Trip highlights:
• guided karst cave exploration in SW Virginia
• the New River Gorge, featuring rim-to-valley trails, sandstone cliffs, and the rambunctious New River itself, south-central West Virginia
• guided river rafting on the New
• guided rock climbing in the New River Gorge
• the Greenbrier River Trail (traffic-free rail trail), east-central West Virginia
• Green Bank National Radio Astronomy Observatory, Green Bank, WV
• the pleasant, historic towns of Fayetteville, Marlinton, and Cass, WV; Hot Springs, VA
• good food
• comfortable lodging
Itinerary
Monday, July 27
We’ll depart Spartanburg for stunning West Virginia – stopping at Robert’s Cave in Southwest Virginia en route. We’ll enjoy a guided spelunking experience before resuming our journey to Fayetteville, West Virginia – sitting aloft the great New River Gorge. Overnight in Fayetteville.
Tuesday, July 28
This morning we’ll hike the gorge rim trails for a stunning view of the powerful New River below, and the sandstone cliffs extending around 1,000 feet down. We’ll keep watch for Peregrine Falcons, among the fastest birds on Earth. In the mid-morning we’ll descend to the river itself for a guided rafting expedition through a series of class III and IV rapids. We’ll picnic on the river, then return to the base of the cliffs for our first rock climbing experience. Worn out and loving it, we’ll spend our second night in Fayetteville.
Wednesday, July 29
This morning we’ll build on yesterday’s climbing experience with another guided adventure. In the afternoon, we’ll go underground once more – this time in the exhibition coal mine in Beckley, where we’ll see both the old methods of coal extraction and the newer technology. We’ll return to Fayetteville for our overnight.
Thursday, July 30
We’ll relocate in the serene Greenbrier River Valley, where we’ll pick up mountain bikes. We’ll explore the beautiful, traffic-free Greenbrier River Trail – from historic Cass – home of a still-functional narrow-gauge steam train (used for logging between 1900 – 1930), south to the old railroad town of Marlinton. The trail mirrors the Greenbrier River every inch of the journey. Trestles over the river and the occasional tunnel add to the natural intrigue of the route. Overnight in Marlinton.
Friday, July 31
We’ll ride south on the Greenbrier this morning, exploring as far as the old “ghost town” of Watoga. We’ll return to Marlinton, pay a visit to the nearby National Radio Astronomy Laboratory at Green Bank, then drive east. We’ll cross the long Allegheny ridges, re-entering Virginia near the famous Warm Springs and the historic Homestead. We’ll overnight near Bedford, Virginia, home of the National D-Day Memorial.
Saturday, August 1
After breakfast, we’ll visit the D-Day Memorial, staffed by a number of surviving veterans. We’ll explore south: tracking down Booker T. Washington’s birthplace and fascinating story; looking for cross-like staurolite crystals at Fairy Stone State Park; and arriving home in the evening.
Cost: $1270 / person; cost is all-inclusive.
Wild and Wonderful West Virginia
July 27 - August 1
Rock Climbing • Rafting • Caving Cycling • Hiking • History and Culture