Hey Hollowdweller!

Scott Free · Mar 9, 2008

Hollowdweller-

I'm pretty sure you live in WV, and I KNOW you haunt Dolly Sods quite a bit. Anyway, your post that included the stuff about meth labs and your dog, Tucker, got me wondering. Is the dog named after Tucker County where Dolly Sods is located? I'm kinda hoping you don't live in Tucker County because I just don't like to think of a place so beautiful and interesting as being full of scum and meth labs.

hollowdweller · Mar 9, 2008

I thought DS was in Grant and Pendleton Co?

Nope. I have no idea why Tucker is named Tucker. Remember the people who did him wrong were out to mess with his former owner. If she knew why he was named Tucker she never said to me and now she's gone.

Also she said Tucker had one owner before her so I don't know even if she knew, since she wasn't the original owner either.

Dolly Sods is about 4 and a quarters hours drive to the North for me. I'm in SWWV

Scott Free · Mar 9, 2008

hollowdweller said:
I thought DS was in Grant and Pendleton Co?

According to Wikapedia, "Most of Dolly Sods is in Tucker County. Small parts of Dolly Sods are also in Randolph and Grant Counties."

Anyway, thanks for the info. I'm in PA about 2 hours or so from DS. I just love that whole area...Black Water Falls, the towns of Davis and Thomas, Dolly Sods...and all the rest. It never seemed like a problem area, but then again, I don't actually live there.

BTW, one of my best friends looks EXACTLY like you. You two could be twins. Also wanted to say how much I always enjoy your posts--especially the ones with photos!

Thanks!

jh205 · Mar 9, 2008

Hollowdweller, did you ever see that PBS frontline documentary Country Boys? It wasn't shown on TV here in Australia, but I saw it online a while ago and was very moved by it.
If you've seen it, what did you think of it in terms of the way it represented the Appalachian region?

WVHILLS · Mar 9, 2008

I can't speak for Tucker or Randolph counties but there are meth labs in Wayne and Cabell counties.

hollowdweller · Mar 9, 2008

WVHILLS said:
I can't speak for Tucker or Randolph counties but there are meth labs in Wayne and Cabell counties.

Right. Kanawha Co is full of them too.

In my experience though the worst problem in WV is the abuse of prescription drugs. I always say "The war on drugs was won. And the pharmaceutical companies won" They say OD's are the leading cause of death here in people under 45

Stuff like Oxycontin and the Benzodiazapenes are really causing a lot of trouble. LOTS of junkies.

hollowdweller · Mar 9, 2008

jh205 said:
Hollowdweller, did you ever see that PBS frontline documentary Country Boys? It wasn't shown on TV here in Australia, but I saw it online a while ago and was very moved by it.
If you've seen it, what did you think of it in terms of the way it represented the Appalachian region?

Well probably represented the depressed southern coalfields of WV, KY and VA, more than where I live or work.

Coal is like the blessing and the curse. Jobs in coalmining pay incredibly well. In the early 20th century the mining companies came in built whole huge towns and brought people in to live there.

Nowdays though coal does not bring infrastructure so much. There are still some great jobs but most of the areas where coal is king in general are more poverty stricken and less affluent looking than areas where the economy is more diversified. New mining methods use way less labor so a lot of the wealth is taken from areas but there is less money and infrastructure left behind than 60 years ago because the extraction requires less people.

hollowdweller · Mar 9, 2008

Scott Ridgeway said:
According to Wikapedia, "Most of Dolly Sods is in Tucker County. Small parts of Dolly Sods are also in Randolph and Grant Counties."

Anyway, thanks for the info. I'm in PA about 2 hours or so from DS. I just love that whole area...Black Water Falls, the towns of Davis and Thomas, Dolly Sods...and all the rest. It never seemed like a problem area, but then again, I don't actually live there.

BTW, one of my best friends looks EXACTLY like you. You two could be twins. Also wanted to say how much I always enjoy your posts--especially the ones with photos!

Thanks!

Then maybe you can come on a BF meetup backpacking trip there this summer?

Scott Free · Mar 9, 2008

hollowdweller said:
Then maybe you can come on a BF meetup backpacking trip there this summer?

Thank you, but it's not likely. The photos from your trips always look fun. Unfortunately, my summer is pretty much packed. Weekends are out entirely for a while. Most of my playtime is in the winter and just the edges of spring and fall. Just in case, though-- when and where? --and thanks for asking!!

hollowdweller · Mar 9, 2008

Scott Ridgeway said:
Thank you, but it's not likely. The photos from your trips always look fun. Unfortunately, my summer is pretty much packed. Weekends are out entirely for a while. Most of my playtime is in the winter and just the edges of spring and fall. Just in case, though-- when and where? --and thanks for asking!!

Hadn't figured out a date yet. But weekend after Labor Day is a definate possibility. Lot of wild food to eat available at that time usually.

coaldigger · Mar 10, 2008

hollowdweller said:
Right. Kanawha Co is full of them too.

In my experience though the worst problem in WV is the abuse of prescription drugs. I always say "The war on drugs was won. And the pharmaceutical companies won" They say OD's are the leading cause of death here in people under 45 Stuff like Oxycontin and the Benzodiazapenes are really causing a lot of trouble. LOTS of junkies.

You aint kidding 'Ol Bud, same problem here in SouthEast Kentucky. I have seen & worked (underground) w/ so many people hooked on this stuff, it's awful to be around people on this stuff

So far I haven't seen any meth labs, I have came across a few pot patches (got away from the area fast).
Gotta keep your eyes & nose on high alert when in some areas around here

hollowdweller · Mar 10, 2008

coaldigger said:
You aint kidding 'Ol Bud, same problem here in SouthEast Kentucky. I have seen & worked (underground) w/ so many people hooked on this stuff, it's awful to be around people on this stuff So far I haven't seen any meth labs, I have came across a few pot patches (got away from the area fast).
Gotta keep your eyes & nose on high alert when in some areas around here

That's scarey. Underground is dangerous anyway so on that stuff I'd think they woudl be way more accident prone.