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| As you may remember, we visited Blackwater Falls on our way home. |
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| We spent the night at the nearby Canaan Valley State Park lodge. |
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| The next morning we took the ski lift up to Bald Knob. This was a bit out of my comfort zone as I am afraid of heights. |
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| After we got off of the chairlift, we had another mile to hike to get to the summit. The first part of the trail was in dappled sun. |
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| I like these kind of forests--not much brush, but lots of moss and ferns. |
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| As we got near the top, we went out of the trees and into an area that was covered with wild blueberries. Unfortunately, we didn't find many. However, the family with 7 kids who got there before us did find several containers full. |
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| The summit was at 4308 feet (1313 meters) and had great views of the valley and the mountains beyond. |
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| Ward enjoyed the view, also. |
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| On the way back down we saw a lot of butterflies on the sunny part of the trail, like this one. |
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| And this one on the bear droppings. |
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| And these two who were involved in some kind of mating dance. |
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| We rode the chairlift again and Ward studied the engineering of the whole thing. |
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| Then we got on the road to drive the rest of the way home. |
So beautiful! I am also afraid of heights so I felt your pain but it really was worth it, wasn't it?! And call me weird but I was excited to see a picture of bear scat. I also take pictures of the scat we find, although I don't often post them, hahaha. That trail looked gorgeous. Too bad you couldn't pick a bunch of blueberries. That large family sure was prepared!
ReplyDeleteThe chairlift ride was worth it, but my stomach flipped a few times on the way down. I have a lot of interesting animal scat pictures, but don't usually post them either. This one got posted to show that we were in bear country. Maybe I'll include them and again because there are some of us out there who are interested and not grossed out by it all. I will say that this bear scat was somewhat fresh because it still smelled. That part was gross.
DeleteSo that makes me less weird for taking a picture of a bison cowpie? ;) Please say yes!
ReplyDeleteGorgeous place. I can't believe I missed your Bilbo Baggins reference the first time around. There and back again, indeed!
I don't know that you're less weird for taking a picture of a bison cowpie. Maybe it just means you have some weird friends who like to do that, too.
DeleteI wondered if the title would register with anyone. I guess it did.
Odd people, unite! ;)
DeleteWe love The Hobbit/LOTR. Great fun. Somehow I knew you would like them, too.
I think they are classics loved by the old and the young. I think more that it's a certain type of person--the geeky kind. Geeky people unite!
DeleteGorgeous! Can you feel the envy from all the way up here in WA??? ;o)
ReplyDeleteI have seen some beautiful pictures from WA and would like to visit there some day. So far, I've only been through the Seattle Airport and there were some very pretty views out the airport windows.
DeleteGreat picture 's, thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteIt's easy to get a good picture when you have good subject matter. :)
DeleteWonderful photos! What was Ward's feeling regarding the chairlift?
ReplyDeleteWard loved the chairlift. It was his idea to go and he gave me a lot of credit for going out of my comfort zone. Besides the scenery, he enjoyed studying the mechanics of the whole operation.
DeleteSuch beautiful scenery!
ReplyDeleteI think so, too. :)
DeleteMakes me want to head to that part of my Mountain Momma. I love the forests and the views from the tops of the mountains. Great pics. Yvonne in WV
ReplyDeleteWe didn't visit that part of the state when I was growing up. We lived, as well as all of our relatives, in the eastern part of the state and that's where we stayed. However, I discovered it when I went to college and loved it. If I were you, I'd plan a trip--maybe in the fall when the leaves are changing. I'm gonna see if I can go back then.
DeleteGood to hear from you, Yvonne. As you know, I was pretty close to you last week and thought about you.
Oops! I didn't mean eastern, I meant western.
DeleteGlad you clarified, I was scratching my head there for a moment! We mainly go to Pocahontas County, especially in spring and fall because my husband is an avid trout fisherman. We've gone in every season though! Never miss the fall. We also travel through Nicholas and Webster and usually end up in Randolph, sometimes Tucker. It's a long drive! Yvonne
DeleteWow, that is my kind of trip. Fantastic, June!
ReplyDeleteLooks like you recently had a good trip, too.
DeleteIt was very nice, thanks. Way too short, but so neat to be back in the land of green, rain, and family. We have one more "redeye and long weekend" trip at the end of the month that will be too short, but that will be greatly appreciated.
DeleteIts so beautiful. I love those butterflies and the view and the waterfall. I'd heard West Virginia is full of beauty.
ReplyDelete