Evening star., 1938-09-04
BY Ralph Gray,
Touring Counsellor, American
Automobile Association.

AuLOUIOOItS ASSOCutlOu.
~ ACH Of the three great States
IL that surround Washington has
mountainous areas, but there
~ Is only one Mountain State.
Enveloping the crooks and bends in
the western boundaries of Maryland,
Virginia and Pennsylvania, and ex-
tending at places to within so miles of
Washington, West Virginia gives evil
dence at every turn of the road that
it has been aptly named. Whether you
enter the State at Harpers Ferry or
Bluefield; at White Sulphur Springs or
Wheeling, you are confronted with
mountains.
This time let's enter West Virginia
near Lost River State Park in the
east central part of the State, where
successive ranges pile up and vie for
sky-honors, where in the core of a
vast alpine area rock formations rival
ing the Garden of the Gods appear.
and where the southerly branches of
the Potomac River seemingly defy
gravity and contour level, in fighting
their way free Of the constructing
mountains.
The trip herein outlined it's de-
signed for one and one-half or two
days. If you have not decided on
your Labor Day jaunt yet, why don't
you decide to start today for the cool,
quiet mountains and spend tomorrow
| in comparative privacy on the noun
tain highways and trails of the Noun
! tain State?
TAKE the Lee Highway to New Mar
ket. Seven miles south turn right
| to Broadway. In few miles you slip
| through a mountain gap which is
| featured by an unheralded chimney
rock of no small proportions-a sort of
introduction note to the days trip.
| You cross into West Virginia at one
Of the east-West jogs in the north
south boundary and on a good gravel
road reach Matthias. Here you have an
option Of going through Lost River
State Park to Moorefield on 81 miles Of
rough, narrow gravel road or going
| north to Baker on l9 miles Of good
gravel, then west to Moorefield on l9
miles Of pavement.
The Lost River Park route is II
miles shorter and on it you get to see
not only the park, but also the view
west into the South Branch Valley,
which one of the A. A. A. members
/ described as Just as wonderful as the
! view from the Empire State Building,
/ with mountains instead of buildings
! However. the other route is scenic
! also and by driving a few miles east
/ of Baker you may see the point where
| Lost River loses itself don't confuse
| this point the place where Lost River
/ flows underground and comes out as
! Cacapon River is not in Lost River
/ State Park. 1t is just 500 feet off
the highway, halfway between Baker
/ and Wardensvllle) Here Lost River, a
| siZeable stream. cascades for the last
time, flows into pool and disappears.
| Making its way under the massive
weight of Big Sandy Ridge. it arises
Cacapon River. Cacapon is an Indian
word meaning river which pierces
! the mountain"
IN LOST RIVER PARK itself you
have good example of the fine
West Virginia Park system. Do not
plan to stay here overnight unless you
have sent your application along with
SIS into the Division of State Parks,
Conservation Commission, Box 1928,
Charleston. w. Va. The IS fee. pro-
Vlded there is an available cabin to
suit your needs. is applied on the cabin
rental, which is extremely reasonable
These cabins are fully equipped, except
for food. and are delightful places for
a weeks rest
Moorefield and Petersburg. on the
south branch Of the Potomac, are be-
coming tourist centerS because of the
countless scenic attractions surround
ing them. However. this section is not
overrun by motorists. 1t has been
opened up only recently the highways
are not crowded, nor disfigured by ad-
vertising. Make Petersburg your head
quarters for the rest of the afternoon
and night. The Hermitage Inn is
well managed, pleasant place to stay