It was a trip I had been dreading. I wasn’t going to some mosquito infested swamp or a dry arid desert, it was a simple drive west through the Coal River Valley.
I simply do not understand how you can live in this area and not be pissed. I think you people need to open your eyes because the destruction is right there for you to see. I think it is not so much that people can’t see, it is more they simply don’t care.
Well don’t worry you sad little sheep, I’m pissed enough for all of us.
The first set of photos were taken at the upper end of Naoma. Naoma is my hometown. The mountains surrounding the area I used to know like the back of my hand. It’s an alien landscape now.
The area clearcut and prepped for mining is Clay’s Branch. I’ve hiked that hollow previous to clearcut as recently as late last summer. You can find pics from that hike on the Backwoods Drifter Blog here. There will be no more hiking, hunting or anything in Clay’s Branch.
Photo 1a, 1b – Upper Naoma
Photo 2 – Naoma
Photo 3 – Pettry Bottom
Photo 5 – Edwight
Photo 6 – Montcoal
The Coal River Valley will never be the same and by the end of this year if we don’t stop the blatant disregard of the coal industry and of those that work for the coal industry for the environment and even more importantly for our homes, we stand to lose everything. I, for one, will not be a sheep and I will not sit quietly by while the coal industry and those employed by the coal industry destroy everything that means anything to me.
I saved the 4th photo till last because I keep hearing our politicians bragging about a 75 million dollar surplus at the end of ’08. I wonder why we have such a surplus? One other question – who’s’ pocket does the coal severance tax go in to? It’s sure not going to our part of the county. You know – the part of the county suffering from coal extraction.
Photo 4 – Edwight
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This year I plan to fight the coal industry with video of the destruction from the air and the ground. Stay tuned for the Reclaim West Virginia Initiative. It is way past time to take this state back from greedy crooked politicians and the relentless coal barons both of which we have too many.
Denny, Where is Clay’s Branch in relation to Drews Creek and Peachtree? I know we’ve been there on the 4 wheelers. Is it where we went the morning after camping out in Spring Hollow?
I don’t think we were in Clay’s Branch. There was never a place to ride ATV’s there. It was strictly hiking. Clay’s Branch is about 2 miles from rte 3 on Peachtree rd.