By Stephen Smoot
Winter brings its own kind of beauty and glory to the Monongahela National Forest in the winter time. That comes with more opportunities to enjoy its majesty, but only if those who go understand the special dangers that extreme weather can create.
Those who enjoy a very old-fashioned Christmas, complete with harvesting one’s own tree, can obtain a permit.
On recreation.gov, those looking for their own tree can apply for a permit to harvest from the Greenbrier, Marlinton, or Gauley districts. One may only harvest from the district for which they receive a permit.
Unlike the United States National Park System, national forests have private property holdings within their bounds. The United States Forest Service states unequivocally “do not trespass onto private property when cutting your tree” and that “private property is shown as white on the maps.”
The forest service also has specific guidelines for tree selection, first and foremost to select an evergreen and not a deciduous tree. “Select a tree with needles,” it states, “do not cut any hemlock trees or hardwood trees, such as oak or maple.”
Other rules include to select a tree growing within a stand, as opposed to by itself out in the open. This will “give remaining trees space to grow.” This rule should remind all that this program serves the need of managing the forest, as well as spreading a little Christmas cheer.
Both the United States Forest Service and also the Pendleton County Office of Emergency Management urge anyone driving into the forest road network to plan ahead before going.
For example, as a recent OEM Facebook post reminded, “Roads to Spruce Knob and Reddish Knob are not plowed or treated” during snowfalls and other extreme weather events. “The conditions on these high elevation mountain roads can, and will, be hazardous from now until spring.”
The best strategy lies in checking internet information or in calling the area district ranger station to determine if the road is maintained in winter or not. As the OEM warns, “You are literally taking your life in your hands to travel these roads. And, once you have had your accident, you jeopardize the lives and safety of first responders tasked with helping you.”
When the chill of winter dissipates into spring breezes, visitors may notice other changes as well. To ensure the maintenance of the forest’s most popular sites, the Monongahela National Forest passed fees to enhance the revenues needed to protect the sites and keep them in top condition.
“Revenue is reinvested,” says a release “into forest recreation sites in the form of extra trash pickups at highly visited campsites . . . septic and toilet pumping, painting, renovation of campsites through installment of ADA accessible amenities, and improving surfaces of camping spurs and paths.” It will also help to fund better ranger presence at key sites.
These fees apply to various campsites throughout the National Forest. Many single site fees rose to $10 or $15. Double site fees went to $20 or $30, all depending on site. Group picnic area fees rose up to $50 while large group camping sites may now charge between $50 and $100.
