Where were you today?

It's pretty common seeing the coal seams in WV. I thought this trail was following an old Railroad grade, but looking at the description, "recreation trails for hiking and biking nestled along coal seams on historic mine benches with multiple waterfalls along the way".
So they must have just stripped the edge of the hillside, following the coal seam. Not sure what years that would have been done. Most of the that area was mined pre-1900's to the 60's. Plus depends how thick the coal seam was, whether worth mining or not.

 

@DiscoveryLover, we are headed up to the New River Gorge area next month. I'm excited to do some exploring after seeing all your trips.

 

Hopefully you will enjoy it. In April things start opening back up as rafting season starts back. Fayetteville is the main part of the Gorge where the Bridge is, then you have the Grandview area near Beckley, and Sandstone Falls around Hinton. Plus Hawk's Nest State Park and Babcock State Park are nearby.

 

I know that we will be spending some time at Hawk's Nest State Park.

 

Can a person just chip out pieces of this coal and burn it in a stove?

 

You can, people heated with coal years ago when that's what they had. But it's dirty and stinks when burning.
I heard before that the coal burns hotter than wood, so if your stove is thinner metal, it might warp if you get it too hot.
Also, heard that people would burn wood during the day, then at night put a piece of coal in, and it would burn through the night.

 

That sounds like a great area to live. I heat exclusively with wood. It's dirty and stinks too! A million years ago I found some coal leftover from the millenia before that, and burned it. It "seamed!!!" See what I did there ? To burn a lot longer than the same size pile of wood. Good stuff, thanks for sharing.

 

Did some practise with my hammock today,
The tigerstripe needs more dirt

 

Checking the driveway this morning to see how the frost is doing.

 

Cades Cove, Great Smoky Mountains National Park. One bear sited.
I live 30 miles from the Park and Spring is a nice time to visit. The higher elevations haven't greened up yet.
Bear Sows with two year olds are out. Males and Sows with newborn will be out and about in a couple weeks.

 

Today I visited part of the New River Gorge National Park.

Sandstone Falls



Went to nearby Talcott, WV. Visited the John Henry Legend Memorial - Steel Drivin' Man.
According to legend, John Henry's prowess as a steel driver was measured in a race against a steam-powered rock drill, a race that he won only to die in victory with a hammer in hand as his heart gave out from stress.




Grandview - Overlooking the New River


Tunnel Trail


Castle Rock Trail


Nearby Piney Creek Preserve
Little White Stick Falls


Cranberry Creek Cascade

 

Always like seeing your adventures. Thanks for sharing.

 

Small Areal scouting on easter monday,
Of cause with the 6

 

Were you wearing a HPG Junction pack at Sandstone Falls?

 

Yes, plus a waist pack worn crossbody to keep my phone in. And an asian woman was with me.

 

I was on the island loop as you were leaving. I noticed the pack then noticed that the guy I was looking at looked like you but my family asked me to come see something and when I looked back you were gone. Sorry that we didn't get to meet in person but I plan to head back up there soon and hopefully we can go for a hike or something.

 

Small world. Don't remember seeing anyone on the Loop trail.
Hopefully you enjoyed the area, and that the bugs didn't bother you too bad.

 

We had just come off the larger bridge and started the loop trail when I noticed you. The bugs weren't too bad. I keep a buff handy and a little Repel or Off around the nexk/face area worked well most days. Sunday morning I didn't apply any and they were bad down at river level below Hawk's Nest.

 

What other areas of the New River did you visit?