Random (but not really)

Sunday, April 1, 2018

Hiking WV: Cacapon State Park

The weather recently has been all over the place, but Saturday was beautiful, so we took the opportunity to go to Cacapon. (I was also hoping that there might be blooming flowers at Berkeley Springs.)

For all the rain we’ve had, the trails we hiked were weirdly dry–because they were so steep.

Location: Cacapon State Park
Trails: Ziler, Ziler Loop Trails
Distance: 5.5 miles
Elevation: 961-2273 feet (1800 feet gain)
Temperature: 58-67 F

0.6 mile of Ziler trail was 22.6% grade
Entire Ziler trail was 1.3 miles @ 17.6% grade with 1242 feet ascent

For all the elevation gain, there aren’t any decent scenic overlooks or views–the woods are thick and there what rock outcroppings there are don’t go above the treeline.

That doesn’t mean there isn’t a view, it just means there isn’t a photographable view.

2018-03-31_Cacapon_1

At some point we’re going take the trail to Prospect Rock. But this trip we apparently wanted to torture ourselves with the Ziler trail.

Cacapon hike

Written by Michelle at 8:55 am    

Comments (0)  Permalink

Categories: Hiking,State Park / Forest,West Virginia  

Sunday, February 11, 2018

Hiking WV: Canaan Valley

Of course we hiked the Blackwater Trail at Canaan Valley, because it’s one of my favorite trails, and since it’s short and easy, there’s never a reason not to hike it.

20180209_Canaan_059

I’ve been trying for as long as I’ve been hiking this trail to get a picture I liked of these stones (they are in several places). Finally, with the light coming through the winter trees and the snow lightening everything, I finally got a couple pictures I liked.

20180209_Canaan_071

Ice sandwich!

20180209_Canaan_063

20180209_Canaan_076

20180209_Canaan_050

Written by Michelle at 8:06 am    

Comments (0)  Permalink

Categories: Hiking,Photos,State Park / Forest,West Virginia  

Saturday, February 10, 2018

Hiking WV: Blackwater Falls

Since the forecast for the weekend was rain rain rain rain rain, we decided to do our hiking Thursday and Friday.

Our first stop was Blackwater Falls (since its the first place we go past on our way from Morgantown).

It was beautiful. The trees were all rimmed with snow and frost and we had a lovely time wandering around enjoying the scenery.

No ice, but there was a LOT of water going over the main falls.

20180208_Blackwater_Falls_024

As well as Elekala Falls.

20180208_Blackwater_Falls_031

It took many shots and a lot of contortions to get a decent shot of this ice. But it was fascinating and beautiful.

20180208_Blackwater_Falls_034

From Pendleton point, you can see the falls below Elekala falls, which we scrambled down to last summer.

20180208_Blackwater_Falls_012

See! Gorgeous!

20180208_Blackwater_Falls_019

Written by Michelle at 6:27 pm    

Comments (0)  Permalink

Categories: Photos,State Park / Forest,West Virginia  

Sunday, February 4, 2018

Traveling WV: Babcock State Park

We were originally heading to Cranberry Glades when I realized how beautiful the morning was, and that Babcock State Park would most likely be beautiful, so we stayed on 19 and were well-rewarded.

We didn’t hike much, just walked around finding the places I thought would be most beautiful.

2018-02-03_Babcock_47

2018-02-03_Babcock_34

2018-02-03_Babcock_26

2018-02-03_Babcock_40

2018-02-03_Babcock_10

Written by Michelle at 9:16 am    

Comments (0)  Permalink

Categories: Hiking,Photos,State Park / Forest,West Virginia  

Sunday, January 21, 2018

Hiking WV: Canaan Valley & Blackwater Falls

Since we’d had a cold snap after the rains, and since temps were supposed to start rising, we took Friday to travel to Blackwater Falls in hopes that the falls were frozen.

It hadn’t bee cold enough to freeze the falls completely, but there was still a fair amount of ice.

2018-01-19_Blackwater_Falls_29

Why yes, I did ignore the “Closed” sign and went down the stairs.

For this view? It was worth it. (Plus, I was very careful.)

2018-01-19_Blackwater_Falls_24

Pretty!

2018-01-19_Blackwater_Falls_28

We also went down to Elakala Falls.

