It’s been hot in Tucker County, WV the last couple of days…shoot weeks!  How are you beating the heat this summer?  I’ve been trying to spend as much time as possible at our favorite swimming holes.  But work, yard work and random thunderstorms keep getting in the way.  Do you have a favorite swimming hole?  But here are some other fun summer options… If you are looking for some water activities, I would suggest Blackwater Outdoor Adventures.  They offer white water rafting, canoeing, duckies, tubing, and fishing trips.  There are also paddle boat and canoe rentals at Blackwater Falls State Park, where you can float at Pendleton Lake.  Canaan Valley Resort has an outdoor pool along with an indoor/outdoor pool if that more your style. Great thing about warm summer days are berries!  Mid to late July is a great time for berry picking.  I’ve been told that the blueberries are ripe and ready for picking.  Camp 70 road behind Shop-n-Save in Davis will lead to you the Canaan Valley Institute trail system and you can access some great berry bushes there.  If you are looking for an adventure I would suggest taking the scenic chair lift ride to the top of Canaan Valley Resort ski area and hike to the top of Bald Knob then walk the trail down.  Along the trail you’ll find blueberries and blackberries!  You can also drive to the top of Dolly Sods to Bear Rocks and not far from the parking lots are loads of berry bushes.  This spot is well known and you’ll find a lot of other pickers, including bears!  There has been a spotting or two of bears so far this season so just beware, they are typically out traveling and looking for food in the morning and around dusk.

Native to WV you will find the blackberry is ripe and ready for picking.  You can find the berries in old fields, along roadsides, fencerows, and in clearings throughout the state.  I am lucky enough to say that they line my driveway and was able to have my first picking this weekend.  Not enough to make a pie but good enough for ice cream and cereal toppings.  These berries love to hide inside and behind their leaves so at first sight they are not easy to pick out, but are worth looking for.  When picking, watch out, the bushes have thorns!  The ripe ones should come off the vine very easy; if you must pull they are not ripe yet.

Another local delicacy is the blueberry and its close relation the huckleberry, as the locals call them.   You can find this low bush in Dolly Sods Wilderness (take Laneville Rd off of Rte 32) and in Camp 70 (trail system located behind Shop-n-Save in Davis).   You may ask what the difference between the blueberry and the huckleberry is, I know I did.  From the Monongahela Forest Service site I was informed that the blueberries have small seeds that you barely notice when eating and the huckleberries have larger seeds.  Nothing too large but they might get stuck in your teeth like strawberry seeds. 

The berries are starting to come out in full force which in turn brings out the wildlife that feeds on them especially the Black Bear.  So beware…there has been quite a few sighting of a mama bear and her cubs.  As much as we enjoy the berries so do they!  There is a bear warning out for Dolly Sods…please do not feed the bear or try to pet the bear.  These are wild animals and we have to share this area with them.  If you are camping have a bear bag and keep the bag away from camp in a tree. 

If you are not as adventurous to seek out and pick your own berries you can buy some at the Local Farmers Market.  Davis River Walk is now presenting a Local Farmers Market every Saturday at 9am in the parking lot of Hypno Coffee and Highland Prospects.  The local vegetables and fruits are being brought to us by Stemple Farms and help with local farmer Ben Nelson.   Come early because things sell out quickly and they will only be offering things that are in season. 

You can also find these local berries in the jam form.  WV Fruit and Berry offer a wide variety of jams and jellies.  My personal favorite is the Almost Heaven Black Raspberry.  These products are available for sale at Blackwater Falls State Park, Canaan Valley Resort and Canaan Valley Stores or online.

I hope you enjoy your berry picking and purple fingers!

 

 The above information was provided by

WV Fruit and Berry

Davis River Walk

Monongahela National Forest

West Virginia Division of Natural Resources