by

Thomas R. & Deborah A. Fletcher

The breeze chills the face. Spring arrives just a little later here in the mountains, forget what the calendar says. There is a briskness to the air, but the sun's warmth is soothing. As far as the eye can see, mountain ridge is stacked against mountain ridge. It is not in vain that Webster County is called "The Mountain Park." Taking in the view atop Elk Mountain, one may be inclined to believe it is a park for mountains. There are no signs of civilization from this vantage point. Far below, on the valley floor is the famed Elk River, hunting ground of Native Americans for centuries.

 Elk Mountain is just one area covered by the annual Webster County Nature Tour. Another area is the Leatherwood Tour. This tour follows an old railroad grade along Leatherwood Creek for about two and one half miles to beautiful Leatherwood Falls. The constant roar of Leatherwood Creek making its steep descent has one expectantly peering around each turn, fully expecting to see the falls. The hike does not seem long or laborious because of the constant expectancy. The falls, aqua green water plunging 30+ feet over a rock ledge to a beautiful pool below, is a special treat. It is here that many of the hikers choose to eat lunch. Conversation is muted. All that can be heard is the soothing sound of the roaring falls.

Held annually, the first weekend of May, the tour is put on by the Webster Springs Garden Club in conjunction with the West Virginia Department of Natural Resources and the West Virginia Department of Agriculture. The weekend activity is centered at Camp Caesar. The camp has been open since 1922 and encompasses 300 wooded acres. It is located beside State Route 20 a few miles north of Cowen. Here guests stay in the rustic log cabins. Sleeping arrangements are dormitory style and guests need to bring pillows and sleeping bags.

Guests begin arriving on Friday afternoon. Registration begins at 3:00 P.M. Dinner is served family style at 5:30 P.M. An evening nature program, held in Burton Hall, begins at 7:00 P.M. Musical entertainment in the form of some local Bluegrass players often follows. Information on the various tours being offered will be presented and guests may make their preliminary selection as to which tour to take.

Typically, there are a total of four tours featured, but others may be added, depending upon the desire of guests. The Backfork of Elk Tour begins at a huge old sycamore tree. This local landmark once held the distinction of being the world's largest American Sycamore. The trail follows the river for about a two mile hike. The terrain is relatively flat, well, as flat as it gets in this part of West Virginia. Along the way, hikers will view waterfalls and several species of wildflowers including trilliums, lady's slippers, many varieties of violets, phlox, blue bells, and trout lilies. This is an easy hike.

The Elk Mountain Tour is only for the rugged in mind and body. One hiker described it as being "straight up and straight down, you could even slide all the way down on your bum if you wanted." This tour is a difficult climb to the top of Elk Mountain. The mountain ridge divides the Elk and the Holly River Valleys. The rock outcrop at the top offers a beautiful panoramic view of the surrounding hills and valleys. This tour is only for those accustomed to vigorous outdoor activity. However, for those up to the adventure, the view from the top is their reward.

The fourth tour is the Middle Fork of Williams River Tour. This hike follows Middle Fork back into the Cranberry Wilderness. The Cranberry Wilderness is a congressionally designated wilderness area encompassing 38,864 acres within Monongahela National Forest. The Wilderness is managed to perpetuate the intrinsic beauty and solitude for future generations. This hike traverses hardwood forests typical of the area. Along the way one may encounter several species of wildlife native to the area such as deer, snowshoe hare, cottontail rabbit, or wild turkey. The trail is lined with early spring wildflowers at this time of year.

Saturday morning at Camp Caesar finds coffee in the kitchen at daybreak. Breakfast is served at 8:00 A.M. Packed lunches are prepared for the guests to take along on their chosen tour. Departure for the tours is at 9:00 A.M. Guests carpool to the tour locations throughout the county. Returning from the tours, guests find refreshments awaiting them in Burton Hall. Dinner is served at 5:00 P.M. The food is some of the finest I've had anywhere: always home-cooked, always delicious. Nobody leaves hungry.

After dinner, guests venture back to their accommodations to rest up a bit before the evening program begins at 7:00 P.M. Several prizes are given away: to the person finding the most items from a scavenger hunt list; to the oldest person on the tour; to the youngest. These folks look for a reason to hand out a prize. Afterward, local musicians play some foot stomping music around the campfire. Each year the evening program varies slightly, but is a wonderful part of the overall event.

Sunday morning breakfast is served at 8:00 A.M. Afterward, visitors may linger for a casual stroll around the grounds; attend a local church service; join the devotional service held on the grounds or be on their way home.

The cost for the weekend event is merely $90 per person. That fee covers accommodations, the tours, refreshments, five meals served over the three days, and the entertainment. This is certainly a down-home country experience in the beautiful mountains of Webster County. In my opinion, the price is ridiculously low for such an event.

Charleston, WV is the nearest airport. Take I-79 north from Charleston to the Summersville/Beckley US 19 Exit (Exit 57). Follow US 19 south to Birch River. Turn left at Birch River on Route 82. Follow Route 82 the 16 mile length until it intersects State Route 20 just past Big Ditch Lake outside Cowen. Take Route 20 north. Camp Caesar is located about four miles north of Cowen on the left. You will know you are there when you see a swimming pool (a rare sight in the area) and the cut-stone buildings on the left of the highway.

Be sure to bring sturdy hiking shoes and comfortable clothing. Dress in layers because the weather frequently goes from cool mornings to very warm afternoons. Don't forget sleeping bags and pillows, towels and wash cloths. Contact the Webster Springs Garden Club no later than April 20 to reserve your spot. Prepare for a wonderful weekend in the mountains.

Stock photography by Thomas R. Fletcher at Alamy

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