just off of U.S. 60 about a half a mile west of the Glen Ferris Inn. There’s a large parking area on the river side of the road just before the highway crosses the railroad tracks. This is the safest place to park since the shoulders of U.S. 60 are quite narrow and the highway is close to the rail line at Riggs Branch. The falls at Riggs Branch are protected in a narrow cove in the sandstone cliffs near the road. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The watershed for Riggs Branch is even smaller than that of Laurel Creek, so the best time to visit is definitely in late winter or early spring. Although not as tall as the waterfall at Laurel Branch, when the water is running well, Riggs Branch Falls are very photogenic. Half way down its vertical plunge, the waterfall strikes a hollowed out ledge in the sandstone cliff. Hitting this ledge, the water is thrust up and out before making the last vertical descent into the plunge pool. The effect is striking and dramatic making it a wonderful waterfall to photograph.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVwsDKgL2aD2EmFQH9aa0qbSsYxj2gPda-YN09CwfQE78MtrM8W6rhvVlFOGrtbN3IaCUr90zxNWJGOpFmUoFDjUZQRLz1lfyn325nzXbu8SJxlxhBnX1dXz5JbMBR2raXGSQkrNJP86s/s1600/DSC_3895+copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVwsDKgL2aD2EmFQH9aa0qbSsYxj2gPda-YN09CwfQE78MtrM8W6rhvVlFOGrtbN3IaCUr90zxNWJGOpFmUoFDjUZQRLz1lfyn325nzXbu8SJxlxhBnX1dXz5JbMBR2raXGSQkrNJP86s/s400/DSC_3895+copy.JPG" width="288" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Seasonal Falls</b></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Seasonal Waterfall</span></h3>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Just 2000 feet south of Riggs Branch Falls lies an attractive seasonal waterfall. Its watershed is small, so it’s best to catch it after a very heavy rainfall or several days of steady rain. Nevertheless, when the creek is full, the waterfall is quite pretty. It stair-steps over several sandstone ledges as it descends to the Kanawha River. It’s easy to find as a large pullout is right at the falls. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuJE0QcSN3xZwuhgWMeEowa1OO_0HjoNw7ifK2_9Q5VqcSlZS_LbrlwdvP49pglBgLaYj3mP9b2a1HH6u_ta4PsatUVklw4YsRmF8QTMw53Z3qmFNH-DXpfqTIyWLp9CXcx3Xfi6LmOig/s1600/DSC_4525+copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuJE0QcSN3xZwuhgWMeEowa1OO_0HjoNw7ifK2_9Q5VqcSlZS_LbrlwdvP49pglBgLaYj3mP9b2a1HH6u_ta4PsatUVklw4YsRmF8QTMw53Z3qmFNH-DXpfqTIyWLp9CXcx3Xfi6LmOig/s400/DSC_4525+copy.JPG" width="242" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Lower Wall Falls</b></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Wall Falls</span></h3>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">About a mile south of the previous waterfall on U.S. 60 and just before the town of Charlton lies a waterfall I’ve dubbed the “Wall Falls.” At the head of the waterfall is a wall about 20 feet high constructed of stone blocks. Although I’ve asked, no one yet has been able to tell me why the wall was built. It does form a retaining wall for the creek crossing of an old road that sits atop the wall and perhaps that’s its purpose. The watershed for this falls is quite small, so you have to also catch it in periods of heavy flow. If you climb to the top of the wall, at Wall Falls, you’re treated with a second waterfall that descends in stair-step fashion over a substantial drop. So the Wall Falls are really two waterfalls in one. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb8qN0x3hfWC1-DAEBwGP4vL48POYr7U1_K9-RxHi_sEbB03mtptVwURO04lWQ72S1SC2zfbbWInVLV6kiLlXwWDfgipnlpVzow4m5hp4-12OI7jmXR0zH0jsSgBvGev2arFqpSLeSr-Y/s1600/DSC_4529+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb8qN0x3hfWC1-DAEBwGP4vL48POYr7U1_K9-RxHi_sEbB03mtptVwURO04lWQ72S1SC2zfbbWInVLV6kiLlXwWDfgipnlpVzow4m5hp4-12OI7jmXR0zH0jsSgBvGev2arFqpSLeSr-Y/s400/DSC_4529+copy.jpg" width="265" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Upper Wall Falls</b></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">This brings our tour of the waterfalls of the Midland Trail to a close. These seasonal waterfalls along U.S 60 are at their very best in late winter and early spring. When winter seems to be its dreariest, I suggest you take a drive along the historic Midland Trail and visit these beautiful waterfalls</span><br />
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Ed Rehbeinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14543961915772555728noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1512397138822779880.post-61775557483228036992016-12-05T15:50:00.001-05:002016-12-13T14:26:59.364-05:00Five Waterfalls of the New River Gorge<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Nestled in the steep slopes of the New River Gorge are hundreds of rugged waterfalls. These waterfalls are fertile ground for nature lovers offering challenging hikes and striking landscapes. Having published a photo book of the waterfalls of the New River Gorge, I’d like to share five of those waterfalls that really stand out. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Cathedral Falls</span></h3>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Let’s start with picturesque Cathedral Falls, which is located on US Highway 60 one mile east of Gauley Bridge, WV. Since the falls are located at a roadside rest stop, access is easy. You can literally step out of your vehicle and start photographing the falls. Descending 60 feet in a series of three dramatic drops within a large semi-circular rock amphitheater, Cathedral Falls is as photogenic as they come. Easy access generally means plenty of visitors and photographers, so you have to be patient and creative to get a photograph. To eliminate people in the foreground, I generally work my way around the left side of the rock amphitheater for close-ups of the falls. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha1pXBtjV1L38O8Lcjd_HKb1Z5vBqx5lEM6qLNFXxSuCfvMwWw2eLvKGEwNeceAs4KhJhG4Mnq9QuQzGcyxGhkapws6gY2jub63BTZw_aGaHcriKvCIzEUo9dXa6Fx6TqlPVGtpSasH1c/s1600/Cathedral+Falls+DSC_7168+copy+copy_edited-1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha1pXBtjV1L38O8Lcjd_HKb1Z5vBqx5lEM6qLNFXxSuCfvMwWw2eLvKGEwNeceAs4KhJhG4Mnq9QuQzGcyxGhkapws6gY2jub63BTZw_aGaHcriKvCIzEUo9dXa6Fx6TqlPVGtpSasH1c/s400/Cathedral+Falls+DSC_7168+copy+copy_edited-1.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Cathedral Falls</b></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Turkey Creek Falls</span></h3>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The next waterfall is only six miles down the road. From the parking lot at Cathedral Falls, turn left onto US Highway 60 and drive to Hawks Nest State Park. From the State Park Lodge take the tram from the cliff top down to Hawks Nest Lake. From the tram station pick up the Fisherman’s Trail, which skirts the northern shore of Hawks Nest Lake. A pleasant 0.8 mile walk along the lake ends at the falls on Turkey Creek. This waterfall is best photographed after some heavy summer rains. At full flow the falls split into three segments at the top, which merge in the middle and split again into three segments at the base. Total drop is about 35 feet. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyStu7ZlWXrI9I6SWxUAjDOXcSkIw0UEepm9toSPS4DQXERFcdWPjpUgxoZj-pw9nWkWlbByMGCMoAx6uAf9YIEB6NWYwqHsZP3jGvmHcewbaceH2v0mZTp-ZjIaVT2TGzX-AsFdrKmqY/s1600/Turkey+Creek+Falls+DSC_0224+copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyStu7ZlWXrI9I6SWxUAjDOXcSkIw0UEepm9toSPS4DQXERFcdWPjpUgxoZj-pw9nWkWlbByMGCMoAx6uAf9YIEB6NWYwqHsZP3jGvmHcewbaceH2v0mZTp-ZjIaVT2TGzX-AsFdrKmqY/s400/Turkey+Creek+Falls+DSC_0224+copy.JPG" width="272" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Turkey Creek Falls</b></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Fern Creek Falls</span></h3>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The next stop is one of the classiest and most unique waterfalls in the Gorge. Starting at the parking lot at the Canyon Rim Visitor Center, turn right out of the lot and drive 1/10 of a mile. Make a very sharp right hand turn, and proceed downhill another 1/10 of a mile to the junction with Fayette Station Road. Turn left and go yet another 1/10 of a mile to a pull out on the right-hand shoulder of the road, which is the trail head parking. It’s only a mile to Fern Creek Falls, but the trail is rocky and uneven. Indeed the path is merely a bushwhacked trace forged by rock climbers seeking access to the base of the cliffs that rim the uppermost portion of the Gorge. Although the trail forks from place to place, if you hug the base of the cliffs, called the Endless Wall, you won’t go wrong. The trail ends at the falls, so you can’t miss them. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Flanked by the 60 foot high Endless Wall, Fern Creek Falls epitomize a New River Gorge waterfall—rough and rocky. Fern Creek Falls are really two falls in one. During average runoff, the falls are confined to a deep, vertical cleft in the cliff. At high water, the best time to visit the falls, part of the waterfall shoots over the cliff edge and plunges for about 50 feet into a pool below. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdZ4Sqdpfn0Iw1vPZGTlTlTyZF318oTcicy-q8XCPoGxOaGgtp7x8dUlI-D1-mREmHMQWr8KRgmQUFw8qENud0D4OFknVSaYxwgw1S551lDzS75KR2ZS4_uP_SFO4lXUBuhXDUUpRJdtA/s1600/Fern+Creek+Falls+CSC_6835+copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdZ4Sqdpfn0Iw1vPZGTlTlTyZF318oTcicy-q8XCPoGxOaGgtp7x8dUlI-D1-mREmHMQWr8KRgmQUFw8qENud0D4OFknVSaYxwgw1S551lDzS75KR2ZS4_uP_SFO4lXUBuhXDUUpRJdtA/s400/Fern+Creek+Falls+CSC_6835+copy.JPG" width="286" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Fern Creek Falls</b></span></td></tr>
