Sunday, May 16, 2010

Blackwater Falls

Last weekend I attended the West Virginia Wildflower Pilgrimage at Blackwater Falls State Park. I saw so many beautiful flowers and sights it will take me forever to blog about it all. I drove down on Thursday and just enjoyed the scenery and the views that the park had to offer. Here is a view of the Black Water River as it runs through the park.


I'm standing on a bridge and looking in both directions. No matter how you look at it it is beautiful. Blackwater Falls is in Tucker County, WV and I do believe it is one of the most beautiful areas in West Virginia.


All around on the ground were dandelions and these English Daisy.  Both flowers are about the same size and it looked like a lot of little bouquets on the ground.


Here is the view of the falls from the handicapped accessibility location. It is really my favorite view because you can see up the river and take in the whole thing.


The forest here has a lot of Hemlock that the forest service and parks are trying to save from the Hemlock Wooly Adelgid.  This one is winning the battle but not all of them are so successful.


The first order of business was to put my tent up before I did any more exploring. The first night it was very very cold and the second night was a lightening and thunder storm.  When I returned for the 3rd night it was blown down do I just wadded it all up and stuffed it in the car and came home.  Trying to fix it or fold it was like battling a giant kite and the kite was winning.  I took a Beauford wind measurement and it was 5 which makes it around 20-24 miles per hour.


So after I got the tent up and my bedding all set I went back for another, closer view of the falls. I forget how many steps it is down to the falls but it was a lot. On the way down I passed these lovely Hobblebushes.


Here I am about half way down the steps.


See that boulder in the bottom of the photo above...below is a closer view showing the rainbow.


By now I am down at the bottom and next to the full force of the water.


Next I drove up to Lindy Point Lookout.


No matter what direction you look it is beautiful.




See more scenic locations at Scenic Sunday.



6 comments:

Anonymous said...

Gorgeous photographs!

Gaelyn said...

What a great adventure in such beautiful country. Bummer about the weather and tent thing. Love the rainbow on the boulder and that's a gorgeous waterfall. How many steps? ;-)

GreensboroDailyPhoto said...

Cheryl:

So glad to see that Blackwater Falls is still pristine, untouched. Let's hope it stays that way AND that the hemlocks will survive! Your photography is amazing. Easy to see why CA bought it!

I will have a frog picture this upcoming Saturday. However, for me, nature photography is VERY difficult. Fellow blogger Abraham Lincoln does great nature photography, too. Perhaps I know enough to leave it to the experts!

Do you have any suggestions to get better?

Jan
GDP

Barbb blog said...

WV ought to pay you for the service you do: after following your blog for a while, I am determinded to visit the state ASAP.

Potomac Valley Nature Writing Group Reading List said...

Stunning. Barbara got it right.

Potomac Valley Nature Writing Group Reading List said...

stunning! Barbara got it right.