Initials etched with carbide lamps on John Rock, Bolt Mountain

Event: Tour of rock shelters and camp rocks on Coal River drainage basin.
"Archeological surveys on file at the Division of Environmental Protection make note of the "bedrock overhangs," sandstone outcroppings found throughout the central Appalachian Plateaus. Referred to locally as "camp rocks," these structures have for thousands of years provided shelter for people on hunting and gathering expeditions in the mountains. Not only are the areas surrounding camp rocks rich in aboriginal artifacts, but camp rocks themselves are landmarks well-known in the Coal River Valley, and serve as touchstones to historical memories. "Every big rock is named," said Pat Canterbury. In 1996, on the day after the Drews Creek ramp supper, Rocky Turner took Lyntha Eiler and I on a tour of some of the camp rocks in the area.
The John Rock was named for John Hunter, who lived in the time of Rocky's grandparents. Such rocks provided shelter for men and boys, who set out after the fields were planted in spring to go ginsenging. "Boys go off when they're teenagers, especially when I was growing up and my dad was growing up," said Rocky. "They would go and dig ginseng and camp out under these rocks and do what boys do -- talk and tell big stories." Miners camping here years ago used carbide lamps to inscribe the rock with their initials. Rocky pointed out that "CT" stands for his father's name, Covey Turner."