Suzanne Stewart
Staff Writer
The Allegheny Trail is extra busy during the summer months, with hikers of all skill levels – both local and out-of-towners – who enjoy the flora and fauna and the towns that surround the 316 mile trail.
To end the hiking season, the West Virginia Scenic Trails Association – a non-profit organization that stewards the trail – hosted the TREK, a three-day weekend event October 9-11, where hikers camp along the trail as they hike.
This year, the TREK was stationed at the Boyer Campground and 17 participants enjoyed a trek from Durbin to the High Falls. Due to weather conditions provided by Hurricane Isaias, the trek was shortened to just two days, but the participants still managed to have a good time and enjoy the trail.
“ALT TREK is a living, breathing event that moves up and down the ALT corridor,” WVSTA communications coordinator Nicolle Flood-Sawczyszyn said. “It is a guided hike and people can slack pack, which means they’re not carrying all their equipment and food. It’s more or less a day hike and we go back to a camp where their tents are already set up.”
On Friday morning, two groups set out on the ALT and enjoyed a beautiful day with nice weather and fall scenery. One group did six miles, ending in Durbin at the West Fork Trailhead and the other started at the West Fork Trailhead and ended at the Balsam Trailhead.
On Saturday, one of the two groups started their trek near the High Falls Trailhead and walked 13 miles back toward Durbin and the other walked six miles and ended at the Balsam Trailhead.
“The weather was outstanding and friendships deepened,” Flood-Sawczysyn said.
In the evenings, after the hikers returned, they gathered around the campfire and shared stories and enjoyed a meal by chef Donnie Orr, who has hiked the entirety of the Allegheny Trail.
While this was a final event of the season for the WVSTA to host, Flood-Sawczysyn said the trail is still in use by several hikers who are either hiking the entire 316 miles of the trail or doing shorter through hikes.
Taking part in this year’s TREK were local hikers, as well as individuals from Morgantown, Clarksburg, Montgomery, Beckley, Petersburg, Parsons, Elkins, Oceana and Bluefield in West Virginia, and others from Florida and Maryland.
To learn more about the WVSTA and the Allegheny Trail, visit hikethealleghenytrail.org