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<h3>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Wolf Creek Falls</span></h3>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The next waterfall is just across the Gorge. From the Fern Creek trailhead parking, backtrack and drive down Fayette Station Road, which goes under the New River Gorge Bridge, winds down the side of the canyon, and crosses the New River at Fayette Station Bridge. After crossing Fayette Station Bridge, drive one mile to the second hairpin curve in the road. There’s parking in the curve for the Kaymour Trailhead. Wolf Creek parallels the road at this point and is well named. It’s a untamed torrent that charges down the slopes of the New River Gorge like a wild animal. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Not surprisingly, Wolf Creek Falls are rough and rugged, too. They aren’t visible from the road, so most visitors drive right passed them. The falls are below the road and a little downstream from the trailhead parking. Walk downhill on the outside edge of the switchback in the road until you notice a few indistinct paths dropping down to the creek. These lead to Wolf Creek Falls. Be forewarned; the descent is short, but steep, rocky, and choked with rhododendron. The bushwhack trail opens up halfway down with spectacular views of the falls to your right. Making your way to the base of the falls, you can enjoy the emerald-green plunge pool and vividly colored boulders. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZBOy9LOW7JqefiEr2IPCo4M8y7V75-fD17q9E_10Kj-4cHdvqEBt4egoiMwxFIfu6WIe9rEZWTvlJc5-q_0yhuSwoEO9L9VN16dlf_eYW1F8Yh67-zlKkDG-UejE4CFXNPG-i2-yqgos/s1600/Wolf+Creek+Falls+DSC_9937+copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZBOy9LOW7JqefiEr2IPCo4M8y7V75-fD17q9E_10Kj-4cHdvqEBt4egoiMwxFIfu6WIe9rEZWTvlJc5-q_0yhuSwoEO9L9VN16dlf_eYW1F8Yh67-zlKkDG-UejE4CFXNPG-i2-yqgos/s400/Wolf+Creek+Falls+DSC_9937+copy.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Wolf Creek Falls</b></span></td></tr>
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<h3>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Sandstone Falls</span></h3>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">No tour of the New River Gorge waterfalls would be complete without a stop at Sandstone Falls. According to a database of waterfalls world-wide, Sandstone Falls rank 19th by width and 33rd by volume. In Hinton at the end of the bridge crossing the New River, turn right and take the River Road for 9 miles to Sandstone Falls. There are plenty of good viewpoints of the New River along the way, including a roadside picnic area at Brooks Falls, about half way up the road to Sandstone Falls.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Sandstone Falls are easily explored by a ¼ mile, handicapped accessible boardwalk that crosses two bridges and leads to islands and observation decks offering views of the falls. But for the finest views, it’s best to leave the boardwalk for a little off trail scrambling. Just a few feet before the end of the boardwalk, there’s a path leading to the right. It leads to a shallow water crossing and onto an island. At this point, I prefer to bear a little to the left and head toward the river bank. This takes you to two more small water courses that separate islands and puts you on the lead island that sits right in front of Sandstone Falls. The falls can be viewed along the full length of the upstream edge of the island, which is fortunate, because Sandstone Falls are not just one waterfall, but many. The main falls are more than 800 feet wide, average 20 feet high, and are composed of many segments of distinctive character. To me this is one of the most magnificent views in all of West Virginia. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Many more falls line the New River Gorge, but I hope these five whet your appetite for waterfall hunting in the Gorge. <a href="http://discoverwv.blogspot.com/2016/08/getting-most-from-trip-to-sandstone.html" target="_blank">Sandstone Falls</a> <a href="http://discoverwv.blogspot.com/2016/10/for-waterfalls-galore-hike-up-marr.html" target="_blank">Marr Branch Falls</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://discoverwv.blogspot.com/2016/11/new-river-gorge-waterfalls-award.html" target="_blank">New River Gorge Waterfalls Photo Book</a> <a href="http://discoverwv.blogspot.com/2016/10/ramsey-branch-falls-hidden-gem.html" target="_blank">Ramsey Branch Falls</a> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://discoverwv.blogspot.com/2016/08/pipestem-falls-making-come-back.html" target="_blank">Pipestem Falls</a> <a href="http://discoverwv.blogspot.com/2016/08/the-second-most-popular-waterfall-at.html" target="_blank">Elakala Falls</a> <a href="http://discoverwv.blogspot.com/2016/09/brush-creek-falls-trail-short-hike-to.html" target="_blank">Brush Creek Falls</a></span><br />
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Ed Rehbeinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14543961915772555728noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1512397138822779880.post-4111032606391206252016-12-01T14:22:00.000-05:002016-12-01T14:27:33.825-05:00Hiking Long Point: A Doorway to a New World<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">If you’re looking for something unusual, exotic even, in a West Virginia landscape, Long Point is just the ticket. Long Point is a rugged promontory of sandstone that juts like a fortress into Summersville Lake, a 2800-acre impoundment in Nicholas County, West Virginia, just off US Route 19. During weekends in September and October, water is released from the dam into the Gauley River to provide plenty of white water and rapids for rafters and kayakers. The lake level is eventually lowered by 75 feet to its winter pool elevation of 1,575. The landscape below normal lake level is stunning, and hiking and exploring it will leave you awed. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The Long Point Trail</span></h4>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The Long Point trailhead (GPS: Lat. 38.23387, Long. -80.86593) is located at an archery range near the Summersville Airport. Before you leave your vehicle, make sure you’ve packed a camera because you’re going to be rewarded with a visual feast! It’s an easy 1.8 mile hike out to Long Point as the trail gently undulates through the forest. It follows an old road for about a half a mile before branching off along a broad ridge that progressively narrows as you approach Long Point. The Corps of Engineers has placed signposts at ½ mile intervals, so you can easily measure your progress. </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Long Point</b></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">At the trail’s end a sign is posted saying: “Warning, Trail Ends Here.” It doesn’t. But it does mean that you have to be careful, for beyond the sign you’ll be near sheer rock cliffs and open fissures in the rocks. Don’t be put off by this. Just watch your step for the next 50 to 100 feet, and you’ll walk out onto the tip of Long Point. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">At the Point</span></h4>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Now it’s time to get your camera out. The promontory at Long Point once sat above a sweeping, horseshoe bend in the Gauley River. Now it stands as a castle surrounded by Summersville Lake. At the end of the point, you’re treated to a nearly 360-degree panorama of sky, rock, and water. </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Long Point</b></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">At this point, you will have been well rewarded for your efforts, but quite frankly the best is ahead. When you’ve soaked in all the scenery at Long Point, return to the sign marking the end of the trail. From the sign post pace off 150 steps along the trail away from the point. This should put you close to two small pine trees growing about a foot apart. Turn to the left and follow a “bush-wacked” trail–a path worn down by occasional hikers. It leads to a depression near the edge of the cliff. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Descend in the Cleft</span></h4>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Now here’s where nature has been kind. The cliffs at Long Point are shear and steep, over 100 feet high, and normally only rock climbers could scale down to the base of them. But to the left of the depression you’ll find the head of a narrow cleft in the massive rock walls of the cliffs. This crevice is like an enclosed stairway which runs from the top of the cliff to the bottom. It’s easy to negotiate and not a bit dangerous. In fact, the rock walls surround you as you descend. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Emerge in a New World</span></h4>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">You emerge from the crevice at the base of the cliffs. If you’re visiting Long Point during low water levels between November and April, then hold your breath because you’re about to enter a landscape unlike any other in West Virginia. As you emerge from the crevice, perhaps the first thing you’ll notice are bold, beautiful, snow-white boulders of all shapes and sizes. The rocks are rough, angular, and piled chaotically. It’s like a scene from another planet or a lunar landscape. The rocks are brilliant white because they’re below the water level during the summer, and being submerged for so much of the year, they aren’t stained by the oxidation and weathering of iron-bearing minerals. So the rocks are in their most pristine state.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">You’ll also notice tree stumps poking up between the boulders. The stumps were left when the Corps cleared the slopes of the lake in the early 1960's. Since all the soil has been winnowed away by the waters of the lake, the roots of the trees have been laid bare and resemble the arms of an octopus. The textures of the tree stumps are fascinating, too. The bark is gone, but the wood beneath is not rotten. Rather it’s dried, cracked, and desiccated and either chocolate brown or silver gray in color. In some ways, the environment below the water level at the lake resembles something out of the desert southwest. The rocks are bare and craggy, and the vegetation is sparse. If you didn’t know better, you might think you were in Arizona or New Mexico. It is truly a new world.