Loser and Cluck Expedition, Volumn VI

“Loser (Ghoulbeet) and Cluck (Grave Dancer) returned to Seneca Shadows for a supposed beautiful fall weekend (you'd think they would have learned by now).

Acquaintances were renewed with Dean and Peggy, the affable campground managers, and the Corps of Dishevelment settled in under the Tarp Mahal on Friday night.

Cluck arrived late due to working the entire day, but Loser had the campfire going and a cold brew waiting.

Next day the plan was to try again for Stack Rock up on Dolly Sods, but the mountaintops were socked in with clouds. It would have been impossible to find landmarks up on the plateau in the fog, so the corps did what the corps does best, headed west.

In Canaan Valley it was just cloudy high overhead, so the corps drove out the Canaan Loop Road around Canaan Mountain to the Table Rock trail, a 1.2-mile trail out to a rock outcropping overlooking the Dry Fork Valley.

The trail wound its way along the ridge through a second-growth hardwoods forest. The colors were just fantastic. Then it wended through a rhododendron maze, becoming boggy and wet.

Soon though, the rocks were reached, and oh, what a view.

To the left, Mozark Mountain displayed vivid fall colors. Rich Mountain was visible through the notch between Mozark and Green Mountain across the valley.

To the right, the bowl of Otter Creek Wilderness stretched away into the haze, and closer at hand on the right rose another ridge off Canaan mountain.

Below, Dry Fork could be heard as it makes its way toward meetings with Otter Creek and the Blackwater River to become the Black Fork before meeting Shavers Fork in Parsons to become the Cheat River.

There was nothing in view but colorful trees, high mountains, and deep valleys.

It was not an easy scene to leave, but the only three drops of rain to fall in all of West Virginia that day hit the Corps, so they reluctantly made their way back.

The Canaan Loop Road passed a large bog with cotton grass almost blanketing the scene, then followed a beautiful gurgling stream colored tea brown from bog water.

Loser had been itching to get back onto Canaan Mountain since a backpacking trip in the early 1980s. Cluck was also taken with the beauty of the place, so the Corps is even now thinking of when it can get back.

Back at camp, the Corps headed off to Chez Pour Vous for another fine repast, then back to camp for an evening of fine spirits, music, and talk.

Next day the sun was shining and it was time to break camp and head off in separate directions. Cluck has an upcoming trip with her son's Scout troop, and Loser will head off to the West Virginia Highlands Conservancy Fall Review in two weeks. After that the Corps hopes to get in one more trip before the cold weather sets in.

Trip photos coming later.”

“Hey Geo- um... Ghou- Cool report, can't wait to see the pics!”

“Nice report Ghoulbeet. We're you hitting peak fall foliage colors down there? Trying to figure on a hike this weekend, depending on where to catch peak foliage...”

“Roaring Plains---near there---will be in color.

And I will be there!”

“It was almost peak, if not peak. Pix are uploaded. I'll post the link when they appear.”

“Come on, Bobo!”

“Yeah nice pics! But any pic is good as long as TommyT isn't in it (har har har!)

Mozark color - that's peak foliage!
Nasty looking tire! I've got the same tires on my truck.
That's not cotton, It's opium!
Cluck is cute! B~]

Ghoulmeister wearin' his Eagles hat out-of-state! Way to go, but didn't bring us any luck!”

“This Friday.....

Down on the Plains.


Maybe no rain~~~:^]”

“I'll be on the Plains on the 25th during the Fall Review. Color will be gone by then, but that's life.”

“great pictures!”

“Learn how to spell volume!”

“huked on fonics werked fer me”

“After visiting every known store in the area for a bottle of wine, Geo and I ended up at Harper's Store. The "Award Winning" sign on the wine rack conviced me to purchase a bottle of the West By God Plum table wine. Later that evening, I opened the bottle. After only a few sips of the spirits, I dumped out the glass and proceded to drink watered down Glenfiddich instead. Apparently, the award was for the worst wine of the century.”

“It was lousy stuff.”

“OH my LOrd ,GEo Beet ,thats' is wondeful that You and Your'e GirlFriend went on a hiking adveneture and had carnel Relations again this past week end .You are ONE lucky Personage .”

“And you, Bruce, are one dumb #&%!$.”

“Oh My Lrod ,GEoBEEt ,this Personage is so too very Happy for You .Welcome back !Im' am sure that its' is diffcult now that the Creekdanger is at Working at Her Job for You 2 Persons to see each one an other .Its' is must be a Good Thing for Roasey Palm and Her 5 Fingers ,right Buddy ?”

“No Bruce, not everybody's like you.”