BackWoods Drifter

New trails, new fossil hunting grounds, and new ginseng hollows. Those are the things I brought home with me from trail riding today.
It was a beautiful day to be in the mountains. I started out this morning for an all day trip to the woods. I didn’t really go with intentions of exploring trails but [...]

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 [...]

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 are [...]

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 age of the plant is [...]