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Hike Around Long Point</span></h4>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Even though the terrain is rough and rocky, with care you can hike through it. If you walk to the left (east), you’ll catch your first glimpse of Long Point towering above you. Long Point is naturally photogenic. This dazzling promontory invites photography. As you make your way around the promontory, it changes character, presenting new facets, and seems to pose for pictures–all striking and inspiring. </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Long Point</b></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">After rounding the bend below Long Point, double back and explore the ground just below the point. You’ll find arches, crevices, and a giant chamber enclosed by steep walls of stone. Once you’ve taken in all the scenery you can, make your way back to the cleft. You can’t miss it. It’s behind a huge pyramid of stone–a block of sandstone that’s fallen from the cliffs and now lies on its side.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Long Point</b></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">A Temple of Stone </span></h4>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">John Muir fell in love with Cathedral Peak in the Sierra Nevada Mountains of California and wrote of it: “From every point of view it shows marked individuality. It is a majestic temple of one stone, hewn from the living rock.” Perhaps you’ll feel the same about Long Point. I do. </span><br />
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Ed Rehbeinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14543961915772555728noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1512397138822779880.post-1785155828203157912016-11-28T14:22:00.002-05:002023-09-26T14:24:48.223-04:00New River Gorge Waterfalls: Award Winning Photography Book <span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">What others are saying about West Virginia Waterfalls: The New River Gorge by Ed Rehbein and Randall Sanger. </span><br />
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<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">“More than 100 waterfalls grace the cliffs and canyons of the New River Gorge and its tributaries. This book invites you the savor this untapped wealth of beauty in two enjoyable ways—by viewing photographs of these waterfalls and by experiencing them for yourself. </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large;"><b>Laurel Creek Falls</b></span></td></tr>
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<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">“Photographers, hikers, and nature lovers Ed Rehbein and Randall Sanger have photographed some of the most beautiful places in the New River Gorge, plus—provided maps and information on how to visit each waterfall yourself. The pull-out hiking guide will keep you on the path to your own Appalachian Adventures.” <b>Book Cover</b></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large;"><b>Pirate's Cove</b></span></td></tr>
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<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">“The New River Gorge is such a beautiful place that it is often said photos don't do it justice. This photography certainly does. Ed Rehbein and Randy Sanger have successfully captured not only the beauty of these waterfalls, but the emotion and the majesty they impart. These two avid hikers have also provided all the information necessary should one want to experience any of these locations firsthand. Their book is a combination of breathtaking photography and informative yet succinct details. It belongs on the coffee tables of outdoor enthusiasts and fine art lovers everywhere.” </span><b style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Audrey Stanton-Smith, Former Editor, <i>West Virginia South Magazine</i> </b><br />
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<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">“Every one of all ages can appreciate the sheer beauty of one of nature’s most delicate and breath-taking works of art, the waterfall. It wasn’t until I experienced these glorious masterpieces through the pages of “West Virginia Waterfalls: The New River Gorge” that I could truly appreciate the natural beauty of the Mountain State. The captions bring a vivid experience through the personal thoughts of the photographers as they make their way through the wilderness to the falls. I could feel their heart-pounding anticipation as they began shooting the photographs. This book captures the whole experience of visiting these falls without leaving home! I, for one, must dust off my hiking boots and get going!” </span><b style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Karen G. Lilly</b><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"> </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMiRnPf6sr8uli0gp9blOJel-Bh5mTVlBlZobodfV39-RTwknQ72Y7Ig-O8nnvrptgtrKgYFaQlaKpWAV0FoJhEE3vyJpMvHGzG0IpajHptffxsSR2ouyRIMEbmUAMuWBXBwOZBa3Dmo8/s1600/126_Ramsey+Branch_DSC_5425_Final+copy.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMiRnPf6sr8uli0gp9blOJel-Bh5mTVlBlZobodfV39-RTwknQ72Y7Ig-O8nnvrptgtrKgYFaQlaKpWAV0FoJhEE3vyJpMvHGzG0IpajHptffxsSR2ouyRIMEbmUAMuWBXBwOZBa3Dmo8/s400/126_Ramsey+Branch_DSC_5425_Final+copy.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large;"><b>Ramsey Branch Falls</b></span></td></tr>
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<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"> “Readers of Wonderful West Virginia magazine know the hallmarks of an Ed Rehbein outdoor adventure story: writing that conveys a deep reverence for nature and stunning photography. In this beautiful book, Ed and fellow photographer and nature lover Randall Sanger give readers not only breathtaking images of waterfalls but engaging and lyrical anecdotes about how they discovered and captured the views. Their stories of slippery slopes and treacherous descents are nearly as breathtaking as the falls! This rare volume, truly a labor of love, will soon have you packing a lunch and heading off to the New River Gorge.” </span><b style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Sheila McEntee, former Editor of <i>Wonderful West Virginia</i></b><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large;"><b>Turkey Creek</b></span></td></tr>
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Ed Rehbeinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14543961915772555728noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1512397138822779880.post-51548744345835147322016-11-22T14:05:00.000-05:002016-12-13T14:31:06.886-05:00The Healing Power of Nature’s Beauty<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>“Beauty alone is a sovereign remedy against fear, grief, and melancholic fits.”</i> <b>Robert Burton</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">When my wife, Phyllis, and I were younger, our hikes were all about distance, pace, and destination. But over time our hikes became a journey and the beauty of nature became our pursuit. Wildflowers we once briskly passed over without a glance now captivated us. Time and again, as Phyllis and I explored terrain unfamiliar to us, we would be overtaken by the joy of finding and photographing a new wildflower or waterfall. I vividly recall holding my camera’s view finder to my eye while scanning the landscape of Dolly Sods in Tucker County, and thinking to myself, “This is more beauty than one soul can drink in!” I was enthralled by what I saw. The beauty of nature profoundly moved me. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXK1zLnn1qayfSpC5mmaX2udPh3Irs9nkuyPvYoAFuTo5lnZ4Lf1FsH5w3xH0HntUP-g-_upqeTJDd3SNx65AjXceVKU5MUpZ1qByzPl-fY6BkuMSLMCXoM8MHRChY-STNOWzX_ZG0FDY/s1600/HPN_DSC_4844_CF2_AC+copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXK1zLnn1qayfSpC5mmaX2udPh3Irs9nkuyPvYoAFuTo5lnZ4Lf1FsH5w3xH0HntUP-g-_upqeTJDd3SNx65AjXceVKU5MUpZ1qByzPl-fY6BkuMSLMCXoM8MHRChY-STNOWzX_ZG0FDY/s400/HPN_DSC_4844_CF2_AC+copy.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Dolly Sods</b></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Long Lasting</span></h3>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">But I found that the power of nature’s beauty ran deeper than a momentary thrill or an emotional rush. The soothing power of beauty in nature was long lasting and could be captured in photographs. I noticed this when I started taking prints of my photographs to business meetings that were likely to be long and stressful. Looking at scenes of nature’s beauty kept me calm before the meetings and refreshed me during them. Often the sight of a photo of nature transported me back to the time and place when the image was taken, which was both calming and refreshing. Peace and a pick-me-up, I learned, were embedded in the sight of nature’s beauty. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6ZGZyo7YiBT5Px8xdt2oJzJJTUTH52dhRw8w5z15fCtlYwJvHQRmeoYq-VGNmqNVvfCRJoi2s5uSLl49fiV1LO67GQEpz5SlwltbMvySKvz1TWI_KjH2QVT0gsGGbn_c8QF-3j3BiS2Q/s1600/HPN+Back+Cover_6.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6ZGZyo7YiBT5Px8xdt2oJzJJTUTH52dhRw8w5z15fCtlYwJvHQRmeoYq-VGNmqNVvfCRJoi2s5uSLl49fiV1LO67GQEpz5SlwltbMvySKvz1TWI_KjH2QVT0gsGGbn_c8QF-3j3BiS2Q/s400/HPN+Back+Cover_6.JPG" width="265" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Summit Lake</b></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">As I pondered the power of beauty in nature, I wondered if it was limited in scope to a few “nature lovers,” so to speak, or was its appeal more universal. To answer this question I turned to Social media. The results surprised me in a pleasant way. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">A Facebook Survey<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span></h3>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">To find out if I wasn’t the only one who found comfort in the beauty of nature, I satisfied my curiosity in a non-scientific way by making the following post on my Facebook page called “Ed Rehbein Photography.” </span><br />
