Walk Between the Parks

Bigtooth Aspen (c) High Virginia Images

Final Walk Between the Parks event Oct. 4 at Canaan Valley Resort and Blackwater Falls state parks

DAVIS, West Virginia– The final Walk Between the Parks event of 2014 is scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 4. The walk between Canaan Valley Resort State Park and Blackwater Falls State Park is an 8-mile / 4-hour scenic hike and is considered moderately strenuous.
"In the fall, the Walk Between the Parks allows hikers to enjoy exceptional fall foliage up-close-and-personal," said David Vance, walk leader and guide.
The season finale hike includes a cookout lunch at the halfway point along the trail. The menu consists of hamburgers, hotdogs, chips, fresh fruit, cookies and cold/hot drinks. Supplies for lunch are brought in for the cookout, but hikers should carry their own water and snacks. Hikers will encounter wet and rocky terrain and are encouraged to wear hiking boots or cross-country walking shoes and carry their own water and snacks.
"I've been leading these hikes since 2006 and I can honestly say that each hike offers something new," said Vance. "But it's the fellowship you experience on these hikes that keep people coming back year after year."
Shuttle service will leave the Main Lodge of Canaan Valley Resort State Park at 9 a.m. and take hikers to the starting point at Blackwater State Park; or hikers can meet at the Blackwater Falls State Park Farm Discovery Center at 10 a.m. The shuttle will return to Blackwater Falls State Park between 2 and 5 p.m. to return hikers who started from Canaan Valley Resort.
Registration fee is $25 for adults and $15 for children ages 6-12. The fee includes an event memento, cookout and shuttle service from Canaan Valley Resort State Park. Register online at www.canaanresort.com or in-person Saturday morning from 7 to 8:30 a.m. Because of its popularity, early registration is recommended for this event.
Canaan Valley Resort State Park, located in Tucker County, is a four-season mountain destination and the highest mountain valley east of the Rocky Mountains, with a base elevation of 3,100 feet. Nestled among 6,000+ acres on a plateau overlooking the valley, the resort offers sweeping views of the surrounding peaks.
The newly renovated Main Lodge boasts 160 new guestrooms and has recently been awarded a three-star rating by AAA. In addition to the lodge rooms, the resort offers 23 cabins and cottages, 34 campground sites and more than 25,000 square feet of conference space consisting of 10 meeting rooms, an exhibit hall and an outdoor pavilion. Visit the resort website at www.canaanresort.com or call 800-622-4121 for more information.

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Eyes to the Sky

 Watch the Perseid meteor showers at Blackwater Falls State Park Aug. 11 and 12, 2014

DAVIS, West Virginia – It's fun to look up at night and wish upon a star. On a clear, dark night, the Perseid meteor shower makes dreams come true for anyone interested in astronomy and night sky observation. Perseid meteor shower viewing events will be featured at Blackwater Falls State Park Aug. 11 and 12.
"Everyone is welcome to attend and we're wishing for clear dark skies for a great star party," said Paulita Cousin, naturalist at Blackwater Falls State Park.
Dan Costanzo, scientist with the National Air and Space Museum, has more than 40 years of experience watching meteors and the Earth's sky and will be the guest interpreter for this astronomy event. The Perseid meteor shower is an annual summertime event.  Meteors can be observed on clear nights from mid-July to late August with the peak show usually occurring around Aug. 11 and 12. Meteors can be observed in the early evening sky after darkness falls; however, the number of meteors increases after midnight.  Blackwater Falls State Park, one for the darkest areas in the east, is the perfect setting as Earth passes through the debris of Swift-Tuttle – a comet discovered in July 1862.
The Perseid meteor shower viewing begins at the Harold Walters Nature Center Monday, Aug.11 and Tuesday, Aug. 12.  An indoor gathering includes a presentation about meteors and the night sky in preparation for the night sky viewing. The program begins indoors each evening at 7:30 p.m. and viewing of the meteors will follow outdoors. The nature center area will be free of artificial lighting.
"A clear night with dark skies, evening sounds of frogs and other wildlife, and a meteor shower – it doesn't get much better," said Cousin.
There is no charge to attend and no advance registration necessary. Attendees do not need to bring a telescope but are encouraged to bring a lawn chair or blanket to sit back and watch the show.
Overnight lodging is available at Blackwater Falls State Park by calling 304-259-5216. To talk with Naturalist Paulita Cousin, call 304-259-5511. 
Blackwater Falls State Park offers daily activities and programming and posts those at www.blackwaterfalls.com. Other astronomy activities include the StarLab portable planetarium with the park naturalist at various times Aug.9-19, 2014.

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Shaggy Manes

Shaggy Manes (Coprinus comatus) are one of the latest edible mushrooms that we can expect to find in this area. These were photographed and the smaller ones were picked on November 1, 2011; near Horseshoe Run in Tucker County, WV. The recent snow did not seem to bother this clump at all. I picked some last Thursday; near Huttonsville. They had been rained on for three days and were pretty soggy; but still tasted all right. Shaggy Manes and Oyster Mushrooms are what we can expect to find, this late in the season; if we are lucky.

Photo by High Virginia Images
Posted by High Virginia Outdoors
(c) 2011 All Rights Reserved

Mountain Laurel Time Is Near

The next few weeks will be prime time for viewing the exquisite mountain laurel show of the highlands. I do not believe that there is a finer place to do this than Tucker County, WV. One of the easiest spots to find these mountain beauties is the Canaan Heights area; along Rt. 32, south of Davis, WV. The rocky, acid soils of this area produce some of the best colors that I have seen. I was there on June 6 and they are beginning to bloom, not very many though. We have had some abnormally high temperature over the past few days; this may encourage them to open up a little early. The main show should begin next week. They are usually pretty nice for about two weeks. Do yourself a favor and do not miss the show. Now is the time to plan a trip to the Thomas, Davis, Canaan Valley and Blackwater Falls area of Tucker County; for some great outdoor photography experiences.