​On Day #29 of our 30-day, 9376 mile, road trip to see more of America we visited the Blackwater Falls State Park in Davis, West Virginia.

The Blackwater Falls State Park is located in the Allegheny Mountains of northern West Virginia and boasts a 57-foot set of waterfalls with water that is tinted “black” due to the tannic acid from fallen hemlock leaves and red spruce needles from trees in the area. After falling over 5 stories, the dark water runs through an eight-mile long gorge. A boardwalk makes it easy to get close to the falls for viewing. Several other trails, requiring more arduous hiking, provide different views of the falls if you are more adventurous. The Blackwater Falls are one of the most photographed sights in West Virginia appearing on calendars, stationery, and all sorts of other merchandise advertising the State.
 
Formally established in 1937 with 446 acres, in addition to the falls, today the 2,358 acre park has over 20 miles of pristine hiking trails. The park also has a nature center, boat rentals, and the longest sledding magic carpet on the East Coast.
 
The beauty of the Blackwater Falls is stunning, and the dark colored water that cascades over the falls certainly give it a different look from many of the other waterfalls that we have seen through the years. (click on any photo to start the slideshow):

​Here’s a short video of the Blackwater Falls in action:

If you want to learn more about the Blackwater Falls State Park here are a few links to check out:
 
https://wvstateparks.com/park/blackwater-falls-state-park/
 
http://www.stateparks.com/blackwater_falls_state_park_in_west_virginia.html
   
https://www.canaanvalley.org/outdoor-recreation/listings/blackwater-falls-state-park
 
https://saveblackwater.org/state-park-spotlight-blackwater-falls/

​On Day #28 of our 30-day, 9376 mile, road trip to see more of America we visited the Green Bank Observatory and Telescope in Green Bank, West Virginia.

The Green Bank Observatory is home to eight telescopes, ranging in diameter from 40 feet to 300 feet, including the world's largest fully steerable radio telescope, the Green Bank Telescope (GBT). The Observatory has been a pioneer in radio astronomy since its first telescope, the 85-foot Tatel radio telescope, was built in 1959. The observatory also has a number of test instruments, including Little Big Horn, a calibration instrument built down the side of a hill.
 
To support their radio telescopes the Observatory has a full complement of radio receivers capturing frequencies as low as 290 MHz to as high as 115 GHz. The GBT’s specific suite of receivers spans 100 MHz to 100 GHz, and its processors can spot nanosecond timing differences in the signals collected by its giant 2.3-acre dish.
 
The GBT is 485 feet tall and weighs 8,400 tons. To enhance its collection capabilities the telescope has 2,209 active surface actuators - small motors used to adjust the position of the 2,004 surface panels on the telescope’s 330 by 365 foot collection surface. The panels are made from aluminum manufactured to a surface tolerance of less than 0.0020 inches.
 
The Green Bank Observatory is located near the center of the National Radio Quiet Zone (NRQZ) which provides protection from permanent, fixed, licensed radio transmitters. Surrounded by Monongahela National Forest, and the mountainous terrain of West Virginia, the Observatory’s operations are well protected from extraneous radio signals. There is even a West Virginia Radio Astronomy Zoning Act which allows the Observatory to prohibit the use of any electrical equipment within a ten mile radius which causes any interference to Radio Astronomical Observations.

A few of the Observatory’s notable scientific accomplishments are:

• First unambiguous discovery of a radio recombination line (1965)
• First pulsar discovered in a supernova remnant (1968)
• Discovery of compact HII regions (1961)
• First organic polyatomic molecule ever detected in the interstellar medium (1969)
• First long-chain molecule detected (HC3N) (1971)
• First detection of Zeeman splitting (1968)
• First detection of HI absorption by another galaxy (1970)
• First transcontinental observations using VLBI techniques (1968)
• First detection of a pre-biotic molecules in space (2008)
• First detection of a chiral (handed) molecule in space (2016)

 
In addition to “normal” astronomical observations the GBT is associated with the “Breakthrough Listen” project which searches for radio signals emitted by extraterrestrials. In 2017, the GBT was used to scan ʻOumuamua, the first known interstellar object passing through our Solar System, for signs of extraterrestrial intelligence.
 
The Green Bank Telescope is a sight to behold and its massive white framework provides a stunning contrast when viewed against the green mountains of West Virginia. (click on any photo to start the slideshow):

​Here are some photos that have been generated based on the GBT’s radio observations of space (click on any photo to start the slideshow):

If you want to learn more about the Green Bank Observatory and Telescope here are a few links to check out:
 
https://greenbankobservatory.org/
 
https://public.nrao.edu/telescopes/gbt/
 
https://www.space.com/green-bank-observatory.html    

Like most websites, ever since we launched our Hiking, Camping and Shooting (HCS) website we’ve tracked the statistics to see who our readers are, where they’re located and what they read. Since 2020 just finished we thought that we would share some of our statistics from the year with all of you.
 