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>“I WOULD LIKE YOUR OPINION </b>. . . about the impact on you when seeing beautiful images of nature. If you care to participate, just say in your own words if viewing beauty in nature has a positive, negative, or neutral impact on you... at the moment you see the image and any effects that linger after that.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">About 45 men and women posted their responses. Their answers were uniformly positive. Five themes emerged as I read all the posts and tried to summarize the reactions. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6D4mt7jTSRVCTEuqQ35iQ79cVTqO3oOlMl5dGDGykXUBTlulrBw1nAVxlL1Kg6lc_3gqwUJkU1VzOiYPs9PYqxm8X84tCHUI7RkDhIUusiMjiXQQd0TgcOkKbUmGjhWtlv3qfoiV_PJ4/s1600/HPN+4+tips+DSC05757+copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6D4mt7jTSRVCTEuqQ35iQ79cVTqO3oOlMl5dGDGykXUBTlulrBw1nAVxlL1Kg6lc_3gqwUJkU1VzOiYPs9PYqxm8X84tCHUI7RkDhIUusiMjiXQQd0TgcOkKbUmGjhWtlv3qfoiV_PJ4/s400/HPN+4+tips+DSC05757+copy.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Snowshoe Mountain</b></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">First</span></b>, many said that looking at beautiful photographs of nature instilled feelings of peace, calmness, and tranquility. Moreover, the quieting effect was not merely momentary. For some people the effect lasted throughout the day. Others mentioned that to refresh the feeling of peace, they revisited the image in their mind’s eye or on their computer screen. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Second</span></b>, the images of the beauty of nature stimulated the senses such that the image depicted was experienced vicariously. One person wrote: “You can just hear the waterfalls, the wind in the trees and smell the clean fresh air.” </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNQzC59E39bh8dxwXeICIcMACZD8rGVqTVjLUxb2DzdAKCjcrjcaTnJa9TprIyotwsaQ-tvWURkTr26chero-QEDiNLAnrtrdLtnNZYTagiJWIE1nyxdoEtmPauuj5Rb2b4IwdtChgm_M/s1600/HPN+Claypool+Falls_DSC_5187_CF1_Final+copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNQzC59E39bh8dxwXeICIcMACZD8rGVqTVjLUxb2DzdAKCjcrjcaTnJa9TprIyotwsaQ-tvWURkTr26chero-QEDiNLAnrtrdLtnNZYTagiJWIE1nyxdoEtmPauuj5Rb2b4IwdtChgm_M/s400/HPN+Claypool+Falls_DSC_5187_CF1_Final+copy.JPG" width="292" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Claypool Falls</b></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Third</span></b>, some said that the beauty of nature relieved stress. Looking at photographs of nature’s beauty could turn around a bad day or offer a window of relief—a momentary lifting of burdens. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Fourth</span></b>, images of the beauty of nature stirred pleasant memories. Since I only post photographs of landscapes, waterfalls, and wildflowers of West Virginia on Facebook and my internet sites, West Virginians living out of state were “carried back” so to speak to their home state by looking at these images. Via the images they were able to reconnect to pleasant times and places of their past. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQyABwavQ1vChmgYHQVDJZdqpEW0vj9CzjTSxX5INDQQ05yb-EAn8vN9W5_uolKE4sEnWL4XhwKHL_ZNuthR4raSPEQqI1ArqujeG-7DbpxzaykyETd3BJJIzLgFgs9AxkzyVQCgVXtwE/s1600/HPN+DSC_3665_PS+copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="283" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQyABwavQ1vChmgYHQVDJZdqpEW0vj9CzjTSxX5INDQQ05yb-EAn8vN9W5_uolKE4sEnWL4XhwKHL_ZNuthR4raSPEQqI1ArqujeG-7DbpxzaykyETd3BJJIzLgFgs9AxkzyVQCgVXtwE/s400/HPN+DSC_3665_PS+copy.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Germany Valley</b></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Fifth</span></b>, respondents reported that images of nature’s beauty help them to connect to the Creator of all things and acknowledge His presence and power. The images also stirred feelings of peace, gratitude, thankfulness, and awe. Observing the order and overall design of nature, many drew comfort that a transcendent power was in charge. The following post summarizes some of the feelings expressed by those who answered my Facebook question:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">“My sons and I have always been nature lovers with waterfalls being our favorite. I see the images and feel like I'm there--or wish I were. I can almost smell the forest. The feeling lingers and brightens my day. I give them second and third views during the day and save some for future viewings. They make me want to explore more of WV. They give me a peaceful feeling.”</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNBndLo7qcTF0NHEXWIeRQxJvK7AfD1jvjKEQ7INLiDhyphenhyphen0yuAQiIEDL08N3wtWCnKWQ9nvn37LIelVRcFigh5JMgojUp64aCQR9LXyWBUGK_tK3qcNGchXlj0VB5NvhdbVwVfdZbGDd90/s1600/7M+CSC_9309-crop+glow50.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="328" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNBndLo7qcTF0NHEXWIeRQxJvK7AfD1jvjKEQ7INLiDhyphenhyphen0yuAQiIEDL08N3wtWCnKWQ9nvn37LIelVRcFigh5JMgojUp64aCQR9LXyWBUGK_tK3qcNGchXlj0VB5NvhdbVwVfdZbGDd90/s400/7M+CSC_9309-crop+glow50.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Blackwater Falls</b></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">In West Virginia we are blessed with an abundance of natural beauty. I hope we will take every advantage of it to help us lead more peaceful and healthy lives.</span><br />
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Ed Rehbeinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14543961915772555728noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1512397138822779880.post-53130172798291287502016-11-18T12:37:00.000-05:002016-11-18T19:24:22.903-05:00Ten Tips on How to Photograph Waterfalls<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">As a photographer, I am frequently asked this question: “How do you get that ‘flowing water’ effect in waterfalls?” It’s not difficult if you have the right equipment and a little “know-how.” Here are ten basic tips to help you take waterfall photographs.</span><br />
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<h3>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Slow Down the Shutter </span></h3>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The key to good waterfall photography is to slow down the shutter speed. I shoot most waterfalls at 1/4 to 2 seconds. At these shutter speeds, you’ll get the flowing water or motion blur effect. To capture swirls or eddies, you’ll have to go slower, say 5, 10, even 60 seconds depending on the speed of the water. On the other hands, to highlight flow details and texture, I shoot at 1/8 to 1/15 second. But there’s a catch to these slow shutter speeds.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD-eBO1qyAlpTltzQRZQ4TbB414MER8HgbcKruhEfxupkW-Qsmi6_AjfW3_KY-GqrAZexx0xxU89Ud7njkM4H_PS9MEgdN-EjQWslmnaq4rrBZSgbsSzgkD03DZes7wBfL-aZC3H1tEII/s1600/WP+CSC_3181+copy_edited-1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="273" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD-eBO1qyAlpTltzQRZQ4TbB414MER8HgbcKruhEfxupkW-Qsmi6_AjfW3_KY-GqrAZexx0xxU89Ud7njkM4H_PS9MEgdN-EjQWslmnaq4rrBZSgbsSzgkD03DZes7wBfL-aZC3H1tEII/s400/WP+CSC_3181+copy_edited-1.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Brush Creek Falls</b></span></td></tr>
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<h3>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Get a Neutral Density Filter</span></h3>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">In normal daylight, when you manually slow down your shutter for waterfall photography, the image will over expose no matter how much you reduce the aperture or lens opening. That’s just the way cameras are made. But there is a way around this. It’s called a Neutral Density (ND) Filter. A neutral density filter absorbs light without altering colors. I generally use an ND4 or ND8 filter. The higher the filter number the more light is absorbed. With an ND filter on, I can easily slow down the shutter speed and still get a properly exposed image. </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Campbell Falls - 30 secs</b></span></td></tr>
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<h3>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Use a Polarizing Filter</span></h3>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">When photographing water, it’s a good practice to use a polarizing filter, too. Light will reflect off a surface of water causing glare. A polarizing filter cuts glare off of water and even off of leaves or any other surface that’s reflecting light. Reducing glare helps produce more saturated colors, which improves image quality.</span><br />
