Snowshoe Magazine......

POCAHONTAS COUNTY:

WEST VIRGINIA AT ITS BEST

I don’t think it’s at all coincidental that one of my favorite mountain resorts in the world happens to be located in one of the nation’s most unique counties. In a sense, Snowshoe Mountain is a microcosm of the best of Pocahontas County--incredible wilderness, lots to see and do, friendly people, dynamic culture and history, interesting dining possibilities, and so much more. It’s also the perfect ‘base camp’ for exploring the entire county.

I never love leaving Snowshoe Mountain, but the surrounding Pocahontas County countryside simply adds to the pleasures of a visit. Just head down the mountain for a wide variety of activities. But don’t forget your way back!

Like Snowshoe Mountain, one of the beauties of Pocahontas County is that there’s so much to pursue you can’t do it in one visit. Whether your interest is Mother Nature or attractions your mother would enjoy, you’ll find it in abundance in this wild and wonderful West Virginia county.

GREAT STATE PARKS

One of my favorite things about Pocahontas County is the quantity and quality of the state park system. I’ve been to all of them and each has its own attractions. West Virginia’s state park system is one of the best in the nation and the five in Pocahontas County prove my point.

As the closest and most unique state park, Cass Scenic Railroad State Park is perhaps the top reason anyone leaves Snowshoe Mountain, except to head home. The varied train trips aboard the original working trains provide an authentic look at Pocahontas County history, as well as taking visitors into some of the most remote and breathtaking mountain scenery in the country. Special excursions coordinated by Snowshoe Mountain even feature a barbecue cookout and bluegrass music (and tickets are available directly from Snowshoe).

Greenbrier River Trail State Park provides another popular excursion for Snowshoe Mountain visitors. Extending more than 75 miles and traversing 35 bridges and two long tunnels, the trail parallels the meandering Greenbrier River. This ‘rails-to-trails’ project has been incredibly successful and is especially popular with bicyclists (if you didn’t bring your own two wheels, I can attest that Snowshoe Mountain has great bike rentals!).

Civil War buffs will enjoy the history, bluffs, and more of Droop Mountain Battlefield State Park. This now-peaceful park was the site of a bloody Civil War battle that claimed more than 400 lives. Fought on November 6, 1863, Confederate troops were driven out of West Virginia for good after this battle. Highlights include a museum, hiking trails, and trenches. This is just one of several interesting Civil War sites in the county. The annual reenactment of the battle will take place this year October 12-13, making for a great time to visit the park

You’ll find one of the most unique natural areas in the region at Beartown State Park. This 107-acre park on the eastern summit of Droop Mountain features truly unusual rock formations that have created a system of ‘sunken streets’ within a town of rocks. A boardwalk leads to many great observation points, as signs explain the unique ecological features.

Largest of all the state parks in West Virginia, Watoga State Park boasts more than 10,000 acres of sprawling recreational opportunities. The widely varied options include fishing and boating on the new lake, hiking, horseback riding, swimming, the Brooks Memorial Arboretum, the fascinating Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) Memorial Museum, an excellent restaurant, and much more.

In addition, two state forests (Seneca and Calvin Price), the nation’s southernmost cranberry bogs at Cranberry Glades Botanical Area (see below), a large portion of the 330-mile Allegheny Trail (West Virginia’s first long distance hiking trail) and huge Monongahela National Forest (how ‘bout 500 miles of hiking trails?) all provide further opportunities to love your mother--Mother Nature that is!

THE HIGHWAY IS MY WAY

Whenever I have time, I try to drive the Highland Scenic Highway on my way to or from Snowshoe Mountain. Besides, of course, the road up to Snowshoe, it’s definitely one of West Virginia's special roads.

This beautiful National Forest Scenic Byway, right through the heart of the Monongahela National Forest, extends 43 miles from Richwood (“Ramp Capital of the World”) to Route 219, seven miles south of Marlinton. This makes for a nice loop back to Route 219, if you’re like many Snowshoe visitors who use this road.

