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09/29/2003 Entry: "the high and low of it"

A few years ago, almost every weekend would find me loading the car, picking up my climbing partner and heading to Seneca Rocks, WV to test myself against gravity and fear. I'm a little older, maybe a little wiser, and the weekend trips have been reduced to an annual pilgimage on the fourth weekend of September. The rack of climbing gear and my rope have been replaced by my cameras and I spend more of my time discovering the hidden beauties of the river valley that I missed seeing all those years when I was too busy looking up to take the time to look around.

The cause of this annual trek, besides the beauty of Seneca, is a reunion of sorts with old climbing friends. For the past 17 years we have been meeting at Seneca for the Annual IMSAR Seneca SeaFest. Yes, I know West Virginia isn't the place that springs to mind when you think of good seafood, but we bring that with us. You can count on Mike Carroll to stir up a pot of his notorious famous clam chowder. It's my one big chance each year to splurge on a sushi spree. I had to snap the picture as soon as I opened the trays, hungry climbers show no mercy to yellowtail or tuna. There was jambalaya and salmon and shrimp and.. and.. and like that. There wasn't much leftover and no one left hungry.

More and better photos coming as soon as I can develop the rolls and sheets I blew through this weekend. And who knows, maybe this trip awakened those feelings of the past for this beautiful place. I just might find myself down there later this year, if I can swing the time off and find another photographer or two to share the joys of Seneca.