Work is continuing on two-state connector route
Once it is completed, riders from the Virginia-side Spearhead Trail system in Tazewell County would be able to cross the state line and connect with the Hatfield-McCoy Trail system in Mercer County. Riders of the Hatfield-MCoy system also would be able to connect with the Virginia trail.
The connector route will extend approximately eight miles and is an extension of the existing Pocahontas Trail system in Mercer County.
Work on the connector route began last year, but it is not yet finished, according to Hatfield-McCoy Trail Authority Executive Director Jeff Lusk.
'We haven't gotten it open yet,' Lusk said. 'We've got to wait for some timbering to be done. But we do intend to get that open. It will be a plus for both areas. It will be a plus for Spearhead and for us.'
Lusk said sections of the connector route have been completed, but other sections won't be ready until timbering in the area is completed.
'We have built sections of it,' Lusk saidte. 'There are just sections of it that can't be completed yet. It is our full intention to get that done and get it open as soon as possible. There is just some timbering work going on.'
Lusk said the Hatfield-McCoy Trail Authority will be able to sell even more ridership permits once the Virginia-side riders are able to cross over into the West Virginia trail system.
The connector route will essentially link both states and trails together. It will begin near Bramwell in Mercer County and end at the Virginia state line in Tazewell County.
The Hatfield-McCoy Trail Authority had to work with several land companies to secure license agreements for the new connector route.
The Hatfield-McCoy Trail system currently operates more than a thousand miles of trail and 10 trail systems, including the Pocahontas trail in Mercer County and the Indian Ridge trail in McDowell County.
The neighboring Spearhead Trail system in Virginia also extends through multiple Southwest Virginia counties. It is operated by the Southwest Virginia Regional Recreational Authority and will connect with the Hatfield-McCoy Trail system near Boissevain in Tazewell County.
While riders of both trail systems will be able to cross the state line once the connector route is opened, they will still have to have permits to ride the respective trail systems. For example, riders of the Hatfield-McCoy Trail system will have to have a permit to ride the Spearhead Trail system when they cross into Virginia. And riders of the Spearhead Trail system will have to have a Hatfield-McCoy Trail permit when they cross the state line into West Virginia.
The hope of trail officials is that the new connector route will allow ATV riders to ride seamlessly from one trail system to the next.
Contact Charles Owens at cowens@bdtonline.com
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
UPI
an hour ago
- UPI
Clear Secure adds Britain, Canada, Australia, New Zealand travelers
1 of 5 | Travelers from Britain, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand can now enroll in Clear Secure, the American tech firm that allows people to pay for expedited clearance at U.S. airports, the company confirmed Friday. File Photo by Roger L. Wollenberg/UPI | License Photo Aug. 15 (UPI) -- Travelers from Britain, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand can now enroll in Clear Secure, the American tech firm that allows people to pay for expedited clearance at U.S. airports, the company confirmed Friday. Passengers from the four countries can now enroll in the company's CLEAR+ program, allowing them to quickly get through security lines for a yearly fee. The New York City-based tech firm currently uses its biometric travel document verification systems at 59 airports across the United States, allowing clients to save time going through security checkpoints. The company currently charges $209 for a yearly subscription. "From the beginning, CLEAR's vision has been to make travel safer, easier, and more predictable-using the power of identity," Clear Secure CEO Caryn Seidman Becker said in a statement on the company's website. "By enabling highly vetted travelers from the UK, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand to enroll in CLEAR+, we're expanding that vision to more people around the world. Whether you're flying for business or reuniting with family, you should be able to move through the airport with confidence and peace of mind." The company said additional "Visa Waiver countries" will become eligible to subscribe later this year. The program is not related to the PreCheck option offered by the Transportation Safety Administration, which is only open to U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents. Initially opened in 2025, NEXUS is another separate program allowing travelers to pay for expedited cross-border travel between the United States and Canada. Earlier this week, U.S. Customs and Border Protection launched a streamlined security system for international travelers, at Los Angeles International Airport to reduce wait times from incoming international flights. Clear Secure stock climbed to start the trading day but was in the red by late morning, down $0.65 or 1.91%, trading at $33.15 at 10:49 EDT Friday.
