Archive for the ‘Plan Your Visit’ Category

New River Gorge Camping Essentials: The Must-Have List

Tuesday, May 1st, 2012

Camping is one of many ways to commune with nature here in New River Gorge country. Lots of folks visit and make camping part of their trip. It’s a fun and relatively inexpensive way to stay during your visit.

The Gorge has some great campgrounds with amenities, along with some primitive camping areas as well.  Many campgrounds are located close to adventure activities. But just as important as where you camp will be what you bring with you to camp.

A sleeping pad makes for a more comfortable camping trip

We are going to look at some of the essential items that will help make your camping experience as comfortable (and memorable) as possible.

Essentials

We assume tents and sleeping bags are already on your camping list. Here are some other items that you may not have considered:

  • Sleeping Pad – These come in all shapes and sizes and make a huge difference when compared to sleeping on the hard ground. Air mattresses are great for this as well.
  • Tarps – These help in case of inclement weather. Hang them over your table, tent, and gathering areas in case it decides to rain. A small one under your tent helps keep ground moisture away and protects the tent floor.
  • Lanterns – Battery powered ones are fine, but if you plan on being up long after dark, a propane or Coleman fuel lantern will work better and last longer.
  • Flashlight – A couple of lights for the group is the minimum we recommend.  If you can, make sure everyone in your party has their own light. This is even more important if you’re camping in primitive areas with no external lighting.
  • Water – A few gallons of water will be necessary to help with cleanup, cooking , and of course for drinking.
  • Chairs – Camp chairs make a huge difference in your comfort level. Otherwise it’s rocks, logs, or the ground for you.
  • Firestarter Logs – These make getting a campfire started much easier and can be a must if you have wood that isn’t quite dry.

Other Items

Here are some other items you probably don’t want to be without during your stay in the great outdoors:

  • Coolers
  • Camp table
  • Throw rug
  • Can opener
  • Twine or cord
  • Rake and shovel

Good planning and a little research of camping areas around the Gorge can make for a great visit here with us. Have fun and enjoy your stay.

What other camping essentials do you recommend?

Tags: , , , , ,
Posted in Outdoor Activities, Plan Your Visit | No Comments »

The New River Birding and Nature Festival is Almost Here!

Wednesday, April 18th, 2012

One sign that spring is here is the sound of birds singing their distinct morning tunes. Another sign of spring is a bunch of bird enthusiasts wandering around the New River Gorge looking, listening, and trying to identify said birds, sometimes just by their song.

The end of April means the New River Birding and Nature Festival is approaching. Bird watchers and nature lovers from far and wide infiltrate this area for a “summer camp” of  sorts with similar-minded folks. With world-class instructors hosting daily field trips as well as evening presentations, this event is a wonderful showcase of the Gorge’s beauty and natural resources.

This year marks the 10th anniversary of the New River Birding and Nature Festival.

About the Festival

In its 10th year, this week-long gathering takes advantage of the wonderful nature that is preserved in and around the Gorge. Festival chairman Dave Pollard said he expects close to 175 participants this year and that most of them sign up for the whole week of activities. The event is from April 30 to May 5 and focuses on the birds and ecology of our area.

There are 4 or 5 field trips offered per day, and many of them are already full. But you can still get into some of the sessions. Here’s an example of a few of the talks and trips the festival offers.

  • Nature Photography
  • All Things Cerulean
  • Birding by Boat
  • Fields trips to Buery Mountain, Long Point, Kanawha Falls, Cranberry Glades, Sugar Creek

There are also short presentations after the field trips and dinner presentations, both at Opossum Creek Retreat. Definitely plenty to keep even the most zealous nature lover entertained.

The Experts

This festival taps the expertise of many scholars and accomplished individuals and lets the participants learn from them in a beautiful environment. Presenters include:

  • Dr. Scott Shalaway – Wildlife Biologist with Ph. D. in Wildlife Ecology and M.S. in Biology.
  • Bill Thompson III -  Editor of Bird Watchers Digest and author of many birding and nature books.
  • Mark Garland – Naturalist with B.S. and M.S. degrees from University of Maryland’s College of Agriculture.
  • Jim McCormac – Ohio Division of Wildlife specialist dealing in nongame wildlife diversity, particularly birds.
  • Julie Zickefoose – Artist, naturalist and writer, specializing in natural history. Also NPR contributor.

These are just a few of the various professionals that help make the Birding and Nature Festival a great event. This festival also boasts the best guide to guest ratio of any of the birding festivals around.

The event is a great promotion of this area, its beauty, and resources. According to Dave Pollard, “Another great thing about this festival is it has helped bring about other events in the area like the Fall Birding Weekend and the August Hummingbird event.”

