A Change of Scenery, Day Three

Ward and I are on a little vacation, i.e., change of scenery, in WV. The vistas are splendid in every direction in the Allegheny Mountains where we are. However, today we visited two geographical areas of note among this scenery. One was Spruce Knob, the highest point in WV at 4863'. The other was Smoke Hole, a long canyon formed by South Branch of the Potomac. Ward remembers camping there as a kid and wanted to explore it again. Below are a few pictures from our day.

Spruce Knob is in the Monongahela National Forest and has several hiking areas. 

 

This was one of the views from the road we were driving to the top. Goldenrod is in bloom everywhere and is quite beautiful. However, come to think of it maybe that's the reason my allergies have been acting up.

Often, the peak is shrouded in clouds. Today however, there was only one direction that our view was obscured. 

We had clear views in every other direction.

There is a prevailing western wind that is causing 'flagging' of the red spruce, meaning branches growing in the direction of the wind. You may have guessed that the predominance of red spruce growing there gave the peak the name of Spruce Knob. 

Spruce Knob is held up by the Tuscarora Sandstone, and boulders and outcroppings of it abound. 

Besides goldenrod, we saw other wild flowers along the trails.

Under the spruce trees is a blanket of rocks and moss. Quite lovely.

Before we left the area, we found one last treat--a goldenrod crab spider in the parking lot.

We drove through the canyon enjoying the scenery along the way.

We saw numerous outcroppings of the Oriskany Sandstone along the river.

We hiked along the river where we saw foundations of old homesteads.

As is typical in the fall, the river level was low. However, that made it ideal for rock play. Unfortunately, the river rocks here were too rounded for good skipping but making big splashes was almost as fun.

(Tuesday, September 15, 2020)

A Change of Scenery, Day One and Two

Ward and I are spending several days at a cabin in WV for a change of scenery to hopefully refresh from what is turning out to be a very long year. The cabin, courtesy of Miss Landers, is in the Allegheny Mountains of eastern WV.  If you want, you can follow along with our getaway.

 

On Sunday we drove to the cabin that is nestled in the woods and has all of the comforts of home.

It is located above the valley (The Trough) of the South Branch of the Potomac River. The river provides rich farmlands. We're looking down from a mountainside and the blankets of green that you see in the picture are cornfields.

On Monday, we took a walking tour of the nearby town of Romney. I'll show you a few of the 20 sites we visited. 

The earliest evidence we saw of people in the area was a Hopewell Indian burial mound--the small hill on the far side of the gravestones. This one has never been opened, but research from similar ones suggest that it was constructed sometime between 500-1000 CE. Other graves in this cemetery range from 1700's to present day.

Taking a huge leap in time, on the outskirts of town, we saw a replica of a stockade that Joseph Edwards built in 1755 to protect his farm during the French and Indian War. The real stockade is close by and undergoing an archaeological dig.

A few years later the first house in town was built circa 1760 just before the town was incorporated in 1762.

The Romney Literary Society was formed in 1819 and by 1850 was a large public library. Unfortunately, it was destroyed in 1862 during the Civil War.

And speaking of the Civil War, Romney changed hands between the Union and Confederate Forces 56 times from 1861-1865. In 1863 it became part of the new state of WV. This house built in 1850 served as Stonewall Jackson's headquarters for a time.

On a nearby hill, the Union forces built the Fort Mill Ridge Trenches. Present day, these are located in a beautiful hardwood forest.

Built in 1846 as the Romney Classical Institute, this became the state's school for the deaf and blind in 1870. Classes were in session while we explored the grounds.

And speaking of present day, we saw several of the Little Free Libraries around town. They had food, books, and one was even dedicated to hygiene products. 

The last stop of the day was the Dairy Queen for a Oreo Blizzard. Recently I discovered McFlurries from McDonalds and wanted to compare them to DQ Blizzards. You know, all for collecting data in the name of science. With two data points in, Ward and I both prefer the Blizzard.

(Monday and Tuesday, September 13,14, 2020.)