West Virginia This Weekend

“That's a great trip. There are some great views from the meadows up there.”

“are you coming with us Roam?”

“Bump it a weekend and hell yeah!, I've already promised too many people to be at Ithaca, paid for a campsite and everything.”

“I wish I could go to WV this weekend...oh wait, I'm going tomorrow! But not for hiking :-(”

“You shall not go to Ithaca, too far. WV should be just the right distance for you Roam.”

“What city is Dolly Sods near?

Dub (or anyone else who knows), I know I've asked you before, but can you give me some ideas of backpacking spots within an hour or two of Charleston, WV? Or anywhere in between Gary, Indiana and Charleston? I'm arranging my visit to Charelston (I'll be driving) and want to get some backpacking done on the same trip somewhere.”

“Dolly Sods is near Petersburg, WV.”

“That's about four hours from Charleston btw.”

“Nah, it's not that far from Charleston--that's where my parents live. I made it from Seneca Rocks to Charleston in less than 3 hours after the Sods. The Sods is the best place to hike and it's about the same distance to Seneca except in Harman you go towards Blackwater falls instead of Seneca.

Cranberry is a good place to backpack, lots of black bears. Then there are tons of great dayhikes/bike trips you could go on. If you're there for site seeing and want to get a feel for the state I'd recommend some dayhikes instead of backpacking.”

“I will probably bug you about it again when the dates are set and the trip gets closer.”

“My arm!”

“Your arm?”

“Bison and ENS are twisting it!”

“my army”

“well it's car camping in NY with a ton of people and driving 650 miles or drive 350 miles and back pack in the mountains of WVA, including getting a state high point and being in a small group and attaining some solitude. C'mon Roam... lol”

“I think HOI is going to be joining us. Where are we meeting and at what time?”

“That would be awsome if HOI comes out. You and I should meet at the Mcd's at like 6 am. I think it would make more sense for HOI to meet us at the trailhead, or better yet at the Seneca Rocks Visitor center.”

“yeah, McD's at 6am is def a plan. I got breakfast! I still owe you. Did I tell you I bought a yearly pass for SNP? I also went to the Fairfax REI on Sunday. That place is huge and right down the street from you. I have College Park with in 5 minutes of me though.

Yeah, HOI you should definitely come. It'd be an honor to hike with you.”

“Roam, (sour grapes) yeah, Ithica will be cool too.”

“Yeah, Ithaca is going to have a ton of people at it. But then again, the whole trip is designed to assemble a huge mob of people. So that shouldn't be a problem.

That being said, if I wasn't going to Ithaca, I would so come down to West Virginia. I do, however, usually shift my focus to the Great White North in the latter half of the year, as you can hike there now without getting eaten alive by blackflies.

Have fun in WV...”

“bump”

“Y2 maybe coming as well”

“bump”

“yep, it's a possibility. EnS - Could be tricky getting to metro place at that time, so picking me up may be the best option. I may have another trip with some alternative attractions though. I'll have to let you know.”

“sounds good. No problem on picking you up in DC.”

“OK when are ya'll going to be at the trailhead?

Is this a one way hike or an out and back hike? Is someone leaving a vehicle at the Spruce Knob picnic area up on top? Has someone actually measured the distance of this hike? I am guessing around 20 to get to the top from the descriptions from Allen de Hart's book.

I am assuming the trailhead is right off of FR 112 after coming over Spruce Knob from US 33 in Judy Gap - it looks like a gated road at that point (FR 33?). Coords for trail head are 38 deg 42.700' N by 79 deg 33.000' W approximately? Am I correct about the trailhead?”

“HOI - This is a point to point hike, we will leave a car at the spruce knob picnic area. The hike is nowhere near 20 miles, It can't be more than 15 and is probably less (To loop back on lumberjack is only 13 miles and going up to Spruce Knob does not appear to me much farther if it is farther at all). Yes the trailhead is on FS 112 and those are approximate coordinates (38 42.71N by 79 33.01W). There are a few steep sections but nothing real difficult.

Let us know if you want to meet at the trailhead. I thought it might be better if we meet up with you at the Seneca Rocks visitor center, no later than 8:30 am. Let me know what you think.

BTW - you can see a trip report for most of this trail (except for the spruce knob part) here.”

“HOI - I get 12.9 miles from de Hart's book.

