Dolly Sods

“Wanna dance naked around the flame azalea at Summer Solstice?

Y'all are good Pagans.....ain't ya?”

“YES.. we are unless you keep asking stupid questions...


MOO MOOO MOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!”

“Weekends are bad, but in the middle of the week it thins out nicely. Most of the BPers head down Red Creek so they can camp close together to get away from it all. Dolly Sods North is relatively unpopulated.”

“Rats go "MOOOOO"?”

“No silly cows go moo!



Read that on another thread last week so I got it down!”

“If anybody's camped on the Sods right now, they're not happy. The thunderstorms have struck.”

“Tom,
Did you ever camp in that heath meadow on Roaring Plains near where the pipeline goes over the side? It seems more like Alaska than anything on the east coast, especially when the wind comes up at night. Man, I never realized tents could flap that hard without coming unstitched! Then again, the same force wind hit me on my last trip up at Red Creek.”

“I haven't been to that heath meadow.
Is that to the right or left as you cross the pipeline?

I would like to go to the left on the pipeline and have a look around there.
Jonathan Jessup e-mailed me maps/aerial photos of that area which includes the head waters of Roaring Creek.

When I first did the RP Trail in '85 and '86 I passed a point where Roaring Creek Trail forked left from RP Tr.
There was a little brown sign there at that time which is now gone and the juction is easy to miss.
It is an acute angle to the left.
I think it is about 3/4 to 1 mile from the pipeline.
That is one of the places I have on my list of "must do's"........too many trails, not enough time....

Oh baby, that wind up on the Plains can sound like a Mongo Jet from down below.
That's bigger than a Jumbo.

I have night-hiked up the Flat Rock Run Trail from Laneville a few times to a point about two miles in.
It is where the old rail-trail dead ends at the right fork of the creek just beyond where the blue blazes take you up the rail switchbacks.
We start creek-crawlin' at that point and the creek meets the trail again about a half mile up.
There's a good spot for a tent on the rail trail just short of the creek.
The ROAR of the wind way up on the Plains sometimes drowns out the sound of the rather noisy Flat Rock Run down there.
The forks of Flat Rock Run meet just a stone's throw from that spot.

We have continued creek-crawlin' beyond that first half mile and hooked up with the trail near the top......some short-cut.

There are nice falls on that route.
In the winter the frozen falls can get built up huge for a rather small creek.”

“Have not walked the Flat Rock Run Trail, other than the very top part when I bushwacked Porte Crayon and got off course on the way back and slabbed too far left. That, of course, was a little unnerving because I was figuring if I got off course that way I should hit the trail in the last switchback, kind of like a fish trap. But if I slabbed too far left, Gawd, I might have missed it. Not that I would have gotten lost, but I was hitting my limits and didn't want to have to walk too far up to get back on the Plains trail.
But never did hit the lower part. Like you say, so many trails, so little time.
The spot I was talking about was to the left of the pipeline swath between FS 70 and the east rim, or north of the swath. The hill rises up to the plateau. From the pipeline, it looks nearly like tundra.
It was my first trip out to Roaring Plains. I ran into some other hikers out there and the woman who was with me asked why they call it Roaring Plains.
"You'll find out when the sun goes down," they said, and we did.”

“I emailed my Sods pix off to Matt so he can post them on a Monongahela thread on the pictures site. One is of Mt. Porte Crayon and the other is a fine sunset from Bear Rocks.”

“I hear all the trees were cut down in WV earlier in the 1900s and the second growth isn't too impressive. True?”

“Yes and no. The second growth forest does not compare to the few virgin stands still existing (Gaudineer Knob for one shining example), but in some places the spruce are approaching climax, acid rain being one critical factor governing whether it will reach climax stage or die first.
On the Dolly Sods, two factors are preventing the return of spruce forest: severe weather at 4,000 feet and years of grazing sheep and cattle. So the Sods are an aberration of sorts. Elsewhere in the forest, succession is well under way, but currently still short of climax.
On Roaring Plains, and on Spruce Mountain, where no grazing took place but the weather is just as severe, the progression continues with spruce stands that are becoming somewhat impressive. These are interspersed with open heath meadows.
That virgin stand on Gaudineer Knob is well worth a visit. It is one of the primal places.”

“There isn't much in West Virginia that is older than 100 years.

The Gaudineer Knob Scenic Area is impressive.
Its nothing like the Pacific N W, but I saw black cherry over a yard wide and over 100 feet tall.

