October North Laurel Fork Trail Trip

“I would suggest you not depend on the spring. The springs are running on the Dolly Sods, but North Fork Mountain is east of the Sods and in the rain shadow. Despite the fact the springs are running on the Sods, the boggy areas along the trails have pretty much dried up, which is an indication there has not been much rain.

Unless someone has been on North Fork Mountain and can state categorically that the springs are running, I would not take the chance.”

“Geologically North Fork Mountain is unique. The Tuscarora sandstone is the whitish rock that forms the cliffs. The mountain is part of an anticline (inverted U-shape) that once extended in a complete arch to the same Tuscarora sand that forms Seneca Rocks and all the other vertical stacks of rock in North Fork Valley (Champe Rocks, Judy Rocks, Nelson Rocks). There apparently was a fault in the apex of the arch south of North Fork Gap (the northern point in the hike), and water has eroded all that rock to form Germany Valley.

North of North Fork Gap, the arch is still intact. It can be viewed in a number of gaps.”

“The sediment that formed the Tuscarora sandstone was shed from the ancient Taconic mountains that existed more than 430 million years ago when continental drift caused North America and Europe to collided, closing the ocean between the two and uplifting the eastern portion of what is now the U.S. This sediment was shed northwest from the highland down into a large body of water and deposited to form a HUGE delta called the Queenston delta.

When you're there, look at the sandstone and you'll find it's mostly sand- to pebble-size milky quartz, hence giving the Tuscarora its white appearance. In this ancient ocean, horizontal beds of sediment became stacked on top of the older sediment, and as the ocean filled in more shallow-water and intertidal sediments accumulated. Therefore, lower in the strat column are older beds of dark-grey to black marine shales that formed in deeper waters, which can be seen while driving along WV28 to the west of North Fork Mtn.

Looking north from Chimney Top across WV 28 you can see a magnificent cross-section of one side of the arch/anticline Geobeet talked of. It is breathtaking! Imagine the time it took for this sediment to be deposited, buried under thousands of feet of more sediment, lithified into rock, the area orogenically "squeezed together and uplifted", erosion of ALL the overlying rock and exposing the Tuscarora sandstone, and having it "still" exist as a resistent cliffforming bed of rock after all this time. If that rock formation could talk, it'd scream! And when I get there again, I'm gonna scream too!”

“Amen Buddur, and the wave that propagated in the oragenic lift is preserved in the anticline north of the gap. Check it out! Just noticed it in the Rte 42 gap from the Sods. Looks just like a cross section of an ocean wave!”

“in layman's terms....some damn big rocks!!!”

“"to come along and help you ladies in bringing up the rear.... "

gonzo, gonzo, gonzo... are you assuming all the ladies will be in the rear. ouch!

;-)”

“tara, tara, tarabull.....
i was just quoting sassafras (although now that i read it again i see that she is just talking about herself being the "woman for the job")

no offense intended....i know that you (and sassafras and skully and any other women who might be reading this) can hike with the best of them!!”

“Well, since I'll be there and I don't want anything to happen to anybody, especially loosing a straggler, I'll try to provide some asistence and security by being the last hiker in the bunch and watch the...ahem...rear(s).”

“I wudda brung up the rear, but since I'm out I will depend on you Buddur! Do it well.”

“What are the dates? Could you add me to the e-mail list:wjgiles@swbell.net”

“I know, gonzo... Just had to make ya squirm a little! :)

Buddur - what a nice guy... taking one for the team. lol”

“How 'bout heading up Redman Trail (1.4mi x 1900' elevation gain)Friday when we get there and camping uptop.

In the morning hiking north to (3.8mi), setting up camp by, and after lunch dayhiking Kimble Ridge.

Then, the next morning, hiking to Chimney Top (1.1mi), then back down (<2mi) to the other vehicle(s).

That's ~8.3 miles + whatever the dayhike of Kimble Ridge will be...let's say roughly 10 miles all together.

I'm not trying to dictate the hike...just making a suggestion.

”

“Hey Buddur,

I was thinking.... why don't we do Dolly Sods instead. You can drive right to a campsite (Red Creek Campground), so we won't have to hike in the night.

Here are several other reasons:

1. The terrain is just as challanging, but we can dayhike, or backpack. The location gives us that option. (Centrally located)

2. Views - They are just as good as North Fork.

3. I haven't hiked it yet..... something new.

4. Terrain - Bogs, marashes, pine stands, etc. A little more variety.

5. We won't have to pack our water.

6. We won't have to drop cars off all over the place. (whatever we do, we can do it in a loop)

What do y'all think. Should we switch to the Sods. I think it would make things easier for a big group who are arriving at different times.”

“? what ever is cool ?”

“BTW - Buddur, what you are suggesting is certainly a viable option. I think HOI came up that trail (redman) last year. I guess we should vote. I think it will be too darn much to do the whole thing in two days.”

“Forgot about the Rocky ledge/overlook that'd make an awesome 360-view of the nightsky. It is less than a mile south of Kimbal Ridge. How's about we camp at the rocky overlook like Mr.Buddha Bear suggested THEN hike to and dayhike Kimbal Ridge?”

“Where'd all the posts come from???”

“how about one night at the rocky overlook with the 360 degree views, then on the second day go back down to the cars and drive over to dolly sods and hike in for the night....

i, like my good friend buddha bear, have never been to the dolly sods, and would love to check it out....”

