Roaring Plains Oct 4-5-6

“Well, ya better hang on for dear life if he takes that HAIRY road to Laneville.

tarabull-
Just where are YOU GUYS coming from?

No need for a map link......just generally where?”

“Tom is right about folks coming from Elkins. Get on route 32 at Harman and go north. Taking 33 east to Seneca Rocks is WAY out of the way.

The road to Laneville may also be marked with a brown and white Dolly Sods sign. I seem to remember one. I know there is one coming down from Canaan Valley.

It is winding, but you just take your time. The cars coming uphill should have the right of way.

The alternative coming from Elkins is to go to Seneca Rocks, then north to Jordan Run Road to FS 19 going up to the Sods. That's a long way around.

The Laneville road takes you past Laneville Cabin where it turns into a gravel road and heads steeply upgrade. When you are near the top it will turn sharply left, and the trailhead is just a few yards ahead.”

“Geobeet-
Have you never taken the road just a mile to the south from Rt 32 to Laneville?”

“Your question had me stumped, so I reached around to grab one of the many Mon NF maps I keep handy around this camp.

Route 32 runs from Harman up through Canaan Valley to Davis.
Route 45 runs from Route 32 to Laneville

There is an unnumbered route that looks to be a dirt road running from Route 32 to Laneville that intersects Route 32 a mile or two south of Laneville.

At one point in the past I am sure I drove that road, but it was some time ago.

Route 45 is a paved road. It is a twisting, turning road. The dirt road, although unpaved, looks a tad straighter on the map.

I'll have to get the topo I just bought from the bedroom to check it out in more detail. Be back in a couple of minutes with the results of that look.”

“Geez! What's this about that particular road...Aren't we all backpackers? Haven't we driven on some nasty roads to get to our destinations? It's a cool road to experience, and heck, I've driven on alot worse roads. The thing is paved, not dirt, for cryin' out load.

That road is only hairy if you tend to be a racedriver who just has to drive well over the speed limit.”

“The unmarked dirt road actually seems straighter and more direct. The only thing is when it intersects Route 45 (the paved road)near Laneville, you turn right on the paved road. It saves a few miles of round-about driving.

I think there is a sign to Laneville at the Route 32 junction. I'd bet it saves about five miles. It goes right past the Flatrock Plains trailhead in fact.

It's no big deal either way. People should take whichever route appeals to them the most.

I don't think anybody will be racing on either road unless they have a death wish.”

“I would just like confirmation on the names of the trails we are using so I can mark the precise route correctly on my own map before we go. I did read the itinerary posted on the other thread, the topozone map links, and the map that you sent me Buddur. That's why I have this question. I just want an amen or a correction before I put highlighter ink to topo map paper please. It would be so very much appreciated.”

“Tom T, Tarabull, Lesubtil and I will be coming from MICHIGAN. No topo link but I bet you know where it is. ;)”

“According to my Street Atlas program... The paved road I chose (CR45), because it is more of a straight shot than coming from y'alls direction, is 4.18mi from 32 to where it intersects with the unmarked dirt road you folks are suggesting, and takes 10min driving appropriate speed limit. Whereas, the unmarked dirt road is 4.93mi from 32 to where it intersects with the paved CR45 road and takes 12min driving its appropriate speed limit.

Also, we'd have to drive 3.54mi farther south on WV32 to get to the unmarked dirt road, that is if we opted not to drive the paved CR45 road. That's an extra 4mi and 7 min of driving just to drive on a straighter "dirt" road than to drive on a "scenic paved" but more twistier road.”

“WAIT...That'd be more than 7 min.”

“If it's wide enough to drive on, I can drive it. So can G00SE. I need a clear route to leave for Sauron and the people looking out for him in case there's an emergency and they need to find us. I'm not looking for mapping coordinates, just trail names. I'm pretty sure I have it figured out, I just want confirmation please.”

“Starting at the "V" on the map and doing a clockwise circuit hike...
Hiking TR517 (South Prong Trail) >
TR518 (Boars Nest Trail) >
TR548 (Roaring Plains Trail) >
TR519 (Flatrock Run Trail).
Ending hike at the "S".”

“so, how do you get to the trailhead???



























just kidding, just kidding!!!!!!”

“i'm coming in on 28 to jordan run. i'll go home the other way to see which is better/worse (plus i like nothing more than being where i haven't been yet)from points east. i will guarantee it will not be nearly as slow as the last one i took to the mount pleasant area in virginia. see younz guyz there friday night. don't forget, if we need to move our car to the come out point for shuttle purposes, someone will need to be at the trailhead to provide a lift back.”

“Ok, the road in question IS PAVED.

Do what you want.

Hike your own hike.

Drive your own road.

For those of you coming from Elkins to Harman and then north on RT 32, you will see "my choice of roads" first.
It is paved and not as winding and goes right by the Flat Rock Run trailhead.
I will flag that sucker with bright colored plastic tape and the trail head as well.
It is just south of Dry Fork, WVa and on the east side of Rt 32.

Enough of this crap......I'm going to check the weather.”

“Oooooo, looks like scattered T-storms Friday and Saturday.

Maybe they'll scatter long enough for us to get a look at things from up there.”

“If you're coming from Davis on 32, then 45 is the shorter route. If you are coming from Harman on 32, then the unmarked road (which Tom will flag) is shorter.

It's nearly an equilateral triangle, which means one of the legs is shorter than the other two combined.”

“What HE said!

Even though I'm coming from Davis, I will go "my" way.
Its an easier drive.
I've been on that Rt 45 and its a pain in the arse.

Geobeet-
So, when can we expect to see you on your feet, and rock scramblin', again?”

