Since we were already in the area, we decided to stop by Blackwater Falls and see what the heavy rainfall was producing.

It produced a lot of water going over the falls and down the river.

We didn’t hike any full trails, just wandered out to spots that I knew would be pretty.

I really like the Blackwater Trail at Cannan Valley SP. It’s a very short trail, with almost no elevation gain, but it goes through three different kinds of landscape–the prettiest of which is beside the winding Blackwater River. If you’re looking for a trail to take small kids, this is the one you want.

Location: Canaan Valley State Park
Trail: Blackwater Trail
Distance: 1.0 miles
Elevation: 3213-3275 feet

We managed to spent the night in Canaan, so we took a long hike at Dolly Sods (most of our Saturday hikes are limited by the fact we have to drive 2-3 hours there and then 2-3 hours home after hiking). So it was nice to know that we could have until we were tired and not have to worry about a long drive afterwards.

Location: Dolly Sods
Trails: Valley View, Rocky Ridge, Raven Ridge, Bear Rocks Trails
Distance: 11.0 miles
Elevation: 3817-4198 feet (1447 feet ascent)

I took about a zillion pictures, because the Dolly Sods area is gorgeous.

More day lilies are blooming! Hooray!

Why yes, I really do have many different cultivars of day lilies! (This doesn’t include the lemon lilies we got from Michael’s grandmother that bloom in early spring, and the Stella D’Oros that will bloom repeatedly.)

Some of these can probably be split. If anyone is interested, let me know–assuming I can be bothered to split them this year. O.o

My day lilies are blooming! Unfortunately they’re kinda beat up. But the balloon flower and hostas look nice!

Location: Coopers Rock State Forest
Trails: Rhododendron, Mont Chateau, Clay Run, and Unofficial Trails
Distance: 4.6 miles
Elevation: 1510-2126 feet (800 feet elevation gain)
Temperature: 80-85 F

Last week’s rock sculpture was still there!

So I added a new one, to a newly fallen tree.

It’s just so lovely and peaceful.

Every other place I’ve been, a trail named “Nature Trail” is about a quarter of a mile long, extremely flat (if not paved) and frequently has interpretive signs.

This was not your average nature trail.

Location: North Bend State Park
Trail: Nature Trail
Distance: 4.3 miles
Elevation: 708-1183 feet (875 feet total ascent)
Temperature: 79-85 F

I’m not saying this was anything like last week’s trail with a 24% grade. Just that this was a 4 mile trail that had significant elevation gain (although with switchbacks, not straight up!). This trail went through the entire park, which means that most of it was quiet and peaceful, except for the bits that went through the campground, near the swimming pool, and along the picnic area. Those parts were loud and populated. But for a loop it was an easy price to pay.

At the top of the trail, we saw the remains of a very old fence.

These original state park trail signs are getting rarer. I particularly like the descriptiveness of this one.

Found an old cemetery.

Very old, since these were the only grave markers we could find.

We also took a brief stroll on the North Bend Rail trail.

These little spaces were built every few feet into the tunnel. For someone to escape into if they were caught in a tunnel when the train came through.

I have long had a fascination with decay. If there is a decaying building, I want to go look at it.

If there is a decaying machine, I want to examine all the parts.

If there is a building being torn down, I want to examine the ruins and see the normally hidden bits exposed.

In cemeteries I’m drawn to the oldest tombstones, the ones that are broken or can no longer be read.

When we hike, I am always delighted to come across some long abandoned sign of human habitation, lost in the forest.

I love taking pictures of these things so I can look at them later, and see bits that aren’t always visible at a quick glance.

This means that I find West Virginia an endlessly fascinating place. As we drive along two lane back roads, full of switch backs and steep grades, we continually pass houses and barns and buildings that are falling down.

However, I also find this terribly heart-breaking. Because, you see, some of those houses I see falling apart are still being lived in. Or they are next to an old trailer that is obviously inhabited.

These buildings are not just the past coming into the future, but are the past that still remains someone’s present.

So I almost never stop and take pictures of these buildings, because it feels terribly rude–because I am looking not at the interesting structures but at someone’s poverty. No matter how much I want to explore, I keep in mind that my fascination is of someone’s struggle.

I sometimes wish I weren’t so awkward and afraid of approaching strangers, because I would love to hear the stories some of these people might have, and to photograph them with the things they love and what they have and hold dear. But here in WV, we’re had too many people making fun of us, of our poverty, of accusing us of being backwards. I wouldn’t know how to convince a stranger that I photograph WV because I love it, and I love the character to be found in things that are struggling to stay upright.

So instead I’ll just stare as we go past, wondering about the stories, and wondering how long until these places are taken back by the woods.

I slacked on taking pictures of the spring flowers around my house, but here’s what’s blooming today!

