Cornstalkin'

The first place Emo and I camped at was the Chief Cornstalk Wildlife Management Area. This is found shortly after entering West Virginia on US35. It is a bit difficult to find, there is a sign for traffic going towards Ohio. It is a few miles back on a country road, and the type of place that makes me glad I got a Class C motorhome. I selected it because it was the first public ground in WV, and looked like a fun place to explore. I also wanted to try out my solar panels and ham radio, before I went deep into the mountains.

I fed the iron ranger $10/day to dry camp, and actually extended my stay to 6 nights. I was the only camper there. There are very nice campsites for my purposes, as you can see in the picture.

There is a small pond past the turn-around, and tent camping sites on the other side of the small creek behind my motorhome. Each day, a few folks would come and fish, and I'd hear someone using the firing range. Friday night a little before dark a bunch of people showed up in the tent camping area and had a party. A couple dogs came over and invited Emo to the party, but I didn't let him go. I heard a woman scream, but then everyone laughed, so I guess all went well.

There are some gravel roads, a cemetery, a shooting range, and not much else here. A fellow came by and mowed, got the trash, and refreshed the iron ranger with envelopes. We saw some birds I think were grouse, lots of small rabbits, and Emo chased one of the many deer I saw. Well, leash from then on. We did hike some on the old logging road in a place that had been harvested on one side. I enjoyed the hike, we went about a couple miles, until the road ran out. In general, I saw little problems with mining and harvesting co-existing with recreation and wildlife habitat. I've also never had a bit of a problem with hunters, and appreciate how a veggie hiker like me can explore the rugged public areas hunter money (and equine folks money) help make available most of the year. There is room for all of us. 

I learned that the DeLorme Atlas was not always easy to use on the WVa gravel backroads, and it takes time to get anywhere. The compass and second gear became my closest friends.  Also, if you want something, you better bring it with you, or travel quite a distance on twisty country roads to find it. But this is one of the two things Emo and I like best - exploring backwoods in the Subaru. I used my wildlife photography skills to capture this difficult specimen far deep in his natural enviornment:

Turtle sunning on the side of a gravel road

Despite finding several ticks each day, we enjoyed our time at Chief Cornstalk. I call it "Cornstalkin'" because it is back in the woods, and in West Virginia folks really seem to let you do whatever you want.  I got the ham radio working, drove around some of the surrounding area, and reconnoitered the Monogahela National Forest. This is my current modus operandi - find a decent place for a few days, then scope out the next move with the Subaru. I'm glad I did, because I found a real peach of a campground near the Monongahela. And the drive on the Highland Scenic Highway whetted our appetite for real forest and mountains.

Chief Cornstalk is a great place to just cool out for a few days, and in a good location for me. I might return some day.