Seneca Creek to Huckleberry 4.8
Huckleberry to High Meadows 0.4
High Meadows to Lumberjack 1.9
Lumberjack to Huckleberry 2.0
Huckleberry to Spruce Knob 3.8

So that's approx. 7.1 miles on day one, and 5.8 miles on day two.”

“I can't see much reason to meet up at Seneca Rocks visitor center - its a bit out of the way IMO - note I'll be coming in on US 33 from the east. At the moment I am thinking of meeting up at the campsite which I take it is the intersection of High Meadows and Lumberjack. I am thinking of making it a two nighter camping somewhere along Seneca Creek for the first night.”

“HOI - There's a great meadow along Seneca Creek just past the first ford of the creek, I think it's about 3-3.5 miles in, lots of people camp there (There used to be an official campground there that still shows up on some maps). We could meet you there.”

“That would be the old Judy Spring campground right?

It sounds like a good spot to meet up.

Any idea how high the water is running?”

“I have no idea how high the water is now, when I was there before it was very high, but it had been raining for several days.”

“Personally, I think the fastest route to Spruce Knob is through Seneca. Drive to the visitors center and make a right, drive about ten miles and on the left there will be a paved turnoff for Spruce Knob. Shortly after going up a big hill it will turn into a dirt road for about 10 miles. This is the shortest dirt road. There are 5 ways into Spruce Knob, all dirt roads. The one from Glady is about 30 miles, the one near Harman is about 20 miles--all slow dirt roads. So it might make sense to meet at the visitor center.

Also, on the way out if you go past the visitor's center the Front Porch Restaurant is located there. Pretty good food and a low price. Try the apple dumplings.”

“The old Judy Springs backcountry campground is a great place to camp. The meadow is nice, and the spring is a cave stream flowing out at a nice rate. From the campground, cross the creek on a footbridge. A trail turns left here and climbs up to an old pasture that links up to the Huckleberry Trail at the top of the pasture. There is a worn footpath through the pasture.

At the top of the mountain, the Huckleberry trail turns sharply right and climbs the ridge. If you find yourself on a gravel road going downhill, you missed the turn.

Along the ridge the trail is easy to follow. There are side trails to views and campsites, but no water.

The parking area is well marked and the trail along Seneca Creek is easy to follow (old logging RR grade). If you go on to the Huckleberry Trail junction, there is a small but nice waterfall somewhere nearby, if memory serves me right.

If coming in on 33 from the east, yes, Seneca Rocks is out of the way.

Best eatery in North Fork Valley is 4U Restaurant, which serves down-home cooking. Upstairs restaurant was okay, but not all that great. The view of Seneca Rocks from the porch, though, may make up for the food.”

“BTW, distances are not that much a problem. From Judy Springs I've gone up to Spruce Knob and back and had time to rig a shower before dinner.”

“Thanks for the info Geobeet!”

“Hey, it's a great trip. Enjoy!”

“do you need to contact a ranger station to tell them you are leaving a car at the parking area?”

“No. I should tell you that a groundhog ate a hole in my radiator at that parking area some years back, but I think the entire colony of groundhogs there died of anti-freeze poisoning, because the mechanic who helped me out of that jam told me it's been years since he got calls from hikers.”

“If anybody does have car problems, have them call Doug Butcher. He'll take excellent care of you.”

“got his Digits Geo?”

“That I do not, but if you stop in any grocery or restaurant on North Fork Valley, they can get you in touch with him. He took my radiator out and back to his shop twice to solder it, reinstalled it, charged me $68 (on a Sunday afternoon, no less).

Last trip I lost my brakes coming over North Fork Mountain. He replaced two rear brake lines and filled up the fluid reservoir. Cost me all of $85.

It would have cost a thousand bucks at home for those two jobs, but less than $200 there.”

“do you know if you are going yet?

Just checked the weather, could be another wet one. Scattered Tstorms for saturday and sunday. Hike rain or shine though.”

“any water falls along the route?”

“at least a couple of nice ones on the Ithaca trip :P”

“and Scorch is threatening to skinny dip. lol”

“thats not threatening!”

“Yes there are waterfalls that come down the canyon into Seneca Creek and then the big falls on Seneca Creek itself.”

“Man I am stoked for this trip. Haven't heard from Y2 yet.”

“I guess I'll see ya'll at Judy Springs Saturday morning some time before noon.”