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<h3>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Pick a Cloudy Day</span></h3>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">To reduce severe contrasts, pick a cloudy day to shoot waterfalls. Bright white water and dark shadows occur in direct sunlight. The contrast between the two is difficult, if not impossible, to handle photographically. Reducing exposure to properly expose the bright water will result in overly dark shadows. And increasing exposure to capture detail in shadows results in over exposed and burnt out portions of the white water. A cloudy day reduces contrast and allows for proper exposure of both light and dark portions of the image. </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Set the Exposure to the Brightest Part of the Waterfall</span></h3>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Waterfalls are easily over exposed because they are generally the brightest portion of the image. Even within a waterfall, there are light and dark segments. With matrix (also called evaluative) metering, bright spots in the waterfall are likely to be overexposed in order to preserve detail in shaded areas. To set the exposure, it’s best to spot meter on the brightest part of a waterfall thus preventing any overexposure. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiapwqUM-Na7GXvHyfWwIRkpICffl7m1XjQxdnsBS80IWATvdLNWH3Fu0nQoI8Sy1nQw0logUXN-KZdLe3x1KRTP_Y1ltk1LOo76MxwWOqXZZVoFDT_-8dmfugL3loj6zdBXOkevDkykSk/s1600/WP+rehbein1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiapwqUM-Na7GXvHyfWwIRkpICffl7m1XjQxdnsBS80IWATvdLNWH3Fu0nQoI8Sy1nQw0logUXN-KZdLe3x1KRTP_Y1ltk1LOo76MxwWOqXZZVoFDT_-8dmfugL3loj6zdBXOkevDkykSk/s400/WP+rehbein1.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Marr Branch - 1/4 sec</b></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Choose the Lowest ISO Setting </span></h3>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">In keeping with slow shutter speeds, it’s best to choose the lowest ISO setting available. High ISO settings (high sensitivity to light) promote faster shutter speeds, which are not desirable for the motion blur effects in waterfall images. Conversely, the lower ISO settings (less sensitivity to light) promote the slow shutter speeds that are desirable for waterfall photography.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Use a Tripod</span></h3>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">To remove camera shake at slow shutter speeds, always use a tripod. Below 1/60 of a second, some degree of movement is difficult to prevent if a camera is hand-held. This movement causes the whole image to be blurry, not just the water. A sturdy tripod will keep the camera stationary when shooting and produce clear, sharp images.</span><br />
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<h4>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Shutter Trip</span></h4>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Even if a camera is mounted on a tripod, it’s still possible to induce movement if the shutter is tripped manually. To prevent this, always trip the shutter by a self-timer or remote device. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirJX-KrVPLazmj4F5SoDgsdgZxwor8pBYZlHswI20FuqeNl4lZW5XFaSK4Lqyranc0Zg4PTjuUmjhB0xvdK1ywtSXmoPUXWWEYE7y_qzcW-pKHKLBp6ueUib4HgxfJckqNy3c9S-Zgf6o/s1600/WP+Peters+Creek+DSC_1165-cnx+copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirJX-KrVPLazmj4F5SoDgsdgZxwor8pBYZlHswI20FuqeNl4lZW5XFaSK4Lqyranc0Zg4PTjuUmjhB0xvdK1ywtSXmoPUXWWEYE7y_qzcW-pKHKLBp6ueUib4HgxfJckqNy3c9S-Zgf6o/s400/WP+Peters+Creek+DSC_1165-cnx+copy.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Peters Creek on a Sunny Day </b></span></td></tr>
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<h3>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Sunny Day Strategy</span></h3>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Shooting waterfalls on a cloudy day is not always possible. Sometimes the sun persists. If so, there is a way to shoot a waterfall on a sunny day. The key is to shoot the entire frame in full sun. An ND8 filter is necessary to cut down the bright sunlight. And as much as possible exclude shaded areas from the image. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcFQEQIBELbq_xeDvDg7ckpnttvNmHvri7M0I3YqUTtkOSHEE2C-vEWwFsKFF0xEwiMWrgyNInno0nOHBvSt3G1j7fvSLsCmql4g3qpUYykyyJWic77x-j9hy7BzSjY2ugmYk5Gs7CJaY/s1600/WP+DSC07149+copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcFQEQIBELbq_xeDvDg7ckpnttvNmHvri7M0I3YqUTtkOSHEE2C-vEWwFsKFF0xEwiMWrgyNInno0nOHBvSt3G1j7fvSLsCmql4g3qpUYykyyJWic77x-j9hy7BzSjY2ugmYk5Gs7CJaY/s400/WP+DSC07149+copy.JPG" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Foreground Interest</b></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Include Foreground Detail</span></h3>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">This tip deals with the esthetics, not the mechanics, of waterfall photography. In my experience a waterfall shot will be more pleasing to the eye if it has some depth. Prominent foreground helps create depth. Autumn leaves on rocks make good foreground as do channels of water downstream of the waterfall. A “bear paw,” an image of water rushing over a foreground rock (see example), is almost always a winner. So experiment when framing up an image of a waterfall and look for interesting foreground subjects. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE5ydd9K7NVSB45fnLCrgQuw5YdMxt4OtgHXjWbhLH8E9qoB0w_9QammCoDjT1vGBhFCy7U3pUR1Cf6T6nwl9LxNmihme3peD8pxE7rBmez0JcDV7a3JZSr2Gxvlyois9PCduA0UPduSI/s1600/WP+CSC_8259+copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="257" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE5ydd9K7NVSB45fnLCrgQuw5YdMxt4OtgHXjWbhLH8E9qoB0w_9QammCoDjT1vGBhFCy7U3pUR1Cf6T6nwl9LxNmihme3peD8pxE7rBmez0JcDV7a3JZSr2Gxvlyois9PCduA0UPduSI/s400/WP+CSC_8259+copy.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Sandstone Falls - Bear Paw</b></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I hope these tips are helpful to you. They aren’t meant to be comprehensive, but should at least point you in the right direction. </span><br />
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Ed Rehbeinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14543961915772555728noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1512397138822779880.post-35990922380518996802016-11-11T13:11:00.000-05:002016-11-18T19:24:48.106-05:00Scenery Below the Surface: Commercial Caverns in West Virginia<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">West Virginia is known for its panoramic mountain views, but it’s also blessed with scenery below the surface, too. Limestone caverns taking millions of years to develop are laden with stunning rock formations, ancient fossils, and local history. To sample the beauty beneath our feet, there four commercial caverns or “show caves” in West Virginia: </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Lost World Caverns in Lewisburg </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Organ Cave near Ronceverte </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Smoke Hole Caverns near Petersburg </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Seneca Caverns near Riverton</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Each has its own claim to fame and offers guided tours to explore them. The tours follow well lighted paths and steps. Here are some things I’ve gleaned from my visits to the caves and from the internet.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVIj9LR1TR-JVPtrcOF1P8n8eFwhiYU4vg3CV5QJi2Dq-bPbyvN_8rjfDtocW9rw9QGP7DVcJ3ZNIFs0inOYsHRC11NIUlfs4czju7PojmgKQ3L39NQByaYhvW7FdQTS2MupcOgDC_idA/s1600/lost+world+Shery+Meiresis.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVIj9LR1TR-JVPtrcOF1P8n8eFwhiYU4vg3CV5QJi2Dq-bPbyvN_8rjfDtocW9rw9QGP7DVcJ3ZNIFs0inOYsHRC11NIUlfs4czju7PojmgKQ3L39NQByaYhvW7FdQTS2MupcOgDC_idA/s400/lost+world+Shery+Meiresis.jpg" width="221" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b>Lost World - by Shery Meiresis</b></span></td></tr>
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<h3>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Lost World Caverns</span></h3>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Lost World Caverns, a registered Natural Landmark, claims to have one of the nation’s largest compound stalactites (30 tons) called “The Snowy Chandelier.” My most vivid memory is the impressive “War Club,” a 28-foot tall stalagmite. Bob Addis once sat on it for 16 days to establish a listing in the Guinness Book of World Records. Also impressive is the “Bridal Veil,” a lovely column of white calcite. At 1000 feet long, 300 feet wide, and 120 feet high, the main tour chamber is impressive. The cave is 120 feet below the surface and can be toured in about 45 minutes. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">For more adventure, the Wild Cave Tour is a guided excursion to remote portions of the cave to see sights such as the “Angel's Roost,” “Birth Canal,” “Keyhole,” “Glitter Pits,” and the “Hall of the Mountain King.” <a href="http://www.lostworldcaverns.com/" target="_blank">Website</a>.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgFLDT0H8_QtUdQymKauh-mqxA-JCNr99CNdEInDgoPWYO991m8grNtxqMgc5RcPc9VrbPA9ArtaGcKhqV8H0LFyHHCVq6Art_N9v-ZGHsW4M_AbG_nek6BcqlvUXLHWGCMELoorsLhsA/s1600/Organ_Cave-facebook+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgFLDT0H8_QtUdQymKauh-mqxA-JCNr99CNdEInDgoPWYO991m8grNtxqMgc5RcPc9VrbPA9ArtaGcKhqV8H0LFyHHCVq6Art_N9v-ZGHsW4M_AbG_nek6BcqlvUXLHWGCMELoorsLhsA/s400/Organ_Cave-facebook+copy.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b>Organ Cave - Facebook Photo</b></span></td></tr>
