Outdoors adventures: Black water falls

Love to travel and see the sights? Well if you do and you love the outdoors then I would highly recommend a trip to the Black water Falls state park. The park has a beautiful falls skirted by a very well maintained board walk. The walk in is very easy since it is mostly down hill but the walk out is a slight challenge. It is not too hard for most visitors but some may find it difficult. The park offers camping and cabins as well as wifi access (we can't even live with out it in the woods these days) Information about accomodations can be found here.

For the more adventuresome fellows there is Hawks nest state park. This area has a lot of great rock climbing, challenging hiking, and white water rafting that is unmatched any where else. It's information can be found here. Hawks nest its self offers grand views of the gorge and surrounding mountains. it is also very close to the new river gorge bridge which is the site of a West Virginia tradition known as bridge day. Bridge day is a day long festival to celebrate one of the longest arch bridges in the world. Up to a few scant years ago it was the single longest bridge of it's kind. At this festival you can see base jumpers as well as bungie jumping. The highway becomes so congested with visitors that the road is simply closed down, so plan your travel accordingly. There is a pretty good blog about bridge day that can be found here.

So if you want to get out and see some exciting things that you won't be able to see any where else then I would suggest taking these trips into consideration!

Treasure Hunting: May apple

In today's article I am going to discuss a plant that can be found in abundance through the months of April and May. That plant is commonly call May apple or American Mandrake. The roots of this plant can get up to six feet long and sell for around six dollars per dry pound. It does not take many of the big roots to make a ten pound bundle and they grow in very large patches. The fruit is edible in small amounts, the rest is toxic. The chemicals in the plant are being used for cancer research because they stop cell division. It is also used topically for genital warts It can be found through out the mountains of the American north east and can be sold at any place that buys any other wild plant mentioned in previous articles. More information on the plant can be found here. It never ceases to amaze me at the many uses of plants we have right around us. The power of nature can save lives and better our understanding of disease. A very good example of this would be the plantain family (not the type of banana) What I am referring to is a very common weed likely to be found in your front yard at any given time. The narrow leaved plantain has a long stemmed seed bunch that as children we would use to wipe each other for laughs.   

Though I don't know of a market where you can sell this plant, it offers a readily available herb for controling cholesterol and even diabetes. So next time you're out weeding your front lawn keep in mind just what it is you are throwing out as garbage. More info on the plantago family can be found here. As for may apple the uses are much more significant. since it is used in cancer research you are not only making a few dollars but potentially saving lives at the same time.


The tools you will need to collect this root are as follows: a large sack, something to dig with, and a large rack outside in a sunny place for drying. Once you have collected a large enough amount to satisfy yourself, wash the roots and then put them out to dry. Make sure of the weather over the next few days and make sure they do not catch moisture or else they will mold and you will have to thoroughly scrub them and restart the drying process. I would suggest either putting plastic over them at night or moving them into a dry garage to prevent them from getting dew on them. Once dry bundle them up and haul them in. It should not be hard to collect a hundred pounds of this plant or more. Chances are you have even seen it growing next to the road and never gave it a second thought. Now that you know of the importance of this plant I would suggest taking advantage of it in the short time it is available in the year. 

Treasure Hunting: Diamonds

I'm sure many of you have enjoyed the show "cash and Treasures" as I have. One of the locations that they visited was the only open to public diamond mine in the world. I'm speaking of course about the crater of diamonds state park near Murfreesboro, Arkansas. Here you will find a big chance of finding your very own diamonds. There have been several very large ones that have come from this park. While I was there a small black diamond was even found. I started out in my usual manner by getting to know all the old timers that work the site regularly. I do this because they can show just what to look for while digging. You also get a chance at making new and interesting friends. One of the guys I met had payed off his house with his finds there over the course of ten years. There are many people who do nothing but dig there every day because they were laid off from their jobs. That much work put into the prospect leads to a lot of knowledge about diamond mining.

There are a few different ways you can go about hunting. You can pick a sunny day and just walk around looking on the surface and hope there is something all the other diggers missed. I would wait until just after they've tilled the soil over for this method.

You can also dry screen for diamonds. The diamonds will come out of the dirt clean due to the nature of their structure. Dirt just does not stick to them well.

The final method is to screen in water. There are several places through out the park where you can do this and there are a few different types of screens you can use. The screens below are the ones I have. The round one is called a Saruca, which is what is commonly used in Africa. The other ones are a pair of boxed screens with varying mesh sizes to as to filter gravel. I got my screens from a gift shop at the nearby campgrounds that I was staying at. But they could easily be made at home for just a few pennies. I don't care to pay a little extra if it means I'm supporting a tourist industry.