Some of the hollers in Cranberry and Otter Creek have huge stands of yellow poplar that are well over 100 feet tall.
There are poplars around here(Baltimore) like that.....holler trees.

In about 100-200 years they could be considered "old growth" I suppose.”

“Tom: How are the Oreos doing and do you miss the Coats? Do they still race the nags down at beeyootiful Laur-ell?”

“I haven't beed to uh Oreo's game in a while.

Before duh Coats lefted I used to come up here from Dee Cee to see football.
Those bums were never sold out as where the Deadskins(win or lose)for the last 35 years.

I love to point out to die hard Colts fans that it was the FANS who abandoned the team before the team abandoned Baltimore.

Hmmmmm, you speak the Merlin dialect, no?”

“Eleven years living in beeyootiful Laur-ell, listening to the likes of old Charlie Eckman. What a hoot!
I had moved down there from Philly for a gov't job. After being a Phillies fan, I adopted the Oreos as my American league team at the beginning of the 1966 season. For the first time in my life I saw major league baseball as it should be played. What great years they were. Until they let Frank Robinson get away, free agency ruined the game, and the designated hitter ruined the American League. Ugh!”

“Well, yeah, those were good years for dem Oreos.

My brother and sister and I used to ride a bus across town to see the Senators.
Baltimore was a far away place to me then.”

“Ahh the Senators with Frank Howard, Jimmy French, Eddie Brinkman, Aurelio Rodriguez, Del Unser, Joe Coleman, I remember them well.
Sat right behind Del Unser at a Reading Phillies game one night and afterwards kicked myself for not asking him whether he ever hears from Jimmy French. It would have knocked his socks off.”

“Just got my adventure map in the mail today that covers all of Canaan Valley. Very cool map. Covers Dolly Sods and Otter creek, Backbone Mountain to. $7.00 Tucker County CVB”

“CVB?

What about Paul Cassanova......catcher?

In those days it was D.C. Stadium.”

“DD, that map sounds interesting. I'll be on the lookout for it. I use the USGS 1:100,000 maps for general coverage and the 1:24,000 USGS quads for hiking. The 1:100,000 maps always seem to break in inconvenient places.
You're aware that some 12,000 acres in the upper Canaan Valley were purchased for the Canaan Valley National Wildlife Refuge? That protects that vast bogland up there, the largest contiguous wetland in the east. It also butts up against Dolly Sods North, which provide a belt of public land stretching from the Sods over to Canaan Mountain an the rim of the Blackwater Canyon. If they can buy up the canyon, it will be an impressive chunk of spectacular land.”

“Tom, Yeah, Cassanova was the regular catcher and Jimmy French was the short guy Ted Williams kept around because he liked his hustle. He could not hit his weight, but he was a defensive demon. He was fun to watch.
Dick Allen's brother was on that team too, played in the OF. Can't remember his first name. And don't forget big Mike Epstein, the big stiff.
Brinkman was a sparkplug kind of player. I always liked him.
They weren't bad for a team that couldn't hit much and had no pitching.
The Oreos, by contrast, had it all once they snarfed up Frank Robinson. I think he's the best all-round ballplayer I ever saw, in defense, hitting for power, hitting for average, clutch hitting, and baserunning. He wasn't the greatest at any one of those skills, but close enough to get the job done when he had too. But the rest of the team was solid as well, not a weak spot to be had. Anybody could come up in a clutch situation and come through. When Weaver came along he kept those stats that said a guy hitting .125 was hitting .750 against left-handed pitching with the bases loaded and two outs, and the guy would come through to my utter amazement after groaning and wondering if old Earl had lost his mind for putting this stiff in.
Crazy years, and probably the last good years of baseball. The 70 and 71 World Series had some of the best performances by Brooks and Roberto.”

“Just got my adventure map in the mail today that covers all of Canaan Valley. Very cool map. Covers Dolly Sods and Otter creek, Backbone Mountain to. $7.00 Tucker County CVB"
Distance Dude

Can you give an address or an url for ordering the map? Thanks.”

“Anyone on here want to meet up at Sodds for a hike sometime this or next month?”

“oohhh! oohhh! pick me, pick me!”

“Tarp, my schedule is set for the summer. I will be up there car camping with my son and his family the third week of August and we'll be doing day hikes that week, so anybody who wants to stop by or link up will be welcome. I'll post details closer to the trip. In the meantime, whoever heads up there, have fun by all means. June is a good time; it's greened out by now and the flame azalea should be out. Laurel will have a few blooms left. The woodcocks should be out and about too.”

“Ratzenfras, just made myself homesick. I'm an idiot!”

