West Virginia groups, including your very own Council, won two of the ten 1995 DuPont Cordura "Trails for Tomorrow" awards at a Reno outdoors industry convention in August. The award included $500 in cash, merchandise, and plane fare to Reno for Council Chairman Frank Proud to accept the award. The Council won this award for the trestle decking work we did on the Thurmond-Minden trail in the New River Gorge National River Area.
We also have a special report from the award ceremony following below.
Cooperation pays off for trail users of the Thurmond-Minden Trail in the New River Gorge National River Area. The National Park Service's fifth and longest bridge on that trail now has decking and handrails thanks to the hard work of over 30 volunteers and NPS maintenance employees. The first week-end of May was turned into a three-day construction blitz to build the decking for the 480 foot long bridge.
Several different groups played a hand in completing the Thurmond-Minden trestles. The National Park Service provided the lumber and a small maintenance crew. The West Virginia Rails-to-Trails Council coordinated volunteer recruiting and equipment donations. Portable generators and power tools were provided by Orders Construction Company, and lunch on Saturday and Sunday was provided by the Mountain State Wheelers Bicycle Club. Volunteers from the Contractors Association of West Virginia coordinated publicity and helped in the construction. There was even an un-named church youth group that was hiking the trail on Saturday that stopped and helped out for a while.
Work Friday morning was slowed, but not stopped, by a steady drizzle. When asked by a Beckley newspaper reporter why he was working in the rain, Tom Maliszewski of Charleston replied with the perfect answer, "A bad day in the woods beats a good day in the office." Shortly after that the rain stopped and the work proceeded unhampered by wet the rest of the weekend.
By the end of Friday about half of the stringers were in place, and about 60 feet of decking. Saturday saw the biggest crowd of volunteers, more than twenty, complete all the decking and installing about half of the handrail posts. On Sunday a somewhat smaller crew finished all of the posts and about half of the handrails. The unfinished work was wrapped up by the park maintenance crew over the next week.
Almost four years of hard work putting decking and hand railing on 21 open tie trestle bridges came to an end Saturday, September 23 near Petroleum, WV. Charleston volunteers of the WVRTC combined with North Bend Rail-to-Trails Foundation volunteers from Parkersburg and Ritchie County to complete the last two bridges.
The completion of these last bridges culminated the donation of tens of thousands of dollars for bridging materials, and thousands of volunteer construction hours. The material for these last two bridges was paid for by a grant under the enhancement section of the Federal ISTEA (highway) funding program. Orders Construction Co. provided a portable generator to speed the work.
Laying the final decking went quickly, and was wrapped up by about 1:30 PM. Several members of the Mountain State Wheelers Bicycle Club then mounted their trusty mountain bikes for an apres- decking ride along the trail.
Look for a more detailed story on the status of the North Bend in the next issue of TRAIL TRACKS, including photos from Saturday's decking fun. Congratulations to the North Bend State Park employees and the North Bend RTF for a job well done!
"How shall we spend Council funds" will be the most interesting subject at this fall's Annual Meeting. Significant changes have occurred in the Council's financial structure during the past year. These changes have presented the Council with a small surplus that needs to be spent effectively. A proposal to set up a grant program to member advocacy groups will be presented at the meeting.
Election of officers and new board members will be will be the first order of business. The meeting starts at 6:30 PM, Sunday, October 22, 1995 at the Buckhannon-Weston Bonanza (at the Rt. 33 exit of I-79.)
A year and a half in the making, the Adventure Guide to WV Rail Trails is now available. Covering 17 rail trails in West Virginia, the new Guide provides maps, trail descriptions, access information, and the first rail trail rating system in the country. Authored by WVRTC's former Executive Director Lynn Hartman, Chairman Frank Proud, and Technical Director Marty Weirick, the Guide became available in August. No other source available provides the information compiled in the new Guide.
Pick up your copy today! If you can't find it in your local bike shop or outdoors store, you can use the membership form on the back cover of this issue to order your copy. Priced to sell at $7.95 (plus $2.00 mail order shipping), the 58 page Guide is packed full of useful information for WV trail users.