“I will probably be on my feet in about three weeks, rehab over the winter, be off the rat poison by the end of March, and take my first trip back to the Sods in May or June. I'll take a few day trips on Blue Mountain in April I suppose.

That first Sods trip might just be a car camping trip with day hikes, depending on how things go.

They tell me it takes roughly six months to whip a broken leg back into shape, which puts me pretty much into the time frame.”

“Rehab could be a good excuse to shape up a bit.

Ya know, a little PT.

No, not pelvic thrusts!”

“I thought an equilateral triangle is one in which all sides are the same length.

And I didn't start the "PLEASE!!! Don't take that road! Look at the map." discussion. But I did have to defend the road that is a more reasonable route for us coming from the north. Maybe if I never drove that stretch of road I'd heed your advice, but I have driven it and it is an awesome road course as it is scenic. And at least it's paved.”

“The three sides of an equilateral triange are all the same size, but any one side is still less that the sume of the other two.

You're thinking the hypotenuse of a right triangle, which is also less that the sum of the other two sides. In any case, from either direction you come, taking the first of the two roads cuts off the other two sides.

But Tom wants to go the long way 'round. I have a sneaky hunch he's taken that approach most of his life and doesn't want to stop now.

You'll be okay Buddur, once you get on the trail and start bursting through those heath meadows up one the plateau everything will be just fine.

BTW, Thunderstruck Rock is a heft piece of bushwacking. If you go up the ridge and over Porte Crayon, you will have spruce hells to go through. If you stay to the right edge of the ridge going up, you should find a boggy area with a spring just a few yards down if you need water.

I got to the top of Porte Crayon. Never did make Thunderstruck because I started the hike at the parking area for Red Creek Plains and I had to walk all the way back. Next time I want to backpack out part way and bushwack from there.

Let me know how it goes. There is a nice rock outcropping about a quarter of a mile from the summit that gives an up-close view of the peak. That outcropping is more toward the center of the ridge and after you pass the bog and spring if my memory serves me right.”

“Thank you Mr. Buddur Man! That's exactly the info I was looking for.

”

“whooa! that is one happy sweet tart.”

“well dammit people! I was wondering about this trip, not seeing any post and ALL!”

“any one want to meet me at McDonalds Friday afternoon??”

“Are you able to meet at Elkins on Friday?? or some where closer?”

“i would like to be at the trailhead by about noon or so....is anybody else planning on being there by then?”

“You mean to tell me someone is actually going to meet at the trailhead?”

“if i can find it....”

“Buddur - We'll be at your place Thursday PM. With an early start on Friday, what time do you think we'll get to the trailhead?”

“Both of those roads are PAVED!
I've taken both roads, in both directions, and they are both paved..........
If you like "fun" driving, why don't you take Rt 219 all the way to Parsons and go east on Rt 72(along the Dry Fork River, through Hambleton and Hendricks) to Rt 32 at Davis, yada, yada, yada......
Just kidding!

Prowler-
I will leave home pre-dawn on Friday.
Its about 230-240 miles for me so I could be in Laneville by 9 or 10 AM.
When do you think you will be rollin' through Elkins, if that is the way you are going?
It looks like gonzo is from Ohio too.
I would not mind trippin' up to Elkins to meet for coffee or shots and beers...%^]
There might be a diner in Harman, but I'm not sure, I usually just zoom through there.
We could have a tailgate party at the Lanevile trailhead with gonzo???”

“my crowd may be dwindling. if so, i will be at the trailhead as early as anyone wants to meet. i will have a tailgate also. party on.”

“Friday morning?

Laneville, of course.”

“Im leaving Thursday so ill be in town early Friday, hopefully before noon. I can do a search and find a reasonable place to meet.

Gonzo where you coming from? Im also scetchy on the directions but think I have then down FINALLY!”

“I'm going to swing by the "end of hike" trailhead on the Laneville road and flag it and the junction with Rt 32 for any lost souls.

I would be happy to zoom on up to Elkins......some of my distant kin are from there.”

“lets do it! kym still is a iffy but it doesnt matter ill be there.

The flag idea would be great for the loan travelers.”

“There is a really nice restuarant in the main strip of stores in Davis. Nice breakfast offerings.”

“i'll be rollin' in from central ohiowah....i am up for tailgate partyin' at the trailhead or meetin' up in elkins or davis....

by the way prowler, if you are a loan traveler i could prolly use about $1000 if the interest rate is low enough....

thank you kindly and see y'all soon!!”

“The restuarant in Davis sounds good to me.
Do they serve booze with breakfast?”

“Davis way from from Elkins!!?

gonz, Im not rich! damn!”

“I don't know about the booze, but great pancakes and all the other stuff. They never let your coffee cup get empty.

That place was way better than any place in Elkins. Depending on where you are coming from, it is possible to swing through Davis. Easier place to find an more convenient to everybody. Tom would have to swing way west for Elkins since he's coming from the east. But you guys will have to figure that out for yourselves. I've just made myself hungry. Pancakes!”

“Well Davis is way East of Elkins!! So he would be going out of his way even more I THINK if hes coming from the west, 3hrs. 30min west of Elkins to be excact!”

“Well Davis is way West...i meant”

“You guys decide.”

“Well, coffee it is!

Davis is only a few miles from the road to the trailhead.

I think Geobeet has the right idea.

I WILL go to the diner in Davis!

I am coming from the EAST.....Baltimore(yuck!)”

“what is the name of the diner in davis?

what time will everyone try to be there?”

“We're still looking at arriving about noonish on Friday.”

“Davis, it shows Davis way west of the Trail head by hours??

There must be a different Davis!

What road is it on, St Rt possibly?”

“I found it!! Never mind, there is two Davis citys. Ill meet you in Davis then around 10-11 Friday Morning. Ill verify it with you Thursday!”