Exploring Pocahontas County, WV

We are still camped at Watoga State Park near Marlinton, WV. Yesterday was a somewhat dreary day with intermittent showers. Rather than bike or hike, we took a drive. We drove north through Marlinton and connected onto the Monongahela National Forest Highlands Scenic Byway. From there we drove across Big Spruce Mountain and Black Mountain at elevations of about 5000'. Up here the fall colors were finally peaking. We stopped in at the Cranberry Mountain Nature Center and then walked the Cranberry Glades Botanical Area. The Cranberry Glades are a 750 acre area with a series of mountain bogs 3400') that contain Arctic plant species that survived here from the last ice age and are now only found in the far northern US and Canada. We then hiked to the Falls of Hills Creek, a series of three waterfalls. There are 382 steps to the lower falls. I counted. The lower falls is 63', the second highest in WV. Don't ask me what the highest falls is. They were nice, but not terribly impressive, due to the very low water flow. These falls probably would not rate honorable mention in NC.

It rained some more last night and is still dreary and spitting some rain today. Ranger Chuck came down and told us the governor of WV just declared a fire ban. It has rained the last two days here and now a fire ban? Chuck is a funny fellow and I thought he was kidding, but he wasn't. I hope lightning doesn't strike our fire pit and accidentally start a fire! Today we are driving around exploring the villages of Pocahontas County. Tomorrow we will pack up and go home. We have been away almost 5 weeks on this trip. We have been home only 14 nights since May 20. I think I am ready to be home for a little while.