Mortar shells still being found on Dolly Sods

“Explosive Mortars May Still Be Found in Wilderness Area

By JULIEANNE COOPER
Staff Writer

As part of a safety campaign for hikers and campers, the U.S Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Huntington District has been conducting an environmental investigation and cleanup program in the Dolly Sods Wilderness to rid the area of highly explosive mortars or UXOs (unexploded ordnance).
Over the past several years, the Corps has been cleaning up around 18,000 square miles of the forest and clearing trails and camping areas where numerous UXOs have been found.
In the early 1940s during World War II, Dolly Sods was part of the West Virginia Maneuver Area where the U.S. Army conducted artillery and mortar practice as part of its training. According to the Corps’ Web site, www.www.lrh.usace.army.mil, “During the military maneuvers both live and inert 81mm, 60mm and 4.2-inch mortars were fired.
“Under the Defense Environmental Restoration Program (DERP), Department of Defense has delegated authority for executing ordnance response activities to the Army Corps of Engineers. The Huntington District is the Geographic District and has project management responsibilities for the project.”
Despite cleaning efforts conducted by the U.S. Army following the war and throughout the last six decades, several more UXOs have been found in the area.
The Corps’ Technical Lead and Hydro-Geologist Erich Guy said more than 100 mortars have been located since World War II times. The USACE cleared trails as well as a 20-foot buffer alongside of the designated trails and campsites in 1997 and 1998.
Guy said the technology does not exist to recover all the UXOs but none have been found in designated areas since the 1997-1998 cleanup and only a few in other areas. Guy said in the summer of 2004, a UXO was located away from the cleared areas.
In an effort to promote public awareness, the USACE Huntington District, the U.S. Forest Service, the West Virginia Division of Forestry, the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection and the U.S. Army Engineering and Support Center in Huntsville, Ala., have established a partnership agreement. In a unified effort, these agencies are making the public aware of the “risks to human health and the environment” by placing warning signs at trail heads, near camping areas and information displays throughout the wilderness area. They also produced a detailed map of the Dolly Sods region highlighting hiking trails and the “three important rules of UXO safety — Spot, Walk Away and Call.”
Mortars found in the area vary in shape and size. The majority are buried in the soil but may resurface. UXOs can appear new or old, shiny or rusty.
According to www.patc.net/hiking/destinations/dollysods.html, author Andy Hiltz warns other hikers who happen upon a UXO, “do not touch it. Nitroglycerin, a component in the gunpowder charge, settles over time and can become extremely volatile. Moving the shell may cause the mortar to explode.”
Hiltz added that “while discovery of shells is extremely rare, they are still being discovered on occasion by hunters and backcountry travelers.”
The USACE also has produced helpful pamphlets for both kids and adults explaining what UXOs are, where they came from and what to do if one is spotted. The pamphlet urges campers and hikers not to touch UXOs, staying at least 50 feet away and to go back the same way they came. The pamphlet states that if a UXO is spotted, make an arrow out of rocks or sticks or tie a bandanna near where it is spotted. To report the location of the UXO, call the 24-hour Forest hotline toll-free 1-888-283-0303.
While Dolly Sods provides some of the best hiking and camping opportunities in the Eastern United States, it is important for those enjoying the great outdoors to be aware of their surroundings, a spokes man said.”

“where did you find that article?”

“In the Elkins, WV, Intermountain.”

“They likely thought in the 1940's that few people would be interested in travelling thru that area ever.

Funny, much of what we now consider prime recreation land was once considered worthless.”

“A good part of the Sods was not even Forest Service property back then. As late as the early 1980s, there were sheep grazing on what is not Dolly Sods North, which was not deeded over to the Forest Service until the mid 1990s.

The 1997-98 sweeps were in the Wilderness area and in DSN.

Yes, back then the world was at war and getting troops trained and off to war was the priority. Seneca Rocks, located nearby, was used by mountain troops to train in rock climbing.”

“There were warning signs posted around Dolly sods during my first visit in 1997.”

“got it

Thanks!”

“Interesting stuff. I'm planning to visit Dolly Sods in October if the weather cooperates.”

“Up top in the plains, from the trail you can still see pits/depressions in the fields which were the craters left by the firepower.

Don't forget to look for them next time you're there.”

“Might see you there Bob. That's when I'll be there.

oops - n/m - September.
last edited: 6/12/05 5:43:48 PM”

“Where on the Sods are you guys heading?”

“me? - Probably won't know until I get there.”

“Informatively, the Sods breaks down into two parts. The northern part is a plateau roughly 4,000 feet high, about four miles wide on average, with Red Creek running down from north to south. There are two noteworthy trails in this section: Raven Ridge Trail and the Dobbin Grade. Dobbin Grade is an old logging RR bed, stone construction, although eroded in spots (but easy to follow.

Raven Ridge Trail links up with a trail coming in from the east at Dobbin Grade. The trail from the east starts a quarter of a mile south of Bear Rocks parking area.

Raven Ridge is a beautiful trail with expansive views of the Sods all the way south to Porte Crayon, and into the Stony River basin to the north (heavily strip mined with the coal fired Mount Storm Power plant visible on relatively clear days)

The Raven Ridge trail ends at Cabin Mountain with views of Canaan Valley and the National Wildlife Refuge, Canaan Mountain beyond that, and the windmills of Backbone Mountain near the horizon.

Dobbin Grade winds its way around to another trail coming off Cabin Mountain, so a circuit is very doable here.

To the south, Red Creek cuts its way down into a gorge with some waterfalls - not real high but picturesque. There are trails back up to Cabin Mountain from this section. This is the existing wilderness area.

Most people head down to Red Creek. The campsite by the forks of Red Creek becomes a tent city on busy weekends.

Red Creek Campground (fee area) has water and pit toilets. Campsites in September will be scarce on weekends because the Allegheny Front Migratory Observatory sets up there from August 15-October 15. They count and band migratory neotropical songbirds from their station at the end of a trail that heads east from the parking lot for the Blackbird Knob trail just north of the campground entrance. Friendly folks will talk to visitors and fill you in on their work.

The Blackbird Knob trail heads west from the trailhead, intersecting the trail down to Red Creek about halfway out. The BKT goes on to Cabin Mountain. If you want a longer circuit and don't mind eating dust, you can use the gravel Forest Service road to get back to Bear Rocks.

If you opt for the Raven Ridge Trail, it gets a bit dicey after you cross Dobbin Grade and Red Creek (heading west).

After crossing the creek, the trail heads uphill to the left, and into a meadow above the creek. The trail seems to go on ahead, but just where there is a small stand of young trees on the right is a small path, looks almost like a deer path, to the right. The deer path is the trail to Raven Ridge. It heads uphill in a stand of timber before coming out on a small knob with good views. From that point on the trail is easy to follow.”

“Here's a map that has the trails pretty much accurate.

The website says the Forest Service is installing signs on the Sods. Damn, ... that takes the fun out of it!”

“I'm staying for a week at Blackwater Falls State Park Octover 17-22. I'll be taking at least one day-hike at Dolly Sods. Not sure what day. I'll likely look for the best weather day.”

“Yet another reason not to hammer tent stakes in.”

“That's good, manuka!

My mother's brother was a 23 year old 2nd Lt with 478th Inf in '44.

I believe they spend four weeks in about April up there.

He fell into the Blackwater River while doing a one-rope crossing.
Two guys who went in to rescue him died.
He survived to have his platoon wiped out in November that year near Metz.”