The Barnum Trail, West Virginia's eighteenth rail trail opened for business this spring along the North Branch of the Potomac River in Mineral County. The trail follows a old Western Maryland right-of-way from the foot of the Jennings Randolph Lake dam, through the community of Barnum, to near the town of Piedmont. The two mile long trail is managed by the Mineral County Parks and Recreation Commission. Most of the trail use now is for fishing access. Future use is expected to include access for canoeing and rafting.
The Council is in the position of discussing and voting upon issuing advocacy group member grants. The grant to member groups may be issued in the form of cash, Adventure Guides or retail merchandise as awarded in the Trails for Tomorrow contest.
One objective of this Council is to help member rail-trail groups further advance local trail projects. Accordingly at the annual meeting (see meeting details) we would like to discuss and vote upon the following resolution:
If your group is interested in voicing your opinion about the grant proposal, be sure to be attend the October combined Board of Directors and Annual Membership meeting of the WVRTC. The meeting starts at 6:30 PM, Sunday, October 22, 1995 at the Buckhannon-Weston Bonanza (at the Rt. 33 exit of I-79.)
After more than two years delay, progress is now the buzzword on the Clover Lick Depot Restoration Project. The depot that has sat forlornly in a field for decades will soon be moved back to within a few yards of its original location.
Plans are to renovate the depot using a $40,000 ISTEA grant, moving it back next to the old railroad grade, and turning it into a trail head and visitor center for the Greenbrier River Trail. The foundation has been finished, and the depot should be moved back to its foundation by the end of September.
In the heyday of the lumber boom, Clover Lick was an important stop for trains on the Greenbrier Line, being a favorite place to take on water. The station was built in 1900, and in 1913, 22,539 tons of freight were shipped out from the depot. In 1916, 4,842 passengers boarded the train at Clover Lick--that's about half the present day population of all of Pocahontas County! 1952 saw the closing of the station, and the building was later removed to its present location.
Mrs. Kim McIlhenny of Lewisburg generously donated the building to the Greenbrier River Trail Association, hoping that the restored building would be used to educate people about the history of the area. With the cooperation of the Trail Association, the Pocahontas Tourism Commission and County Historical Society and the State of West Virginia, the depot should one day be restored to its former usefulness and give many more years of service to travelers and the local community.
To learn more about the Greenbrier Line please see William McNeel's book The Durbin Route, available from The Pocahontas Times, Marlinton, West Virginia, 24954.
CARSON CITY, NV. It was my duty and delight to cover the Third Annual Trails for Tomorrow awards ceremony held last Monday night at the Bowers Mansion, built by Sandy Bowers, Silver Miner of Virginia City fame. The fountains, gardens and wooded trails were maintained in Nevada millionaire fashion. Although past wildflower season in the Washau Valley, the unusually heavy rains for mid-August found the grounds unseasonably green for this arid climate.
The awards ceremony, sponsored by the American Hiking Society and Dupont Cordura, was attended by representatives from Alabama, Texas, California, Connecticut, Virginia, Delaware, Ohio and Wisconsin and two groups from West Virginia. The West Virginia delegation was noteworthy as they did liven up the reception with their antics. Paul McIntire represented the Heritage Trail in the city of Wheeling. Frank Proud and an attractive young lady he introduced as Susan, his wife, represented the West Virginia Rails-to-Trails Council (WVRTC). This cheerful group went around with gleeful smiles, taking pictures with up to five cameras at once and constantly promoting the trail movement in their home state and city.
