West Virginia BackPack Trip December 18t h-19th!!!!

“Trip is still in early planning stages! MarkO and I were talking about going somewhere in Roaring Plains. MarkO, would that get us up above 4k? That would be awesome. Elevation!

Anyway sign up if'n you're interested and feel free to chime in for the planning of the trip!

High Meadows on the Lumberjack Trail, Spruce Knob NRA

High Meadows trail through a misty forest, Spruce Knob NRA
last edited: 11/30/04 5:29:32 PM”

“maybe we can do something that involves these trails:

Flatrock Run, Roaring Plains, and Boars Nest trails”

“This sounds promising!!!”

“yeah Y2! I haven't hiked with you since the Black Mtn trip in July! It'd be good to see you again! Hope you can make it.”

“I'm thinking the conditions may be a little rougher than those in the pictures.”

“yeah, just a little bit, those pics were taken in July. lol”

“cool pics anyway, ENS!

(hi y2)”

“make sure you go up the boar's nest, not down. you'll love it.”

“why is that? lol”

“Gotta work, otherwise I'd go!”

“Less Working, More Hiking.”

“what's with all this working stuff anyway? Backpacking comes first and everything else follows. That's the rule!”

“Well...I gotta work so I can buy winter gear so I can go to Dolly Sods next time. I won't ever spend a 15F night in a 32F bag again...ever.”

“Ha ha, never say "never again"......or, "won't ever"!!

Roaring Plains is about 4,400 feet.

Porte Crayon is 4,770.......strictly bushwhack.

I'm off 17-18-19 December.

If we get our schit together, we could do a Thursday night departure and a night hike of two miles up the Flat Rock Run Trail.
The first two miles is easy and then it's right up the ole whazoo to The Plains.

If there's little or no snow we could park up top at the pipeline, 4,200 feet.
From there it's a little over a mile to The Front, another easy night hike.
The site on The Front is at 4,400 and exposed to sometimes Roaring winds.

From The Front site we could hike the Canyon Rim Trail to Roaring Plains and spend Friday night at the foot of Haystack Knob.....about 7 miles.

From my two-mile site on Flat Rock Run Trail it's straight up to the plateau and on to Haystack, also about 7 miles.

Saturday we could pack up and try to bag Green Knob and another one who's name I don't recall and Porte Crayon.

Saturday's camp could be on Roaring Plains at any of several locations.

Follow me boys, I haven't been lost up there since '96!!!”

“Wake up you dorks !!!!”

“Snow”

“Ha ha, Geo's a dork !!

Whatchyew mean, "snow"?”

“I won't be able to take off that Friday. I maybe able to get down there in time for a night hike on Friday though.”

“Ya, OK

We will figure out something.

The possibilities are endless, to quote Calvin & Hobbes.”

“It'll be good to see you again ENS.
Yam - you too, you gonna come with?”

“U2

Y2

??”

“B52 huh?”

“Don't remind me man, I AM 52 !!”

“this could be a potential reuion of the Capital Hill trip group!”

“Hmmm!? This sounds good. Faculty Christmas Party that Friday but, I'd love to wake up Saturday on the Plains.

Who's in on this expedition?

Snow? Hope so.”

“Come on buffalo boy.....maybe you can find a bear cub again.”

“I'll be up there on the windswept plains late friday night! Sounds good to me”

“Maybe, haven't finalized any plans for that weekend.”

“The route is still in planning.

Looking at doing a small night hike in Friday night. The brunt of the trip will be Saturday and Sunday. Alot of the hike will be above 4,000 feet so it will be cold. We'll try and hit some peaks.

MarkO is supreme route planner. Thanks MarkO! Can we do this as a loop?
last edited: 12/01/04 11:10:53 AM”

“The Roaring Plains is a long way from the Emerald Isle, MarkO! Catching a redeye flight?”

“If the snow ain't too deep we can drive to the end of FR 70 and park at the pipeline.

From there it's about one mile to The Front site......windee, windee.

If Friday is going to be the night march then Saturday will be time to get up early and hustle to make it to Haystack Knob from which ever staring point.

If there is too much snow to risk parking at the pipeline we should start from Laneville and go up Flat Rock Run Trail.....a five mile hump UP to RP, but easy road access.

We shall see......
last edited: 12/01/04 12:00:41 PM”

“Ha ha, Geo.

I was only there for four days.

I wish I coulda stayed.”

“It only took them four days to find your records and kick you out? Efficient.”

“Yeah dude, they musta dug up those FBI photos from the anti-war demonstrations at College Park in spring '71.”

“Sorry boys, I'm gonna make like a goose and fly south that weekend.”

“you should have Embear fly north. Tell embear to take you to the Smokies”

“Hiking good.

Independence Air good too.”

“you can dayhike up to LeConte, it's only 3 and a half hours from Nashville.

Go up the Alum Cave Trail, probably have to go back down that way unless somehow you can park a second vehicle at the Rainbow Falls trailhead. You guys could be back in Nashville by 7 on Saturday night.

or have romantic getaway in Gatlinburg. Hotel rates should be cheap right now. lol
last edited: 12/01/04 11:08:11 PM”

“I just got a report from my West Virginia Intelligence Unit.

There has been some snow and ice on the plateau that hasn't lasted.

Camping up there should be OK baring a blizzard.

We could get buried but it's not likely in mid-December.”

“well, if I DON'T go to Germany for whatever reason then I'll be going on this trip. Prolly will go as a widow then, but I'll be going.

oh...now...if I don't go to germany until right before christmas, then I may still be going on this trip.”

“Excellent!!!

Temperatures should be:
Highs 40's
Lows 10's

Potentially, that is.......probably in the middle of that range.
last edited: 12/02/04 8:28:29 AM”

“awesome Gemini. I hope you can make it.”

“...unless of course, your date involves the trail. That's the ultimate...”

“hey peoples newbie here.......this is a great site you all have here.....i have hike most of dolly sods...cant never get enough....never been up there in the winter should be fun..and cold.”

“newbie? or troll?”

“why would you think troll.....marko asked me to check out your trip”

“Roaring Plains is south of The Sods and at least 500 feet higher, more remote and less travelled.

There are few loop-hikes.”

“Bison ain't even going....>8^P~~

...he's got "better" things to do..”

“oh ok....i make the mistake of calling the whole area dolly sods”

“novatrek - you are a newbie and haven't posted a "Hi I'm a newbie" thread so that everyone can can call you a troll. Seems like you're tryin' to fit in here without payin' your dues, that's suspicious.

Welcome to the madhouse btw.”