2018-01-19_Blackwater_Falls_104

Let me be clear, the scramble down is never especially easy, but in the winter, especially after a lot of rain and then a snap freeze, the path is treacherous.

2018-01-19_Blackwater_Falls_55

We wore Yaktrax, because I know very well how clumsy I am.

But it was well worth it.

2018-01-19_Blackwater_Falls_62

Because it was already warming up, water was starting to trickle down the icicles.

2018-01-19_Blackwater_Falls_63

We also went to Canaan Valley SP.

2018-01-19_Canaan_Valley_27

I mentioned that earlier we’d had rain and then a quick freeze earlier. I hadn’t quite thought about how that would affect this boggy, marshy area.

What happened is that the low areas flooded, and then froze. So any low-lying ground ended up covered in ice.

2018-01-19_Canaan_Valley_7

Normally we’ll walk out to the end of this bit of land, but the path was solid ice–and slippery. So we just looked (it wasn’t worth the view to pull out and put on the Yaktrax). It was pretty amazing.

If you look closely at this picture, you’ll see that a layer of ice formed on the grass, several inches above the ground.

2018-01-19_Canaan_Valley_15

It was a wonderful day, and I’m glad we were able to get away to enjoy it.

2018-01-19_Canaan_Valley_40

Written by Michelle at 11:18 am    

Comments (3)  Permalink

Categories: Hiking,Photos,State Park / Forest,West Virginia  

Monday, January 1, 2018

Hiking WV: End of 2017 Start of 2018

We ended 2017 with a hike and Coopers Rock, and began 2018 in the same way.

It was cold, but the days were beautiful so we had wonderful hikes!

Date: 2017-12-31
Location: Coopers Rock State Forest
Trails: Headwaters, Roadside Trails
Distance: 3.3 miles
Elevation: 1874-2412 feet
Temperature: 11-14 F

2017-12-31_Coopers_Rock_17

2017-12-31_Coopers_Rock_23

2017-12-31_Coopers_Rock_10

2017-12-31_Coopers_Rock_1

Date: 2018-01-01
Location: Coopers Rock State Forest
Trails: Hemlock Trail
Distance: 2.3 miles
Elevation: 1620-1866 feet
Temperature: 8-10 F

2018-01-01_Coopers_Rock_7

2018-01-01_Coopers_Rock_5

2018-01-01_Coopers_Rock_13

Written by Michelle at 7:40 pm    

Comments (0)  Permalink

Categories: Hiking,Photos,State Park / Forest,West Virginia  

Tuesday, December 19, 2017

Hiking WV: Canaan Valley State Park

As I’ve mentioned before, this is one of my favorite hikes. It’s very short, so it’s good for small kids, but you walk through different habitats and it’s just gorgeous.

2017-12-16_Canaan_Valley_0001

This is the first time the Blackwater river has been frozen when we’ve hiked here.

2017-12-16_Canaan_Valley_0006

This is the point at which someone went through the ice–and that someone was NOT me.

2017-12-16_Canaan_Valley_0012

Picture taking had been curtailed after someone (NOT ME) got their lower leg wet. But I still got a couple shots I really liked.

Written by Michelle at 10:21 am    

Comments (0)  Permalink

Categories: Hiking,Photos,State Park / Forest,West Virginia  

Monday, December 4, 2017

Hiking WV: Coopers Rock

We went hiking on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, Black Friday, that Sunday, and Sunday the 3rd. I forgot my camera for the first two hikes, and only pulled it out once when I did remember it.

The thing about the woods in fall is that it’s beautiful, but I can’t say it’s especially photogenic.

At Coopers Rock, unless you’re hiking Ravens Rock, pretty much every trail is down hill on your way out, and then uphill on your way out.

Here you’re at the bottom of the Rhododendron trail. Mont Chateau is off to your right. Henry Clay Iron Furnace, Clay Furnace Trail, Clay Run Trail, and Advanced Ski Trail are all behind you. Several of those trails have trails branching off of them, so you can make a variety of loops.

But it’s all going to be uphill from here, unless you go down to the lake. Then it’s even more uphill upon your return, unless you have someone to drive you back from the lake up the mountain to where you left your car.

20171126_Coopers_Rock_009

Here is one of the two bridges by Henry Clay Iron furnace. This is the area where multiple streams meet to then run down to the lake. Going up most of the trails you can see the streams turn from running water to run off areas that are flowing only after a rain or when the snow melts.

