Coal

Pikeville to Damascus, VA

New state: Virginia!

Before leaving Virginia, I stopped in Elkhorn City.  Perhaps I spoke too soon when I described Kentucky as sustainable; Elkhorn City is anything but.  Not only do they not have any sort of recycling program, but they burn their yard clippings, brush, and other organic waste.  The closest recycling program is in Pikeville, over 20 miles away.  

Perhaps part of the unsustainable nature of Elkhorn City is that it’s in the heart of coal mining country.  Along state route 80, I was one of few drivers not carrying a truck load of coal.  Google satellite, too, depicts the mountain top removal mining that’s so prevalent in these parts.

The scariest part of these trucks is their speeds: they go 65 mph on narrow, winding roads on which I don't feel comfortable breaking 50 mph.
These stickers were all over the place in Kentucky.  Who knew that Appalachia residents were in favor of mountain top removal mining and landscape destruction?

Breaks Interstate Park, the "Grand Canyon of the South." No sign of coal mining here.

The end of the day, however, brought us to Damascus, Virginia, a small town on the Appalachian Trail.  We're staying at a hostel supported by the Methodist Church in town.  Since we're so close to the trail, several northbound (or NoBo, in Appalachian Trail lingo) hikers are staying here as well.  Our trips are remarkably similar: over two months spent biking across or hiking up the country.  I was glad our paths intersected.

The hostel