Green Bank to Cass

Meeting K at the beginning of August has been awesome for racking up miles and seeing new sights between horse ears. It's so fun to have met a new person in this area who enjoys riding in the same fashion that I do. We've got a few weeks left before I suspect the snow will fly, and we have at least two solid adventures planned. I'm so excited!

For our Green Bank to Cass adventure, I met K back in Pocahontas County at the East Fork Campground. K was camping there for 7+ days and fitting in lots of miles when she wasn't logged into her computer putting in work hours. (Talk about work-life balance! What a queen.) Our plan was to shuttle to Green Bank and ride from there to the Allegheny Trail where we'd then traverse over the mountains to Cass Railroad. This adventure was made possible by friends who facilitated shuttling of our trailer.

Once I arrived at East Fork, we put K's mare Josie on the trailer and headed about 15 minutes away to our drop off point near the Green Bank Observatory and National Radio Astronomy Observatory. This facility is home to the world's largest fully steerable radio telescope (in photos below) and is located within a massive, radio-quiet zone where everyday electronics like wifi and microwaves are restricted. Additionally, technology at this facility helped discover a highly compact, incredibly bright radio source at the very center of our galaxy in 1974; the lead scientists named it Sagittarius A (Sgr A). Decades later, researchers would conclusively prove it was a supermassive black hole, an achievement that led to the 2020 Nobel Prize in Physics. 

I had friends who lived near Green Bank (and their parents worked at GRO) when I was in HS. They'd tell stories about the "radio police" who would show up at your house if they detected you using a forbidden electronic device. To this day, most of Pocahontas County and the surrounding areas don't have cell service due to the radio-quiet zone. 

Once we arrived at the drop off point, we unloaded Josie and Griffin. I made quick work of tacking Grif up and then we headed off on our adventure, leaving my truck and trailer to be picked up and taken to our end point at Cass Railroad.

The first couple miles wound through GRO. It was so cool to ride my horse through this area! K is like me and loves documenting everything on horseback and helped encourage me to get some epic photos in front of the telescope. 

SPACE! And ponies.

Grif seeing giant technology for the first time. Moments later, he spooked at a squirrel. Giant space telescope? Fine. Squirrel? Terrifying.

Fun fact I remember from a past tour of GBO, this thing is on a 14-year painting schedule. Each year a bit is repainted. By the time they reach the end of the cycle, it's time to start anew.

Eventually, the roads we were following turned to gravel and then to trail. We made a left onto the Allegheny trail and headed up the mountain. This trail would take us up a mountain, along some ridge lines, and eventually down into a stream gully with dense rhododendron before angling us along another mountainside above the Greenbrier River. 

As with the August ride in this part of West Virginia, we wound through a mix of mature xeric and mesic forests. The miles before the gully of rhododendron reminded me a lot of the Tuscarora Trail along the WV-VA state line that No Frills travels. In the northern Monongahela Nat'l Forest, mesic forest is more dominant, so enjoying time riding through xeric forests is always a treat for me. 

The gully section with dense rhododendron was surprisingly passable even atop a horse. This section of the Allegheny Trail is far better maintained than other sections I've hiked and ridden. All the same, this piece of the ride was the most technical of the day. If there had been a single tree down through this area, we'd have had a heck of a time getting around it. Dense rhododendron does not make bypassing downed trees an easy endeavor. Fortunately though, we didn't come across any such thing. 

Following the gully section, the trail leveled out and traversed at a steady elevation along the slope of the mountain. The Greenbrier River flowed below us and Cass Railroad's active rail system paralleled the river on the far side. The trail eventually turned into a gravel road, and we followed this road all the way to Rt. 66 where it passes by Cass Railroad. 

This thing is so huge. Wild to see up close and from a distance

The historical town of Cass remains relatively unchanged from what it was in the early 1900s. It was built as a company town for loggers who worked in the area, and the railroad was used to haul lumber. It now exists as a State Park and where tourists can visit the town, its buildings, and ride the train driven by steam-driven locomotives. This train is operated purely for tourism these days and is totally worth a trip if you're ever in the area. It's a classic WV tourism staple. 

Once we arrived at Cass, we crossed the bridge (with 9 motorcycles passing us as we did - to which the horses didn't even flick an ear) and took some time to get photos in front of the company store/restaurant area where the train picks up and drops off passengers. Then at K's insistence, we meandered through the parking lot to look at all the wares offered by that day's market (like a farmers market but not really food-based). Parking lot loop complete, we decided to walk back across the bridge to the trailer and call it a day. Except when we were beginning to untack, the train returned! We'd heard the horn for awhile and had hoped it'd come, but couldn't be certain. Despite the horses inevitably thinking we were lunatics for getting back on, we said YOLO and tightened our girths back up and headed back across the bridge to get some photos with the train. 

We truly called it a day after getting photos with the train, much to our mounts' delight. We untacked them and stepped inside the local store we were parked at so we could get some ice cream before our drive home. it was a fabulous end to our ride. 

The trailer ride back to East Fork Campground was uneventful. We gave both horses baths, snacks, and let them relax for a time while we enjoyed beverages and conversation. I loaded Grif up and headed home before the sun set. It was such a great day.

East Fork Durbin Trails

Our BCHA chapter, where I serve as the VP, held one big organized ride this summer in early August. It presented a great opportunity for me to finally head south to a county I've recreated in, but not often on a horse and never on the trails we'd be riding. It was also a great time to visit with riders from across the state that I rarely see. 

