05/18/2026
This hike through New River Gorge National Park was a reminder that these places are more than beautiful scenery. They are living ecosystems, sacred green spaces, and places of healing. Home to some of the remaining old growth forests, they hold centuries of life, wisdom, and balance that can not simply be recreated once lost.
With continued cuts to national park funding in 2026 and even deeper cuts being proposed for 2027, protecting these spaces matters more than ever. Once forests are destroyed, once ecosystems are damaged beyond repair, we can not just build them back.
We need these places. For the planet, for wildlife, and honestly, for ourselves. The forest heals in ways modern life often cannot.