The July 15-17, 2016 Carbide Camps Reunion - UPDATE June 29
Our site is www.carbidecamps.net
This is a free event
(Donations cheerfully accepted to support future events or flood relief.)
Barb Neddo, Dave Gardner, Angela Allison, Marty Wyatt and Bob Lilley

This annual reunion takes place at a time of continuing and disturbing changes on Blue Creek. The Hunting and Fishing Lodge has seen much damage and vandalism since the closure of the residences and campground nearby -- an early consequence of property ownership changes on the Creek. Former Camp Galahad was still for sale the last we heard, but there are also sad stories and mysteries about events there under previous management. Details on its current status are unknown. Also this year we welcome Carbide's Camp Brookside to our activity! See the Brookside web page for more information.

The location for the reunion activities has changed
due to damage from the recent storms in the Charleston area. 

July 15 - Friday evening starting at 5 PM: With thanks and best wishes to Julie and John Wiles for their invitation, we've moved the event to another location due to flood damage their cabin suffered. The reunion will be held at "Camp Sam" in Sissonville, by invitation from Kelly "Sam" Shamblin ([email protected]). We'll have the usual food and drink, and friends and memories!
Sleeping accommodations: "We have the usual in a house...aka few beds, floor space, couches. The porch is large -- like old times at the H/F lodge. There's a barn, tent space galore, room for RVs, and we've even been known to throw a tarp over less-fortunate souls! -- Bring chairs."
July 15 through 17: The plan was to continue camping, hiking, etc., on Blue Creek but this cannot now be recommended. The Hunting and Fishing Lodge is likely unavailable and may be unsafe, and the Camelot and Carlisle locations may be unusable due to recent flooding. Find out the latest on July 15. Camp Sam will be available for the weekend.

Please RSVP to [email protected]
or to Barb Hicks Neddo ([email protected]) with your email address
and number of people attending. It really helps with the planning!

There are new directions, of course: Put this address into your GPS and follow along, but make a paper copy in case cell service is not available!

1229 Hughart Drive
Sissonville, WV  25320
304-553-2826

Look at the map and print it. Don't get lost! (Your GPS machine may not show all the back roads, and some may be damaged or closed due to flooding.)




Directions from Charleston:
Take I-77 North
Use the Sissonville/Pocatalico Exit (3rd one)
Turn right onto Route 21 back towards Charleston
Go 1 mile
Turn left onto LEGG FORK ROAD (Carmen's Nails shop ahead on right, but turn into Legg. It's just a landmark)
Go to the end of LEGG FORK ROAD (approx. 4.2 miles)
Turn Left onto HUGHART DRIVE up hill
Go approx. 1 mile+
Green rubber maid mailbox on left
2 story beige house
Look for signs...there will be signs...
If you hear banjos turn around.  Quickly!

Directions from I-77 coming South
I-77 South
POCATALICO exit
Turn left towards Charleston onto Route 21
Go 1/2 (half) mile
Turn Left onto LEGG FORK ROAD
(See above directions and banjo warning)

Especially this year, we must repeat our safety tips for camping and visiting on the Creek: Trips to the Blue Creek sites cannot be recommended at this time, again due to recent bad weather. If you decide to try a visit to the Creek this year, PLEASE check with locals beforehand to be certain you can visit and return safely! The routes to the Hunting / Fishing Lodge and the camp sites require travel on dirt roads with multiple stream crossings. The camp sites are far away from the nearest help, in undeveloped areas without cell-phone and near-by emergency services.  Wildlife is present ("...why does it always have to be snakes?" -- I. Jones). Plan to bring appropriate vehicles, food and water, optional overnight camping and hiking gear, first-aid and any medications or other needs. Visits and camping are at your own risk. In heavy rain, the Creek can flood the roads (and other stuff) very quickly. Everyone should always be alert to avoid accidents and to help others.
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As we prepare yet another get-together, please allow me a brief personal space:
We've suspected for some time that there would be changes and new purposes for "our" campgrounds on Blue Creek. Reminiscence and even sadness are measures of the human condition, but adapting constructively to the Creek's evolution will be a measure of our character, molded by those magical Carbide summers. The Carbide camps on Coal River, Blue Creek and the New River will live as long as we tend their spirit in our hearts and with our families and friends. Some of those friends were hard-hit by the recent catastrophic weather in West Virginia. If you can, please contact Barb Hicks Neddo at [email protected]  for information on helping with recovery, or donating to this worthy cause.