Log 2015060202

I told a clerk at the Blennerhasset Hotel that some of the Whipple Section - Buckeye Trail (North Country Trail) do have a taste for upscale lodging and that im aware that day hikers have lodged there in the past with it being in Downtown Parkersburg and 18.2 miles away.

Whipple Section is one of 26 on the 1,440mi Buckeye Trail and one of 19 that carries the 4,500mi North Country National Scenic Trail. It's off-road trail is routed through the Marietta Unit of the Wayne National Forest on a dirt surface. After the snow melts, it can get muddy out there.

The on-road links the Marietta Unit to the AEP Recreation Lands in eastern Morgan County by way of Macksburg of Washington County on lesser used township and County roads. After winter, some of these can get torn up by 4x4 vehicles.

For those of you who are using lodging amenities when hiking the Whipple Section, I recommend that you keep an old cotton men's undershirt that you can submerge in any water (perhaps from a steam) and wipe off your muddy boots with it.

But at Blennerhasset, I made the suggestion that they might want to look into getting a boot bristle. On the 6,800mi American Discovery Trail (which passes through Parkersburg), those hikers will probably reach the hotel on foot, having been on pavement, or local bike trails for miles. So unless they drive in from the Chesterhill of Morgan County (where its on road) or Veto Lake/ Vincent area, it's likely that ADT hikers will probably just knock off their boots enroute, where BT/NCT hikers might go straight from the dirt surface to the car.

Log 2016060201

Blennerhasset Hotel in Parkersburg, West Virginia.

Post 2015052701

Whipple Section - Buckeye/ North Country Trail's mainline was completely free of obstructions today with 4 members of the sawyer crew present and myself.

My next stop is Lane Farm, hopefully tomorrow. My 2008 Chevy HHR has a misfire in cylinder 1. I have the spark plug to change it, but the bolt which holds the wire on is stripped. I probably have the stripped nut socket to get it out, but not a replacement for the bolt. That will have to be a dealership item, but I doubt that they'll have to be a big one to stock it. Changing the spark plug is just one of the possibilities.

Log 2015060102

The Blennerhassett Hotel at 320 Market Street is in downtown Parkersburg, West Virginia.  It's about 3 blocks east of the American Discovery Trail - West Virginia and the Belpre - Parkersburg Bridge and 18.2 miles (walking distance) away from Whipple Section - Buckeye (North Country Trail Connector concurrent).  This hotel provides robes, has a special by-pass safety dial for shower water over 100F.  It also has dry cleaning service, a restaurant, valet and a parking lot across a nearby alley.  This is probably one of the more luxurious places to stay near The Wilderness Loop (Road Fork, Whipple, parts of the Belle Valley and Whipple Sections).  Not to mention that the staff's been very attentive and I've heard of others having a good stay here as well.

As Whipple Section's Supervisor, I thought I'd write a log for this establishment.  I know that there's hikers out there that like staying in more upscale lodging establishments. If you stay here and you have dirty boots (while I haven't heard of any such requirements), you might want to wipe them off with something like a water soaked spare t-shirt as a courtesy so you don't get the floors dirty when you come in from hiking in The Wayne.  I came in with my trail maintenance attire, which is pretty raggity, but out of place in my opinion.  I probably should had came in the front door in something nicer, but the staff didn't give me a problem with it.  However, I wouldn't recommend wearing the wet shirt that you might use to clean off your dirty boots.  As soon as I walked in the door, there was the restaurant in the next section.  And the men were wearing a casual button up shirt and pants that evening.

Log 2015060101

I took my Chevy HHR to Sears Automotive in Parkersburg, West Virginia to diagnose and repair the engine misfire in my 2008 Chevy HHR LS with the 2.2L engine. What happened is my air filter manifold support rail was unmounted on one side and broke off on the other. The broke side cut the wires for cylinder #1. The good news is that they replaced the rail, patched you the wiring and I got my 1st cylinder back. The bad news is that it probably fouled up the #1 spark plug and it needs and it needs a new electronic control module. Sears Automotive doesn't really have the equipment for that, so they referred me to some specialists who can reset that computer.

Log 2015052402

I attempted to use my GPS to write a track for the segment that I've unofficially named "Lane Spur."  I got about half way to the ford when I aborted the task. The spur is in very bad condition about 3/4ths of a mile past the east stills for the Patterson Tract. I felt that withdraw and regrouping was the best way to go. I thought it was going to be easier, but I found something that I wasn't prepared for.

Log 2015052401

I stayed at the St. Marys Motel at 216 3rd Street, St. Marys, West Virginia 26170 a couple nights ago and had a good stay. The owner was friendly and eager to help in any way he could. St. Marys is across the Ohio River from the unincorporated community of Newport in Washington County.  Without checking, I'd say that that it's about 5 miles south of the Whipple Section - Buckeye/ North Country Trail on Bear Run Rd/ C25.