Shaver's Fork Mountain Complex

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Shaver's Fork Mountain Complex, is the name given to the bulwark of mountains in west central Pocahontas County, West Virginia. The complex includes the Cheat and Back Allegheny Mountains and their highpoints, Thorny Flat and Bald Knob, respectively.

This high elevation region consists of about 20,000 acres (80 km²) of wilderness, dissected only by abandoned forest roads and railroads. The area was extensively timbered in the 1900's and is only today returning to the vast forests of spruce and hemlock that once dominated the high elevations. Snowshoe Ski Resort, West Virginia's highest and largest, has developed on the slopes of the Cheat Mountain in the southern portion of the region.

The mountains in this area, particularly the Cheat and Back Allegheny, are notorious for their bad weather, especially in winter. Both the record low and record snowfall for the state of West Virginia have occurred here. Terrible storms and bitter cold are the norm from November to April, although it has been known to snow on the highest summits as early as mid September and as late as June 7th. Freezing temperatures and frost have occurred during every month and rime ice accumulations are common above 4,000 feet. As a rule of thumb, "if you don't like the weather, wait 10 minutes and it will change."