The Highway follows Route 39/55 for 21 miles from Richwood to the Cranberry Mountain Visitor Center and then turns onto State Route 150 for the 22 mile Parkway section. The Highway traverses the mountainous terrain of the Allegheny Highlands and Plateau, rising from 2,325 feet in Richwood to more than 4,500 feet on the Parkway. Four scenic overlooks located on the Parkway portion provide for spectacular views of the surrounding ridges and valleys. Spring blossoms, summer wildflowers, and autumn leaves offer color throughout the seasons.

The Cranberry Glades Botanical Area features the largest area of bogs in the state. A half-mile boardwalk allows exploration of this fragile area, which is more typical of acidic wetlands found in Canada. The Falls of Hills Creek Scenic Area features three waterfalls that cascade over rock layers of sandstone and shale. The 3/4-mile trail provides access to the falls. In all, more than 150 miles of trails can be found along the Highway.

But even if you never hike further than a few steps, drive the Highland Scenic Highway. It's an ideal (and typical) Pocahontas County country road diversion.

STAR TREKKING IN WEST VIRGINIA

Did you know that the largest steerable radio telescope in the world is located in Pocahontas County? It’s at the National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO) in the small and friendly town of Green Bank. The NRAO houses the huge Robert C. Byrd Green Bank Telescope, but there’s much more to see at this interesting version of real-life star trekking.

The NRAO is one of the leading centers in the world for the growing science of radio astronomy. Along with the telescope that can be seen for miles around (its reflecting surface is larger than two football fields), there are many other telescopes and more to view. Tours of the facility are available daily from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day and on weekends only through the end of October (be sure to call ahead). Plans are in place for a large new visitor and education center to be completed by the end of 2002, providing yet another reason to return to Pocahontas County.

A PEARL OF A POCAHONTAS COUNTY PERSON

Route 219 leads immediately into Hillsboro and another interesting Greenbrier Valley town. Hillsboro is best known as the birthplace of Pearl S. Buck, one of America's most distinguished writers. Pearl Buck fans come from afar to visit the restored home where she was born, which is a far cry from Pearl's home in China for 40 years.

Located right on Route 219, the house was built by the Stulting family (Pearl's grandparents), who had emigrated to America from Holland in 1847. On June 26, 1892, Pearl Comfort Sydenstricker was born. Her missionary parents, having lost earlier children in China, had returned to the U.S. for a few months for Pearl's birth.

Writing under the married name of Pearl S. Buck, she won the hearts of Americans with her famous novel, The Good Earth, for which she won the Pulitzer Prize for Literature in 1932. For the high quality of her literary work, Pearl won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1938. She is the only American woman to receive both awards.

The restored house is a white-columned beauty, with furnishings and artifacts from the period, as well as many articles from Buck's life. A gift shop sells autographed books, First Day Covers of Pearl S. Buck Stamps, and many other souvenirs.

The Pearl S. Buck Museum complex also includes the Sydenstricker House, which was the birthplace of Pearl's father. This pretty farmhouse was dismantled and transported 40 miles to its present location.

EVEN MORE OPTIONS

Space doesn’t allow me to cover all of the varied options of Pocahontas County exploration, using Snowshoe Mountain as a great base. The following are a few more of my favorites.

Train lovers who enjoy the Cass Scenic Railroad will also want to experience the trains of The Durbin and Greenbrier Railroad. The Durbin Rocket departs the historic 1902 Durbin Depot and takes you on a leisurely trip along the Greenbrier River. The Cheat Mountain Salamander travels the highest main line east of the Mississippi River, crossing over the scenic Shavers Fork of the Cheat River and passing through the dramatic Big Cut at 4,066 feet. The folks in Durbin are celebrating the 100th anniversary of the arrival of the first train at the Durbin Depot in a big way this year, with the unveiling of the new ‘Climax Steam Engine’ May 26th!

Of course, there are many activities that can be pursued throughout the county and the folks at Snowshoe Mountain are happy to help coordinate them (I should know, in that I’ve used their expert local advice often). The possibilities including hiking, mountain biking, canoeing, rafting, hunting, fishing, scenic drives, shopping (including some great country stores), picnics (the restaurants at Snowshoe can help here), and so much more. If you’re like me, you’ll have to come back to Snowshoe Mountain and Pocahontas County often just to pursue all of these possibilities!