Clean Beautiful NRGE Hike (Coal Mine, NO COAL)

OVERVIEW

coal has a few advantages as a source of fuel. it’s cheap, easy to burn, and there’s a lot of it.
two things that coal is NOT are “CLEAN” and “BEAUTIFUL.” in fact, the only coal mines that are “CLEAN” and “BEAUTIFUL” are ones that are abandoned, which is great for us since that’s where we’re going on this NRGE expedition. we’ll be doing a loop hike that is around 8 miles long and will take us by the ruins of an old west virginia coal mine. NOTE: prepare for stairs. several hundred of them, in fact. this trip is marked as intermediate because of elevation gain over 1,500 ft.

Disclaimer: This is a trip for NRGE so please sign up for the main carpool (https://outdoorsatuva.org/adventure/nrge-2026-main-carpool/) and pay the trip fee after you have been let onto this trip! You cannot go on this trip if you are not also on the main trip!

General Timeline:
9:00 AM meet at rays campground
9:20 AM arrive kaymoor miners trailhead, hit the trail
~2:00 PM back at trailhead
~2:30 PM back at rays
We may also stop in town for ice cream or smth after if we feel like it

Unfortunately, I do not have a car so driver(s) are needed! If you have a car you will get priority for this trip which will also get you onto the main NRGE carpool. Hoping to take two cars so more people can come.

You Bring:
– Hiking shoes/boots
– Lots of water, better to bring too much than not enough
– Snacks/lunch
– Layers (plan for chilly weather)
I bring:
– First aid kit
– Binoculars

here’s my all trails of the trip from last year if anyone wants to see: https://www.alltrails.com/explore/recording/afternoon-hike-e536762?sh=max-goldberg-6&utm_campaign=memory&unfurl=false&showMemory=true