Just for fun: Davis, West Virginia.

Posted on October 16, 2021 by Gort

Wild, Wonderful, West Virginia. Marilee was born there and I got there as soon as I could. Before we met way back in 1969, she had traveled many parts of the state with her family. My step-dad and I rode our motorcycles hundreds of miles on U.S. Routes throughout the central and northeastern part of the state. But now Marilee and I were exploring a portion of the Monongahela National Forest that neither of us had experienced before.

IN PHOTO. This is a large image comprised of five smaller images -- the words "Davis, West Virginia, October 2021" overlay a pastoral landscape of rolling hills and blue sky with wisps of clouds stretching from left to right. Another photo displays USDA signage "Monongahela National Forest" which is clustered with two other photos of leaves and landscape. One of those landscape photos reveal a huge wind turbine jutting up in the midst of a not too distant stand of trees. OUT OF PHOTO.

9 – 10 Oct 2021 Travel and Close In Plans.

Arrival day and a planning day. Relaxing for the day just because we could, we pulled out a paper map and did some basic research regarding the territory we intended to visit. If you’re inclined to explore a bit of West Virginia geography, here are the boundaries we set for ourselves [County (Main city)]:

Counties of : Tucker (Davis); Randolph (Elkins); Upshur; (Buckhannon); Lewis (Weston); Taylor (Grafton); Harrison (Clarksburg/Bridgport); Barbour (Philippi).

10 Oct 2021 — Canaan Valley Wildlife Refuge.

One of the discoveries during our research was a nearby wildlife refuge. Near enough to hike and not be late for dinner, we set out explore its trails.

IN PHOTO. Near the road and on a grassy field stands a sign containing a badge and words. The badge is of the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. The words are "Canaan Valley National Wildlife Refuge." OUT OF PHOTO.

It turned into an impromptu hike of undetermined length. Probably not even a full mile. Nevertheless, the raised “trail” (actually a boardwalk) into the high wetlands of the area provided turnouts for observation. We documented a 30 minute observation of heard wildlife (as in listening with one’s ears). Visuals were fleeting glimpses of tiny birds (still not identified), grasshoppers, and evidence of fox, beaver, or groundhog (paw-prints were not photographed). 

IN PHOTO. Several miles in the distance is low mountain showing a ripple of multi-colored trees whose leaves have turned yellow, orange, and red. Nearer to the photographer are spruce and pine trees and nearest the photographer are tall wild grasses growing out of the wetlands over which is the boardwalk. To the left, a observation platform can be seen just a bit above the tall grasses. OUT OF PHOTO.

11 Oct 2021 — Woolly Worm Sighting:

IN PHOTO. The photo is not spectacular but the bodily antics of the photographer certainly were. The little woolly worm is about one inch long and moves with some degree of swiftness for its size and makeup. This little critter is mostly orange with either end being throughly black. OUT OF PHOTO.

(This photograph constituted some serious planking manuveurs.)

According to woolly worm watchers, there are two generations of worms each year. The first appear in June and July, and the second in September. The second generation worms are the “weather prophets.

If the rusty band is wide, then it will be a mild winter. The more black there is, the more severe the winter.

That’s it! Note that white, yellow, or other colors of fuzzy caterpillars are NOT the same type of woolly worm and are not used for weather forecasting. We’ll leave the weather-prognosticating “skills” to your own observation!

11 Oct 2021 — Blackwater Falls State Park, Davis, West Virginia.

IN PHOTO. This is quintessential postcard photo of the falls with a goodly flow of water breaking over the equivalent of a four story building. The water and rocks are framed by trees of various colors dappled in sunlight. OUT OF PHOTO.

Today’s close in travel was a visit to Blackwater Falls in Davis, West Virginia. The trip to visit the platform facilitating this photo required about a 1/2 mile hike to the boardwalk stairway of over 200 steps and an unknown number “rest” platforms and three observation platforms. 