My lavender is blooming like crazy this year! Anyone want some?

Stella D’Oro daylily

In addition to my herb garden, I’ve got planters of a few vegetables this year.

For the first time in several years, my hydrangea bloomed! Yay!

(Not a flower)

I’ll be honest. This is the first time in years that I seriously considered not completing our planned hike, because I didn’t think I could finish. The hike up the mountain was that steep. Luckily, Michael checked and saw we were almost to the top, so we persevered. I’m glad we finished what we had planned, but I’m sorry to say the Overlook was NOT worth the hike up the mountain.

Location: Holly River State Park
Trail: Potato Knob Trail (partial)
Distance: 5.4 miles
Elevation: 1855-2677 feet (822 foot gain)
Percent Grade for Steepest Part: 24.1 % for 0.4 miles

First, the hike up the mountain. It was 24.1 % for 0.4 miles. Part of the reason I almost gave up was because we’d only hiked a third of a mile when I stopped to rest. I thought the mountain portion of the hike was about a mile, and if we were less than halfway there was no way I wanted to continue. Luckily, Michael looked at his map app, and realized we were close to the top of the mountain.

Note that there are almost no switch backs, it was just straight up, over fallen trees and rocky ground.

Here is the elevation graph of the hike.

As I said, the overlook was not impressive. Here we are at the overlook.

Here is what you were actually seeing from the overlook.

(Michael likes to point at random things when posed in front of signs)

The lower portion of the trail was gorgeous, which made up for the lack of an overlook. However, it is not anything you can manage if there has been a recent heavy rain, as it runs right beside the creek, occasionally stepping into the empty creek bed.

But as for that hike along (and in) the Holly River, it was gorgeous. I took about a zillion pictures, half of which I put up on Flickr. I’m only going to put a few pictures here.

So here are my thoughts: if you want to hike the Potato Knob trail at Holly River. Hike the lower portion to the road, but prepared to get your feet wet. If you want to see the overlook, hike to it from the Ridge Road trail, which is a much easier grade. The hike up the mountain? Leave that for masochists and people I don’t like.

Yup, the weather definitely changed this month so we were able to get out and go hiking. That’s not a bad thing, because I love to hike. Just means I read fewer books this month.

So, I can’t say that I read a lot of excellent books this month. I’ve been trying to finish the Elvis Cole series, but the later books are often Joe Pike books, and the last book I read just… it wasn’t what I wanted out of an Elvis Cole book.

I re-read Galileo’s Daughter: A Historical Memoir of Science, Faith and Love by Dava Sobel which was excellent. I believe there is a fair amount of misunderstanding about Galilelo’s Catholic faith. This book–which contains letters his daughter wrote to him–makes it clear that despite his treatment by the Catholic hierarchy, he never lost his faith in God, or even in the Catholic church as an institution. Which is what makes the story so fascinating.

Mystery

Elvis Cole & Joe Pike
The Forgotten Man (2005) Robert Crais
The Watchman (2007) Robert Crais
Chasing Darkness (2008) Robert Crais
The First Rule (2010) Robert Crais
The Sentry (2011) Robert Crais
Taken (2012) Robert Crais

Non-Fiction, History and Science

Galileo’s Daughter: A Historical Memoir of Science, Faith and Love (1999) Dava Sobel

Audio Books, Mystery

The Shape of Water, Audible Version (1994/2006) Andrea Camilleri narrated by Grover Gardner
Spenser
Looking for Rachel Wallace, Audio Version (1980/1987) Robert B. Parker narrated by Michael Prichard
A Savage Place, Audio Version (1981/1987) Robert B. Parker narrated by Michael Prichard
Early Autumn, Audio Edition (1981/1992) Robert B. Parker narrated by Michael Prichard

Stats wise, as I said, we were finally able to really go hiking this month, so I read only (HA!) eleven books this month. And four of them are audio books that I listen to while we travel or while I walk.

As far as genre, except for Dava Sobel’s book, everything else was mystery.

And male authors caught up more this month, with only that single book by a female author. That puts male authors ahead 52 to 40 so far this year. However, I think I am done trying to finish Robert Crais’ Elvis Cole series, so we’ll see how that changes things in the coming months.

Thus closes May’s reading.

Last year they started putting up maps at the heads of the various trails, showing you the elevation etc. This year they seem to be replacing the signs at trail heads and intersections, which is how we learned that the Reservoir Ski trail is now the Headwaters Trail. Curious to see if any other signage in the park has been added/changed. (The official park maps still have the old names. Which doesn’t surprise me. If the forest service had to lay off fire fighters, I’d hope they’d lay off web designers first.)

Location: Coopers Rock State Forest
Trails: Roadside, Headwater, Scotts Run Trails
Distance: 4.5 miles
Elevation: 2297-2017 feet
Temperature: 70-79 F