Monday Mischief: Weekend Happenings

Yesterday's Black and White was a sneak peak of where we spent our Saturday hiking.  Some guessed correctly at historical site and a battlefield.  This particular Battlefield is found in the middle of West Virginia just outside of Summersville, Carnifex Ferry Battlefield State Park.  As a matter of fact you have to cross the Summersville Dam to get to the park.

I had only ever been to this park one other time and it was mainly driving around.  In a hiking book I have they said this park had a great 2 mile hike that had skirted the outer parts of the park that I wanted to check out.  And this was a fitting hike for the 150th Birthday of WV this past weekend.  Here is a little blurb I took from the park website:

  "Nestled on the rim of the Gauley River Canyon near Summersville, West Virginia, Carnifex Ferry Battlefield State Park is an important Civil War battle site. On September 10, 1861 Union troops led by Brigadier General William S. Rosecrans engaged the Confederates and forced them to evacuate an entrenched position on the Henry Patterson Farm which overlooked Carnifex Ferry. The Confederate commander, Brigadier General John B. Floyd retreated across the ferry to the south side of the Gauley River and on eastward to Meadow Bluff near Lewisburg. This Civil War battle represented the failure of a Confederate drive to regain control of the Kanawha Valley. As a result, the movement for West Virginia statehood proceeded without serious threat from the Confederates."

They have more information on the website for those interested in more history of the site.

Now ... onto the pictures ...

Heading down to the first overlook.

Gauley River is home to some world class white water rafting in the fall.  The rapids you see here are called the Pillow Rapids, a Class V set.

Zoomed in on Pillow Rapids.

Second Over Look

Taking a short break ... it was hot.

Rhododendron, WV State Flower

 

Randy up ahead on the old road coming in behind the Patterson House

Patterson House Museum

And because every land locked states needs one ... West Virginia just got a Lighthouse with the official lighting on West Virginia Day June 20th.  Its made from a recycled Wind Turbine.  It is also open for the public to climb, and when its not so hot out we are going to take part in that.  Having climbed the tallest, Cape Hatteras, we have to climb the one in our own state.  To learn more about it go here Charleston Gazette Article and here Summersville Lake Retreat.

And to finish up this long post I leave with a cool video shown during our states 150th celebration this past weekend.  This was a 3D Movie projected onto the actual Capitol Building.