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<h3>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Organ Cave</span></h3>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Organ Cave is the second longest commercial cave on the east coast and is a National Natural Landmark as well as a National Landmark of Historic Places. Indeed, Organ Cave is more than an assembly of stalactites and stalagmites, it is a living museum. For instance, the cave played a significant role during the Civil War. For three winters General Robert E. Lee hid as many as 1100 soldiers in Organ Cave. Church services were held in the “Chapel Room,” a cave chamber some 365 feet long by 90 feet wide. It is an impressive opening, and you can almost feel the history there. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">While Union soldiers roamed above ground, Confederate soldiers secretly mined in the cave for saltpeter, an ingredient in gun powder. In fact over 75% of the Confederate Army’s gunpowder came from Organ Cave. Today the cave has the nation's largest collection of Civil War-era saltpeter hoppers. The cave’s history may go back as far as 800 BC when Native Americans explored Organ Cave for flint for arrowheads. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Among the formations you’ll see are a majestic organ, a frozen waterfall, and sponge beds. For adventurous caving, tours called Exploring Expeditions are also available. <a href="http://www.organcave.com/" target="_blank">Website</a>. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7bO8bM9ALpXY52WmhUwvnIF_fHVXs1RrbMkiJcJbWp648nTsWsqMCKSlzXufd4E3uCByyiEdfrl9LWaJtNln_DPEXlYjDdEH4PM6KJJpASh951dAJ0pBId5GOCgahUPNKSmYPW1oB7ko/s1600/682px-Smoke_Hole_Caverns-Wikimedia.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7bO8bM9ALpXY52WmhUwvnIF_fHVXs1RrbMkiJcJbWp648nTsWsqMCKSlzXufd4E3uCByyiEdfrl9LWaJtNln_DPEXlYjDdEH4PM6KJJpASh951dAJ0pBId5GOCgahUPNKSmYPW1oB7ko/s400/682px-Smoke_Hole_Caverns-Wikimedia.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b>Smoke Hole - WikiMedia</b></span></td></tr>
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<h3>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Smoke Hole Caverns</span></h3>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">From smoked meat to moonshine, Smoke Hole Caverns has a colorful history. The caverns get their name from the Seneca Indians who smoked game in the front part of the cave. Smoke rising from the cave entrance attracted the attention of early settlers who named the place “Smoke Hole.” In the many secluded “rooms” of the cave, early settlers and Civil War immigrants cooked batches of corn whiskey. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">But there’s beauty here, too, in the many intricately shaped stalactites and stalagmites formed by water dripping or flowing from fractures on the ceiling of the cave. The “Room of a Million Stalactites” features the second highest ceiling of any cavern in the eastern U.S., towering 274 feet above the floor. From my visit there, I remember the world’s largest ribbon or bacon stalactite, a rare six-ton formation that has been rippled by gentle air currents that flow through the cavern. As an added attraction, Golden trout swim through the “Crystal Cave Coral Pool,” an underground lake. <a href="http://www.smokehole.com/" target="_blank">Website</a>. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglrUtnjyghkMNthz7gMR9R4jr71HKEJ53ge8y3eN2ejajA7IC1YdQ5dVrVv0ygBaFTiD9pEtxpgcq8ZJQmZ5cWIhUYmRUv_mtqPqGmeIFo2Nlf6io9IhlNxbfi3QpKXWtwto-5UCk0eXU/s1600/Seneca+Caverns+facebook.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglrUtnjyghkMNthz7gMR9R4jr71HKEJ53ge8y3eN2ejajA7IC1YdQ5dVrVv0ygBaFTiD9pEtxpgcq8ZJQmZ5cWIhUYmRUv_mtqPqGmeIFo2Nlf6io9IhlNxbfi3QpKXWtwto-5UCk0eXU/s400/Seneca+Caverns+facebook.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b>Seneca Caverns - Facebook Photo</b></span></td></tr>
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<h3>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Seneca Caverns</span></h3>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Seneca Caverns are located in secluded and scenic Germany Valley and are a National Natural Landmark. Here’s another cave that attracted the Seneca Indians, who, as early as the 1400’s, used the cave for storage and special occasions. The cave was rediscovered in 1742 by Laven Teter, a settler of Germany Valley. Seneca Caverns was opened to the public for tours in 1930.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The largest room inside the cave is Teter Hall, which is 60 feet tall by 60 feet wide. Seneca Caverns also boasts the state's largest flowstone formation. <a href="http://www.senecacaverns.com/" target="_blank">Website</a>.</span><br />
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<h3>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Tips for visiting caves. </span></h3>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The main thing to remember about visiting a cave is that they are a cool and consistent 55 degrees. So wear warm clothing. Also wear a pair of sturdy shoes or hiking boots as the way is sometimes wet.</span><br />
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Ed Rehbeinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14543961915772555728noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1512397138822779880.post-19072751352607065622016-11-05T13:10:00.000-04:002016-11-18T19:25:31.427-05:00Seven More Wonders of West Virginia<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Recently I posted on my blog about “The Seven Wonders of West Virginia.” For such a scenic state, seven is too few. I can think of seven more wonders of West Virginia that need to be mentioned. This is a list of “must-see” sights in West Virginia, five natural and two man-made. Some are well-known, others not so much. From north to south, here they are:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">8. Blackwater Falls</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">9. Spruce Knob</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">10. Highland Scenic Highway</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">11. Beartown</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">12. New River Gorge Bridge</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">13. Babcock State Park</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">14. Hanging Rock Raptor Observatory</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_mMvSkdqFL2X3lARJlmFlf-Eh7moIWk_IO9Xd6v91PCWqYSGh-rxt5vPUGKR1UFVOvlCA0U1WXmzuYyNr-2pA0WH8xAoZzbwjUWLEcilluCCwK03zC52rP6JB_7Pmb8CPV4i9Yc8K_rw/s1600/7M+CSC_9309-crop+glow50.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="328" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_mMvSkdqFL2X3lARJlmFlf-Eh7moIWk_IO9Xd6v91PCWqYSGh-rxt5vPUGKR1UFVOvlCA0U1WXmzuYyNr-2pA0WH8xAoZzbwjUWLEcilluCCwK03zC52rP6JB_7Pmb8CPV4i9Yc8K_rw/s400/7M+CSC_9309-crop+glow50.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Blackwater Falls</b></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Blackwater Falls</span></h3>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Blackwater Falls State Park is located in the Allegheny Mountains near the town of Davis in Tucker County. After meandering leisurely through Canaan Valley, the Blackwater River at the state park picks up pace, takes a breath taking 62-foot leap, and begins a wild and tortuous eight-mile rush down the Blackwater Canyon. It’s one of the most photographed sights in West Virginia drawing nearly a million visitors a year. The falls are accessible from steps, boardwalks, and platforms on the north side of the river and a wheelchair accessible viewing platform on the south side. This is a wonder you don’t want to miss. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Website: <a href="http://www.blackwaterfalls.com/" target="_blank">Blackwater Falls</a></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhvYKXv94ODEtXw2AaulClnTCj2YN1Lr4zl__WLLfT-SVxRhtY8X5tafZ8_nsfYfExwIYHPE5yaLrpFhDixXq6_JPm1XNJ_-TkCJpQbtImYvrpzHpttvOHznq3F-W-81BFZ5H5MKTO1SA/s1600/7M+CSC_0894+copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhvYKXv94ODEtXw2AaulClnTCj2YN1Lr4zl__WLLfT-SVxRhtY8X5tafZ8_nsfYfExwIYHPE5yaLrpFhDixXq6_JPm1XNJ_-TkCJpQbtImYvrpzHpttvOHznq3F-W-81BFZ5H5MKTO1SA/s400/7M+CSC_0894+copy.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Spruce Knob</b></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Spruce Knob</span></h3>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">At 4863 feet in elevation, Spruce Knob in Pendleton County, is the highest point in West Virginia. The peak is also the highest point of the Allegheny Mountains and Appalachian Plateaus. Good gravel and paved roads from three directions converge on the top. For driving directions check this link: <a href="http://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/mnf/recarea/?recid=7053" target="_blank">Spruce Knob</a>. A short hike to a one story observation tower yields panoramic views to the west. For great views in other directions hike the half-mile Whispering Spruce trail which circles the knob. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ_bnRD7gyYrC9VL3HMne5FDfwpZF3ssGg9u5xjeoxqVHs-zwz1evAivY7XznL_Jq1FieJrETTO0BZjxO-F3m-KYxdglP5cggGWwLCuQlNu6ceTmQb80kAt7OBrL8cfwbJg78jRWpbjvM/s1600/7M+Highland+Scenic+Hwy+DSC_1748_PS+copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ_bnRD7gyYrC9VL3HMne5FDfwpZF3ssGg9u5xjeoxqVHs-zwz1evAivY7XznL_Jq1FieJrETTO0BZjxO-F3m-KYxdglP5cggGWwLCuQlNu6ceTmQb80kAt7OBrL8cfwbJg78jRWpbjvM/s400/7M+Highland+Scenic+Hwy+DSC_1748_PS+copy.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Highland Scenic Highway</b></span></td></tr>
