When we headed towards Richwood through Muddlety Valley, the skies had not yet lowered. Or perhaps more accurately, we had not yet ascended into the clouds. The trail to Pocahontas is pretty much all uphill from home.
On top of mountains the fog was so thick we could barely see where we were going. This is a photo taken as we started up Snowshoe Mountain.
The view as we climbed up the mountain.
Rain and fog, rain and fog...
and then suddenly it cleared, and look who was ambling alongside the road!I have to admit, Snowshoe is not my kind of place. If you are a skier and like a remote setting complete with Starbucks, fine dining and luxurious lodgings in buildings that look like they've been lifted straight out of the suburbs of northern Virginia and dropped on top of a mountain in West Virginia, then you'll love it there. For me, wilderness and mountains is about quiet, little log cabins, many tall trees, streams and a good bit of roughing it. No one, I'm pretty sure, has it too rough at Snowshoe.
I am glad I saw Snowshoe Resort, however. It is yet another place in this state I had not visited, and now I know what it is. My son who skis said that for a family vacation, it's great. Good food right outside your room, the lifts right there, fireplaces (fake, but hey) in the rooms, kitchenettes, lots of things to do. I can see that. But for this countrywoman, I'll take a cabin in the pines for my relaxation.
Even with the fog, the pictures of that place are beautiful!
ReplyDeleteAmy
It was pretty, Amy, in an ethereal way. I love rain myself, so it didn't bother me, although when the road disappeared in whiteness it was a little disconcerting. We had a terrible time finding the conference center on the mountain because we could see only a few feet in front of us in the fog. Locals told us that the mountain is typically draped in fog when the weather changes, so I suppose it's nothing new to the locals--who had already seen a few snowflakes by Sept 30th!
ReplyDeleteI don't ski, so I've never been to Snowshoe either. The bear sighting was neat! I've always wanted to see one in the wild.
ReplyDeleteThis is the third bear we've seen, Janet--one was in Roane County, crossing Rte 33, the other in Gilmer County not far from Glenville, again crossing Rte 33. So far we have not spotted any near home, thank goodness. Although they may well be close by since our neighbors have reported seeing them. The deer are enough of a problem.
ReplyDeleteGSue - the first time I went to Snowshoe was for an Appalachian Studies Association Conference - years ago when JoAnn and I went and I first met Ilene. Wow that has been a while! It was foggy then too - like pea soup. I remember looking up into the fog from down in the valley, and the resort's lighting made it look like there was a giant spaceship on top the mountain, hiding in the fog.
ReplyDeleteI admit it is a bit hokey, and I don't ski either. I think it is a neat place, but no where I'd pick for a vacation. The second time I went I was using a coupon for a free weekend there that another friend of mine had won, so it was a nice place to stay. We spent the nights at Snowshoe and the days down at Cass riding the train!
I was supposed to go to that conference too, Jason, but that's when my mother was so sick so I had to miss it.
ReplyDeleteI would like to know where Muddlety got its name. I've looked online but no luck. Do you have any idea? I love it--my guess is that it was muddy, or just a valley with many branchesl eading off it? Or maybe it was just someone's last name. It's like Flinderation Road--where did THAT come from? I've never been able to find out.
Enjoyed your post and the pictures. And. wow - a bear to boot. When we went to Yellowstone we spotted a bear but only got close enough to record it as a "speck". WVA is wild place.
ReplyDeleteMuddlety - another new word for me. I am feeling kind of muddlety today! :) tm
ReplyDeleteCome visit my home in the woods, our bear is hanging around again. Once the apples ripen on the trees, there's no holding them back. Batsy in Idaho
ReplyDeleteBears AND Moose, Batsy. I was disapponted not to see a moose when I was there before. Ellouise would love your place, I know.
ReplyDeleteIt is wild, Ellouise, which is why I love it. The things I see just going to work are amazing, even after living her for 35 years. Like 20 turkeys on the ridge the other day, and all the deer, some with giant racks of antlers; the little chipmunks, pileated woodpeckers and red-tailed hawks. Then there are the trees turning so gloriously, the many kinds of wild food and berries, the mist that hangs over the hills as the sun rises...I could write for hours about the beauty of this place.
ReplyDeleteExactly, Theresa. Maybe someone was a bit in the drink and feeling a little muddled about his direction? or got his feet all muddlety? Is muddlety a verb, noun, or adjective? Hmmmm...
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