It’s that time. Time to dig through the closets for all the camping gear. I say that like I don’t know where it is. I’m planning my first real trip of the season into the foothills around Bolt Mountain.

I’m actually going to replace my tent this year for something more hiker friendly. I normally don’t go to the mountains to set up camp so I don’t need or want a tent that will hold the kitchen sink. I need a tent I can sleep in and one that will keep out the weather - that’s it.

I’ve been hearing a lot of coyote on the mountain and I’m going to be on a mission to get a photo of the elusive coyote. We will see who stalks who.

This post copied in part across multiple blogs.

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After two days of slaving over a hot keyboard - the new Stop MTR site is up and running - two days ahead of schedule.

So far I am extremely happy with the new home. I had trouble installing the coppermine photo gallery so after about ten hours and multiple uploads - I gave up. The site does contain a photo gallery but not up to par as what I would have liked. To balance  it out - there is also an embedded photo gallery using flash software right on the site itself.

I’ve also added a Simple Machines Forum and it is currently accepting members by approval. The forum is lacking in info at the moment but contains plenty of categories in which to add info.

I gave the new site a red theme because red means stop, danger, I’m mad as hell - you get the picture. The forum, on the other hand, is blue. I figured there will probably be some upset people there at one time or another - don’t need them seeing red.

As with most sites - the new site will be under a constant state of improvement. I encourage you to stop by there and see what we are talking about.

STOP Mountaintop Removal

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My friend Dennie was in this weekend and we saw one animal the entire time in the mountains, a doe.

Can you see her?

It seems I just have the hardest time getting to this blog to post. The main reason for that is because I have taken on a huge battle and find my time used up rather quickly. The battle against (MTR) mountaintop removal coal mining. If you are not aware of this devastating practice - I encourage you to follow the link.

Massey Energy has come to Bolt Mountain and I will be telling the story and showing photos on this blog from their method of mining coal.

In other news - I’ve put a new photo gallery online and in it you will find all photos from previous posts on this site as well as a ton of photos that never made it to the blog. The photos contained in the gallery are from all over West Virginia and support this blog, the BackWoods drifter blog, and the Stop MTR blog.

Three of the albums contained in the gallery - Mountaintop Removal, Acid Mine Drainage, Valley fills - are there for education and awareness of the devastating impacts of mountaintop removal coal mining.

BackWoods Drifter Photo Gallery

 In this photo - Jeremy gives a unique view of the mountain.—

I will display these photos larger as soon as I get a decent album up and running.

Photo © JSB

Photo © JSB

Over the next week or so I’m going to be putting together some posts with photos that were recently sent to me of Bolt Mountain.

I am happy for the contribution to the site especially since I’ve been out of town working or on the injured list nearly the whole winter. I haven’t had much of a chance to do any photo taking on the mountain.

At any rate - Thanks Jeremy!

Ivy Knob Fire Tower- Bolt Mountain

Photos © JSB