But down here, there is always water.

20171126_Coopers_Rock_006

And then leaves piled up in the stream.

20171126_Coopers_Rock_007

I can spend, literally, hours wandering around these streams, building rock towers, knocking down leaf dams and moving sticks that are blocking the stream.

My excuse is that I want to keep the streams and run-off areas from backing up onto the trails, which makes them a muddy mess that is exacerbated by all the mountain bikes, but truly, I just like playing in the water.

Written by Michelle at 1:39 pm    

Comments (0)  Permalink

Categories: Hiking,Photos,State Park / Forest,West Virginia  

Sunday, November 5, 2017

Hiking WV: Coopers Rock

This was more of a meander than a hike, since I kept stopping to look at everything from the view to individual leaves.

20171105_Coopers_Rock_036

20171105_Coopers_Rock_081

20171105_Coopers_Rock_039

20171105_Coopers_Rock_045

20171105_Coopers_Rock_069

Written by Michelle at 6:07 pm    

Comments (0)  Permalink

Categories: Photos,State Park / Forest,West Virginia  

Sunday, October 22, 2017

Traveling WV: Droop Mountain

The unincorporated town of Droop is named for Droop Mountain, where a Civil War battle took place in 1863. The Droop Mountain State Park has preserved these sites and is both an historical site and a state park with hiking trails.

20171021_Droop_Mountain_029

20171021_Droop_Mountain_006

There was plenty of color, and the drive down 219 was gorgeous.

20171021_Droop_Mountain_027

Written by Michelle at 9:40 am    

Comments (2)  Permalink

Categories: Photos,State Park / Forest  

Friday, October 20, 2017

Traveling WV: Babcock

Unsurprisingly, we were too early for good fall color.

20171019_Babcock_012

We looked. We could see no signs of a trail.

20171019_Babcock_041

Little bit of color!

20171019_Babcock_046

20171019_Babcock_032

The path to cabin 8.

20171019_Babcock_029

Written by Michelle at 8:39 am    

Comments (0)  Permalink

Categories: Photos,State Park / Forest,West Virginia  

Monday, October 16, 2017

Traveling WV: Berkeley Springs

There was also supposed to be good color at Berkeley Springs, which was also a lie.

However, I love Berkeley Springs and love watching the air bubble up from the bottom of the springs.

20171015_Berkeley_Springs_015

20171015_Berkeley_Springs_068

20171015_Berkeley_Springs_084

20171015_Berkeley_Springs_087

20171015_Berkeley_Springs_033

20171015_Berkeley_Springs_057

Written by Michelle at 10:09 am    

Comments (0)  Permalink

Categories: Photos,State Park / Forest,West Virginia  

Traveling WV: Fall Color at Cacapon

The report we read said there we be good color at Berkeley Springs & Cacapon. There was color, but not good color, sadly.

But, it was a beautiful day, and we were outside, so the lack of color is only a minimal complaint.

Oh, for anyone with an electric car, Cacapon State Park has EV charging stations now.

This was taken on the Ziller Loop trail. I’m currently restricted from strenuous activity or carrying weight, so we just did a brief saunter and then walked back down.

20171015_Cacapon_003

Here’s the view from Cacapon Mountain Overlook.

20171015_Cacapon_017

Not much color, but you can see four states from there. (WV, VA, MD, PA)

Written by Michelle at 9:47 am    

Comments (0)  Permalink

Categories: Photos,State Park / Forest,West Virginia  

Sunday, October 8, 2017

Traveling WV: Fall Color, Finally

Leaf color change in the Canaan / Blackwater Falls area is supposed to be mid September. The previous two weekends there was minimal color in the area, although the hikes and walks were still beautiful.

This Saturday was sunny and gorgeous and full of color. We went to Canaan Valley State Park, Freeland Boardwalk in Canaan Wilderness Refuge, and Blackwater Falls State Park.

20171007_Canaan_Valley_081

20171007_Canaan_Valley_061

20171007_Blackwater_Falls_012

20171007_Blackwater_Falls_029

20171007_Canaan_Valley_018

20171007_Canaan_Valley_050

Written by Michelle at 9:37 am    

Comments (2)  Permalink

Categories: Photos,State Park / Forest,West Virginia  
« Previous PageNext Page »

Powered by WordPress