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Nestled high in the mountains of southern Randolph Country, Kumbrabow State Forest is definitely off the beaten path. Its 9,500 acres straddle Rich Mountain and range in elevation from 3,000 to 3,900 feet, making Kumbrabow the highest state forest. From the south it�s about 5 miles to Kumbrabow on a gravel road out of Monterville, WV, and from the east it�s 4 miles from US 219 out of the town of Elkwater (GPS Lat. 38.63292, Long. -80.02257). Kumbrabow Cabin Worth the Effort You have to work to get to Kumbrabow, but it�s worth it. Indeed, seclusion is part of its charm. Kumbrabow offers something you can�t find in the high-tech world of cable TV, cell phones, and palm pilots--a chance slow down and experience the unspoiled, natural beauty of forests and streams at an unhurried pace.  Rustic Log Cabins For example, there are five rustic log cabins at Kumbrabow. They�re grouped in a grassy meadow adjacent to Mill Creek, which forms a lovely waterfall at the north end of the cabin area...

Discover West Virginia: Photographing Sunsets at Snowshoe Mountain Resort : Most photographers are looking for great sunrise/sunset shots. With plenty of deep mountain vistas, West Virginia is a great place to find ...

Most photographers are looking for great sunrise/sunset shots. With plenty of deep mountain vistas, West Virginia is a great place to find perfect sunrise and sunset locations. Bear Rocks at Dolly Sods in Tucker County is famous for its glorious sunrises as is Grandview National Park in Raleigh County. Beauty Mountain in the New River Gorge in Fayette County is known for its fabulous sunsets. Snowshoe Mountain Snowshoe Mountain Resort A couple of weeks ago, my wife and I went looking for sunset shots at Snowshoe Mountain Resort. Sitting at elevations of 4700 to 4800 feet, Snowshoe Mountain towers above neighboring ridges and highlands. I felt this mountain had to have great sunset or sunrise potential. My hunch proved correct. Checking Bing Images I found a sensational shot taken at Snowshoe by master photographer Ed Heaton.      11,000 Acres of Beauty It couldn�t have been more perfect. Mountain ridges receded into the horizon, the valley lay below, flowers graced the fo...

Most people drive the Highland Scenic Highway for the scenery�and rightly so. There�s not another highway in West Virginia that offers such continuous vistas. Nevertheless, as the Parkway crosses such high elevations, it creates and accesses some unique environs for plant communities. Wildflowers and meadows thrive in the abundant rainfall of the high country. Particularly in the summer months, I find as much to see and enjoy by the side of the road as at the vistas. Indeed, it seems as if the entire 23 mile length of the Parkway is lined with summer wildflowers, both common and rare. It�s like a narrow garden winding across the summits of the Allegheny Highlands. TEA CREEK MEADOW Across from the Little Laurel Overlook north of the Williams River crossing, lies the Tea Creek Meadow (GPS: Lat. 38.341527, Long. -80.163410). This 40-acre man-made meadow is composed of fill dirt created by the road cuts on the Parkway and is chock full of wildflowers all summer long. Early in the summer, b...

Khairull�s gaming setup at home Hardworking, motivated, ambitious. These are three words I would use to describe second-year Diploma in Mass Media Management student, Khairull Hafidz � an aspiring pro-gamer. The 21-year-old�s ambitions started way back to when he got his first game � �Beyblade� on the PlayStation 1 (PS1). �I got Beyblade for free on the PS1. It was loads of fun, and as it was free, I didn�t complain,� recounts Khairull. His favourite games included the likes of Halo Reach, a strategic first-person shooter game, and Dota 2, which requires strategy, patience and making tough decisions on-the-go. Together, he has spent thousands of hours playing both titles � a statement in itself of how much he appreciates games of this genre. With so much time committed to gaming, how does he manage to juggle his hobby with his studies? Khairull does this by prioritising his studies. He does not go out much, and that leaves his weekends relatively free � another opportunity for him to d...

While cruising the Highland Scenic Highway a few years ago, my wife, Phyllis, and I spotted a young couple hunched by the side of the road photographing something in the ditch. Being a photographer, this piqued my curiosity, so of course we stopped. We discovered that the young lady was a Ph.D. Candidate at the Department of Biology at Duke University. The two had found a somewhat rare fen orchid just a few inches tall. Phyllis and I are wildflower enthusiasts, so we shared in the excitement of their find. But we weren�t entirely caught off-guard by the discovery. Wildflowers Abound Earlier that day, we had already found and photographed some large purple fringed orchid plants along State Route 39/55. Moreover, we were en route to a patch of wild columbine along the Highland Scenic Highway. We knew the wildflower delights this highway had to offer. Indeed, wildflowers are as much a part of the Highland Scenic Highway experience as the scenic views from which it draws its name. Large Pu...

This blog is about exploring the beautiful State of West Virginia. My wife and I have been hiking in West Virginia for the past 20 years and have found some unique and beautiful places off the beaten path. I am also a photographer and have published more than 60 magazine articles, many in Wonderful West Virginia , describing our discoveries. I am especially interested in the waterfalls, wildflowers, and landscapes of West Virginia. Hope you'll join me as we Discover West Virginia.