The Heart of the Highlands, or HoH as it is known, held its annual “stakeholders” meeting this past week at the Canaan Valley Volunteer Fire Department. The not-for-profit group’s mission is to complete a core loop trail that will connect existing trails on public lands and other partner properties.
The group starting actively working toward that goal back in 2010 and has made large strides doing what many thought could never be done. HoH has worked diligently to facilitate co-operation between Federal, State, Organizational, and Private entities to be allowed land use to find ways to connect trails.
The meeting was attended by around 30 people and Project Administrator Julie Dzaack welcomed everyone. An informational slide presentation was given and then each board member and advisor in attendance was given the opportunity to speak.
The most recent accomplishment was the completion of the First Energy Connector, a trail that connects Blackwater Falls State Park’s River Road Trail to Splash Dam Trail. The nearly half mile segment was started only a month ago and was completed this month.
“One of the cool things about this trail is the partnerships that it took to create and finish it”, said Dzaack.
Dzaack noted that though the trail is only four-tenths of a mile long it contains many examples of differing trail construction types. Attention to details and a minimal “footprint” were also highlights of the First Energy Connector.
Another prior accomplishment of the organization was being granted approval from Canaan Valley and Blackwater Falls State Parks to perform trail maintenance and improvements. Several members of the HoH are trained and certified to use chainsaws on federal and state lands where very stringent rules apply. HoH is also proud of the trail training it has provided many AmeriCorps members with classroom instruction and hands-on work projects. The have also facilitated many schools with opportunities for their students to gain volunteer hours, schools such as Lyndon State College, different WVU classes, and even our own Tucker County High School. They have also worked with the CCCWV, Citizens Conservation Corps of West Virginia. The group actively participates in the local Leaf Peepers Festival with an informational booth and a Run-For-It team.
Some future projects includes Partnering with Tucker County Boulder Park to build a connector trail between the park and the rail trail along Corridor H. It has proposed a plan to the Canaan Valley National Wild Life Refuge to connect Cortland to the C.V.N.W.L.R. They have also proposed to Canaan Valley Resort State Park a trail called the Headwaters Trail. The HoH also will support trail development and raise the profile of trails in the county through various means such as social media, etc. .
Tucker County Development Authority Director, Anne Jones was in attendance and mentioned that one of the trails, the Splash Dam Trail, was given a mention in the Blue Ridge Outdoors Magazine.
Ron Hollis, the new Canaan Valley National Wildlife Refuge Director, was on hand and addressed the attendees. Also on hand was County Commissioner Diane Hinkle.
Hinkle said: “It’s hard to assess the direct economic impact (the trails have) but hardly anyone here doesn’t know how it affects the local economy.”
Like any organization in this economy, the group faces its share of financial challenges. Although it has grant monies that it is working with right now, many grants are very restrictive and time sensitive. As you may imagine when you’re dealing with co-operations between federal, state, or large entities the wheels sometimes move slowly. Just like the tortoise, slow and steady wins the race, and the Heart of the Highlands keeps steadily moving on down the trail.
For more information about the Heart of the Highlands go to: www.heartofthehighlandstrail.org
