Camping Together We Grow Together.

A few years ago when my husband and I first started dating we wanted a nice weekend getaway to sort of get to know each other better and spent time outdoors beyond going to a pool or amusement park.  So we decided to go camping for a weekend, and we wanted somewhere that wasn't in our own backyard..  What is better than camping with you dog, so we needed to find a place with not only a cabin but was also dog friendly.  That is when I stumbled across Abrams Creek in Elk Garden, WV, which is about 3 hours away from Morgantown, WV, on the edge of Maryland.  They have a variety of cabins to choose from, but we choose cabin B because it was small enough for just us, but big enough that we weren't on top of each other and the dog.  We picked up some wood from the office as they do not allow outside wood, and headed out our cabin.  It is in such a cute secluded area that we saw maybe 2 other people the whole weekend and that was because they were hiking.  Our only issue was the grill and small camping stove they provided didn't work. But we didn't plan on using them anyway, I wanted to try my hand at campfire cooking.  Hint....it didn't go so well.

The beauty of this weekend away was that there was not cell phone service or wifi, so all we had was each other and nature.  Too often we as a whole are too consumed by devices: ipads, tablets, kindles, cellphones, ipods, computers etc that we don't know what to do with ourselves once one or more of those things are taken away.  We are at a loss of how to entertain ourselves or how to appreciate what there is to offer beyond modern luxuries.  When you are alone in nature a bird's song becomes your music, a couple of chimunks playing are now your sports, and the person sitting beside you becomes your favorite celebrity.  Being surrounded by flora and fauna you realize the need to slow down, the need to put electronics away and smell the fresh air.  There were times when I just sat and watched my now husband, not in a creepy way, but how he did things, how he carried himself when no one else was around.  I paid attention to how he reacted when frustrated when the fire wouldn't start or when what I cooked got burnt.  I also learned more of what I want in life and a partner.  When you are cut off from distractions, you learn so much about yourself and those you are with.

This is probably one of my favorite trips because we spent the time really talking and getting to know one another, and also realized how comfortable we were with each other in silence.  We discovered things about each other we may not have known otherwise such as how we differ in what we think a campfire should look like, and that I am HORRIBLE at campfire cooking. There was a beautiful stream behind the cabin.  The sound of the rushing water luled me to sleep.  The weekend not onle strengthened my appreciation for nature, but also strengthened my appreciation for the man who became my husband two years later.  While the weekend was intended to be a weekend to relax and decompress, we also grew together and had intimate moments that do not involved being physical.

Camping has always been something I loved.  It gives you the ability to escape the craziness that life can hold.  There is so much spirituality you can sense while sitting and listening to the sounds of the earth that goes beyond a religion.  There is always something to learn and appreciate that it feels new every time I spend a good amount of time in nature regardless of if it is in the forest, oceans, mountains etc.  I want to experience it all and I am so happy that West Virginia has so many beautiful spots to find some hidden treasure.

If you want to find more information on Abrams Creek for your own camping trip check out their website at: www.abramscreek.com

Feeding Your Soul at Cooper's Rock

“In the presence of nature, a wild delight runs through the man, 

in spite of real sorrows. Nature says, -- he is my creature, 

and maugre all his impertinent griefs, 

he shall be glad with me”  -- Ralph Waldo Emerson

There is something about being in nature that bring about a sense of peacefulness and rejuvination.  It is as if all the worries and troubles of the world disappears and you can delight in the solitude you would find there.  Ther longer you spend hiking, listening to running water, or even watching birds soar across the sky the more reflective you become.  Being in nature is the perfect place to rediscover yourself or work through issues you may be facing.  It is always a joy when you have such a place to go to close to your home.

About 20 minutes outside of Morgantown, West Virginia lies a treasure of a state park; Cooper's Rock.  I have made it a point to visit one of the numerous hiking trails at least once a year.  Out of the 21 hiking trails I have only discovered about 5 of those trails.  Some overlap fork out from one another so you could map a different path each time.  On one particular outing I spent 4 hours hiking about 7 miles down to Cheat lake and back to my car.  Cooper's Rock covers 12,747 acres of forest spanning across Monongalia and Preston Counties.  While hiking you could come across some historical landmarks including a 30 foot tall pyramid structure which was once the Henry Clay Iron Furnance which was in use between 1834 and 1835 roughly.  It remains one of 10 or so iron furnaces still standing in northern West Virginia.

During the time that I spent walking the trails, I let my mind wander with no particular agenda to focus on, but to just think and allow nature to speak to me.  I believe nature has a way of encouraging you to go outside yourself and become something new.  I didn't intend to walk 7 miles that day, but I did.  I felt a sense of accomplishment afterwards that I never felt before.  Granted my legs hurt the next day, but it was worth it to be in the cool breeze the tree canopy created.  The trail I took was the Henry Clay Furnace trail which then forked off into the Mont Chateau trail.  This took me down to Cheat Lake which surprisingly enough I have never been too.  The trail was a little more difficult than what I am used to, but who doesn't like a challenge right?  But then I remembered....I had to hike back..uphill.  There were very few people on the trail that day, and the ones I did meet were very friendly.  Some had their dogs with them, and the dogs seemed to enjoy themselves as much as their humans did.

Along my hike I passed a stream, a few hidden, unaccessable waterfalls, and heard a critter or two.  It made me realize that there is more than what meets the eyes, not just to nature, but in all life.  You never know what is hiding beneath the surface until you take the time to explore.  Cooper's Rock is one of those places that motivates you to look beneath your surface and see what you can be capable of doing and achieving.  It makes you appreciate the smaller things in life.  Being at Cooper's Rock makes you forget about being in a bigger city or surrounded by people.  We tend to forget how freeing it could be to away from other people.  We are constantly surrounded by other people that it's refreshing to step away from a busy hectic life and let nature cleanse your mind, body and soul.

While there are several overlooks to stand and view the beauty of the state, there are so many hidden gems within the trails.  There are opportunities to do so many things not just hike within Cooper's Rock and one day I do plan on taking advantage of those opportunities including rock climbing.  How fun does that sound?! West Virginia is known as the "mountain state" and "wild and wonderful".  This state forest is the epitome of what West Virginia advertises as being wild and wonderful.