Trail Mix

What's new on the Elk River trail?

ELK RIVER WALKING CLUB

Reminder! Hit the Trail every Tuesday at 4 PM with the Elk River Walking Club. They meet at the Clendenin Trail Head in the north end of Clendenin near the water plant to start their trek. You can go as far as you feel comfortable. Beginners are welcome.

Jessica Gamponia Wright, member of the club, said, “Dress appropriately and you’ll be fine, no matter the weather. Also, some of the walkers get together after the walk and grab a bite to eat, too!”

NEW ELK RIVER TRAIL SIGNS

Here is the Department of Natural Resources’ new trail sign that will be placed at the Elk River Trailheads. Pictured is Superintendent Heath Cliver with Elk River Trail Foundation Board Member, Jeremy Cantrell.

2023 ELK RIVER TRAIL MARATHON/ HALF MARATHON//5K

Registration is now open for the 2nd Annual Elk River Trail Marathon, Half Marathon, and 5K which is taking place on September 17, 2023. All finishers will receive: quality face t-shirt, awesome top finisher medals, tagged photos to be posted the same day as the race, postrace refreshments (water, snacks), and a great opportunity to run on a flat and fast course. SIGN UP NOW to receive the best rate. Go to the wvmarathon.com or Elk River Trail Foundation on Facebook for more information.

ELK RIVER TRAIL FOUNDATION RAFFLE WINNER

Congratulations to Richard Lee of Charleston for winning a Cannondale Adventure 1 Trail Bike from Charleston Bicycle Center in Kanawha City. Also, thank you to everyone who bought a ticket. All money raised in the Foundation’s raffle will be used to fund amenities along the Elk River Trail. A special thank you to The Printing Press, Ltd. for the raffle tickets and to Charleston Bicycle Center for helping make this year’s raffle a success.

ELK RIVER MAYORS SIGN PROCLAMATION WITH AHA

The mayors of four towns along the Elk River Trail gathered on Wednesday at the Dundon trailhead near the town of Clay to sign a proclamation dedicating their communities to fitness and providing access to outdoor areas to exercise. Clendenin Mayor Kay Summers, Clay Mayor Josh Shamblin, Gassaway Mayor Richie Roach and Sutton Mayor J.D. Hoover signed the proclamation signifying their support for creating activityfriendly activities within their communities. The event was a collaboration between the Elk River Trail Foundation and the American Heart Association to bring the Center for Disease Control’s (CDC) “Active People, Healthy Nation” initiative to the Elk River area. According to the CDC, increased physical activity can improve health, quality of life, and reduce health care costs. Regular physical activity can help reduce the risk of at least 20 chronic diseases and conditions and provide effective treatment for many of these conditions. The initiative was spearheaded by Julie Warden, Government Relations Director for the American Heart Association. Warden was instrumental in influencing the mayors to publicly declare their support and organizing the event to focus on the need to exercise and use the Elk River Trail as a way to inexpensively improve personal health. Last summer, five new exercise stations were installed along the trail between the Dundon Trailhead and the Jones Brothers Memorial Bridge near Hartland. The equipment allows trail users to perform push ups, sit-ups, pullups and more as they walk, run or bike the trail. Funding for the exercise equipment was provided by a grant from the WVU Clay County Extension Service. The three other towns are also considering installing exercise equipment along the trail. The Elk River Trail runs along the Elk River on the former railroad from near Sutton to just below the town of Clay. Another section is completed from Queen Shoals four miles south to the town of Clendenin. The section from Queen Shoals to Clay is expected to be completed early next year forming a contiguous 54-mile rail trail.

THE ELK’S JOURNAL

NEWEST RELEASE FROM CRAIG HALLORAN

Just in time to curl up in front of a fire with a cozy blanket, local acclaimed author Craig Halloran has released Smoke Stack - Book 3 of 4 (Epic Urban Fantasy Adventure): The Supernatural Dragon Hunter Files.

Smoke and Sid must find a way to close the portals once and for all – or watch humanity suffer. Under threat of death, they fight the powers of the Lord Master. Abraham Jenkins and the henchmen are pitted against dragon-riding fiends while leading a search party to the cemetery. Trying to recover artifacts that will destroy them before malicious dragons get their hands on them. And a new unstoppable army of evil grows in the heart of the nation.”

See all of Craig Halloran’s books on Amazon in both printed and Kindle format.

If you are a fan of The Dresden Files, The Blacklist, "

Supernatural, The X-Files, and all things wild and dragon crazy, then scroll up and grab this book now before the bad guys take it away!

– Amazon

HAPPY NEW YEAR

ank you to all of our customers,we look forward to another year!

304.548.7700 • 7484 ELK RIVER RD • CLENDENIN Serving the Elk River Since 1977 Excerpt from "Smoke Stack"

Sidney Smoke sat in the waiting room of Ruby Memorial Hospital in Morgantown, WV, bouncing her knees and chewing her fingernails. Her head hung low. Please Lord, let John pull through.

She'd been praying more in the last day than she had in a lifetime. Though she'd had dark and turbulent days, she'd never been through such a hard one. Smoke was down. He lived life like a big cat with nine lives, free and fearless. But a bullet had hit his back, and his last life might have been spent. He could be forever.

Her throat tightened. John had talked the entire time after the incident. A real chatterbox, he'd tried to be brave, as if nothing had happened. The sparks in his eyes were still there. But suddenly, on the ride to the nearest town with a hospital, those bright lights had dimmed, and he passed out.

It felt like forever, but a few minutes later, one of the surgery nurses came out. Her mask still covered her mouth, but her kind eyes showed, and she spoke in a gentle manner. "Mrs. Smoke, your husband did well. He's stable and his heart is strong. Now he needs rest.” Dr. Badwahr appeared shortly. "Please sit with me, Mrs. Smoke. He met her eyes.. "The surgery was a success, and John will be fine, but I fear that he will never walk again.”

Sid gasped and fought back tears. "Never walk?"

I'm not saying it's impossible. I believe in miracles, but there wasn't anything I could do for the damaged nerves. I've never had to remove a bullet, and that one was in a very bad spot. But I got it. That's the main thing. He'll be coming around soon. Come with me.

“Okay.” The tears she shed soaked into her mask. Dear Lord, I'm not ready for this.

An unforgettable season that he will never remember, but we can’t wait to tell him stories about it! #RiverRaised "

- Chelsea & Joey Fields

Trip Fields | Photo by Craig Allison