In 2020 we had readers from 81 different Countries from around the world, with 87% or our readers coming from the United States, and the largest concentrations outside the US being from the following 20 Countries:

In fact we've now had people from 126 different countries view our website over the past 3 years (2018, 2019 and 2020).

​We have readers from all 50 of the United States - with the largest concentrations being in the following 15 States:

​The 25 pages and blog posts that people read the most during 2020 were:

Unlike the previous ​two years, in 2020 we had far more page views on our "Shooting" pages than either our "Hiking" or "Camping" pages. Probably because of the craziness of 2020 and the fact that approximately 40 million new firearms were sold during the year.

The majority of our users look at our website between the hours of 9:00 AM and 12:00 AM (midnight).

​Most of our readers find us either by searching on Google (82%) or by previously having been to our website and coming directly to us (10%). A much smaller percentage (5%) find us through our Hiking, Camping and Shooting Facebook page.

​The majority of our users view our website from either their mobile device (50%) or their desktop computer (46%) using either Chrome (51%) or Safari (36%) browsers.

​Hopefully this data shows you that  in 2020 you were in good company as you read through our Hiking, Camping and Shooting gear write-ups and blog posts. Our wish is that they gave you some information that made all of your adventures a little more fun. Wherever you’re from, we’re glad that you stopped by to look over our HCS website and look forward to seeing you again in 2021.

​This week the FBI released the numbers for firearms sold in December 2020. During the month there were 3,937,066 sales, making it the highest month of 2020 and the highest month on record for background checks since the FBI began keeping statistics in 1998. In the process breaking the previous December record of 3,314,594 checks, set in December 2015, and the previous all-time high of 3,931,607 set in June 2020. This made the total number of firearms sold in 2020 equal to 39,695,315 - just shy of 40 million.

In actuality there were probably even more firearms sold since anybody who has a concealed carry permit has already passed a NICS background check, so in many states when they purchase a new firearm a NICS check does not have to be run again. In addition, in most states a NICS check is not required for private firearm sales between two individuals. And finally, a single NICS check allows a person to buy multiple guns during the same transaction. The background check numbers would have probably been even higher, if the "in stock" inventory at most gun stores had been fuller.
 
It's also estimated that more than 8.4 million people legally purchased a firearm for the first time in 2020. Clearly people want to defend themselves and after the craziness of 2020 have doubts about the Government and Police doing it for them.
 
You can see all the details, and statistics since 1998, on the FBI’s National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) website at:
 
https://www.fbi.gov/services/cjis/nics

Well, 2020 is finally over, and what a strange year it has been. As we’ve mentioned in earlier blogs ("4 Rules for Handling a Firearm" and "The Unprecedented Surge in US Gun Sales During the Covid-19 Pandemic"), the unrest and uncertainty of 2020 has driven a record number of firearm sales. In fact the latest FBI National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) numbers for January through November 2020 show that 35,758,249 firearms have been sold in the US during the past 11 months; 10,325,393 (40.6%) more than during the first 11 months of 2019. The final data for December 2020 hasn’t been released yet, but it will probably push the sales numbers to over 40M for the year; far more than any other year on record. Obviously people are concerned about protecting themselves – to include an estimated 8 million new gun owners. In fact, one study estimates that first-time buyers accounted for 40% of the firearm purchases that were made in the first seven months of the year.

Back in June we highlighted a great infographic from the Minuteman Review about "The true story behind the unprecedented surge in US gun sales during the Covid-19 pandemic" after Jay, one of their writers, reached out to us based on reading some of our blogs – to include "4 Rules for Handling a Firearm" and “Accurate Handgun Shooting”, which both specifically focused on some of the topics that new shooters needed to know.

Since then, the craziness of 2020 has continued, and in December Jay reached out to us again – this time with an article that he had written about “Back to Basics - What Beginners Need to Know About Handguns”. Because it fit with our point of view, Jay asked that we pass it on to all of our readers. So here it is:
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Ever since the Second Amendment gave us the right to bear arms, many people have taken up this opportunity. Some carry a handgun for hunting purposes – for example, when they need a backup for their rifle. Others may need it for safety purposes. For instance, if you live in a bad neighborhood, then having that handgun around might make you feel safer (particularly if you fear burglars or muggers). Still, when you purchase a gun, you need to know every possible thing about it. From what a handgun is, to how to use it, and safety issues. This article will touch on all these basics. 

What Are Handguns?
As its name suggests, a handgun is a type of firearm that was designed to be held in just one hand. Even with that in mind, experts recommend that you use both hands when holding the gun, as it will offer you better stability and more precise shooting. Handguns are a good choice if your target is somewhere between 3 to 30 feet (~1 to 10 meters) away, but they are not particularly recommended for long-distance shooting. For that, you will need a shotgun or a rifle, which can shoot farther. 

