Otter Creek Wilderness

"Take a hike. It doesn't cost anything, it's good for your body, and it's wonderful for your soul!"

	Put on your hiking shoes, fill up your canteen, and take a leisurely stroll down one of the many trails that make up the Otter Creek Wilderness Area.
Throughout your journey you will be totally mesmerized by the beauty that surrounds you at ever bend in the trail.
	Checking in and checking out is an important part of the ritual involved with the hike. You will be amazed at how few "Elkins" addresses show up on any of the logs.
Once you get past the log book you are on your own. Just you, your companion, and a forest full of rhododendron's. As you can see, the paths are easy to distinguish.
	As I walk the trail I can't help but think how beautiful it is and how beautiful it must have been to the hundreds of loggers who came into the area back in the early 1900's to take out the virgin trees. There are still areas of the path where railroad ties from the old narrow gauge still remain.
The Randolph County end of Otter Creek is full of wonderful meadows where the butterflies are plentiful. "I should be glad if all the meadows on the earth were left in a wild state." Henry David Thoreau
	Later in the summer the grass in this meadow gets waist deep. It is the only part of the entire walk where I spend a good deal of time looking for snakes. Never have seen one, but I could feel their presence!
Great camping spots abound all along the trail. This spot is about two miles in.
	The Forest Service maintains the area nicely. Here they have laid a path of tree limbs through a marshy area. That has always seemed like a great job to have. Take an axe, a canteen, and walk the trails looking for something to fix! Then on Friday, collect your check from the government.
I always have enjoyed the paths as they meander around the large rocks. Stop, listen, close your eyes, and imagine. If you aren't careful, the forest can become addictive. There is a fantasy awaiting just up ahead. Go on, check it out!
	The creek was a bit low this day. I have seen the water running so hard here that you couldn't get across even if you were willing to get wet. High water is an awesome sight. As I sat on the rock in the middle of the creek this day I marveled at the number of butterflies that flew by me on their way upstream. One after another, after another. I guess they were going to the meadow!
Possession Camp is the half way point along the Otter Creek Trail. Here you see a family has taken possession of the camp. This is the only shelter, other than tents, that can be found within the wilderness area. This area is about 4.5 miles in and is the approximate center of the wilderness area.
	The falls can be found on the Tucker County side of Possession Camp. This area probably gets 1.5 hours of direct sunlight a day so you can imagine how cold the water is even in the summer. The large flat rocks from where this picture was taken provides a great spot for a picnic.