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<h3>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Highland Scenic Highway</span></h3>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The Highland Scenic Highway is the highest-elevation major highway in West Virginia. Beginning in Richwood of Nicholas County as State Route 39/55, the road runs 21 miles east, following the valley of the North Fork of the Cherry River to Kennison Mountain and then on to the Cranberry Mountain Nature Center. But the part I want to highlight is the 23-mile portion called State Route 150. It begins at the Cranberry Mountain Nature Center and crosses the spine of the Allegheny Highlands before terminating at U.S. Route 219, about seven miles north of Marlinton. Four scenic overlooks with picnic shelters provide gorgeous views of the surrounding ridges and valleys of the Allegheny Highlands. Forming the eastern boundary of the Cranberry Wilderness Area, the Parkway also provides access to four wilderness trailheads. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Website: <a href="http://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/mnf/recarea/?recid=7011" target="_blank">Highland Scenic Highway</a></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1yAc79IhEjmsHSobYZ8qJkPyTf-ISbYNc3onur9JHXnXepkMk5hB0u2kRUVaZDCd7mNnPvJDNV9NVREXc9eg05YrbQWYM9W0M4T-so9SXrS4eV2clWpfKQhEZlqHE_Jrbef5D1eykmYc/s1600/7M+Beartwn+Boardwak_7.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="255" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1yAc79IhEjmsHSobYZ8qJkPyTf-ISbYNc3onur9JHXnXepkMk5hB0u2kRUVaZDCd7mNnPvJDNV9NVREXc9eg05YrbQWYM9W0M4T-so9SXrS4eV2clWpfKQhEZlqHE_Jrbef5D1eykmYc/s400/7M+Beartwn+Boardwak_7.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Beartown State Park</b></span></td></tr>
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<h3>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Beartown</span></h3>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">This smallest of the scenic wonders is packed with curiosity. Nestled in the hills of Greenbrier County, Beartown State Park is a 107-acre natural preserve perched on the eastern slopes of Droop Mountain seven miles south of Hillsboro on U.S. 219. Rocks, picturesque and beautiful, are the main attraction at Beartown. Composed of the Droop Mountain Sandstone, these rocks have been carved by time and the elements into angular boulders, rounded stones, and narrow crevices. The crevices cris-cross the area dividing the bedrock into large stone islands. To preserve the natural beauty of Beartown and make it more accessible, boardwalks and wooden steps wind through the rock crevasses. The intersecting crevices resemble streets, and the stone islands look like city blocks. Couple this with a natural habitat for bears in the clefts and caves, and you have the name Beartown. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Website: <a href="http://www.beartownstatepark.com/" target="_blank">Beartown State Park</a></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIpEAmnmAwYI64E32T52T7b4yuZbS2k1A72k3XyXJQmMvO7P3BwEADMIqb8haM1i6M4VNMy04sLIul4GTrSuMbD6_MLhNMJXk-lUstFzXbcmBKpt74zTaCLFmxVDX6lH8slmLjCu8Wnis/s1600/7M+DSCN6263+copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIpEAmnmAwYI64E32T52T7b4yuZbS2k1A72k3XyXJQmMvO7P3BwEADMIqb8haM1i6M4VNMy04sLIul4GTrSuMbD6_MLhNMJXk-lUstFzXbcmBKpt74zTaCLFmxVDX6lH8slmLjCu8Wnis/s400/7M+DSCN6263+copy.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>New River Gorge Bridge</b></span></td></tr>
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<h3>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">New River Gorge Bridge</span></h3>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Although not a natural wonder, the New River Gorge Bridge is acclaimed world-wide and surely belongs on a list of must-see sights in West Virginia. At 3,030 feet long and 876 feet high, it is the longest steel arch bridge in the Western Hemisphere. Opened and dedicated on October 22, 1977, the span has since become the symbol of West Virginia appearing on the back of the State’s commemorative quarter. Trails, walkways and stairs, and a visitor center help you learn about and explore the bridge. </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">You
can even take a guided tour of the cat-walk that runs beneath the bridge. </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">On Bridge Day, the third Saturday in October, the bridge is closed to vehicular traffic and open to pedestrians. What’s more extreme sports enthusiasts are allowed to BASE jump and rappel off the bridge. Over 100,000 people have attended the festival making it the largest gathering in the State and the largest extreme sports event in the world. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Website: <a href="https://www.nps.gov/neri/planyourvisit/nrgbridge.htm" target="_blank">New River Gorge Bridge</a></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS2eZJZGZPZIUPERCcmuGMo9TVVuilUG5FCrxH0kR0I_A1mmVBuTUFevZIOpYnm_O1FAWc8Ryz69FcvAdNMHZBuw-iVk7P53vZHdzrAxwZYtZoRqVGcRqWtm3mLj4yUaETYxwH9fGNK-I/s1600/7M-Babcock_DSC_2270-2_PS.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS2eZJZGZPZIUPERCcmuGMo9TVVuilUG5FCrxH0kR0I_A1mmVBuTUFevZIOpYnm_O1FAWc8Ryz69FcvAdNMHZBuw-iVk7P53vZHdzrAxwZYtZoRqVGcRqWtm3mLj4yUaETYxwH9fGNK-I/s400/7M-Babcock_DSC_2270-2_PS.JPG" width="265" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Babcock State Park</b></span></td></tr>
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<h3>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Babcock State Park</span></h3>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Mention Babcock State Park and most people immediately think of the grist mill. And why not? The Glade Creek Grist Mill is one of the most photographed sights in West Virginia. You’ll find pictures of the mill at Babcock on calendars and postcards, in magazines and travel brochures. The grist mill is a great ambassador of travel and tourism for southern West Virginia. Indeed more than 200,000 people visit Babcock every year.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>The grist mill at Babcock is really three mills in one, which were salvaged from around the State–the Stoney Creek Grist Mill near Campbelltown in Pocahontas County, the Spring Run Grist Mill near Petersburg, and the Onego Grist Mill near Seneca Rocks in Pendleton County. Parts of each mill were disassembled piece-by-piece and reassembled on Glade Creek in Babcock. The reconstruction was completed in 1976. As mentioned in the Babcock State Park Brochure, the mill is a “living monument to the over 500 mills which thrived in West Virginia at the turn of the century.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Website: <a href="http://www.babcocksp.com/" target="_blank">Babcock State Park</a></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1N_6H1IjbcWgKM5ep78rusS-ZP3MoTnasTGzKdkAKLecB20n6XME3Fng8NzepXEdvhzq5BNw8ZE7ejMnwdGF9bfR01oQty2qGWKROVvCYi7xryL15vFrJwJy77M6Mcl70e8xKQ7QmSSE/s1600/7M+HRRO+DSC07226+copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1N_6H1IjbcWgKM5ep78rusS-ZP3MoTnasTGzKdkAKLecB20n6XME3Fng8NzepXEdvhzq5BNw8ZE7ejMnwdGF9bfR01oQty2qGWKROVvCYi7xryL15vFrJwJy77M6Mcl70e8xKQ7QmSSE/s400/7M+HRRO+DSC07226+copy.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Hanging Rock Raptor Observatory</b></span></td></tr>
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<h3>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Hanging Rock Raptor Observatory</span></h3>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Balanced atop a 3,812-foot-high peak in Monroe County, the Hanging Rock Raptor Observatory (HRRO) has much to offer—unsurpassed vistas coupled with a unique opportunity to observed raptors in the wild. It deserves to be on every nature lovers bucket list. On top of Peters Mountain on the Eastern Continental Divide, the HRRO has a 360 degree unobstructed view of the mountains and valleys of southern West Virginia and Virginia. Fifty miles to the east, the Peaks of Otter on the Blue Ridge Parkway are visible. Looking north, Cold Knob and the Beech Ridge Wind Farm in Greenbrier County, though 40 miles distant, are clearly seen. And the verdant valleys of Sweet Springs and Potts Creek stretch out for miles on either flank of Peters Mountain. Though the views are truly telescopic, there’s more to see at Hanging Rock. It’s a raptor observatory after all. On a good day more than 500 migratory hawks can be spotted. Rarer but still seen are eagles, ospreys, and falcons. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Website: <a href="http://www.hangingrocktower.org/" target="_blank">Hanging Rock Raptor Observatory</a></span><br />
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Ed Rehbeinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14543961915772555728noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1512397138822779880.post-64422800284111869862016-11-02T13:05:00.000-04:002016-12-14T15:17:33.822-05:00The Seven Wonders of West Virginia<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The world has its seven wonders. So why not West Virginia? After all the State is called “Wild, Wonderful West Virginia,” and rightly so. West Virginia, The Mountain State, abounds in scenic wonders. Nestled among more urban and populated eastern states, West Virginia is an island of mountains, forests, rivers, and plateaus. Indeed, choosing just seven natural wonders to highlight proved daunting. But subjective as it is, from north to south here is my list: </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">1. Dolly Sods</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">2. Canaan Valley</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">3. Seneca Rocks</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">4. The Cranberry Glades </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">5. The Falls of Hills Creek</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">6. The New River Gorge </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">7. Sandstone Falls</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-FFKxjHk7ACXj8-bgDDKZVmpFu17RK6eeiRQFwKuJaPY-U-RZC88yX-c_aNUmCnGynGbsPFTMdQyMMl3rKu1spykKvAS0MAdBV010nWTidUMoG7PtXRxQWl7jaYVKNY-F-P-dC75m8EQ/s1600/7W+Rehbein+Dolly+Sods+DSC_1683.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="203" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-FFKxjHk7ACXj8-bgDDKZVmpFu17RK6eeiRQFwKuJaPY-U-RZC88yX-c_aNUmCnGynGbsPFTMdQyMMl3rKu1spykKvAS0MAdBV010nWTidUMoG7PtXRxQWl7jaYVKNY-F-P-dC75m8EQ/s400/7W+Rehbein+Dolly+Sods+DSC_1683.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Dolly Sods</b></span></td></tr>
