family stuff Archives - Page 3 of 3 - Opossum Creek Retreat

Secret Stories Of People’s Favorite Cabins

The highest compliment we can receive is a repeat guest.

We actually have lots of them. Not bragging or anything. Just saying lots of people come back to Opossum Creek Retreat to stay in their little cabin in the woods. And since that’s what we do, we think it’s a beautiful thing.

Some folks come back several times a year. Others take the same cabin on the same holiday every time (and have for almost a decade). We’ve had guests that will change their vacation plans to get their favorite cabin. That’s not typical, but hey, neither is love.

Everyone’s got a reason. Some people say we saved their marriage. Others say we caused theirs. Still others still come back every year with more and more kids, and tell us it all started here. From first dates to first vows, there’s something special about this place (the hot tubs?) that people love to come back to.

Don’t get me wrong. Not everyone comes back. Not everyone gets it (a few really don’t get it: “there are bugs and noises outside the cabin, and the woods were very dark, so we left”). We don’t offer a paved environment, room service, valet parking or street lights lighting up the woods at night. So I guess that means to be prepared to, um, stay in a cabin.

I think (actually, I know) people request a particular cabin from year to year because that cabin in the woods makes them feel comfortable and at peace with the surroundings. They keep memories there, and add to them year after year. It makes us feel good to know they trust us to keep things just so and welcome them back. Very cool.

Each of the cabins has its own personality, and you can see it in the guest book comments. There’s a theme in each one (working on those posts, I promise). They all have the same basic features, but we’ve given them all their own unique touches of wood working and art. What’s the quote about the guy who loves what he does so much that he never has to go to work? That’s me.

I believe our guest come back to the same cabin over and over because it is here they find it easiest place in the world to relax. Just a guess.

And for the record, my own personal favorite cabin is whichever one I fall asleep in when I’m supposed to be doing yardwork 🙂

5 Simple Steps To Get Into Bird Watching In The New River Gorge

When I signed on here at Opossum Creek Retreat I had no idea what I was in store for. Sure, I knew what the job was. I learned Geoff’s techniques. But there was so much more. You know, stuff that would only be revealed as time went on. Jedi stuff.

One of the things that were new to me was the New River Nature and Birding Festival. I had heard of the festival from when I worked with Dave Pollard at the County Courthouse, but I never really got more than an overview.

Since Opossum Creek hosted this festival I found myself smack dab in the middle of it. So the romance began. Aw yeah.

I was amazed at how the birding guides were able to identify birds by their calls. This seemed an almost supernatural ability to me. Lynn Pollard was one of the first to introduce me to the art of birding by ear. She’s able to ID over ninety species by ear- incomprehensible to me!

I was introduced to many top birders from all over the states who showed me birds that I would have never imagined in this area. But the New River Gorge area is a main thoroughfare for Neo Tropical migrant birds looking for work (Ha! I joke.) So this might be the place to see all kinds of North American birds. Birds that come here to nest. Birds that inhabit the area for the summer. Birds that just pass through on their way to their nesting grounds farther north.

Here are the five things that helped me get familiar with birding. But a word of caution: I spend stupid amounts of time outside looking for birds I can’t see, or can’t hear, or both. Now that I know these tips, I can never go back to my pre-birding life. You’ve been warned.

1- Get to know a birding enthusiast. Geoff and most of the people you will meet at the NRB&N festival are very excited to turn new people on to the “sport”. I say sport in parenthesis because, while many of the birds you will encounter will definitely give you a run for your money while trying to get a good look at them, a lot of times you’re not moving much at all. Some of the wood warblers are especially secretive; their thick habitat can be a challenge.

2- Get yourself a decent pair of optics. Some of the birds you will be trying to find are small and elusive or they won’t let you get too close. A good pair of binos are essential.

3- A good field guide is also important. Look for something that’s not too big and that’s well illustrated. You’ll want to carry it with you while out hiking or even in your back yard. Peterson’s and Sibley’s are my favorites. A word of caution; don’t get so into the book that you stop looking at the bird. I’ve learned to watch the bird for as long as it will let me or until I feel I have all the visual information I need to make a proper ID. The book will always be there to look at. The bird will not.

4- Get out there! Birding is a great hobby because you can do it anywhere from your office to the wilds of your area. Whether you’re in the city or way out in the country, birds are there.

5- Get a friend into it. Having someone to bird with is even more fun. Share your newfound activity with a friend or family member that you want to spend inordinate amounts of time with.

Birding also raises awareness of our environment and why we should protect it. It is also another excuse to get outside if you need one. If you haven’t already, give it a try. Checkout Birdwatcher’s Digest. Also, take a look at the Beginning Birdwatchers Book. Perfect for kids, this one’s got 19 pages stickers, too!

Okay, Geoff and I play with the stickers. But it’s a good book, I promise!

Do You Know The New River Gorge? A Nature Nugget From Keith

I’m an avid outdoorsman.

But I don’t limit it to just going outside. I love to read about the outdoors. When I was a kid I lived for outdoor magazines. Whenever I got a new one I usually consumed it cover to cover in one sitting.

The white tailed deer was my all-time favorite mammal to read about and see in the wild. Dad had me in the woods as soon as I was old enough, and I shared his passion for the outdoors. Still do. Dad doesn’t get out hunting anymore, but there is not a time I go to the woods that doesn’t remind me of something we did together. As I write this, I realize that my daughter Alex will have that same joy.

