Your membership dues are funding improvements on the longest trail in the country. Stretching from the Atlantic to the Pacific, the American Discovery Trail (ADT) will be our premier long distance trail. WV is fortunate to host approximately 276 miles.
The North Bend Trail (NB) is locked into the ADT anchor spot in WV. Hopefully, one day soon the Blackwater Canyon Trail (TR-115) will be added to the ADT's rails-to-trails list.
Special 50/50 matching 'Chairman's Grants' with American Hiking Society's David Lillard & WVRTC provided $400 to fund ADT's WV mapping necessary for future grant applications. 'WVRTC Director Grants' nets $1,000 for ADT trail head signage in Pennsboro & Ellenboro. Show your support. Check the NB option on the attached paid membership application. You will bring matching funds to the ADT on the NB!!
Our 1996 National Trails Day event highlighted the need to connect the Greenbrier River Trail with the West Fork Trail (TR-312). Durbin has taken the lead in the effort. With one good work weekend, we could be ready to open the first 2.5 miles of the 16 mile goal.
We need to temporarily center deck the West Fork Trestle, cut brush and shovel gravel. Leroy, 'the little engine that could', will be hauling all volunteers to & from their job site. John Smith says "All you rail buffs bring a camera & tools for a workin' train photo drive by". A lunch train will be available to the section crew.
"Maxx thinks we could have a Labor Day ribbon cutting for the first rail-with-trail," explains Smith. "Ribbon cutting or not, Durbin is excited ... this opening marks stage 2 in the Durbin Connection!!...."
by Frank Proud
What do you get when you match WV rail-trail dues money with WV rail-trail hard working volunteers?? "You get one of the fastest growing, most exciting rail-trail networks in the country....that's what!!" says Dan De Quille, Outdoor Editor of the Virginia City (NV) Times. ".... and they're a Fun!! luvin' lot, too!!"
We share an ideal for better trails with no fees. Only by leveraging our resources for matching funds will we hope to have expanded and maintained trails. WVRTC is plugged into a financial formula to match your dues and donated labor with matching grants to multiply our resources to the maximum .... that's exciting!!
Your dues do not pay for staff nor an office. Your dues and time support projects such as these:
We send you Trail Tracks as an interested party. In our early days you have had contact with us in some form or another. Be assured that it becomes more interesting as the matching momentum carries our excitement into our 6th year.
Our new chairman, Greg Good, promises to incorporate rail-trails into his greenway projects and wilderness adventures. Maxx Walker predicts that with our continued support, the 1997-98 year will be our best yet. As your Finance Director, I say please renew your membership to be part of this exciting transformation of West Virginia's outdoor recreation economy.
Simply attach your mailing label onto the membership form. This year, as an additional promotional alternative, you may chose a donation and membership to your favorite trail project (see attached form[pdf]).
We match gains. We gain the matching value of your dues and time. You gain better trail networks throughout the state matched with connections to the federal trail system. We are multipliers together for social gain. The money is out there if we match together and gain from it ....
Be exciting!! Be a matching gain!! We'll match you. Please join US ....
Our Data needs additional attention. Depot Data, Trestle Data, E-Mail Data, Tunnel Data, and More Data is coming in much faster than we can accumulate it.
Now that our WV-Miles Open Data and 97-Membership Data is reconciled, we now turn our focus to our E-Mail Data. In this fast moving environment & political challenges, we need electronic news flashed to interested members QUICKLY!! Flash us if you can help with electronic T-Mail (Trail Mail) Data.
Railroad Buff Stuff is becoming increasingly important, also. Members want to know where our depots are & the best way to locate tunnels. If you are interested in accumulating Various Data to eventually become part of our publications as electronic downloads, please express your interest. We'll add it to Stacked Data.
BLACKWATER CANYON TRAIL: Remember back in 1994 when the federally owned portion of the railgrade was declared TR-115 and opened for public use?? Now a logging company wants to use the trail portion of the railgrade as a haul road. What do we get back in return?? Use of the logging companies half?? So far we have been given no answer ... stay tuned.
TRI-RIVERS TRAIL: Ribbon cutting on the 16.5 mile trail April 19, 1997, by Congressman Bob Wise and Richwood Mayor, Jeremy Rose. The National Guard will be dressing up the final surface this summer. The views along the Cherry, Gauley and Cranberry Rivers are beautiful. Camping and fishing.
DECKERS'S CREEK TRAIL: Mountains of trash have been hauled away from illegal dump sites. More bikers are using the trail.
CAPERTON/MON RIVER TRAIL: Awaiting Army Corps of Engineering planning and funding. GE Plastics is awaiting clearance for their volunteer employees to deck the Decker's Creek Trestle. Plans for the depot include trail head facilities.
CAMP SPLINTER TRAIL: YES!! The Gauley District Ranger has approved 2 miles of trail between Camp Splinter and Woodbine Recreation area to be opened for bicycles. Boy Scout Troop 108 is clearing it now. Detour marked with yellow tape.
WEST FORK RIVER TRAIL: 15 miles open from Shinnston Dairy Queen to Mary Lou Retton Youth Park in Fairmont. Graded, rolled, 3 decked trestles (510ft., 100ft., & 200ft.), river access, 2 beaches (Worthington Park & between Worthington & Everson), fishing, wildlife trailer parking & more. Contact Marion County Parks (304)363-7037 FAX 367-0676 for more info.
WVRTC GRANTS to paid member organizations top $8,000. Counting matching volunteer labor hours, equipment and 50% matching federal grants, WVRTC has helped secure $19,000 for trail development.
Rejoin Now!!