The Charleston Gazette - Recreation

French Creek Freddie predicts early spring

rsteelhammer@wvgazette.com (Rick Steelhammer) — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 08:37:29 -0500

FRENCH CREEK, W.Va. -- French Creek Freddie, the West Virginia Wildlife Centers chief prognosticator of springs arrival, peered out the door to his shelter on Thursday,...

Va. man to head Appalachian Trail Conservancy

webmaster@ap.org ( The Associated Press) — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 15:58:10 -0500

HARPERS FERRY, W.Va. -- After 25 years, the group that develops and maintains the Appalachian Trail has a new leader. Architect Mark Wenger is taking over the Appalachian Trail Conservancy, based in Harpers Ferry. Wenger has worked for 32 years at t...

State park cabins open, even in winter

johnmccoy@wvgazette.com (John McCoy) — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 23:45:00 -0500

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- "It takes a long time to turn peoples preconceptions around." When Sissie Summers said that, she was referring to West Virginians belief that state park cabins cant be rented during the winter. "People ref...

Putnam teen a shooting star

johnmccoy@wvgazette.com (John McCoy) — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 20:27:05 -0500

NELLIS - Less than six months after he tried skeet shooting, 13-year-old Isaac Hathaway is becoming a shooting star.He hasnt yet reached the penthouse of the pastime, but hes a long, long way from the basement where he started."The first couple of tim...

Adventure industry helps Scouts plan Summit

rsteelhammer@wvgazette.com (Rick Steelhammer) — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 17:00:00 -0500

MOUNT HOPE, W.Va. -- Some of the worlds top consultants and designers are involved in planning venues for adventure activities taking shape at the Boy Scouts of Americas new Summit Bechtel Family National Scout Reserve in Fayette County. ...

Ski areas count on snowmaking to offset slow start

rsteelhammer@wvgazette.com (Rick Steelhammer) — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 18:28:14 -0500

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- West Virginias mild early-winter weather delayed opening dates for the states ski areas by 10 to 20 days, and reduced skier visits 10 to 15 percent. But resort operators are counting on their snowmaking gear and cold weather to m...

State parks chief cool on U.S. park plan

johnmccoy@wvgazette.com (John McCoy) — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 23:45:00 -0500

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- The head of West Virginias parks system isnt "favorably inclined toward" a plan that would absorb three existing state parks into a proposed national park and preserve. Proponents of the initiative envis...

W.Va. lawmakers holding off on Coopers Rock change

webmaster@ap.org ( The Associated Press) — Sun, 08 Jan 2012 18:23:59 -0500

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- It may be another year before West Virginia lawmakers consider changing the oversight of Coopers Rock State Forest.

A joint House-Senate study subcommittee voted Sun...

A crisp look at wildlife centers star attractions

rsteelhammer@wvgazette.com (Rick Steelhammer) — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 23:45:00 -0500

FRENCH CREEK, W.Va. --While the weather outside may seem frightful for some human visitors, snow and ice are just part of another day in the life for the animals at the West Virginia State Wildlife Center. "A lot of the animals that sleep...

Counties support Cacapon State Park expansion

webmaster@ap.org ( The Associated Press) — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 16:20:54 -0500

BERKELEY SPRINGS, W.Va. -- A Morgan County official says the states planned $23 million expansion and renovation of Cacapon State Park is critical to the regions economy. County Commissioner Stacy Dugan says the region doesnt have any golf-resor...

Land Trust debates goals for 2012

balow@wvgazette.com (Jim Balow) — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 17:15:47 -0500

CHARLESTON, W.Va -- Establish 100 miles of biking, jogging and walking trails: check. Publish a "Best of Charleston" walking trails series of articles: check. Members of the Charleston Land Trust accomplished several of the top priorities on...

Warmer weather means slow start for some resorts

lori.kersey@wvgazette.com (Lori Kersey) — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 23:45:00 -0500

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- With warmer than usual temperatures during the first part of the winter, some West Virginia ski resorts are off to a slow start. "We desperately need cold weather and snow," Lisa Ratliff, a spokeswoman for Canaan Valle...

