July 23–July 25, 2026
Canaan Valley Resort State Park | Spruce Knob | Davis, WV
Registration | Accommodations | Events | Activities
Message from the Convention Chair
Dear Fellow Highpointers:
We are still looking for
- A guest speaker for Saturday night’s banquet. We have a lot of individuals in the club who might be a good speaker. Please submit any ideas to wv2026konvention@protonmail.com
- Let us know if you’re willing to lead or organize a group activity. We currently have a seminar on National Parks and one on birding. We would like to hear about any interesting activities you know of in the area.
- Volunteers are the heart of the Convention and make it happen. We will coordinate with the Crew leader as the Convention approaches to organize personnel to run registration and the Merc, and to organize carpools to the summit for Saturday’s Wendy and Gordie Comstock Watermelon Feast.
- First-time Convention attendees: Please invite your friends and family to make this one of the most well-attended Conventions ever!
Thanks to all of those who voted on t-shirts in Bishop. The winning design will go into production soon. I look forward to seeing y’all wearing them at the summit next year.
I hope everyone has a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year, and I can’t wait to see y’all in Canaan Valley next July!
Sincerely,
Alex de la Torre
Registration
👉 Register Here: Highpointers Convention Registration
Registration closes on Sunday, July 19, 2026, at 12:00 PM. The resort requires a meal count, and onsite registration will not be available.
We may have some cancellations. Contact our Konvention host, Alex de la Torre, at wv2026konvention@protonmail.com to be placed on the waitlist.
T-shirt Information:
The registration deadline to receive a T-shirt (July 1, 2026) has passed.
As of July 10, 2026, T-shirts were available for all registered attendees, with a few extras remaining. Registrants after July 10, 2026, will be notified if a T-shirt is unavailable.
The Highpointers Club and Foundation board meetings on Saturday are open to the public.
Accommodations
The Canaan Valley Resort and Conference Center will hold a block of rooms until June 23rd, 2026. The Highpointers Club will not be the only group there, so lock in your reservation early. June 23 is a hard deadline and will not be extended!
Follow the instructions below to book online in the Highpointers group block:
- Click on or go to https://www.canaanresort.com
- Select your arrival and departure dates (arrive 7/23/2026, checkout 7/26/2026) and select BOOK NOW.
NOTE: A message will appear stating that no rooms are available. This is expected because a group code is required. - On the left side of the page, look for the Promotions section and enter the group code. If you do not see the menu, look for the filter icon (circle) in the lower-left corner and click it to open the menu with promotions.
- Enter the Highpointers group code 10658P as a Group Code, not a Promo Code, then click Update.
- Complete the reservation form.
Reservations can be made by calling the front desk, 304-866-4121, and selecting option 1. Refer to the group code at time of booking.
If you plan to arrive early, stay late, or want a different room or cabin type, you will have to call in.
Tent and camper sites are also available online or by phone.
Convention Events
The following schedule includes planned events and activities for the 2026 West Virginia Convention.
Thursday, July 23
- 9:00 AM–7:00 PM – Registration/Merc, Aspen Room
- 11:30 AM–5:00 PM – Cass Scenic Railroad Ride, Cass Depot
- Throughout the Day – Trips to Mount Davis and Backbone Mountain
- 6:00 PM–9:00 PM – Opening Social; Maple and Balsam Rooms (a great chance to arrange carpools for Friday trips and especially Saturday’s Watermelon Feast – parking is extremely limited on the Summit)
Thursday, July 23 from 11:30 AM to 5:00 PM
You can still register and pay for the Cass Scenic Railroad State Park Train Ride directly online: https://mountainrailwv.com/train-rides/cass-scenic-bald-knob-trip/
Please dress for the weather. We will meet at the Cass Scenic Railroad State Park train station no later than 11:30 AM. This is a 1.5 hour drive from the Canaan Valley Resort.
A “King of the Road” hobo lunch with a cold sandwich, chips, a cookie, applesauce, and bottled water is included. The cost is $90.00 per person.
Friday, July 24
- 8:00 AM–4:30 PM – Rock Climbing, Seneca Rocks
- 8:00 AM–5:00 PM – Hike from Spruce Knob Summit to Seneca Falls (at your own pace)
- 9:00 AM–7:00 PM – Registration/Merc, Aspen Room
- Throughout the Day – Trips to Mount Davis and Backbone Mountain
- 3:00 PM–5:30 PM – Impromptu Shooting Competition, Brandywine Range (you are free to use the range at any time while it is open to the public)
- 6:00 PM–10:00 PM – Liar’s Club Social, Maple, Balsam, and Spruce Rooms (includes Highpointers’ Roll Call, “Top Ten Most Influential People in State Highpointing History” with Covill and Mitchler, Adventures of a Highpointer Round 2, and Highpointer Jeopardy!, concluding with singing “Country Roads” as a big chorus). Another chance to arrange carpools for Saturday’s Watermelon Feast – parking is extremely limited on the Summit.
Saturday, July 25
- 7:30 AM–9:00 AM – Group Breakfast, Maple, Balsam, and Spruce Rooms
- 8:50 AM–10:50 AM – Highpointers Club Board Meeting, Pine Room
- 9:00 AM–11:00 AM – Registration/Merc, Aspen Room (Merc will briefly reopen in the afternoon after the Watermelon Feast)
- 11:00 AM – Carpool to Watermelon Feast
- 12:00 PM–3:00 PM – Watermelon Feast, Spruce Knob Summit (will include a picture at the Tower celebrating America’s 250th and other festivities). Watermelon and pizza, while supplies last!
- 3:30 PM–5:00 PM – Highpointers Foundation Board Meeting, Pine Room
- 5:30 PM – Doors Open for the Banquet
- 6:00 PM–10:00 PM – Banquet, Maple, Balsam, and Spruce Rooms
- 10:00 PM – Cleanup and say goodbyes
Carpool Information:
Please arrange carpools for Saturday’s Watermelon Feast. Parking at the summit is extremely limited and is shared with the public. It is important that we take as few vehicles as possible. If you are willing to carpool, ideally with four people per vehicle, please let the Krew know during check-in and provide your contact information so other attendees can coordinate with you. The Thursday and Friday night socials are excellent opportunities to arrange carpools.
Other Activities
- Trips to nearby Highpoints, Backbone Mountain/Hoye Crest, Mount Davis, or both. The club will provide contact information so members can coordinate.
- Dolly Sods and other hikes, details later
- Robyn’s birding class/hike
- Tom Martin’s National Parks seminar
- NEW: Caving tour (Seneca Caverns and Smoke Hole Caverns in Seneca Rocks)
- Rock climbing Seneca Rocks (two outfitters nearby)
- Mountain biking (at the resort)
- Skeet shooting (at the resort)
- Pistol/rifle shooting. We can have a friendly competition.
- Horseback riding at Mountain Trail Rides
- Whitewater rafting on the Upper Yough
- Kids’ activities; mini golf, an arcade, as well as guided activities at the resort.
We have arranged discounts at Smoke Hole Caverns! If you choose to go to the caverns, simply present your nametag to let them know you are attending the Konvention, and they will let you in for $17 per person (instead of $20 per person). They may not be as big as Luray Caverns, but they still show some cool formations. There is also an amazing gift shop with souvenirs, apparel (including Western wear), and some good food, along with a miniature golf course. Definitely worth the drive if you have time!
If you have any questions, please email our host, Alex de la Torre, at wv2026konvention@protonmail.com