Handguns branch out into two main types: pistols and revolvers. Pistols are made so that projectiles can be fired from an integrated magazine (normally located in the handgrip) through a chamber integral to the gun’s barrel. Some common examples are the Glock series, the Smith & Wesson M&Ps, and the SIG Sauer P320. These types of weapons also allow for firearm accessories such as targeting sights, lights, suppressors, holsters, and so on. 

While revolvers are similar, they do have some key differences. They do not have an integrated chamber that is permanently in line with the handgun’s barrel. Revolvers have a rotating cylinder that sequentially cycles the bullets in front a single barrel. The cartridges of the gun are put into chambers, which are configured into a circle in the cylinder. The cylinder is then rotated and the cartridges are fired through the barrel when the trigger is pulled.  
 
Basic Handgun Lingo
In order to understand handguns, you first need to understand bullets. A bullet can be referred to as either a “round” or a “cartridge” – but in most cases, the word “bullet” is what’s most commonly used. But, that is only half the truth. To put it simply, the bullet is the part of the round that goes down the barrel and shoots towards the target.

The round has other parts too, such as the casing, gunpowder, and primer. The primer is the part from the back of the casing that will ignite the gunpowder, sending the bullet flying. Some of these parts are discarded once the trigger is pulled, and only the bullet part will reach the target.
 
Understanding Handgun Safety
Safety is the first thing you should concern yourself with when you are using a handgun. We’re talking about the basics of the basics, and without learning them you should not even begin to touch a gun. Here are some rules that you should look on as the commandments of handling a firearm.
 
1. Treat Your Gun as If It’s Loaded
Your gun may not be loaded. Maybe you made a habit out of unloading it after every use. Maybe you believe the gun is not loaded. But you can’t be certain that you didn’t forget to unload it; maybe you said you’d do it later and then forgot. Or maybe your spouse loaded it after you unloaded it, and then forgot to unload it afterward. This is why you should always treat a gun as if it is loaded at all times, and check it when you first pick it up.
 
2. Always Point the Muzzle in the Safe Direction
Guns can go off if you are not careful enough when handling them. As a result, unless you are actively trying to shoot at a target, do not point the muzzle at something you don’t intend to shoot at. This is particularly important when you are loading or unloading a handgun, as it might accidentally go off. Make a habit to always be in control of the direction of your gun’s muzzle because in some States you can even be fined if you point the muzzle at someone if it’s not for self-defense (see Vermont “4011. Aiming gun at another”).

3. Unload or Secure the Handgun when Not in Use
A handgun should not be loaded unless you are planning to use it. If you are in the shooting area, then you have to load it. However, if you are at home or relaxing in a safe environment, you shouldn’t keep your gun loaded and unattended. Outdoors, your gun may be stolen and will put your life in danger – and indoors, if you have kids, it can put their lives in danger. Refrain from climbing trees or doing any awkward activities with a loaded (and unholstered) gun, since it can go off if you’re not careful. If you do keep your firearm loaded – then make sure it is in your immediate control, secured in your holster, a safe, or lockbox whenever possible.
 
4. Don’t Rely on the Handgun’s Safety
Most handguns have a “safety” that prevents you from accidentally firing the weapon. Because of that, you should feel more at ease when carrying a loaded gun with you. However, like every other mechanical device, firearms can be accidently triggered or malfunction. The last thing you want is for your gun’s safety to become inoperable at the worst moment. Apporximately 1% of the gun-related deaths in 2018 were accidental, and it’s usually because the people relied on the handgun’s safety too much.

5. Use the Correct Ammunition
When loading your gun, make sure that you use the correct ammunition required for your firearm. Don’t go for the “good enough” option that apparently fits in the barrel. A shot made with the wrong bullet can not only wreck your handgun, but can also lead to injury or death. In addition, make sure that the bullets you are using have been stored properly before use; normally a cool, dry place. They should not be kept in humid places, and you should not spray solvents or oil on them. Needless to say, they should not be submerged in water either.
 
THE BOTTOM LINE
The main thing about handguns is that if you want to use one, you should learn about firearms safety first. Make sure to properly learn about the weapon, the bullets it should use and how to conduct yourself while handling a gun. Once you have the safety requirements down, you should be able to properly practice with your gun to improve your accuracy and self-defense skills.
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About Jay: Jay is a pro free speech business owner based in Austin, Texas. Having lived through several natural disasters and more than a few man-made ones (hello 2008), he believes that resilience and self-sufficiency are essential in this increasingly unpredictable world. That’s why he started a business! Jay writes over at the Minuteman Review.