By Not much remains of the ancient stone walls on Mount Carbon except some piles of rock and lots of questions. This is a mystery story, but not the kind with private detectives or jewel heists or purloined letters. This is something deeper, older, stranger. Along the Kanawha River, on a
Roseby Any Other Name
A name misspelled only adds to the mystique of an obscure West Virginia monument. We can’t know just how cold it was in the Northern Panhandle on Christmas Eve, 1852. We can guess it was wintry. We can also guess that, although their breath surely rolled thick in the air,
Lovely, Dark, and Deep
Winters in West Virginia can be harsh, but some animals have an ingenious way of staying alive and well until spring. Hibernation isn’t just a long naptime. It’s late fall. And somewhere in West Virginia, in a thick stand of prickly pine and brush, a three-year-old black bear is carving
Rustic Retreats
The legacy of the Civilian Conservation Corps members who enabled access to West Virginia’s most treasured natural resources can still be seen across the state. West Virginia is a state blessed with raw beauty and numerous opportunities to get outdoors, and it’s easy to take this access to natural abundance
High Society in Monroe County
The Carriage House Museum in Union offers a glimpse of the town’s stylish past. Before the American Civil War, Monroe County was a playground for genteel southerners. Favored with bountiful farmland as well as wool mills, gristmills, and sawmills, Monroe was also blessed with mineral springs that quickly became major
Snared by Tradition
One of the oldest pursuits in the Appalachian Mountains, trapping looks for a new generation to carry on its legacy. For an occupation that’s been around since the earliest days of human existence, trapping is still pretty misunderstood. “People think it’s easy,” says John Pingley, president of the West Virginia
The Giving Season
Fall’s deer hunt has an altruistic side. A light snow falls on the bright orange brim of a hunter’s cap as he steadies his rifle against the massive oak tree that has hidden his body since sunrise. His heart begins to pound as a 10-point buck ambles into his crosshairs
Catch and Release
Behind the scenes of a once-in-a-lifetime hunting trip—to catch elk for West Virginia’s reintroduction program. This story was originally published in the November 2017 issue of Wonderful West Virginia. To subscribe, visit wonderfulwv.com Written by Zack Harold Marcus Constantino had come to Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area as
Grin and Bear It
Tooth extraction gives biologists crucial information about West Virginia’s black bear population. Hunters, be aware if you plan to bag a bear—one regulation has more teeth than it used to. State bear hunting regulations require hunters to extract and submit a black bear’s first premolar tooth. Hunters have until January
Going Primitive
Old-school hunters enjoying the new Mountaineer Heritage Season. This story was originally published in the December 2019 issue of Wonderful West Virginia. To subscribe, visit wonderfulwv.com. written by Dave Lavender photographed by Toril Lavender Photography In January, hunters in most states are usually home sitting by their fires, cleaning their guns, and
