Archive for June, 2009

5 Things You Didn’t Know About Caving

Friday, June 26th, 2009

Lost World Caverns

Lost World Caverns

Exploring the natural openings into the earth -caving- isn’t for everybody.  Touring through caves, however, is.  Here’s a list of facts that might surprise you about what it means to go underground.

1.  Caving and Cave Tours – there’s a difference
Cave tours are for everyone.  Curators of certain caves have made lighted, often easily accessible paths that will lead you through walking tours to take in some wonderful underground sightseeing.

Caving, on the other hand, is the muddy, grimy, wet, slithery, awesome business of exploring underground passages.  Guides are required for newbies, but the payoffs are huge.  There’s very little above ground that’s as fun as caving.

2.  Did you call it spelunking?  Well, aren’t you smart…
Don’t ever do that again.  Spelunking is a term that cavers frown on, even if it does make us normal people feel special when we use it.  Cavers have some running jokes about it too:  “Spelunk” is the sound you hear when someone drop their (only) flashlight into an underground pool.

3.  There are 3 kinds of caves
No, not “small, medium, and large”.  The first type is a sea cave, created along rocky coastlines.  Next come lava caves, hollowed out by flowing liquid lava.  Last are the ones we have here in Southern West Virginia, limestone and gypsum caves.  They were formed by water flowing under the earth.  Cool.

4.  Know your speleothems
Ha!  You thought this would be the “which one is a stalagmite?” part.  Well, as long as you know that both stalagmites and stalactites are speleothems – any secondary cave decoration formed by mineral deposits – you’re good to go. (BTW, stalagmite is the one on the floor, not the ceiling, because you “mite” trip over one).

5.  Bring Your Friends
The number one rule of caving safety – NEVER cave alone – is pretty easy to follow, especially if you’re new.  The best way to learn about caving is to go with an experienced guide.  Or, if real live down-and-dirty caving isn’t for you, stick to the cave tours.  Going underground is all about having fun, so don’t try to push the limits right out of the gate.   Enjoy!

FYI: There are two caves located open for both types of tours located in southern West Virginia.  Lost World Caverns and Organ Cave.

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Get Your Motorsports On: Riding Southern West Virginia

Monday, June 22nd, 2009

The throttle rests under your thumb.  The engine purrs, but you can tell it’s waiting to roar.  You’re wearing a helmet for the first time since you went whitewater rafting all those years ago.  Welcome to Southern West Virginia – it’s time to ride.

ATV Riding in West Virginia

ATV Riding in West Virginia

This post is going to deal mostly with ATVs, and is aimed squarely at the beginner.  So if you’re Joe Four-wheeler, this is going to cover some familiar terrain.  But if you’re Jane SUV, there’s probably a lot to learn here.  And there are a lot of you out there – dealers sell more than half of new ATVs to people who are buying them for the first time.

The biggest draw to ATV riding is that they’re easy to use.  Most machines are ones you can pretty much jump on and go with just a little bit of a demo. If you’re going on an ATV trip, you can always rent your machines, and a lot of rental centers offer guides for your trip.

Good thing too – these machines rip!  You’re looking at upper 40s to low 70s for MPH on most utility machines. That’s just another good reason to always (and we don’t mean sometimes) put a helmet on.  Sure, your brother-in-law wearing a helmet is like putting a guard dog on a vacant lot, but still… has to be done.

Last, ATVs are a blast.  You really don’t know how great an ATV trip is until you’ve gone and done some trail riding yourself, but lets just say that getting dirty has never been this much fun.  The trails lead you out into nature -fast!- and you can explore just how much power you’re willing to give that machine you’re sitting on.

It goes without saying that Southern West Virginia is ATV heaven – or does it?  Did you know that there was the largest contiguous trail system in the east here?  Or that there was a brand new ATV park outside of Beckley? The sport is worth checking out, especially of you’re already planning on spending some time in the area.  You might be surprised at what an ATV trip can do for a family vacation – add a little octane to yours and find out.