Gotta say, that makes me tear up a little.

Anyway, not long after moving to West Virginia, I met a man named Max Elkins. Max is, like me, an avid outdoorsman. As a matter of fact, I often say that when I grow up I want to hunt like Max. If there is an open season Max is hunting. It wasn’t long after we met that he introduced me to grouse hunting.

Now, I’ve hunted grouse as a kid a few times but never like this. Max’s dogs were amazing. I was hooked. A year or so later I had a pup out of a litter from his two dogs, Autumn and Thorn. What great names, huh? My daughter Alex had a part in naming the pup, and since Disney’s Aladin was her favorite movie at the time, well, Jasmine it was.

Max operated a bird hunting preserve and there were plenty of birds to train her on in the off season. January and February is the time to be in the woods and after the native birds. There were plenty of birds around ten years ago but they have definitely been steadily declining. Contrary to what a lot of people think, hunters are avid conservationists. We do so much to save habitat and game populations, it’s hard to know where to start. That’s a post for another day, I guess. Thinking about it, I long for the days described by writers like Burton Spiller and George “Bird” Evans, the days when a hunter could have thirty plus flushes in a day.

All of the research done on the Ruffed Grouse says that the bird is cyclic. Meaning that the populations fluctuate over time. There has always been much debate among grouse hunters everywhere as to whether the numbers will ever be what they used to here in Appalachia. I sure hope so, but right now there seems to be fewer than ever.

The West Virginia Division Of Natural Resources has had a research program in place for a while now in cooperation with several other states to try a find out where all the grouse have gone. According to the reports the main source of grouse mortality is due to avian predation. Mammal predation is second and hunting is responsible for only fifteen percent. Anyone who has ever hunted grouse knows that the odds are heavily in the favor of the fast flying, extremely agile bird.

Grouse hunting for me is not about the bag, but where it takes you. Suddenly you will find yourself high on a ridge overlooking an awe inspiring landscape. That, and spending time with friends and family. I think most people like me, who read outdoor magazines, who go outside just to be outside, who love it in their hearts, feel the same way.

Rental Cabins, Beer, and Me: A Love Story

The first beer I ever tasted sucked. I was 8 or 9 and it was a Michelob. I still don’t like Michelob.

Everything about brewing beer makes people happy

I didn’t give up, though. I tried other beers (especially if no one was looking), and eventually found some I liked.

Fast forward 40 years. I’m traveling in the Czech republic with my family. We land in Prauge and the first restaurant we go to has been serving food for over 500 years. They just happen to have my favorite beer in the world on tap. Pilsen Urqual. Brewed by monks, the pils uses the same yeast for over 300 years. And soon I am blessing The Rope Makers Wife. Amazing food. Wonderful setting. Great beer.

We soon set out for the countryside. We traveled by train all over for 3 week and tasted dozens of beers, the likes of which I only imagined during my long gone Michelob days. In the Czech Republic, every town has its own brewery. If there are 500 people within walking distance, there’s a brewery. It’s mind boggling. At the end of the trip we found ourselves back at the Rope Makers Wife. My son Cameron took a sip of the Pilsen and said “This is the worst beer we’ve had on the whole trip” I hate to admit it but the 8 year old was absolutely right.

In West Virginia, we don’t have a brewery in every town. But we have one in ours. There are vineyards’ in every direction and a distillery too. But today we’re talking about beer.

There’s a lot to be said for taking on a craft that has been worked for thousands of years. To think that you could bring something new to it, meaning full contribution to the evolution of the process, seems intimidating.

Well, I suppose you could go a little less philosophical and just make really good beer. Most of the eateries and convenience stores have the local suds, so give ‘em a try. Break your old Michelob habits- you’re on vacation. Live a little, and try some local West Virginia brew.

Family Trips And Tips- Skiing For Spring Break

Let’s do some word association. Here’s a list of words, and you say what comes to mind:

Snow
Hot Chocolate
Roaring Fireplace
Snuggly Sweaters
Cabin Lodge
Vacation

If you said spring break, you’re right. If you said anything else, you’re not right. Didn’t know we were grading, did you? Anyway, we’re not fans of the beach for spring break (obviously).

Here are 5 tips to plan the easiest family ski vacation ever:

-Size your gear online or over the phone so it’s ready when you get there. You can take all the hassle out of getting fit when you just walk into the rental shop, grab your gear, and walk out.

-Talk to the ski school. It’s always easy to find, and the folks there are friendly and helpful (usually). It’s always a good idea to take a ski lesson, at least on day one.

-Brown bag it. Resort food is overpriced and yucky. Your food is priced just right and yummy. Way easier when you stay in a cabin because of the kitchen factor.

-Take it easy. Sports vacations aren’t about how much you do or how big you go; they’re about how much fun you can have. The kids will be a lot happier with a ski instructor who tells them what to do so you don’t have to.

-Have an backup plan. If the weather goes sour, or something out of the ordinary happens, you should be able to pack up and head on to the next activity without skipping a beat. Here’s a whole rainy day itinerary.

Close to us, WinterPlace Ski Resort has 1 more day of skiing (this Saturday, March 28). A little further away is Snowshoe, and they’ll be open a few more weeks. Timberline also closes this weekend. Wherever you go, take your family and get your spring ski on!