Area residents recovering from storms and power outages may have had enough of hard work and high temperatures. But there is still work to be done, as the rest of West Virginia tries to bounce back. The state's park system is no exception.
Several parks remain closed, including Hawks Nest, Babcock, Tygart Lake, Kanawha State Forest and Watoga (as of Friday). And the Department of Natural Resources says hundreds of trees are down along trails such as the Greenbrier River Trail.
Of course, anyone who might have planned to travel to those areas in coming days should instead call ahead to make sure they do not burden park staff who could be forced to turn them away.
"Park patrons, volunteers and area resources have been equally supportive and understanding as we work through our recovery process," said the chief of West Virginia's state park system, Ken Caplinger.
Park employees have already done a tremendous job of dealing with a lack of electricity, downed limbs and trees and damaged facilities. Most parks are already open or partially open.
As the days drag by, however, park workers will be increasingly worn down by the work load and in need of a boost. That help might come in the form of a dropped off cooler filled with ice-cold water; or a truckload of teenagers willing to lend a hand during their summer vacation.
Many hands make light work - and in this heat, the lighter the work, the better.
