October North Laurel Fork Trail Trip

“Oh, I didn't notice they changed the plan. Never Mind!”

“got my maps and trail info in the mail today.”

“I put in for my vacation day yesterday.”

“Me too. Can't wait 'till the last minute, ya know...”

“Got the maps, buddur. THANKS I'll be sure to give copies to my fellow Michiganiacs this weekend.”

“thanks for the snail mail buddur!”

“The maps were in the mail prior to me finding out about LeSubtil...
And chance one fo you Michiganers could photocopy the crud and get it to him?

...and I thought the trip was for the 3rd weekend of Oct....not the firstas it now appears it is?!?! This changes things alot for me...I get to go hiking earlier than I planned on (lucky me).”

“Buddur. Already taken care of. I'll be seeing le subtil on Saturday and will give him a copy.”

“Thank you Mr. Buddur sir!”

“3rd weekend! shoot I havnt been reading up to9 much on thios thread and the lasdt I heard and for whats marked on my calender it was Oct 4,5 &6 1st weekend???? Whne did this change???”

“Well I guess it was the first weekend.

My bad!”

“THANK GOD!!!!!!!!!”

“I got my vacation slip back, approved. Yippee!

I think the plan was for me to drive to Detrioit area, pick up some Michiganiacs, drive to Pa and picj up Buddur, then drive to the trailhead. Are we still picking up BuddaBear in Clevland?

Streets says this is a 625 mile trip one way. Wow!”

“How many of you jokers are arriving Friday 10/4?

If you haven't done so already, take a look at Jonathan Jessup's Photo Page to get a look at Roaring Plains, etc.

Search for JJ's PP...good stuff!”

“Thomas are we gonna get to meet you there?”

“I plan on being there unless I slip and break my neck on the way to the $hithouse.

Its a 200 mile trip for me from Baltimore.

I might hit the road Thursday evening and get a jump on the weekend.”

“I just struck out with Babysitter #1. Left a message with #2...cross yer fingers everyone!”

“I'm driving seperate and leaving Thursday night. We need to agree to a central campsite where we all can meet. Buddur, any suggestions?”

“A possible place to meet on the road is at The Gendarme at Seneca Rocks, WVa.
That is at the junction of routes 33 & 28.
Look for their website”

“we will be arriving friday evening sometime (6-7?). we don't mind night hiking if necessary, just not too many miles please.”

“i hope that my fellow tter's won't think that it is sacrilege to suggest a campsite that requires payment but....

(THIS IS MERELY A SUGGESTION!!!)

we can reserve a group campsite (up to 40 campers) at seneca shadows campground (one site is still available for the night of october 4) for $45....this is centrally located so as to make it easy for everyone coming in late at night to find, close to beer and food, easy driving distance to roaring plains the next morning (i know, i know....we would have to drive again!! i am nutz!!), and it has magnificent views of seneca rocks (ifn ya don't believe me, see their website www.seneca-rocks.com)



otherwise, we can go right on up to the trailhead on FR70 and find a place to camp on the way into the wilderness....dehart and sundquist mention several possibilities in their guidebook....”

“shame on you gonzo.”

“Frankly, I'd rather meet $omewhere along the trail and camp Fri night.

If we hike from FR19>WV45 we'll be starting out high and the majority of the hike will be downhill (the one part desends a stream valley then ascends back to the Eastern Continental Divide). But if we do the reverse, the majority of the hike will be upslope. Does hiking the trail taking us west (clockwise as shown on the map) from FR19 sound good?

As shown on the map(s), if we meet around the "E" of "D" (on the easternmost map), that'll be an easy hike from FR19 Fri night. Then maybe hike to "U" (westernmost map) or downslope somewhat into the streamvalley on trail TR519 for Sat night camp. That'll leave an easy downhill hike for Sun morning.

Regardless... if we do this circuit hike, we'll need to meet someone who has another vehicle at the FR19 trailhead to shuttle one vehicle to the other end-of-the-trail trailhead (know what I mean?)”

“Its ALL on you all ! Im just reading and waiting untill the final say so on what we are doing??

Keep it posted thow and ill be there!”

“Sassyfrassy -

You looking for a babysitter for the whole weekend, or for a short part? Let me know if I can help out!”

“SG - She needs a sitter for Friday... morning and afternoon.

Buddur, et al. I'd also prefer to hike a little on Friday. We're making a long drive so the more hiking we can get in, the better.”

