(Photo courtesy of Alaina Hower)
Road and trail access to one of West Virginia’s most iconic natural features, Falls of Hills Creek, has been blocked by heavy snow lately, but that’s not keeping everyone away. Thanks to a crew of dedicated hikers who visited on Feb. 24, the rest of us can see the frozen Falls. The Falls of Hills Creek is within the proposed Birthplace of Rivers National Monument. National Monument designation would preserve and promote a series of special features and back country areas on a landscape entirely within the Monongahela National Forest. The initiative is a collaborative effort among various groups, including West Virginia Trout Unlimited, West Virginia Council of Churches, West Virginia Wilderness Coalition, dozens of local business owners and other leaders from National Forest communities.