Interesting link to old time logging in West Virginia

[low_48]

Saw this link on WoodWeb.com

http://www.patc.net/history/archive/virg_fst.html

Very interesting, very sad. That state was cleared in an incredibly short time!

[Jeff]

I don't find it sad at all. Our young country and our ancestors did what they had to do to live and grow and get further in life, to see that their children had it better then they did. The American dream of which we are the under-appreciative recipients of. You travel the hills and mountains today of West Virginia and they are beautiful.  Man simply took a used a resource that time eventually would have claimed.  I see no reason to regret building a great country.

[Tom]

I would have liked to have seen those forests, but I try to remember that our fore fathers needed the trees to survive.

We make the mistake of judging others needs by our own, others happiness by the rewards that make us happy.  It doesn't work like that in real life.  Now that the forest are no longer there, it is our decision whether to put them back.  We could, you know.   The problems are that there are a few people who with blinders who don't look at the whole picture.  You hear them complain about clearcutting, even aged management, monocultures and the use of resources.  Many of these minority activists think that everything would be alright if all humans were removed.

We have trained foresters that could replace those forests with a renewable resource if allowed.  To make it happen would require that the land-owners wanted it to happen and the Wackos to back off.   

Just think where we would be today if our ancestors hadn't used those trees.

[Ironwood]

Low 48

Thanks for the link. We live near beautiful WV and travel there frequently for weekend recreating. I love that state and it's natural beauty. It is a real treasure. I have climbed, hiked, paddled, and camped there many many times, my favorite is Dolly Sods (totally unique due to altitude).

     looking forward to getting our 3 year lod out into the woods

                              REID

[low_48]

Point well taken guys. I agree that we did need that natural resource to grow as a nation. What I think is sad is that in the whole state,  there was only something less than 500 acres that was set aside  . I've only been in two virgin forests areas in my somewhat limited travels, one in southern IL, one in California. It seems to me that it sure would have been nice not to have to travel a fair distance to enjoy a few more of those virgin areas for recreation. But then again, I was raised in what was once swamp land in Central IL. I had to ride at least 2 1/2 miles on my bicycle just to get to a tiny creek (that was the only natural place that had trees). And those trees were mostly cotton woods and maples. Prarie grass and low wetlands were our natural environment and that is all replaced with corn and soybeans. I guess I am just in awe of those forest giants and would have liked to seen more today as a place to reflect and teach our kids about natural wonders.

[Ironwood]

Lower 48,

  Try Tionesta Scenic Area, in the Allegeny NF near Warren Pa.  and if you get to the Carolinas Joyce Kilmer Wilderness. There are also scattered patches here in SW Pa. in remote rough terrain where extrication was difficult especially on the flanks of the Chestnut and Laural Ridges. There are even a few Chestnuts left.

                           Reid

[Tom]

Just imagine the scenario, after the great expunging of humans, of a family taking a hike through the canyons of what is left of New York City and commenting on the terrible disaster that ensued allowing for the growth of trees in the sidewalks and grapevines all over the buildings.   How terrible it will be for the "blamed" part of the society that encourages the wildlife and fauna to overrun those hundreds of years of prideful engineering. 

"I understand that there are only a few places left where you can see what it was like.  Chicago is one and Atlanta is another, if you can get through the Kudzu.  Terrible, just terrible. "

[slowzuki]

Although a funny picture Tom, I would certainly be more comfortable in a city like what you describe.  It gives me the creeps sometimes walking in big citys, no dirt anywhere...  :-\

[SwampDonkey]

I've only been in two virgin forests areas in my somewhat limited travels, one in southern IL, one in California. It seems to me that it sure would have been nice not to have to travel a fair distance to enjoy a few more of those virgin areas for recreation.

I've walked quite a bit of virgin forest in NB and in BC. And I can say, for the most part, alot of people including tree huggers would never be in those places if they weren't accessed by forestry practices. Now years ago, when the average family didn't have automobiles and planes there were many guides that spend several months a year in thier camps and lodges with sports and traveled mainly by river, canoe, paddles and pole. I'm not talking 300 years ago either. I'm talking 20th C folks like our grandfather's. There are very few willing to do that in our modern times, most won't even leave the house for a winter walk. Myself and a cousin who has a sugar bush and tree plantations are about the only ones on my road that go for winter stroles, and there is one other guy who sometimes uses my snow shoe trails for his trapping excersions. And he just started trapping here this fall, hopefully he'll clean up on some beavers. I don't really want my coyotes caught, and I noticed last week there is a pair of river otters hanging out in the beaver ponds.   It's been hard trapping with all these freeze thaw cycles we've been getting. Raining now.  :

[maple flats]

Wow. Read the one about the HUGE oak. That must have been quite a sight. Can you imagine if were a lot that size, I would need a special Peterson made to cut that size, and a ladder to get on top. I'll bet I could really get some BF/ hr that way, not having to monkey with those little logs.