We met at the East Fork Campground in Durbin, WV. This campground is run and owned by one of our members and is a fabulous spot for equestrians seeking to trail ride. They're located along a river right by a rail trail. The rail trail provides access to countless other trails on the Monongahela Nat'l Forest. The campground boasts several dozen stalls, a few small paddocks, a wash rack, camping spots with hook ups, and a few small "cabins" (read: fancified sheds). The small town of Durbin is easy walking distance and has several small coffee shops and restaurants. If you and yours are looking for an equestrian weekend getaway location in the West Virginia mountains, I recommend considering East Fork Campground!

Once everyone was tacked and mounted, our group of 17 headed out for a 4+ hour ride that covered about 14 miles. It was a gorgeous ride through mountainous forest areas. We traversed through mature mesic and xeric forests and spent some time along a section of the Greenbrier River. We began on the rail trail and then took a connector trail to access several other trails in the system. I paid attention in the moment, but largely just enjoyed being present. It's not often I ride as a participant and not a leader these past few years; I really enjoyed not having any responsibility! As a result, I can't really tell you which trails we went on. However, if anyone is curious, leave a comment and I'll find out!

The beginning of this ride is when I met K, whom I mentioned in my last post. We struck up easy conversation from the get-go. We rode in close proximity to one another the whole day and became fast friends by the end, making plans for more riding adventures into the autumn months. 

The final miles of this ride traversed a trail that BCHA and USFS folks put a lot of work into this past spring. They turned a single track trail barely scratched into the slope of the mountain into trail that was level and switchbacked all the way from top to bottom. It's glorious. I wish it was reasonable (and feasible) to do that kind of trailwork elsewhere on the Mon! 

The very last mile or two of this ride were back on the rail trail. K and I took this opportunity to part from the group for a lovely hand gallop. Gah, it's been forever since I enjoyed a pace like that on trail! What a delight. Grif was so game and happy zooming alongside K's little RMH mare. 

All in all, it was a perfect day of riding. I haven't ridden in a large group in a number of years; riding with these folks made for an easy going day. Everyone is familiar with traveling over that kind of terrain with their animals, was very polite, and all of the equines were calm and well-behaved.

Mounted and ready to go

Crossing the railroad tracks into "downtown" Durbin. We'd traverse along the back streets to the rail trail. 

Leaving the rail trial to head onto single track trails.

Gorgeous mature forest with open, ferny understory

We had some rain for about 10 minutes

My disgusting grey animal. I miss having a hose/wash rack at home. 

Look at this super highway of a trail thanks to the work in the spring!

I couldn't get over how much work they'd done on this

So glorious

K and Josie in the river. And a dragonfly cameo.

This little mare is still learning to like water

My very good 16 year old boy. Cannot believe he's so old now! We've spent 14½ of those years together. 

Summertime Rides in the Northern Monongahela

I've been pretty consistent about trailering out for a ride every weekend this summer. As much as I'd like to head out more often, horses are just one of my passions, and I'm happiest when I can balance my interests. Besides, with diesel prices where they are, I'm not as keen on venturing hither, thither, and yon.

I've enjoyed a number of miles in the Seneca Creek trail system since the trail clearing day with USFS in May. Unfortunately, storms have dropped a number of trees on trails that were "clear" a few months ago. The first half mile of Swallow Rock has been particularly hard hit, but hopefully our BCHA folks will get it cleared soon. What's wildest about the summer storms is that between my house and the trailheads I frequent, an EF-1 tornado touched down! Not a common occurrence in WV and even more uncommon over in these parts. Yikes.  

Trail obstructions or no, we've made the best out of the summer and enjoyed our time on trail up there. I'm so fortunate to live so close to this trail system!

I also ventured to the trails on CVNWR once to introduce a new equestrian friend to them. We had a BLAST. K's riding style is a lot like my own, and it's so fun to have found a new friend who likes to both walk and move out on trail. She rides over 1000 miles a year across many states and all four of her horses (two RMH and two gypsies) are incredibly fit. Meeting her in August has been such a bright spot in my summer. 

I told K to lead on this ride in CVNWR because it was her first time there. I wanted her to enjoy the glory of the trails with an unencumbered between the ears view. 

This bridge stood above the water, but one later on was partially under water. Beavers have really shifted the hydrology through here! It's also been nice to have a wet summer after two years of severe drought.

The last few feet of the climb up Cabin Mtn

 Pictures at the top for all!

Gidget sits for a few photos but then always has to come check on me. 

And back down again.

Love riding with someone who takes as many photos as I do!

Grif hates bridges. He always has and we'd worked on it for years, but then he had a very scary experience last summer(ish) and will never forgive bridges again.

I'm grateful he'll follow other horses over. Otherwise, I have to lead him or ford streams.

Tired girls!

After a year of being so chill with minimal to zero sass, Grif was spun up this morning. He was the only short-ears at Johnny Meadows. Sonya has a mule now. When we arrived though, there were three other mules on the high ties. Grif was Very Uncertain about this.

Sonya's mule likes to move OUT at the walk. Standing still is DUMB. 

These dogs are so good!

Excellent summer for foraging. Between this day and another, I foraged over 5# of lionsmane mushrooms. 

Day 1 haul, which I shared with Sonya. 

It makes fabulous "crab" cakes. I also dried a ton to use in various ways later.