“I'm heading out to the Roaring Plains friday to hike the canyons rim trail. I'll post a report when I get back. Should be a good time.”

“I'm going to Dolly Sods 6/21,22&23
unless things fall apart at home.

We have to move soon(sudden developement) and I'm going to The Wonderland Trail 7/17-8/3......12 day hike in there.

I really don't want to miss my June "obligation".
July is well covered and I have been out backpackin' in each month this year.

Geobeet-
Didn't they call Cassanova "Big Cat".......he was 6' 4"......big for a catcher?
Eddie Brinkman was shortstop(?)”

“i'd go.”

“running girl, boy, dog and i were planning on ramsey's draft this weekend but running girl doesn't want to take dog on 3 days, 2 nights his first trip so it will just be boy and me. dolly sods is only about an hour or so further up the road. if so, tell me where to meet and we'll be there. i don't know dolly sods at all but can probably find where i need to be.”

“Make ckeck out to Tucker County CVB for $7.00 and mail it to Tucker County CVB, PO Box 565, Davis, WV 26260. Write adventure map on the memo section of your check. Phone 304-259-5315 or e-mail Bill at bill@canaanvalley.org for any more info. Hope this helps.”

“Distance Dude - Thanks.”

“Take a look;
http://jonathanjessup.com/map-laurel-hike-june2002.jpg

June 22 at parking area near Blackbird Knob trail.”

“Baume: Sods is accessible off WVa 55/28 north of Seneca Rocks. There is a brown and yellow sign along the highway where the river widens. This is Jordan Run Road.
Jordan Run Road runs steeply uphill. Near the top of the pitch, Forest Service Road 19 comes in on the left on a sharp curve. Turn left and follow this road (It's asphalt at first, but soon turns to gravel) up the mountain.
At the top (quite a few miles up the road), turn right onto FS 75. Follow it several miles to Red Creek Campground. Parking for Blackbird Knob trail is on right just beyond campground entrance.
If you want to get water in the campground, there is a spring just across the road from the rusty pump. The spring is signed as untested, so you may want to filter it. I've used it for wash water with no problems, but never drank it.
Enjoy the trip, which is needless advice. You will, and you will be hooked.
Ramsey's Draft is no slouch either. Another old haunt.”

“This weekend isn't good, and next weekend Lyra is out of town... come to think of it, the following weekend I am busy, so the next weekend available is the 4th...

On the 4th I think we are either going to Dolly Sods or Annapolis Rocks on the AT in Maryland... good firework viewing area on the rock.

Anyone going to be hiking on the 4th?”

“Once at the top turn right on FS 75.......its a FIVE mile straight line drive to Red Creek Campground.

This would be a good time to meet the legendary Jonathan Jessup.

I'm interested in the West Virginia Highlands Conservancy.
There are links to their activities on J J's photo page.
They do trail maintenance, etc”

“They do more than trail maintenance. They are the premier wilderness advocate in the state, put out the comprehensive hiking guide, and work on a thousand projects all at once.
Jonathan's email address is on his website it you want to contact him. He does respond.”

“thanks for the info folks. tarp rat, we'll have to catch up with you and lyra some other time. we won't be around the week of july 4th.”

“Some of the best campsites along Red Creek are on the West side in the regions where maps don't show any trails. Some intense hiking parallelling the creek on that side in some places, but well worth the adventure.”

“Whoever goes and whenever they go, we fully expect a complete trip report.
I just can't wait til August!”

“Tarpy, I plan on hiking the 4th, and I was thinking about making the trip to Dolly Sods. I've hiked the North Fork Trail twice already, and want to see it from the other side.

BB”

“Anybody up for a Cranberry Wilderness trip sometime in the fall?”

“Hmmm Buddur, I was planning on the Sods for the fall, but that sounds interesting. Let's see how well I do in getting back into trim over the summer. If nothing else, might be up for some slackpacking.”

“Cranberry Wilderness is killer!!”

“Killer??? he asked quizically?????”

“Haven't been there but I'm contemplating a trip over Thanksgiving weekend. I was wondering what the water condition was like first of all. I assume theirs plenty but is there too much? The route I'm thinking about has 4 fords and I was wondering if these are skip across the rocks type things or water up to your arse type of crossings?”

“We have a camp 20 miles from Dolly Sods and my aunt and uncle said it was snowing there two weeks ago.”

“I checked the cam page and the temp was 26F. I think I'll try a little farther south. Maybe the RRG then. If all else fails I'll probably just end up at East Fork SP and be glad I'm out at all.”