The materiel you are going to dig in is a kimberlite deposit left behind by an extinct volcano. The kimberlite has since broken down to resemble a pale green clay. Throughout this material there are diamonds scattered, but the highest concentration is in a dark sticky black clay. The old timers at the park say that during rains, diamonds will wash into this sticky clay and become stuck. I have witnessed them tossing the green kimberlite aside as they dig down to the darker stuff.

 Saruca

The method to use each type is slightly different.  The Saruca is generally concave in shape so that the heavier diamonds settle to the center during the sifting process. When you place the material into the saruca you hold it just under the water and shake it up and down while slightly turning the screen in your hands. The circular motion will insure that all the heavy materials move towards the center if the screen. When you're done and all the clay is cleaned out with only gravel remaining. Find a clean flat spot and in a smooth quick motion flip the saruca upside down onto what ever surface. Do not do it from too high above the surface because you don't want all your stuff to fall out every where. You just want to lay it out on the table. The reason for this is because the diamonds are at the very bottom in the center. Once you flip it over they're on top and will show up once the gravel dries out.

Box screens

These screens are a little more straight forward in their use. The basic method is to dump the material into the top screen with the bigger mesh. Break up all the clay and dirt so that it falls through to the smaller meshed screen. Once all the gravel in the top screen is clean set it aside while you work on the smaller screen. By this time it should be somewhat dry enough to pick through.

What to look for.

A diamond in the rough looks like a smooth translucent rock. It has no specific shape like many other gemstones and so it can be any thing. You can look into them but cannot see through them and they feel waxy to the touch. If you find something you think may be a diamond take it to the main building and they will identify it. I have heard, however, that if you find something big the park services will watch where you go back to dig and then call their families to come and claim that spot and force you out, so hold onto your finds until you're ready to leave. For this reason a lot of the fulltimers there never report diamonds that they find. so there are a lot more going out of the park than the park states. Don't let any one else claim a spot you worked hard to find.

While you're in the area you can stay at one of the hotels in town or if you go past the park from Murfreesboro about a half mile down the road you will find a pay-to-camp campground. The rates there are fairly reasonable and they offer free wifi, a shower room, a gift shop as well as a large collection of rocks for sale. I would definitely check it out. Before heading out though, check the weather. When I went they had the biggest rain storm in 20 years which lasted for five whole days. So unfortunately I never found anything, but there is always next time.

Outdoor Living aka Survival: Hazards

God forbid you ever find yourself lost or stranded in the wild some where. In the last article on survival I discussed tools one would need to survive in the wild. In this article I will be discussing a few things which makes a survival situation... well a situation. There are many hazards in the wild, be it animals, poisonous plants, parasites, or just the terrain.

 Plants can cause a great many problems, whether it be a bout of sickness after mistaking it for something edible or a severe rash. Some plants to avoid that are relatively common are as follows:

 Poison Ivy

Pictured in center, this plant has three leaves and grows on a vine. It can creep along the ground or grow up trees. Especially old plants will even form it's own thick branches that hang out from the tree trunk. It produces a cluster of white berries and the leaves are green to a redish orange. Depending on the severity of your allergy to the plant, it can cause a irritating rash to severe swelling that requires steroids. It's relative, poison oak, also has three leaves, but they are shaped very similar to oak leaves. 

Poison Sumac

This is a small shrub or tree that can get up to twenty feet tall with a thin trunk. It is considered to be far worse than poison ivy or poison oak. wiki entry

If you come into contact with these plants it is possible to avoid the rash if you wash it right away. (with in 1 hour) It is even better if you have rubbing alcohol on hand and use it to wipe the area of contact. This will destroy the oils and prevent a rash from occurring. It is the method I have used for years, while working at summer camps infested with the stuff.

There is a whole host of plants that are toxic and even deadly if eaten. Some of them even resemble edible plants. There is, however, an edibility test that you can perform. This test is mention in the military survival guide I noted in a previous article. After about eight hours with out eating take the part of a plant you want to eat and place it on the inside of your elbow and fold your arm up and hold it in there for around twenty minutes. If there is no rash, swelling or blisters, the next step is to hold it between your lips (not in your mouth) for ten minutes. If there are no issues, go one to prepare the item in the way you plan to eat it and then hold it in your mouth for around five minutes. (small quantity) If nothing happens then go ahead and swallow the small bit and wait thirty minutes. If after all of this there are no feelings of sickness, then the plant is probably safe. Start out eating small quantities. You won't starve to death in a day so it won't hurt to only eat a small bit of it that day. The next day if it is all right then you can eat more of it.

