Once we agreed on dates -- 3-5 October -- Barbara made a reservation for us at the Canaan Valley Resort State Park Lodge. The Google Lady picked a driving route from Lexington that took me up two-lane roads through beautiful Appalachian valleys. There was virtually no traffic.
My route mostly followed the SW to NE valleys, but occasionally I needed to cross a ridgeline into another valley. On one such crossing Miz Google had me take a secondary road where I was surprised to see this knife-edge formation sticking through the trees.
Even though I had known about West Virginia rock-climbing destinations since I first moved to Virginia, I hadn't thought about them in decades and I didn't make the connection.
Once I reached the next valley and turned back northeast, I continued to see occasional out-croppings of the same formation.
Even when I reached this spot, I didn't connect this formation with the famed Seneca Rocks of my younger years.
It hasn't been until I returned home that I was able to do some more research on the geology. These ridges (of Tuscarora quartzite) were formed roughly 300-500 million years ago.
It wasn't until Miz Google was instructing me to take the next left to cross yet another ridge, that I saw the sign for the Seneca Rocks Discovery Center. Much to her disgust, I turned right instead.
I had never tried to climb the rocks myself, but I had friends who had. Somehow the climbing bug never bit. I have always been content to take a mechanized lift UP to the top and ski DOWN the mountains. Fellow Potomac Valley Skiers member Tony Soler (RIP) was one of the pioneers of rock climbing at this area.
While at the Discovery Center I bought a nifty book on central Appalachian geology for further study. It also includes the Valley of Virginia where we live.
A close up of some of the rock faces. These contain some of the most difficult climbs.
I was meeting my friend at Canaan Valley, so I didn't have much time to explore. Maybe next time.
By the time I got back into the car, Miz Google had gone to sleep and I couldn't wake her up again. Cell phone reception in this area of West Virginia is very limited because of the nearby National Radio Astronomy Observatory. Thankfully I had a West Virginia road map (remember those?) that got me to my destination.
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