W.Va. state parks offering New Years packages

webmaster@ap.org ( The Associated Press) — Sun, 25 Dec 2011 14:26:23 -0500

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- The West Virginia Division of Natural Resources is inviting residents to ring in the new year at some of West Virginias state parks.

Officials say several of West Vi...

First Day hikes fulfill New Years resolutions

rsteelhammer@wvgazette.com (Rick Steelhammer) — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 18:00:00 -0500

SOUTH CHARLESTON, W.Va.-- If your New Years resolution list includes getting more exercise and spending more time outdoors, three West Virginia state parks and one state forest are offering a way to start the year 2012 on a good foot. A series of...

Parks supporters, sportsmen spar over proposed park preserve

pjnyden@wvgazette.com (Paul J. Nyden) — Sun, 18 Dec 2011 23:00:00 -0500

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Judy Rodd, executive director of Friends of Blackwater Canyon, is supporting the creation of the proposed High Allegheny National Park and Preserve.

The preserve wou...

Christmas Bird Count tradition continues

johnmccoy@wvgazette.com (John McCoy) — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 18:00:00 -0500

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Its a tradition every bit as Christmas as eggnog or mistletoe. Every year, for a full midnight-to-midnight December day, Charleston-area bird enthusiasts fan out and count every feathered creature they see or hear. "...

Meadow River Rail-Trail takes shape

rsteelhammer@wvgazette.com (Rick Steelhammer) — Sat, 19 Nov 2011 19:10:32 -0500

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Construction could begin this winter on segments of a planned 16.7-mile rail-trail along the Meadow River in Fayette and Greenbrier counties. The trail will be built on the railbed of a CSX spur line abandoned in 2008. A $264,000 ...

Students learn pre-Civil War history by living it

johnmccoy@wvgazette.com (John McCoy) — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 23:45:00 -0500

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. -- Some students learn history by reading it. Others learn it by living it. Students at several Huntington-area middle schools fall into the latter category. Since 2007, theyve learned about life in pre-Civil War West Virginia by dressing...

Rock, log structures expected to improve Little Coals fish habitat

rsteelhammer@wvgazette.com (Rick Steelhammer) — Sat, 12 Nov 2011 16:12:38 -0500

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Rock and log structures designed to disperse sediment and improve fish habitat will be installed in a 16.5-mile stretch of the Little Coal River between Danville and McCorkle in coming months. The upcoming stream improvemen...

Snowshoe has new restaurants, conveniences, discounts

(Staff reports) — Sat, 05 Nov 2011 23:00:00 -0400

SNOWSHOE, W.Va. -- Snowshoe Mountain has announced a variety of new products, events, promotions and initiatives for its 2011-2012 winter season, which is scheduled to begin Nov. 23. According to a news release from Snowshoe, heres whats new at the ...

Aerial adventure park planned for New River Gorge

rsteelhammer@wvgazette.com (Rick Steelhammer) — Sat, 05 Nov 2011 19:10:06 -0400

FAYETTEVILLE, W.Va. -- Adventures on the Gorge is adding another tree-based attraction to its repertoire of outdoor activities. A new aerial adventure park is expected to open by April 1 at the Fayette County resort, a joint venture of Class VI River...

Snowshoe plans to open Nov. 23

(Staff reports) — Sat, 29 Oct 2011 13:22:30 -0400

SNOWSHOE, W.Va. -- Snowshoe Mountain Resort in Pocahontas County has set Nov. 23 as the opening day for its 2011-12 season. Snowshoe is also offering several early-season promos, including 20 percent off winter lodging and equipment rentals with any...

Civil Wars first campaign battle sites made accessible in new guidebook

rsteelhammer@wvgazette.com (Rick Steelhammer) — Sat, 29 Oct 2011 23:45:00 -0400

ELKINS, W.Va. -- Its a pleasant coincidence that the Civil Wars first campaign took place amid some of the most magnificent scenery West Virginia has to offer. Anyone interested in retracing the paths Robert E. Lee, George B. McClellan and their a...

Fayette, Greenbrier buy property for rail trail

webmaster@ap.org ( The Associated Press) — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 19:30:18 -0400

LEWISBURG, W.Va. -- More than 16 miles of an abandoned rail line in Southern West Virginia will be converted into a recreation trail. Fayette and Greenbrier counties bought the property from CSX Corp. for $128,400 earlier this month. A ceremony was ...