Aside from plants that are a danger there are also many animals that can harm you. The most notable would be snakes. Every one is concerned about them when they enter the forest. Did you know that the copperhead is by far more aggressive than the rattle snake? It's true, rattle snakes will give you a warning telling you to gtfo. A copper head will strike with out warning and repeatedly. They have even been known to give chase for a few feet. Their venom is not as bad as the rattler, but they're aggressive tendency makes them a bigger hazard. There are several species of snake that mimic the color patterns of venomous snakes in order to scare off potential predators. For instance the corn snake looks almost identical to the copper head. 

  Corn snake

Copper head

 They look a lot alike, right? Well there is a way to tell the difference. That way is by the shape of their heads. Poisonous snakes all have venom glands at the backs of their heads (except for a few exceptions) those glands give the head a very distinct shape. 

 One can generally tell at a quick glance if it is poisonous or not, but if in doubt get the heck out. There is no point in compounding the problems of being stuck in the woods by adding a bite on top of it.  There are many other animals to worry about in the wild but they tend to be more visible and therefor a lot less scary. No one likes the idea of something jumping at them from the leaves on the ground. I recommend walking with a stick, just in case. The stick will help make traveling easier any way since it is a third point of support on the ground as you walk. And it makes a good snake bashing tool, should you come across any creepy crawlies. 

Many bigger animals can be kept at bay with a few simple steps. First step is to not leave food around your camp. Bears can smell it from miles away so hang that stuff in a tree, you'll need it it to make survival easier. Fire will keep a lot of animals away. (not necessarily bears in areas actively camped) Make shift shelters do even more to keep them out. Try building one against a rock and make a barricade of timber around you. 

Water is perhaps the most essential thing for life. It is also the biggest hazard in our lives. This is mostly our own fault. There are so many bacterial colonies in even the most pristine of wild waters that there is really no safe place to take a drink these days. The best way to clean it up is to boil it, but that isn't always an option and if you really have to drink then there are still a few things to make it somewhat safer.

How stuff works borrowed this from the US Army Survival Manual: FM 21-76

This is a very easy to make filtration system. The charcoal is the most important part, as just like in many store bought charcoal filters, it will neutralize a lot of stuff. How stuff works has stolen the whole article on obtaining water from the survival guide. You can find it here. (I find it amusing that they slapped a copyright symbol on pictures they took straight from the book and then just added color too) 

In later articles I will go over how to build shelters and traps as well as tools and weapons.

Outdoors adventure: Cranberry Glades

With the recent warm weather I have been getting the urge to get outdoors and do some hiking, as I'm sure many of you are. For those who like to get out and see something spectacular whilst they walk, I have just the place for you. The Cranberry Glades area near Richwood, West Virginia has a very unique environment. There is the remnants of a tundra from the ice age right in the heart of West Virginia. This area has a big looped board walk going through the park. You can see a lot of wildlife such as Venus flytraps and honey dews. On a sunny day in the glades in spring the air is usually cool but not exactly cold. The walk through here is a very easy walk. The boardwalk is not at an incline.

For a more strenuous workout try the nearby Falls of hills creek.

This is a set of three waterfalls. The picture above is of the lower falls. The walk in is down hill and at the bottom there is a small board walk to stand on and rest. You can enjoy not only the falls but wildlife is rather abundant. Spotting a few white tail deer on the way in is not uncommon. If you are in the area in the spring don't forget to catch the Ramp festival. You might just pay for the whole trip!

If you need lodging in the area you can try the four seasons lodge in Richwood. Located just behind the hotel you will find a small waterfall with a very good swimming hole. four seasons

For a more natural hike, you can visit the highland scenic highway which is just down the road from the glades.

This area has breathtaking views and all natural paths. There are trails going all through the national forest, many of which are perfect for the hardcore backpacker. There is plenty of camping in the area, free of charge. The draw back to this area is that it is closed down until later in the spring due to the high elevation. There is so much snow that the road is impassable. Here you can see black bears, deer, panthers, bobcats and many other kinds of wild life. If you visit in the early fall you will be treated to a view of the leaves changing in the mountains around you. The national forest in this area is so vast that there is no way you could cover it all in a life time, so there will always be something new to see on a return trip.

At the end of your trip you can visit the Cranberry mountain nature center. Here you can pick up a lot of souvenirs as well as see the little museum they have there. So weather you are a rugged outdoorsman  or just a casual stroller, there is something here for you. A visit here will leave you with nothing but good memories as well as stories to tell your family and friends.