Virtual Ride with Mile by Mile Photos

The majority of these photos were taken in September of 2006. The Mileage and Ride Time (RT) figures were taken from my bike computer. Ride Time is time actually moving not total trip time. With rest breaks my total trip time is much longer. There are two photos with the each Mile and RT listing. Unless marked otherwise the first photo is the view up the trail (north) and the second is the view looking back (south). Two views for the price of one.

Click on photos to enlarge

Parking.
The best place to park is at the
Durbin Trailhead next to Route 250.

Then & Now: How it looked here in 1948.

**A small WARNING before you start.
Along the trail between Durbin and Glady there are no homes, businesses, cell phone service, people or safe drinking water. Even though Forest Road 44 runs parallel to the trail it doesn't have much (if any) traffic. If you have trouble in the middle of the trail you might well be ten miles from any help.
Be Prepared.**

Mile: 0 RT 0:00 There are no mile markers on the trail so I use this gate at the trailhead as the zero mile marker and start the measuring from here.
Mile: 1 RT 0:06
Mile: 1.6 Mountain Lick Creek Bridge
Mile: 2 RT 0:13
Mile: 3 RT 0:19
Mile: 4 RT 0:26
Mile: 5 RT 0:32
Mile: 5.1 Allegheny Trail 701 and trail access point
Mile: 6 RT 0:38
Mile: 6.9 Little River Bridge
Mile: 6.9 Little River Bridge Benchmark What is a Benchmark? Second images is how this particular benchmark is represented on the Durbin WV 7.5 minute topographical map. (BM 2919)
Mile: 7 RT 0:44 Location of the town of Burner.
How Burner looked in 1910.
Mile: 7 To Span Oak Trail and trail access point
Mile: 8 RT 0:52
Mile: 9 RT 0:58
Mile: 9.1 trail access point
Mile: 9.1 West Fork Greenbrier River Bridge #1 From now until mile 12.1 the river will be between the trail and Forest Rd 44.
View of West Fork Greenbrier River from the bridge.

Mile: 10

Mile: 10   RT 1:05

Mile: 10.1

Town of May
(where the town used to stand)

How the town of May used to look in 1915 and 1920. Photos courtesy of the Western Maryland Railway Historical Society.
	In the photo of the store there's a sign for "Sweet-Orr Overalls". I did a little research and found this pin. The letters BRRT stand for Brotherhood of Railroad Trainman. So I'm guessing that Sweet-Orr Overalls are what the well dressed railroad worker of the early 1900's wore.

May Lumber Mill

There is a hiking path that crosses the West Fork Trail here at May. The hiking path uses stepping stones to cross the river. The West Fork Trail does not cross the river here.
Mile: 11 RT 1:12
Mile: 12 RT 1:20

Mile: 12.1

West Fork Greenbrier River Bridge #2

Mile: 12.2 West Fork Greenbrier River Bridge #3 From here until the access point at Wildell at mile 15.4 the river is again between the trail and Forest Road 44.
Mile: 12.7 small bridge
Mile: 13 RT 1:26
Mile: 13.5 small bridge
Mile: 13.8 small bridge
Mile: 14 RT 1:33
Mile: 15 RT 1:39
Mile: 15.3 Town of Wildell This weekend camp looks to be the lone company house from when a large lumber mill used to be here. Behind the house is a spring running into a old tub. I wouldn't chance it's drinking safety but probably OK to stick your head under on a hot day.
Wildell access point Looking South
Looking North

How Wildell looked back in the early 1900's
Photos courtesy of the Western Maryland
Railway Historical Society

Mile: 16 RT 1:45
Mile: 17 RT 1:52 Near here is the Lynn Divide. This marks both the Pocahontas/Randolph county line and dividing line between the Cheat River and Greenbrier River watersheds. You'll know you have crossed the divide when the water in the ditch next to the trail starts flowing north.
Mile: 17.1 Trail access point
Mile: 18 RT 1:56
Mile: 18.6 Allegheny Trail 701 and High Falls Trail 345 and trail access point. The High Falls of the Cheat is across Shavers Mountian from this point.
Mile: 19 RT 2:01
Mile: 19.3 Civilization again. First house you will see. Then shortly a few more.
Mile: 19.6 First of several gates that cross the trail between here and Glady. You don't have to open them but you will have to walk your bike around them.
Mile: 20 RT 2:06

Mile: 21   RT 2:11

Mile: 21.5

Mile: 21.8 RT 2:15 This gate marks the end of the maintained section of the West Fork Trail. Just beyond the gate is the ....
.... Glady Trailhead . This is not the end of the trail. To continue the Virtual Ride click on the link for Cross The Mountain, Miles 22 and Beyond.

Click on photos to enlarge

Cross The Mountain, Miles 22 and Beyond