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<h3>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Credentials of the Seven</span></h3>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">To make the list, the seven wonders had to fit certain criteria. For instance, they all had to be well-known landmarks, if not nationally, certainly state-wide. They had to be “on the map,” that is, located and identified on a West Virginia State Highway Map. Furthermore, I felt the north, central and southern regions of West Virginia all had to be represented. And the seven wonders had to be on public lands either Federal or State allowing all visitors free access. Being locations of special importance, all seven have received some measure of National or State recognition, management, and protection.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPvStAmQOzpzPpaNMULiJqLSuLbb9MBQ3OLKwzTTYTQjXXIYPqTfbsEHdsCSOEwCJgAgixdFCOTWzy7XQKDfJQy6b7FS4itQ1O8f_1NuIqBeeEFsjMunNXjfWW9iPeiCrMT3J-w4TN2XI/s1600/7W+Keepers+of+the+Heath.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPvStAmQOzpzPpaNMULiJqLSuLbb9MBQ3OLKwzTTYTQjXXIYPqTfbsEHdsCSOEwCJgAgixdFCOTWzy7XQKDfJQy6b7FS4itQ1O8f_1NuIqBeeEFsjMunNXjfWW9iPeiCrMT3J-w4TN2XI/s400/7W+Keepers+of+the+Heath.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Dolly Sods</b></span></td></tr>
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<h3>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Dolly Sods </span></h3>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Dolly Sods is nestled in the highlands of Tucker, Grant, and Randolph Counties about 35 miles east of Elkins, WV. It’s a high elevation, upland plateau covering about 32,000 acres and is famous for its rocky plains, bogs, and sweeping vistas. Due to elevations ranging from 2,600 to 4,000 feet, the climate and vegetation resemble those of northern Canada. In 1975 Congress set aside more than 10,000 acres of Dolly Sods to be managed by the U.S. Forest Service as a Wilderness Area. The U.S. Forest Service calls Dolly Sods, “a unique ‘island’ of wild country.” In 2009, Congress expanded the Dolly Sods Wilderness to more than 17,000 acres by adding 7,156 acres from an area previously known as Dolly Sods North.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSwYXqGvjKDgblniiods3uOMFcmq8UaCb6RYtElp5W6N98AvRBI4nXRANCXooOOLqN_hoFu-L1U6BkDVBMF0cF-bcxR8P9aT4uOsVXP5Xv9nzYeczov3ZUBsjUf7XZ4gJyxdwg-NZJdAw/s1600/7W+View+of+CVRSP+from+Bald+Knob_Ed+Rehbein.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSwYXqGvjKDgblniiods3uOMFcmq8UaCb6RYtElp5W6N98AvRBI4nXRANCXooOOLqN_hoFu-L1U6BkDVBMF0cF-bcxR8P9aT4uOsVXP5Xv9nzYeczov3ZUBsjUf7XZ4gJyxdwg-NZJdAw/s400/7W+View+of+CVRSP+from+Bald+Knob_Ed+Rehbein.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Canaan Valley</b></span></td></tr>
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<h3>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Canaan Valley</span></h3>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Immediately west of Dolly Sods lies Canaan Valley. Sitting about 3,200 feet above sea level and covering 32,000 acres in Tucker County, Canaan Valley is the largest high elevation valley east of the Rockies. Nestled in the valley floor is one of the largest shrub swamp environments in the East. Canaan Valley also holds the largest wetland complex in West Virginia, containing about 9,500 acres of bogs, shrub swamps, and wet meadows. Besides a haven for wildlife, Canaan Valley is one of the most pristine and picturesque spots in all of West Virginia. Everywhere beauty abounds, and so much of it is accessible to the public. Between Canaan Valley Resort State Park and Canaan Valley National Wildlife Refuge more than half of the valley is public land (22,500 acres). </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL_76edrJ1JuhmJ4KcBMQkRO5iXky74YNuP-gIe9YNrVWgyayN-PJ7u7DYr8D9Bwcb82H9uzlt4iaN9tXyo0Kp2XVTeEGlrLZ64GUGdZEQywfbDuaC0MWiqz-6xr535XnxloMrLJLbNk0/s1600/7W+CSC_6542+copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL_76edrJ1JuhmJ4KcBMQkRO5iXky74YNuP-gIe9YNrVWgyayN-PJ7u7DYr8D9Bwcb82H9uzlt4iaN9tXyo0Kp2XVTeEGlrLZ64GUGdZEQywfbDuaC0MWiqz-6xr535XnxloMrLJLbNk0/s400/7W+CSC_6542+copy.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Seneca Rocks</b></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Seneca Rocks</span></h3>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Located in Pendleton County in northeastern West Virginia, Seneca Rocks, an imposing nine hundred foot high wall of quartzite, is considered the top climbing spot on the East Coast. During World War II members of the Tenth Mountain Division trained at Seneca Rocks so they could scale Mediterranean cliffs. In 1965, Congress established the 100,000-acre Spruce Knob Seneca Rocks National Recreation Area.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdx3JbY4NEdnlwNuPu5E3D4ux3CYwihu6Y3XkbjyID2DiY_4t0wtKGt0rWpCjwlJNKQxiKpaAhkFoBvN2S2iKxZMrhzb9lD7yfTHNnrBC4Z6hP2PTk_i8zxTf9FMe7-6xrXiF9B2o1cW8/s1600/7W+DSC_9783_cpw+copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="255" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdx3JbY4NEdnlwNuPu5E3D4ux3CYwihu6Y3XkbjyID2DiY_4t0wtKGt0rWpCjwlJNKQxiKpaAhkFoBvN2S2iKxZMrhzb9lD7yfTHNnrBC4Z6hP2PTk_i8zxTf9FMe7-6xrXiF9B2o1cW8/s400/7W+DSC_9783_cpw+copy.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Cranberry Glades</b></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Cranberry Glades</span></h3>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">At 750 acres, the Cranberry Glades Botanical Area of Pocahontas County in central West Virginia protects the largest area of bogs in West Virginia. In 1974, the Cranberry Glades Botanical Area was named a National Natural Landmark. The Cranberry Glades is managed and protected by the U.S. Forest Service, which maintains a ½ mile boardwalk for visitors to access the glades without harming the delicate environment.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8SExUF6dvDg1R0-adbT8U7KYTzESyBR2E5N-1-jr-ZfCqY5bZNKIbvMEU7P290-alKESHjVJMwH1GLwjeV3MfsplLg5GeKkYy1V0MG-nSPP_exRPiftrLqF1YrGo7oM_bV9cKQhw19L0/s1600/7W_Pan+of+3rd+Falls9273-76.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="205" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8SExUF6dvDg1R0-adbT8U7KYTzESyBR2E5N-1-jr-ZfCqY5bZNKIbvMEU7P290-alKESHjVJMwH1GLwjeV3MfsplLg5GeKkYy1V0MG-nSPP_exRPiftrLqF1YrGo7oM_bV9cKQhw19L0/s400/7W_Pan+of+3rd+Falls9273-76.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Falls of Hills Creek</b></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Falls of Hills Creek</span></h3>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Tucked in a narrow gorge in Pocahontas County just eight miles from the Cranberry Glades are the Falls of Hills Creek. Managed by the U.S. Forest Service as the Falls of Hills Creek Scenic Area, this 114-acre tract sports three waterfalls in a row of 25, 45, and 65 feet in height. The last waterfall is considered the second tallest in West Virginia. A 1700-foot long handicap accessible boardwalk allows everyone to see the first waterfall.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_z5lU57Apt7A1HEBGO0n6269tRdu7XiEGrVX23YYao-T1eu31Ps8pMQpXv7qS0tMy74yHYjiIXO3E_y1odeBAaiZm-_SSgwUvrvNVXr12kGKrm-3I2rx6qwgR6OHZkoaocR12nmiDKxE/s1600/7W+DSC_1659_01+copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_z5lU57Apt7A1HEBGO0n6269tRdu7XiEGrVX23YYao-T1eu31Ps8pMQpXv7qS0tMy74yHYjiIXO3E_y1odeBAaiZm-_SSgwUvrvNVXr12kGKrm-3I2rx6qwgR6OHZkoaocR12nmiDKxE/s400/7W+DSC_1659_01+copy.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>New River Gorge</b></span></td></tr>
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<h3>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">New River Gorge</span></h3>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">In November 1978, parts of the New River Gorge located in Fayette, Raleigh, and Summers Counties in southern West Virginia became the New River Gorge National River managed by the National Park Service. The New River was also designated an American Heritage River on July 30, 1998, one of fourteen such rivers in the country. The New River is reputed to be the second oldest river in the world. In 2015, USA Today readers voted the Endless Wall Trail of the New River Gorge National River as the #1 National Park day hike.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3K04kp1w2Yeqc4H7gtjj4EwR8TOwiPos4NvTmhnX-3WK-pRI0EYetLUnYvT5_je0gmHL8BxAsmjQaxRBxWPAWmp-JrFycLsfR1JEH1tIxvZstM5SmJQVaQCgMNxPPj5yTd_whhbkcR6A/s1600/7W+Sandstone+Falls_3_CSC_8264+copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3K04kp1w2Yeqc4H7gtjj4EwR8TOwiPos4NvTmhnX-3WK-pRI0EYetLUnYvT5_je0gmHL8BxAsmjQaxRBxWPAWmp-JrFycLsfR1JEH1tIxvZstM5SmJQVaQCgMNxPPj5yTd_whhbkcR6A/s400/7W+Sandstone+Falls_3_CSC_8264+copy.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Sandstone Falls</b></span></td></tr>
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<h3>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Sandstone Falls</span></h3>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Located on the New River about 8 miles north of Hinton in Summers County, Sandstone Falls is one of the most visited landmarks within the New River Gorge National River. A 1/4 mile boardwalk provides fully accessible views of the falls. Not just a Wonder of West Virginia, Sandstone Falls is globally recognized. On a worldwide database of waterfalls, Sandstone Falls was ranked 30th by volume of water and 17th by width.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">There you have it--a bucket list of places to visit in West Virginia. I know there are many other places worthy of the list such as Blackwater Falls, but I limited myself to seven wonders. But don’t limit yourself to these seven, for West Virginia is loaded with scenic wonders. </span><br />
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Ed Rehbeinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14543961915772555728noreply@blogger.com9