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6 Places To Get Your Groove On In Southern WV

Friday, June 12th, 2009

These here hills?  They’re alive with the sound of music.  Here are 6 sure-fire, can’t-miss spots for good ol’ live music.

Music In The Mountains
If you’re not doing anything June 24-27, or even if you are, you should go up to Summersville WV and take in one of the largest bluegrass festivals in the country.  Music In The Mountains is a proving ground for new bands, and a staple for old ones.  More than 45 Bluegrass bands are on the bill.

Chuck Mathena Center
Nationally touring acts are including this music mecca in Princeton West Virginia as one of their regular stops.  The hall is beautiful and new, but the halls are becoming well worn with famous names and good vibrations.  Steve Earle, Dr. Ralph Stanley, and top bluegrass bands all attend.  http://www.chuckmathenacenter.org/

Carnegie Hall
How do you get to Carnegie Hall?  Head to Lewisburg, WV.  From Symphonies to slide guitar and everything in between, Carnegie Hall is the place in southern West Virginia for an eclectic mix of evening concerts.  Bonus:  the hall has tons of other performance programs, too.

Tamarack
The best of West Virginia can’t get much better.  For an afternoon treat, take off to the Tamarack in Beckley WV for their Sundays @ 2 series.  You’ll see a wide range of entertainers that explore the roots of music in the mountains, from where it’s going to where it’s been.  Free.  Awesome.

Leland Guitars
Looking for something a little less formal? Stop by Fayetteville West Virginia for this regular Tuesday night jam.  Everyone’s welcome, beginner to expert, old-timers to young sprouts.  The music runs the gamut and includes pretty much anything acoustic.  http://www.lelandguitars.com/

Appalachian String Band Festival
This is the be-all, end-all of old time music festivals.  Held every year at Camp Washington Carver in Clifftop, WV, thousands of musicians rosin up the bow, tune the strings, and play deep into the night.  There’s a main stage with some of the best fiddlers and clawhammer banjo players you’ll ever hear, but the main show is in the campground. This years Festival is July 29th through August 2nd.

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5 Places To Get Away On National Trails Day

Thursday, June 4th, 2009

June is the time for getting outside in southern West Virginia, and it kicks off with National Trails Day on the 6th.  All over our area, you can get together at different locations to enjoy some trail time, and learn about the environment that you’re walking through.  Here are some spots to check out…

•   Twin Falls Resort State Park -  Hike n’ Bike National Trails Day at Twin Falls is a chance for people to get out on the trail whichever way they’d like to for some guided hikes and rides.  Meet at 10 am at the Scout Field.
•   Pipestem Resort State Park and New River Gorge National River - The Old Bluestone Turnpike Hike is a 10 mile guided trek along the Bluestone River that starts at Pipestem and ends at Bluestone State Park.  Bring water, lunch, and sturdy hiking shoes, and meet at Pipestem’s Mountain Creek Lodge (bottom tram) at 10 am.  There’s a free shuttle back to Pipestem, too!
•    Cranberry Glades -  This guided hike along the Cow Pasture Trail in Cranberry Glades is hosted by the US forest service.  It’s a 7.8 mile loop, and the group will be doing some light trail maintenance along the way.  Bring food and water, and be ready to hike!  Get info and pre-register with the Forest Service by email  nwelch@fs.fed.us .
•    Paint Creek Scenic Trail Bike Ride -  This tour is hosted by the Paint Creek Watershed Association.  There’s a 60 mile ride for avid cyclists and a 16 mile family ride, and both meet at 10 am.  Some refreshments are provided, and there will be fishing and music at the end of the day.  Register via email info@lowerpaintcreek.com .
•   Hawks Nest State Park – Here’s an easy and accessible Guided Hike called Hawks Nest Encounter Nature.  Groups will meet at the Mill Creek Rail Trail trailhead at 9 am for this easy two mile hike down to the New River.  Do a bit of clean up along the way, and learn about the woody plants, wild herbs, and local history in the area.

Of course, you can enjoy these trails all season long.  Do you know some other good hikes in the area?  Which ones are your favorites?

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