Dolly Sods?

“Hey has anyone here ever been to the Dolly Sods Wilderness in West Virginia. I'm now in WV and am lookin for a good hiking spot and heard it was nice. If someone could give me directions that would be nice I am right now at a library near the New River Gorge. I just got back from walking to a gas station because I ran out of gas. Any help would be nice”

“Look for Seneca Rocks on the map.

Dolly Sods is located about 20 mile west/south of Petersburg by way of Route 28/55.

Nice place...

Be careful in winter.
The altitude change in driving up there is like going to Quebec or Northern New England......it may be snowed in.”

“Thank you your very kind”

“Much of what is now Dolly Sods was owned by a German sheeper named Dahle.

The sods in "Sods" are high plateau bogs.”

“Yeah man, it's awesome. I have been there many times... it's cold and harsh and you can't get up the fire roads in winter! It's a premo spot! GO GO GO!

LEAVE NO TRACE!!!!”

“Yea I hope my van can make it up that fire road your speaking of. I don't care if I get snowed in once I get up there I have nothing but time.”

“I hope you have food, too.”

“There are trails on ther west side of the plateau in Laneville and Hopeville that lead up there.

You can park in West Virginia and hump on up to the Frozen North.

Its easier on the car.

The trail from Laneville is Flat Rock Run Trail.
Its five miles and about 2,500 feet to the Roaring Plains.
That is about 500 to 600 feet higher than The Sods and the winter wind does ROAR across the saddle!”

“They actually close the fire roads!”

“Well, the sign says that the road is closed.

But if your vee-hickle can make it up then your sh!t is golden.

Of course, you might find the truck buried by the time you get back to it........or not.
The weather can be fickle.”

“I thought they shut the gates so you couldn't drive up... too many people were driving off the edge of the road and stuff... it's like a 200ft drop unless you hit a tree first.”

“What kind of floura and fauna does Dolly Sods have? With it being boggy have you guys seen any interesting plants, birds, animals there?

Tarpy..Have any pictures we can check out?”

“It's very alpine looking, lots of Furs and Moss... yeah... I will have to upload, hold on a sec!”

“Ok here are some pics:





”

“Thanks..
That area looks like something you would see much further north..
What is the altitude there?”

“Not sure, maybe 4K feet?”

“Dolly Sods is up to about 4,000 and the Flatrock Plains and Roaring Plains(just to the south) go from about 4,200 to 4,770 on Mt Porte Crayon.

"Furs"???
Tarp Rat-
Are you a fur-trapper?
Or a bush-wacker?

The road is kinda hairy in the snow, but is ungated though "officially closed".

There are plants and animals "up there" that are not normally found that far south.

Look for "Jonathan Jessup's Photo Page" for pictures of The Plains.
That area is real cool, but unfortunately not a designated wilderness area.”