“Hike up to the ridge at night only to get up in the morning and hike back down again...are you NUTZ??? lol No sense splitting the trip into two places, after all we're already going to be in the cars for a great duration of that weekend.

My suggestion was only postulated because of the short time constraint we'll have. It's a more realistic and plausible hike for the time we'll have there.

If the concensus is the Sods, then let's do it, after all I'm just a passenger in the whole shebang. How 'bout the Roaring Plains (southern) portion of The Sods? We'll be up in elevation and in the heart of the night sky, rather than down in the stream valley (northern portion).”

“The Plains sounds excellent Buddur!”

“roaring plains sounds like a plan to me....”

“I'm all for not having to carry loads of water in! I vote for the Sods, plains region.”

“3 more votes for the dolly sods . none of us (running girl, boy, me) have been to either place. tell me what maps i'll need please.”

“I've got a need to get back up to Roaring Plains.

I was bushwhackin'/creek crawlin' up there last September by way of the Flat Rock Run Trail.

Access to the Plains is more reasonable by way of Fire Road 70.
One can park at about 4,000-4,200 feet there.

I will be up there some weekend in October.”

“Blackbird Knob

Blackwater Falls/River(?)

Laneville

Hopeville”

“I like the idea of a nice 360* view... where do we get that?

Truthfully, I don't care where we go. Just tell me where to be, and I'll be there.”

“I think we should do Roaring Plains. I plan on getting there on Friday afternoon. That way I can set up camp, and meet you folks at some designated site. There is a Smoke Holes Caverns Gift Shop/Restuarant/Hotel that could make a good spot. I'll have to look up what road it's on, and get back to ya'll.

Later

BB”

“I have the Monongehela National Forest Hiking hiking guide containing topo maps of the trails and surrounding area. Lemme know how many want copies and I'll make some for each and then if'n you send me your snail-address via Email I'll send em to ya for pre-trip review.

If anyone else has been there before (Tom Terrific hint hint) and have suggestions for "must see's/must do's", please let's hear them.”

“So BB, we don't have to swing by Columbus and pick you up? For some reason I thought that was the plan. Does some other TTer live in Columbus?”

“Sass, BB lives in Cleveland... not Columbus.

I had originally suggested we stop by and pick him up on the way. I'd still be willing to do so. A road trip is always such fun w/ a group.

BB - I think we're all taking the day off Friday so getting an early start will be a piece of cake.”

“buddur, i sent you an email to the email in your profile. thank you.”

“buddur....i also have that hiking guide (i bought it on yoour recommendation, as i recall)so i don't need the topo maps....

bb....i will also be getting over there on friday afternoon....let me know where and when you want to meet....

this is going to be G R E A T ! !”

“Hey Buddur... you still have my address? I wouldn't mind it if you sent some maps my way! Thanks kid!”

“Is it possible for a map email here?!

Im going to make this one for shure!!!!”

“Sent you an email Buddur.


I've never hiked on the Sods before. I'm so excited I'm getting G00SE bumps.







Yeah, I know it's bad. You can thank me in person. Moooooowahahahahahahahahahaha!”

“Is Mr. Gossage coming?”

“Why yes, he's looking forward to it. We're planning on leaving Thursday after work and splitting the driving between two days. That puts us in the area pretty early on Friday.”

“I got'sk envelopes w/maps ready to go out to Skullcap, Buddha Bear, Baume 66 and Tarabull. I'll get yours out Mr.Prowler just as soon as I receive your snail address (check your Email).

Oh yeah...Sass, you're gonna need a copy too.”

“Buddur - If ya want to save 34 cents, go ahead and send both copies to me or to Sass. We'll be seeing each other next weekend. K?

Oh, and thanks for sending maps to everyone.”

“For those getting maps...
Trail TR517, the easternmost trail on the map, goes off the page at the upperedge. Therefore the maps don't show the trailhead for this trail off (road) FR19. This link shows the missing area having the red crosshairs at the TR517 trailhead location, and the trail (dashed line) trending to the southeast of the road. You'll want to print this for reference.”

“i appreciate it.”

“I'm having a heck of a time finding someone to watch Abby Friday day....it's not looking good. =(”

“I should declare myself - I've been reading the posts when I can. I wasn't too sure about another day off. If ya'll have room for one more, I'll be driving the party van in, full of Michiganiacs.”

“that would be cool le Subtil. it will be good to meet you.”

“All the way to West Virginia?
What a party!

And where?

I'll go back and read.”

“Hmmmmm, by the RED X on the map that is the trail that parallels FR 70.
They both go to the same place, about 3 miles in to the "pipieline swath".

The elevation gain is not difficult at all from that trail head.

A loop can be done by way of Roaring Plains Trail and the Canyon Rim Trail back to the pipeline and back to FR 19 by way of either FR 70 or Tr517.

Its all good up there and very alpine.

The date???

I'll go back further and read more”

“October 5 and 6.”

“Thanks

Oct 5-6 is a good time to go to Roaring Plains instead of Dolly Sods.
The Sods is way too popular especially on prime leaf-peepin' weekends.
The Plains area is usually less visited, though it has become more popular in the last ten years.
Its also about 500 feet higher.”

“Tom, the trip is on North Fork Mountain, not Roaring Plains. I was planning to go until the rocks ruined my fall plans.”

“Oh?

I think they decided to make it Roaring Plains.

They were talkin' about FR 19 and TR517.

See previous posts.

There is a link to a map.

TR 517 is near the junction of FR 70 and FR 19.”