12 Oct 2021 —  War Memorial, Parsons, West Virginia.

We visited a little known and remarkably well done veterans war memorial. Bas relief plaques depicted each era of war. The public accessible wall top bricks were engraved with county veterans names who were killed in action. It is a very moving memorial. 

IN PHOTO. Viewed from across the street, the viewer can take in the expansive memorial. From left to right there are stone plaques measuring about 7 feet wide by 4 feet tall by 3 feet deep. On each stone is a bass relief depiction of the war era. Represented are World War One, World War Two, Korean Conflict, and the most recent wars of Iran/Iraq and Afghanistan. OUT OF PHOTO.
IN PHOTO. These words appear on the center stone plaque of the memorial: In Memory of All American Veterans. This memorial honors all American veterans who, although separated by generations, shared a common undeniable goal -- to valiantly protect our country's freedoms. The memories of these American veterans will continue to live on whenever and wherever democracy exists. The American veteran -- forever a symbol of heroism, sacrifice, loyalty and freedom. OUT OF PHOTO.

We also visited Michelle Rhodes (realtor) for future house hunting in WV. Counties listed above are the boundaries. 

And then back to finding the trails at the wildlife refuge. The trail heads are obscure and not well marked. 

IN PHOTO. The map shows green for the land and black for the roads. An arrow points to a spot on one of the roads with the words "You are here." However, there is a problem. None of the roads are labeled and none of the roads show a connection to a main numbered road. Pretty much worthless as an orienting device. OUT OF PHOTO.

The “You Are Here” sign wasn’t exactly helpful. We ventured in anyway but never wandered beyond a well beaten path or gravel road.

13 Oct 2021 —  Seneca Cavarns, West Virginia.

A leisurely morning over coffee, conversation, and another short foray into the local wildlife refuge attempting to decipher the cryptic trail head markers. Results remain inconclusive.

The afternoon was spent finding our way to Seneca Rock & Spruce Knob Recreational Area. It is a vast swath of forest and includes the cavarns AND the highest point in West Virginia.

We visited the gift shop and got the brief on what we would encounter going down into the cavarns. After hearing about the environment, I decided this was as far as I needed to go:

IN PHOTO. A simple chain link fence with a warning sign is all the separates the general public from the sheer terror, ah, rather, the awesome underground wonders of the caverns. OUT OF PHOTO.

Yeah, I never even bothered to buy a ticket. But it was an informed decision. The postcards tell as much as I need to know about the underground attraction. And it was a really nice drive. 

14 Oct 2021 —  Davis, West Virginia.

The morning was taken up with a quick trip to the local grocery store for a few food items. We stopped to photograph an old building and the war memorial at Davis.

IN PHOTO. The building shown here was build circa 1928 and has served in the same capacity even to this day. The left end of the building is an entrance to the apartments. The middle section of the building is a bank and, finally, the right section is a post office. OUT OF PHOTO.

IN PHOTO. This is the center piece of the Veterans Memorial in Davis, West Virginia. The marker is about five feet tall and three feet wide. The three areas on the face of the marker top to bottom contain a bass relief of an American flag in full color waving from a flagpole, the circular shields of each armed force (Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, Coast Guard), and beneath those a large bass relief sculpture of figures and equipment spanning the time from World War I through the various conflicts in which the United States has been engaged. OUT OF PHOTO.

 

The big event of the day was horseback riding. The owner of the nearby Mountain Trail Rides guided Marilee on a one hour tour along a low mountain trail. 

IN PHOTO. Marilee and her guide Bruce are mounted on their horses and are headed out on a one hour excursion. Bruce leads the way while Marilee follows. OUT OF PHOTO.

Marilee reported that Milton did a fine job of describing the trail and various sights along the way. 

Whlie Marilee toured the trail, I toured the barnyard and visited with one of the locals seen here:

IN PHOTO. Seen here by one of the horse troughs is an orange and white rabbit. He belongs in the petting zoo but apparently is on break right now. I stopped to photograph him and he turned his best side to me. OUT OF PHOTO.