Fox News
5 hours ago
- Fox News
Priced out in Las Vegas? 5 costly steaks that can cut into tourists' wallets
Tourism in Las Vegas has dropped this summer relative to recent years, with visitors griping about Sin City's high prices, including exorbitant resort fees. But for some tourists, Vegas is still the ultimate place for indulgent amenities, drinks and – above all – once-in-a-lifetime meals. Jackie Dadas-Kraper, a Las Vegas-based publicist and vice president at Interdependence Public Relations, said the city's steak dinners can be "a performance, a status symbol and a story all in one." "Tourists are willing to spend three or even four figures on steak because this city elevates dining into an experience," she told Fox News Digital. "Here, a steakhouse meal is more than just food. It's a celebration of taste, travel and unforgettable moments." But are the unforgettable moments worth the price? Below are some examples of high-priced steaks that can cut into your wallet after just one dinner. This steakhouse's signature showpiece is a $1,000 spectacle known as "The Beef Case." It's exclusively available at the glitzy Papi Steak, inside the Fontainebleau hotel. The dish features a 55-ounce Australian wagyu tomahawk steak. It has a marbling score of 9 – the highest possible rating. To complete the over-the-top experience, the steak has been known to arrive inside a custom-designed diamond-studded suitcase. At nearly 3.5 pounds, the steak is built for sharing. John Travolta once ate the famed dish at the restaurant's Miami Beach location, as People and other sources reported. Fox News Digital reached out to Papi Steak for more information. The "Tomahawk Feast" at One Steakhouse features dry-aged U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Prime tomahawk steaks, weighing a hefty 18 pounds. The feast also comes with six sides, ranging from forest mushrooms to lobster macaroni and cheese. Priced at $1,500, it serves 10 to 12 guests and is carved at the table. But there's a catch. The tomahawk must be ordered 72 hours in advance, so that the beef can be sourced and adequately prepared, according to the restaurant. The "Taste of Japan" at the Wynn's Carversteak features a selection of traditional Japanese A5 wagyu, along with a 5-ounce Miyazaki wagyu striploin. Accompaniments include black garlic‑mirin mushrooms, shishito peppers and tare sauce. Yuzu kosho, a Japanese citrus-chili paste, is also added. At a cost of $300, there is a 4-ounce minimum and every additional ounce is $75, according to the restaurant's menu. The restaurant also offers less-expensive American wagyu, though that is still priced as high as $145. The Four Sixes Ranch Steakhouse at the Wynn offers a "Japanese Purebred Freedom Wagyu Tomahawk" dish. It weighs a hefty 48 ounces and is priced at $999.90. The beef, which is sourced from Freedom, Wyoming's Grazing Star Ranch, is carved tableside. The dish also features beef tallow raclette cheese popovers and is served with a side of bordelaise sauce. "Vaca vieja" means "old cow" in Spanish. The dish, inspired by Spanish cuisine, according to Bazaar Meat's website, offers a more mineral-rich flavor than younger beef. The per-pound price costs about $90, meaning that a bone-in cut could shoot upwards of $750. "The Bazaar team works with Mindful Meats in California, where they source whole, live 8- to 10-year-old Jerseys and Holsteins from certified-organic, non-GMO ranches in Marin and Sonoma counties for this dish," according to the menu. If you just want to try it, a tasting portion is $64. But you'll need to time it just right. The restaurant reopens at the Venetian Resort's Palazzo on Sept. 4.
San Francisco Chronicle
6 hours ago
- San Francisco Chronicle
Tuniu: Q2 Earnings Snapshot
NANJING, China (AP) — NANJING, China (AP) — Tuniu Corp. (TOUR) on Friday reported earnings of $2 million in its second quarter. The Nanjing, China-based company said it had profit of 3 cents per share. The online travel company posted revenue of $18.8 million in the period. _____
