Synchronous Fireflies This story, like most, has a backstory. What follows is how something extraordinary was recently discovered in Watoga State Park. A little over a year ago Mack Frantz, a zoologist with West Virginia Department of Natural Resources, was informed by a retired biologist from the same agency that she had observed a rare …
Read more “Synchronous Fireflies, “They Lit Up the Woods Like a Christmas Tree””
Current Happenings in and around Watoga State Park via Watoga Update November 4, 2019 The Riverside Campground sits empty now, the gate was closed last week for the 2019 camping season. Riverside will reopen as it does every spring, on April 1, 2020. It is now a winter sanctuary for dog-walkers and beavers that can …
Ken is out west (Ohio) for a few weeks, scouting places to come back from, and I miss his daily reports on trail conditions. Wind rain stay on the job. Though he’s taking time off, the rain has been on the job soaking the soil, the winds have blown, and the mercury has been jumping …
Today’s trail-work was concentrated on the Pine Run Cabin Area Trails. Two of the classic cabins are open in the winter months. Consequently, I have noticed that the robust folks who rent these cabins, at this time of year, are often hikers. Pine Run Hiker Advantages Subsequently, those staying in this area have access to …
Watoga Trail Report June 28, 2018 Update. It felt wonderful to get back out Watoga’s trails. This morning ended a month- long convalescence from rib fractures sustained on the Bear Pen Loop. My dog Bongo felt it would be a good idea to go right back out on the same trail. Sort of a “get …
May 2018 Watoga Trails Update Report From Brian Hirt, trail volunteer: “I finally got some spare time and the weather cooperated. So I spent Friday and most of Saturday doing some trail maintenance and cleanup projects in and around Watoga. Started out Friday morning clearing fallen trees from the landing strip at Beaver Creek. Then …
Have you ever ventured out on Monongaseneka Trail here at Watoga State Park? I highly recommend it. The trailhead is located a mere 1/2 mile up the main park entrance road. Just after crossing the newly restored bridge across Isle Lick you will see the parking area on the right, with the start of the …
Bongo, Daisy and their manservant left their collective tracks in the snow this morning as they ascended the NW section of Honey Bee Trail. The recent winds have dropped many trees and branches on Watoga’s trails but we managed to clear all on this part of Honey Bee Trail save a 14 inch oak lying …
If the Bear Pen Trail is any indication of the current condition of the rest of the trails at Watoga State Park then the trail volunteers are in for a big clean-up task. Cleaning large branches and trees off the section of the trail from the trailhead to just the junction of Buck and Doe …
Read more “Watoga Trail Report March 4, 2018: Family Reunion Central”
This is the scene this morning at Mile Marker 44 on the Greenbrier River Trail. Two rockslides have partially blocked the trail. Caution should be exercised when passing this section of trail, particularly when raining. There are some huge rocks on the slope that are hanging on by a thread; it is a contest now …