Whether you are a nature lover, birdwatcher, or just want to learn a new hobby, think about attending the New River Birding and Nature Festival.

Will we see you there?

Tags: , , , , , , ,
Posted in Festivals, Outdoor Activities, Plan Your Visit, Things to Do | No Comments »

A West Virginia Springtime Favorite: Ramps

Tuesday, April 3rd, 2012

As the weather warms up and the woods turn green here in WV, there’s a unique sprout that starts to dot the hillsides. Scientific types refer to these sprouts as “allium tricoccum”, but locals call them ramps.  Ramps are a spring onion/wild leek that cause quite a little frenzy around these parts.

Ramps grow everywhere from South Carolina to Canada, and are very thick in and around the New River Gorge. They are considered a delicacy here and many communities have festivals to celebrate their arrival. Spring means folks all over the state are combing the hillsides to pick ramps and use them to flavor everything from potatoes to scrambled eggs.

Ramps in West Virginia

Why All The Fuss?

Economics has taught us when something has a limited supply you will always have great demand. This wild onion only grows for a limited number of weeks a year in the spring. And if you talk to most connoisseurs of the ramp, they will tell you that once they grow too large, the strength of their flavor is almost too potent to enjoy.

The ramp plant has a bright green, smooth leaf with a purple stalk and small bulb. Mountain folk have long celebrated their arrival, believing they have great powers to ward off ailments from winter. Whether or not that’s true, if you eat them they will definitely ward off folks who don’t enjoy their “bounty” (i.e., smell).

How To Eat Ramps

Folks who like ramps are always coming up with new and interesting ways to use them in their cooking. Here are just a few of the places we’ve seen ramps pop up:

  • Scrambled Eggs
  • Fried Potatoes
  • Spaghetti sauce
  • Mixed with Greens in a Salad
  • Blended in Marinades
  • Topping for Pizza
  • Cooked in Beans
  • Soups
  • Pickled

The cities of Richwood and Elkins both host annual festivals to celebrate their arrival and feature dishes that highlight the flavor of ramps. Folks come from all over to partake in these celebrations of the ramp.

Try Your Hand At Cooking Ramps

Here’s a great recipe for ramps that you can try:

Potato and Ramp Soup

Ingredients:

  • 4 to 6 slices bacon
  • 4 cups chopped ramps (including green)
  • 4 to 5 cups diced red potatoes
  • 3 tablespoons flour
  • 4 cups chicken broth
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • salt and pepper, to taste

Preparation:

In a large skillet or Dutch oven, fry bacon until crispy; set bacon aside. Add ramps and potatoes to the skillet; fry on medium-low heat until ramps are tender. Sprinkle with flour; stir until flour is absorbed. Stir in chicken broth; simmer until potatoes are tender. Stir in the cream and heat thoroughly. Add salt and pepper to taste. Serves 4 to 6.

Do you have a favorite ramp recipe?  Share it in the comments below.

Tags: , , , , , ,
Posted in Festivals, Gorge Happenings, History, Plan Your Visit | No Comments »

Play in the Trees at TimberTrek at Adventures on the Gorge

Wednesday, February 29th, 2012

The area’s newest New River Gorge adventure will be just a stone’s throw from the New River Gorge Bridge. TimberTrek Adventure Park at Adventures on the Gorge is a supervised aerial escapade, unlike anything you’ve ever experienced before.

What Is TimberTrek?

Situated on 4 wooded acres at the resort, TimberTrek is a conglomerate of 5 aerial ropes courses that combine a series of 60 different challenging elements. The 5 courses vary in difficulty, from very easy (the yellow course) to extremely challenging (the black course). It uses the elements of wood, rope and cables to form bridges, swings, ladders and zip lines. These obstacles require balance agility, strength, and focus; each level of the course will challenge users more than the last.

The Angry Plank: One of the TimberTrek Elements

The courses increase in height as they increase in difficulty.  At the highest point you’ll be 50 feet off the forest floor. Professional staff will be located throughout the course for help, but TimberTrek is a self guided adventure that allows users to progress at their own pace.

How Does TimberTrek Work?  Who Can TimberTrek?

A short safety orientation on how to use the equipment and the rules of the park is followed by gearing up for your adventure. Guests wear a harness, which has a double lanyard system for safety.

Trips last about 3 hours, and you can do as many courses as you are able to in that time frame.  You must be able to fit in the specially designed harness, and for safety reasons, 265 pounds is the upper weight limit. The yellow course can accommodate kids as young as 7, but adult supervision will be required for anyone under the age of 14.

There are a few rules about loose hair and clothing, phones, shoes, and behavior.  Gear up correctly and you are guaranteed to have a blast.

When Can You TimberTrek?