Fall colors take a back seat to white in W.Va.

rsteelhammer@wvgazette.com (Rick Steelhammer) — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 17:59:34 -0400

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- The prevailing fall color was white in the higher elevations of West Virginia on Monday, after three days of scattered snowfall that left accumulations as deep as 9 inches. "Weve had decent snowfalls around Halloween be...

Rafter who drowned in Gauley River identified

(Staff reports) — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 13:41:42 -0400

SUMMERSVILLE, W.Va. -- A Wheeling woman who drowned Monday while on a white water rafting trip in the Upper Gauley River has been identified. The body of Tammy L. Paczewski, 40, washed ashore following a search that lasted more than six hours Mo...

Volunteers build new access ramp at Coal Rivers Lower Falls

johnmccoy@wvgazette.com (John McCoy) — Sat, 17 Sep 2011 19:40:08 -0400

ST. ALBANS, W.Va. -- Lower Falls, the most heavily used public boat launch site on the Coal River, has been upgraded from a narrow trail leading down a steep embankment to a gently sloping concrete ramp by volunteers from the here. CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- What do you do if you find yourself lost in the woods, or stranded by a flash flood or heavy snow, as night...

Bridge Day organizers sue creators of unofficial website

Zachary.Taylor@wvgazette.com (Zac Taylor) — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 23:45:00 -0400

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- The organizers of Bridge Day at the New River Gorge have filed a federal lawsuit against a group of business partners who are running an unofficial version of the events website that has allegedly provided people misleading informati...

Stronger whitewater season expected

johnmccoy@wvgazette.com (John McCoy) — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 23:45:00 -0400

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- This year during the Gauley River whitewater rafting season, the rapids will be significantly louder than usual. Currents will flow stronger. Waves will tower higher. All because its time for federal officials to inspect a...

Walking trail: Grosscup and Roller roads

(Staff reports) — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 23:45:00 -0400

This is the latest in a series of Charleston-area residents favorite walking and biking trails. Send your suggestions to charlestontrails@gmail.com. Brief descri...

Maryland ski resort owners might sell

webmaster@ap.org ( The Associated Press) — Fri, 26 Aug 2011 14:09:04 -0400
MCHENRY, Md. -- The owners of Marylands only ski resort say theyre considering selling the landmark property to resolve financial problems linked to a slide in home construction around nearby Deep Creek Lake. Karen Myers says selling the Wisp Resort...

WALKING TRAIL -- SISSONVILLE DRIVE (W.Va. 21)

(Staff reports) — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 23:45:00 -0400
CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- This is the latest in a series of Charleston-area residents favorite walking and biking trails. Send your suggestions to charlestontrails@gmail.com. Brief...

100-mile canoe trip marks start of school year

webmaster@ap.org ( The Associated Press) — Thu, 18 Aug 2011 14:23:30 -0400
PARKERSBURG, W.Va. -- Two Marshall University students decided they wanted to start their senior year in style, so they embarked on a 100-mile canoe trip to campus. Longtime friends Sam Kelch and Michael Tanner completed their four-day journey from Park...

Heading for some falls

johnmccoy@wvgazette.com (John McCoy) — Thu, 18 Aug 2011 23:45:00 -0400
CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- People love waterfalls. Twenty million tourists flock to New York every year to feel the thunder of Niagara. Yosemite Falls dramatic 2,425-foot plunge strikes awe into 4 million Yosemite Park visitors a year. The Yellowstone ...

WALKING TRAIL -- NORWOOD ROAD AREA

(Staff reports) — Thu, 18 Aug 2011 23:45:00 -0400
CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- This is the latest in a series of Charleston-area residents favorite walking and biking trails. Send your suggestions to charlestontrails@gmail.com. Brief description

Two area pools open through Wednesday

rustymarks@wvgazette.com (Rusty Marks) — Mon, 15 Aug 2011 18:39:04 -0400
CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Two area pools remain open this week, but after this weekend those who want to get in a few laps or beat the heat will have to rely on the Coonskin Park swimming pool. Most area pools have closed for the season. Charleston ...