“Oh, guess I can't help then. Sass-I'll e-mail you, I have an idea that might help you out.”

“It's all good! Abby will be watched....and I will be in W Va on October 4th! =D Birch decided he'd take a vacation day for me, if needed. Isn't he swell?!

Can't wait to get my hands on those maps tomorrow!”

“birch = Daddy of The Year???”

“Birch - you rock my world!”

“1250 miles driving for one day of hiking? I'm having second thoughts...”

“It's a beautiful drive, and the hike is worth it.”

“i would rather not stay at a developed camp ground.”

“mr. baume, i agree.... i would prefer not to spend the night in a developed campsite, either....

i was only trying to make it a little easier on those folks who are driving a long way and will be arriving very late on friday night....

mr. buddur, that sounds like a plan....the south prong trail (tr517) up as far as E or D looks like it would be very doable on friday afternoon/evening....

mr. subtil....it will really be one and one half day's hiking plus friday afternoon/evening....this is peak color season in the monongahela national forest and the views toward north fork mountain and down into the potomac river promise to be absolutely spectacular....definitely worth the drive (imho)!!

where and when would you all like to meet on friday?? just give me the word and i will be there....

i can't wait!!!”

“Q, He's husband of the year.”

“The vote is in for the G00SE/skullcap household. We'd much rather backcountry camp on Friday night. The view of Seneca Rocks is tempting but I can't help but think that it'll be spoiled by the car-camping atmosphere. But then, we'll be getting there fairly early on friday so hiking in won't be a problem.”

“PLEASE NO CAR CAMPING!

meaning BACK COUNTRY!!!!!!!!!!!”

“The FR19 trail writeup says there is a campsite ~0.25mi after the "E", and that a campsite ~30yds before the "E" would be "...suitable for Friday night arrivals." Sound like a good place to meet for Fri night camp? If so, bring enough water for Sat morning. btw - the "E" and "D" are mentioned as rocky outcroppings with great views overlooking to the NW, N and NE, and even Chimney Rocks of the North Fork Mtn. Clear skies should make for some awesome stargazing.

I've been wanting to hit this place for a looong time now, what with it being only 93 feet lower than the highest point in WV giving it good views and a unique ecosystem making it quite different than most of the Mon. Nat'l Forest.”

“"I CAN'T WAIT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

DITTO!!!”

“if'n my doc says so im there. it'll be late friday.
when will we be hittin teh cars on sunday? i know, i know, look back through, right?
just tell me this once and i swear i won't ask any more questions”

“i dont know either?”

“After reading through the thread where in the h!ll are we meeting and even going to?????? It has changed about 6 times to where wew will hike!?


If some one could summarize this thread on where, when, how to get there or any other helpfull info. would be appriciated!


Im leaving Friday morning so Ill be the first there! Along?? possibly with Kym!”

“????”

“The first weekend of October, that Friday night were going to hike the Roaring Plains, just south of Dolly Sods. The trailhead is somewhere around here off FR19.

We'll be meeting about 1-1.5mi in on the trail (light-dashed line...the thick-dashed line represents the Eastern Continental Divide) near here for Fri night camp.

Hiking the trail Sat to near here or somewhere downslope where there's avaliable water.

And the end of the trail is here.

We need to coordinate two vehicles for a Fri shuttle prior to hiking in, as this is a circuit hike and NOT a loop.

So far there'll be at least 7 vehicles...
Buddha Bear's
Tarabull's
Prowler's
Skullcap's
Gonzo's
Baume66's
Tom Terrific's
anyone else I missed???
So we need to figure out the approximate times everyone will arrive and who will/can/won't/can't shuttle their vehicles to the end of the trail. Know what I mean?

Does this sound like a plan?”

“thanks, a little better to follow than the thread is!”

“we should be arriving around 5:30-6:00 friday evening. if you want, we will be part of the shuttle deal. that means everyone else invilved will have to wait, or hike back out and meet us. if you want, we will hike in to camp then i can hike out with someone, do the shuttle, and hike back in. it's only going to be 1 - 1.5 miles and we can do that in no time. let me know.”

“408 Miles!!!!!

Ill be there by 3-4 PM!

If any one else will arrive around this time we could meet at a resturant and grab a bite to eat??

Anyone?”

“Is that all Prowler? ;)”

“so any one arriving early?”

“I hope to get there and if I do I will probably be there early (ie around noon). Mostly it depends on how my leg feels after the Sipsey trip.”