52 Hikes in 52 Weeks: An introduction
Life can be really funny sometimes. Growing up in the heart of Appalachia, I was impatient to leave. I felt hindered and caged in by our mountains and lingering traditionalist ways.
Now, Appalachia is beautiful to me. I have been so fortunate to experience it in the way that I have.
I will be doing my best to document Appalachia in the way that I live it. I’m taking 52 Hikes in 52 Weeks. I’ll be taking pictures, capturing video, and writing candidly about every excursion that I embark on here in West Virginia.
A look over the Snowshoe Mountain area. (Katherine Allen)
I’m doing this for a few reasons but mostly because I want to help reframe the narrative that West Virginia has been trapped in for as long as I can remember.
I am a West Virginia native and a geologist. By becoming the latter I’ve been lucky to develop skills like hiking, orienteering, looking at rocks every 10 steps, etc. I learned how to make maps! Which was inherently insanely cool.
Yet, even more profound, is the love that I have developed for the outdoors. This love was accompanied by a newfound appreciation and respect for nature, and subsequently an appreciation for our amazing state. By no means am I an outdoor recreation expert, but I love being outside and stirring up a sense of adventure in others.
Like so many others, I grew up hearing the negative stereotypes associated with our state and watched as our media portrayal grew increasingly damaging.
Bears Rock Trail in Dolly Sods. (Katherine Allen)
These stereotypical, cherry-picked stories are misguided and narrow representations of our communities. They lack any real understanding of who we are as a people and fail to represent any groups outside of those that easily fit into a preconceived idea of our way of life.
An abundance of these ideas are outdated, insulting, and fail to adequately represent the entire spectrum of folks that call West Virginia home.
Without question, we are host to a myriad of issues that deserve a spotlight, a platform, attention, and assistance. Still, we do them no justice by ignoring the enriching moments, stories, and features that are also integrated into the West Virginia experience.
Our state is full of beauty, rich histories, and boundless potential to be forward-thinking and diverse in nature.
West Virginia is truly such an East Coast marvel. We’re known as the Mountain State for a very obvious reason. Lush and green for half of the year and crisp and clear for the other, we definitely set a precedent for the outdoor standard.
Kaymoor Trail in New River Gorge National Park and Preserve (Katherine Allen)
A massive win for West Virginia, the New River Gorge being named the United States' newest national park, has generated a momentum that should be propagated to every corner of our region. Every inch of this state deserves to see the physical and economic benefits associated with a growing outdoor tourism industry.
We can begin taking on a challenge like this by broadening the scope of areas considered to be worthy of tourism.
West Virginia has the inexhaustible potential to become a destination rather than a pit-stop in the eyes of outdoor enthusiasts. I want every West Virginian to know what is right under our noses. We'll be exploring the entire state, from lesser-known trail networks to regional staples.
Endless Wall Trail at New River Gorge National Park and Preserve. (Katherine Allen)
WHAT IS 52 HIKES IN 52 WEEKS?
52 Hikes in 52 Weeks: WV Edition is basically exactly what it sounds like. I'm going to try and hike 52 trails within a 52-week time frame. Sometimes I'll be able to hit multiple trails in a weekend. Other times, I'll be spending a few days on one route. Trails will vary in elevation change, length, location, and general difficulty. I'm going to take it as it comes and do what feels right. I'm excited to be taking this on and to share this experience. I hope this motivates you to get outside and start exploring our beautiful state for yourselves.
