Great interview, Sue. Don't let them wreck Davis/Thomas/Canaan. It had the 'secret sauce' before the tourism boosters even heard of it. Keep it real, funky, gritty, and unique. And thanks for the shout out to the West Virginia Land Trust! See you at White Grass this winter.
Overdevelopment, development without sufficient planning, out-of-control development, poorly designed development, etc. etc. are so common worldwide. You should have plenty of examples to choose from. When it comes to Davis / Thomas, but especially Davis, there was already a well-known tourism economy there, dating back decades to when the Washington Ski Club 'discovered' Driftland. Ask Chip about it - he knows the history as well and anyone. I worked at Timberline (full-time seasonally) from 1990 to 1993, and we always had plenty of skiers when the conditions were good. And people have been coming for the other outdoor elements for decades, too, the whitewater, the hiking, the mountain biking (Laird's first race was 1983, as Sue mentions). Davis had a 'comprehensive plan' that the WVU Law School's Sustainable Development Clinic helped them with, but it didn't establish any meaningful controls, as we see from the now constant bickering about Air B and B issues. Corridor H made things waaay, waay worse. The clientele has changed from people who used to come their for the 'right' reasons (because the snow was good, or the paddling was good, or the hiking was good, or the biking was good) to those who show up not knowing much about any of those things but because they read some story in the Washington Post or Pittsburgh Gazette. I saw a story that recommended the Table Rock Trail t families! Anyway, good luck with your article and if you want someone who has worked for decades in the ski industry (ski patrolling, teaching) or has worked in the backcountry for the USFS in Dolly Sods and Otter Creek, let me know. I'll give you my two cents worth.
Lots to learn here in your comments, Rick! My 1st trips to WV from PA were in the mid-90s and the last one to Davis was somewhere around 2009. It's been some years since I've been there, now living in San Diego. I may circle back on the Dolly Sods perspectives.
When I moved to the DC in 2001 I had a copy of the “East Coast” issue of Bike magazine with me and I was so psyched to check out all the legendary trails. Man they have delivered. And Sue, what an awesome person. Super star skills + kindness and cool - a great combo.
That was a great interview! Thanks for sharing your history. I'm a newb but I liked West Virginia when I visited Mothman territory. That was before I rode bikes, so I'll have to visit again.
Welcome, Thomas! WV is a beautiful state. I don't know Mothman, but thanks for putting on the radar. Had to look that up and it looks intriguing, to say the least!
Great interview, Sue. Don't let them wreck Davis/Thomas/Canaan. It had the 'secret sauce' before the tourism boosters even heard of it. Keep it real, funky, gritty, and unique. And thanks for the shout out to the West Virginia Land Trust! See you at White Grass this winter.
Rick
I'm currently working on a piece about mountain biking and the notion of "overtourism." Have to put some final touches on it.
Overdevelopment, development without sufficient planning, out-of-control development, poorly designed development, etc. etc. are so common worldwide. You should have plenty of examples to choose from. When it comes to Davis / Thomas, but especially Davis, there was already a well-known tourism economy there, dating back decades to when the Washington Ski Club 'discovered' Driftland. Ask Chip about it - he knows the history as well and anyone. I worked at Timberline (full-time seasonally) from 1990 to 1993, and we always had plenty of skiers when the conditions were good. And people have been coming for the other outdoor elements for decades, too, the whitewater, the hiking, the mountain biking (Laird's first race was 1983, as Sue mentions). Davis had a 'comprehensive plan' that the WVU Law School's Sustainable Development Clinic helped them with, but it didn't establish any meaningful controls, as we see from the now constant bickering about Air B and B issues. Corridor H made things waaay, waay worse. The clientele has changed from people who used to come their for the 'right' reasons (because the snow was good, or the paddling was good, or the hiking was good, or the biking was good) to those who show up not knowing much about any of those things but because they read some story in the Washington Post or Pittsburgh Gazette. I saw a story that recommended the Table Rock Trail t families! Anyway, good luck with your article and if you want someone who has worked for decades in the ski industry (ski patrolling, teaching) or has worked in the backcountry for the USFS in Dolly Sods and Otter Creek, let me know. I'll give you my two cents worth.
Lots to learn here in your comments, Rick! My 1st trips to WV from PA were in the mid-90s and the last one to Davis was somewhere around 2009. It's been some years since I've been there, now living in San Diego. I may circle back on the Dolly Sods perspectives.
When I moved to the DC in 2001 I had a copy of the “East Coast” issue of Bike magazine with me and I was so psyched to check out all the legendary trails. Man they have delivered. And Sue, what an awesome person. Super star skills + kindness and cool - a great combo.
Nice, Colby! I miss those Beast Coast trails, now that I'm living out west.
Well said, Sue! You embody everthing that it can be to be a mountain biker. Let's ride...indeed!
That was a great interview! Thanks for sharing your history. I'm a newb but I liked West Virginia when I visited Mothman territory. That was before I rode bikes, so I'll have to visit again.
Welcome, Thomas! WV is a beautiful state. I don't know Mothman, but thanks for putting on the radar. Had to look that up and it looks intriguing, to say the least!
I was on a road trip and we had to stop at the museum in Point Pleasant.