Paul McIntire passed out beautifully colored brochures of Wheeling to the entire crowd. Why, I actually ended up with three copies in my possession when I arrived back home stuffed in as many of my shirt and trouser pockets. Frank Proud continued the campaign on a statewide basis passing out Rail-Trail Council newsletters and trail guides which included 17 West Virginia Rail-Trails including .. you guessed it ... Wheeling. The State and City truly do sound like a lovely place to visit at any time of the year. From the smiles and enthusiasm of those three, I believe their claims to be genuine. They claimed nothing glitzy, just pure down home fun and nature's beauty. They could back up their claims of governmental support by producing letters and newspaper article statements by their Senator Robert C. Byrd and Governor Gaston Caperton. Proud was quick to show me the American Hiking Society quotes .. "Our nation's trails represent much of what is great about this country," by Byrd and "National Trails Day events have provided opportunities for us to showcase our state to the nation," by Caperton to substantiate his claims of statewide commitment from the top down to the grass roots membership support which he credits for having won the awards in the first place. One must also consider that four of a possible 20 nationwide awards have come to West Virginia in the past two years ... That is impressive!
Their antics carried on to the group photos. Two bikes were produced by corporate sponsors, one of which was offered to Seneca Murley, representing the Ohio Rails-to-Trails. Frank Proud quickly grabbed the other and promptly went racing Seneca about the mansion property while the photographer was attempting to line up the group photos. Just as everyone thought Proud would hold up the session, he chose not to return to the yard by the long route and rode his bicycle down a short flight of steps and quickly returned to the flock.
After just two group shots, McIntire jumped from the back ranks to lay in front of the entire entourage draped in front of him an orange and white Wheeling Heritage Trail T-shirt and a big "Take the picture now" grin on his face. Susan Proud jumped forward taking "McIntire's Group" pictures with as many as 8 cameras strapped around her neck at once.
After the group shots, Frank Proud would not return the promo bike. Susan Proud took several more pictures of him on it including one with David Lillard, the American Hiking Society president. Proud only removed himself from the bike after the sales rep let the air out of the tires as Proud went through the Bar-B-Que line. He was later overheard stating, "She would never have caught me if both hands weren't full with food plates and drinks."
Even during the awards ceremony, one of the judges who is president of Vasque Shoes, claimed the WVRTC application on the trestle decking on the Thurmond-Minden Trail in the New River Gorge, was the most enjoyable and delightful presentation of all the entries he reviewed. The photography, humor and energetic undertaking made this entry an easy contest winner. Susan Proud continued to take pictures of all contestant winners with an unchanging variety of cameras. Prizes consisted of $500 in cash and approximately $2,000 in retail merchandise. All 150 attendees agreed that the awards ceremony was a great success.
Note: Dan DeQuille shares the Co-Editor of the Virginia City Enterprise with Mark Twain. This excerpt was reprinted from an 8/15/95 article in the Enterprise. All details of the food, judges, stars, attire and entertainment have been omitted for the sake of space.
This editor and the Board of Directors would like to wish Lynn best wishes in her new job. Lynn has assured us she will remain active as a volunteer in the Council. The Council sincerely hopes that Lynn does keep in contact, as her several years of experience in the Rail-to-Trails movement, both in West Virginia and in Florida, are an invaluable asset.
GOOD LUCK, LYNN !
CROSS STATE BIKE TOUR DELAYED - An article in the last issue of TRAIL TRACKS described a bicycle tour across the state on rail trails. This tour was postponed for 1995 because the lead organizer suffered medical problems and because of a negative reaction to the cost of indoor overnights. An effort to reorganize the trip as a camping adventure is under planning. If you are interested in participating in a 6 day cross state bike tour on rail trails, either as a rider or an organizer, please call the Council voice mail at 722-6558 or drop us a line at P. O. Box 85, Nitro, WV 25143
NEW ADDRESS FOR 1996 - The WVRTC mailing address is changing. There is no longer a Council office in Nitro, and a new box at the South Charleston post office will be more central to the homes and work locations of most of the current volunteers. From the experience of other local volunteer groups, the South Charleston location is likely to prove to be convenient to future volunteers in the Kanwaha Valley. The Nitro PO Box will continue to be used at least until all the printed stationery and the current bulk mail permit in Nitro expires.
