Lumber Ridge Trail, rodo's, waterfalls, and a wedding

This walk involved about 9mls, of sunny skies, lots of rhododendron's blooming, waterfalls, and a wedding party. The moderate climb, consistent for approx. 3.5 mls, from Tremont, where Lumber Ridge Trail begins, should be considered difficult for those who don't get out as often. At one point in the walk we turned to the right down an old unmarked route and walked along the path of a former railway used for removing timber. This trail leads through bunches of rodo's, numerous stream crossings, and metal remnants of the old railway. The 'Mysterious One' and I stopped for lunch along this portion of the walk and made sure to keep hydrated along the way.
As we made our way back from Spruce Flat Falls, we stepped aside for a group of folks in rather odd attire. Turns out they were hiking to the falls for a wedding ceremony which caused the 'Mysterious One' to chuckle and share with them that she had noted in her thoughts that the scene at the falls was set for some type of ceremony. Seeing the picture you may agree. Peace

The March to Blair Mountain

The March on Blair Mountain was a large victory for all those who want fair pay, safe working conditions, an important part of America's history told and preserved, and an end to the most destructive form of mining (Mountaintop Removal) stopped. The first march up Blair Mtn., in 1921, was about organizing workers for fair pay and safer workplace conditions. This was one of the major points addressed in the most recent march, as well as preserving the mountain as an historic landmark by protecting it from MTR.
Estimates on the number of those attending the rally in Blair were as high as 2000+, and more than 850 folks were counted on the march up the last 2 miles of roadway which crisscrossed through the battlefield. The picture of the three women standing beside each other wearing the signs is important in several ways especially in that the folks way in the background, above them to the right, were counter protester telling us to go home and leave their state alone. Read their signs! There were several dozen West Virginians walking with us as we covered the fifty mile route and we often received friendly greetings from locals, stating their support for the march, with relatively infrequent, misinformed, verbal attacks from counter protesters.
As was pointed out by several speakers at the rally we must reach out to those who oppose us and open a dialogue so that we can better understand the fears they face and for them to understand ours. Peace

The March On Blair Mountain

Hello from Marmet WV, feeling resistance from police and counties over the first two days with most of the local folks being very polite. The marchers have encountered problems but they are being overcome with hard work on behalf of the organizers and patience from the walkers. I will post pictures asap as this is not my computer and others are waiting to use it. Please call your local media outlets and ask them if they know about this march and if so, have they heard of the "institutional resistance" coming from county governments and police. Also if you or someone you know can support the March on Blair Mountain, please do so. Or better yet come join us in Logan WV, and Blair Mtn. on Saturday!!! Musicians, speakers!! See the web site for current information at marchonblairmountain.org Peace