Fishing is a long-loved tradition in West Virginia, and that very first fish is something few forget. It’s almost a rite of passage among our hills and hollers, with stories that are always eager to be shared—some with a few lessons wrapped up in them.
Pocahontas County’s Unbroken Chain
The Hammons Family Fiddle and Banjo Contests and World-Class Jam have a long and melodious history in West Virginia.
A Walk in the Woods
Trails connect us with nature—but the best ones begin with human ingenuity.
An Appalachian Desert
West Virginia’s shale barrens are home to some of the state’s most interesting ecology.
Romancing the Stone
Unearthing the real story behind West Virginia’s most famous archaeological fraud.
Bird Calls in the Forest Business
A huge partnership between Weyerhaeuser, the DNR, and many others is pioneering sustainable new practices within the forest industry.
Coming Home
Through reintroduction efforts, residents and tourists can now see elk roaming freely in West Virginia
Rhodo Trippin’
From laurel hell to almost heaven—the rhododendron is a Mountain State native worth seeing in all its glory.
What’s in a Fish?
The candy darter isn’t much bigger than a human finger but, what it lacks in size, it makes up for in vibrant color.
Get Rolling in the Mountain State
E-bikes are changing the landscape of cycling—with a little assistance, of course. This story was originally published in the June 2021 issue of Wonderful West Virginia. written by Clay Abneyphotographs courtesy of Snowshoe Mountain I once was a cycling purist. I grew up riding bikes and have been riding traditional road