15 Oct 2021 —  Spruce Knob, West Virginia.

Up at dawn, breakfast finished, dishes done, and out the door for the final day-trip of this week long West Virginia excursion.

This first stop along the way was the U.S. Forest Service Visitors Center. There we picked up some literature about the trails we’d find there and then off we went. 

The maps looked informative but when the cell-signal-dependent GPS stopped processing, we discovered the maps had no useable detail to find our way to our destination. Arrgh!!!

Nevertheless, with just a modicum of directional awareness and some degree of persistance we found our way to the summit. (Well, okay. We picked up some signal too.)

Signage at the site was clear and concise:

IN PHOTO. The sign reads: Welcome to the top of the mountain state highest point in West Virginia. Elevation: 4863 feet. Observation tower 900 feet to your right. OUT OF PHOTO.

Our efforts yielded this:

IN PHOTO. Typical scenic landscape comprised of sky above and earth below. But, oh, how the sky unfolds the clouds revealing a bit of blue sky high above gathering but still thin cumulonimbus formations. Then the distant mountains roll away like waves on the sea and reach up to appear as touching the sky mid frame. The rolling land near the bottom and close is orange and red and green breaking away to a hazy pale green and further yet are lighter green fields then giving way to dark green forests atop the distant mountain that touches the sky again. OUT OF PHOTO.

The vista was taken from a hiking trail around the base of the observation tower which was erected in 1968. The trees around the tower have grown since then and the best view is now from the trail rather than the tower. 

IN PHOTO. A stone structure stands in a clearing as an apparent monument built for a diety from an unknown culture. Actually, it is the observation tower. The clearing is shrinking as the native spruce trees encroach on its placement. However, there will no attempt to maintain the clearing beyond the narrow paved walkways and natural rocks and boulders. The trees are home to several native species of wildlife that are in danger of becoming extinct. OUT OF PHOTO.

Nevertheless, the view from the tower is satisfactory. And if Marilee and I were not standing in the way, a viewer of this photo would be able see more of the spruce trees behind us. Yes. Only spruce trees. If one really cares to see the panoramic view of the unfolding valley below, one only need to hike another 900 feet south on the trail for that viewing experience.

IN PHOTO. Nevertheless, the view from the tower is satisfactory. And if Marilee and I were not standing in the way, a viewer of this photo would be able see more of the spruce trees behind us. Yes. Only spruce trees. If one really cares to see the panoramic view of the unfolding valley below, one only need to hike another 900 feet south on the trail for that viewing experience. OUT OF PHOTO.

Indeed, march down the steps and make a lefthand turn. Just a short distance further south on the well marked trail yields the following most excellent panoramic view of the low mountains on the western edge of the Appalachian range.

IN PHOTO. This panoramic view scans from left to right starting with a small grove of spruce trees then to a rocky clearing extending through much of the middle of the photo finally finding its edge going up a small slope to another spruce tree. In the distant middle of the photo through a slight haze are multi-colored hills and valleys extending to the horizon where a thin line of light blue sky and upwards to gathering cumulonimbus clouds of bright white and a bit of gray as if to ensure a bit of definition between clouds. OUT OF PHOTO.

And that is how we spent our fall vacation in 2021. 

About Gort

Retired space traveler and part time author.
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One Response to Just for fun: Davis, West Virginia.

  1. Pamela Christiani says:
    May 15, 2022 at 23:55

    Hi Ed, Thank you for the photo tour of West Virginia…funny, but whenever I describe how good my reception is with Verizon service, I always say: I never lost a signal on the road ANYwhere… Except in West Virginia 😂😂😂… loved the War Memorial and the final vista… I would have enjoyed the entire week myself!
    Sooo good to catch up last night… my love to you and Marilee… hope to see you SOON! 😎

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