The new address will be:
West Virginia Rails-to-Trails Council
P. O. Box 8889
South Charleston, WV 25303
NEWSLETTER EDITOR WANTED This year's two newsletters have been edited by Marty Weirick of South Charleston. Marty is desperately looking for a replacement, so that he can devote more time to, among other things, his role as Technical Vice Chair of the Council Board. Any takers? Contact the Council at 304/722-6558.
CORRIDOR PURCHASED - An abandoned rail corridor that stretches from near Fairmont to Shinnston has been purchased from CSX by Marion County Parks and Recreation. A portion of the purchase price was paid by the Federal ISTEA transportation enhancement program. Former WVRTC Executive Director Lynn Hartman played a key role in this acquisition.
The corridor is now closed to the public, and will not be opened for some time. STAY OFF THIS CORRIDOR UNTIL IT IS OPENED. Next issue will have more details.
NEW INTERNET ADDRESS - Don Parks was maintaining our Internet Web page on a computer at WVU in Morgantown. Don has a new job teaching at Wheeling Jesuit College and does not have time to update the page. We want to thank Don for his hard work, and wish him luck in his new post.
WVRTC member Ron Ryan has stepped in to help out. Ron grew up along what is now the North Bend Rail Trail. In fact, part of the rail trail used to be owned by Ron's family before the railroad line was built in the 1850s. Our new Web page is located on a computer at Case Western Reserve University, where Ron works in Information Technologies.
You can see our new page at:
All too often in life, we set our sights on a destination and fail to enjoy the journey along the way. Somewhere in a culvert under the Blackwater Canyon Trail (last issue), my term as chairman ceased to be a one year calendar destination. Instead, it was transformed into an Adventure ... a West Virginia rail-trail Adventure.
The natural flow of the statewide movement to develop our recreational resources allowed our endeavors to meet with success at every turn. Perseverance from a small but dedicated membership made the adventure personally gratifying. Exciting journey highlights during the second half of my term are summarized so that you, the membership, may appreciate them, too.
The fifth and longest trestle on the Thurmond-Minden Trail is now sporting new decking and handrails ... all 480 feet of it!! As part of our National Trails Day event, Senator Byrd recognized the cooperative efforts between the National Park Service, the Contractor's Association of West Virginia and our rail-trail council in completing the five trestle project. WCHS-TV News aired a three-part series featuring the historical, economic and educational aspects of the Thurmond-Minden Trail.
West Virginia rail-trails won two of the ten prestigious Trails For Tomorrow awards sponsored by the American Hiking Society and Dupont Cordura. The Wheeling Heritage Trail and the Thurmond-Minden Trail were presented a prize consisting of cash and retail merchandise during ceremonies in Reno, NV. Both of these trails along with 15 others are featured in the newly published Adventure Guide to West Virginia Rail-Trails. Governor Gaston Caperton recognized the cooperative trail efforts in a reception at the capitol.
New trails include the 2-mile Barnum Trail which parallels the Potomac River below the Jennings Randolph Lake. An announcement for the purchase of an 11-mile addition to the western end of the North Bend Trail should be forthcoming shortly.
This adventure would not be possible without teamwork. All aspects of government, business and you, the members worked together toward a common vision ... make West Virginia the Outdoor Adventure of the East. The WVRTC is excited to be a part of it. We hope that you join us on our next work day or outing.
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NAME MILES SCENERY DIFFICULTY CONDITIONS
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Greenbrier River Trail 78 1 I A
Glade Creek 5 1 I A
Harrison County 7 2 I A
Marion County 2 2 I B
North Bend 61 2 I A/B
Southside Junction 6 2 II B
Elk River 1 2 I A
Thurmond-Minden 3 2 II B
West Fork 22 2 I B
Wheeling 9 3 I A
Kaymoore 1 2 II A
Narrow Gauge 4 1 II C
Limerock 4 1 III C
Engine Run 2 1 II B
Railroad Grade 4 1 II B
Blackwater Canyon 12 1 II B
Dunloup Creek 1 2 II B
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TOTAL 223