TimberTrek is set to open in April and will remain open through Thanksgiving. Trips will begin around 8am and go until almost dark. Reservations are encouraged; groups of up to 40 can be handled fairly easily. The park will be open rain or shine, and only high winds, lightning or ice will cause a cancellation of a trip.

TimberTrek is just the third aerial adventure park of it’s kind in the United States, so it will be a unique experience for most folks.

Are you ready to TimberTrek?

Tags: , , , , , ,
Posted in Outdoor Activities, Plan Your Visit, Things to Do | No Comments »

Mountain Biking In West Virginia: The Story of the Arrowhead Trails

Wednesday, February 15th, 2012

Our last discussion included the future of the Boy Scouts, right here in our own back yard.  The scouts have already made a lasting impact on the New River Gorge, and their first step left a very large footprint. Or maybe “tire track” would be a better term for what they’ve done here.

Photo Courtesy of Opossum Creek Retreat

In one of the largest youth service projects ever performed in National Park History, over 1,000 scouts provided 30,000 hours of volunteer service to build 14 miles of new, single track mountain biking trails in the New River Gorge.

A grand opening ceremony was held in August 2011 for the Arrowhead Mountain Bike Trails.   And this is just the beginning. There are future plans for Scouts to perform community service projects all over southern West Virginia.

The Team

Adam Stephens at Marathon Bike in Fayetteville first dreamed up the idea of the trails.  He started the discussions that brought a few groups together.  Ultimately, the trail build team included the National Park Service, the Boy Scouts’ ‘Honor Society’ the Order of the Arrow, and some helpful folks from the International Mountain Biking Association.  IMBA is a non-profit group whose mission is to create, enhance, and preserve great mountain biking.

Photo Courtesy of Opossum Creek Retreat

The National Park Service provided the land, IMBA was along for its expertise in building sustainable, low maintenance trails and the Scouts provided the labor to help make these trails possible. It’s estimated that the Scouts’ work accounted for $1.6 million in labor.

The Trails

The system was named Arrowhead Trails in honor of the Order of the Arrow.  The trails are a stacked loop, which means there are loops inside of other loops. You can ride them in any combination, and with close to 14 miles of trails, it’s a good addition to the many other trails in the area.

With names like Adena, Clovis, Dalton, and LeCroy, the trails vary in length from just over 1 mile to 6.4 miles. They are designed to accommodate riders of varying levels of expertise, novice beginner and seasoned veteran alike. The system is located off Gatewood Road in Fayetteville,  just a few hundred yards past the parking area for the Kaymoor Mines trail. Trail maps are online at the National Park Service website and are available at the trail head parking lot.

Have you ridden the Arrowhead Trails?

Tags: , , , , , , ,
Posted in Plan Your Visit | No Comments »

Where to Stay In the New River Gorge

Friday, January 20th, 2012

If you’re planning a trip to the Gorge, one of the first things you should think about is where you’ll stay while you’re here.

There are so many different options for lodging; cabins, hotels, campgrounds, B&Bs.  By understanding the choices that are here, you can figure out what’s going to work best for you and your group.

Let’s take a look at what you’ll find in the Gorge:

Cabin at Opossum Creek Retreat

Camping

Have a big group or concerned about cost? Or do you just like the communing with nature and sleeping under the stars? There are plenty of opportunities to camp around the Gorge, from organized campgrounds with many amenities (think showers and laundry areas), to rustic camping in remote areas with little more than a portable toilet.

Hotels

Hotels offer the convenient option of a place to lay your head at the end of a busy day. Their staff makes sure your room is tidied every day and many hotels are national chains, so you know what you’re getting.

If your idea of a perfect vacation is a getaway where you don’t have to cook, clean, or lift a finger, a hotel might be your best bet.

Bed and Breakfast

The Bed & Breakfast is quaint in nature and communal in style.  This option is great for folks who have outgoing personalities and like being around other people. This style of lodging is more apt to appeal to couples or a small family.

B&B’s around here are typically small, popular lodging choices.  Try to book your stay as far in advance as possible, especially if you have a particular B&B in mind.

Cabins

Cabins are the new home away from home for vacationers, allowing groups to cook their own meals and relax in a beautiful, comfortable setting. Cabin types vary from small rustic models with few amenities to extravagant digs that make you feel like royalty. In the Gorge, you’ll find cabins that are privately owned or those that are part of adventure resorts.

Cabins appeal to everyone from couples to large groups.  In fact, some cabin businesses have models that can sleep up to 20 people. One of the best things about staying in cabins is that most of them are close to the outdoor action, like biking, hiking, climbing, and rafting.

Where do you like to stay when you visit the Gorge?

Tags: , , , ,
Posted in Plan Your Visit | No Comments »