BackWoods Drifter

It is finally showing signs of spring here in West Virginia. We had snow on the ground from Dec. 18 up until just a few days ago. I don’t remember a winter as harsh as this one and I lived in the Cleveland area for a number of years. That’s saying a lot. To say [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

This post I decided to write while camping. Right now it is about 9pm on Aug. 31 and I’m camping on top of the mountain in Drews Creek. If I had been following my plans I would be in Martin’s Creek down in the hollow instead of on top of the mountain but as plans [...]

Ginseng Digging Season Starts Sept. 1 Season runs through Nov. 30 From WV Division of Forestry ———- CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Division of Forestry officials announced today that the ginseng digging season starts Monday, Sept. 1 and runs through Sunday, Nov. 30. Only ginseng plants that are five years old or older may be dug. The [...]