BackWoods Drifter

A ginsenger or ’senger (pronounced: sang-r) is someone that harvests the ginseng root. I’m a ginsenger and will likely hunt the plant until I can no longer traverse the mountains.
Root gathering in general has been a part of West Virginia’s history for as long as folks have been living in the mountains. I was taught [...]

I don’t remember there ever being a summer as wet as this one in West Virginia. If it is not raining then there is a seemingly never ending threat of rain.
One thing is for certain, the rain has put a hamper on my outdoor activities. Let me clarify just a little, I don’t mind getting [...]

My intention wasn’t to go fossil hunting but once I found the first one, I couldn’t stop looking.
I don’t know what it is, I feel like I have to bring home every one I find. It would seem like such a waste to just leave them undiscovered. I think they’ve survived millions of years, I’m [...]

Just in case you live in the area and you are wondering if the blackberries are ripe…

… that would be a delicious yes.

Usually if one were to expect to encounter me in the mountains you would have better luck from about midway up the mountain to the top. Sticking with my pattern of impulsiveness, today you would have had better luck down by the river.

I went for a ride to the place I have always known as [...]