The minute you step into the Cranberry Glades you quickly realize that you have left the familiar environs of Southwest Virginia and have entered a far different place. The first bird we heard each morning was usually a Northern Waterthush singing - and more than one at any given time as they established their breeding territories. Blackburnian Warblers flit through the Spruce trees, and Red-breasted Nuthatches, Brown Creepers, Black-capped Chickadees, and Golden-crowned Kinglets all are establishing their territories with a rich variety of song. In the woods surrounding the bog you can hear Black-throated Blue, Black-throated Green, and Worm-eating Warblers along with many other high-altitude species. As we were looking into carnivorous Pitcher Plants, we observed several small skirmishes between Swamp and Song Sparrows in the Speckled Alder as they defined their territories.

Our second day in the Monongahela Forest we visited the falls at Hills Creek (after an early morning walk through the Cranberry bog of course). There are a series of three waterfalls of increasing height as you follow the creek. It is an easy hike of only a mile or so to all three waterfalls and the best part is that you get to see Canada Warblers and Black-throated Blue Warblers at eye level along the boardwalk. Our next stop was a four-mile hike out to High Rocks where you can see for miles - probably all the way into Virginia. We finished our second day with a 20-mile bike ride along the Greenbrier River Trail. The trail is a converted rail bed so the grade is easy and with the added benefit of a trestle and tunnel along the way. Needless to say the hot tub at the cabin felt good after our long day.

The third day we headed back to Virginia. After another quick trip through the Cranberry Bog we headed west to the New River Gorge and had a picnic lunch at Sandstone Falls near Hinton, WV. This was a much needed weekend getaway and Michelle and I are glad we picked this part of West Virginia to explore - we are already making plans to return.