Laurel Forks Wilderness, VA-GWNF

“I am leading an overnight BP trip in this venue July 1-2 and am seeking any info on trail conditions, campsites on the main fork and stream crossings. Aidkins describes a 14 mile loop but the maps show an 18 mile loop if a little road walking is employed. I figure this trail that runs down to Laurel Forks will be less heavily traveled.”

“I've never gone back there, but would bet Baume or Hog on Ice have. It is supposed to be a remote, wild area. The late Ernie Dickerman, who was a big factor in most of Virginia's wilderness areas, was said to have favored Laurel Fork for that reason.”

“they'll see this thread. If you run into them send them my way.”

“They are good about responding to posts about places they know about.”

“This has been a pretty useful resource. The further I get from home the more planning I need to do.”

“Baume and I backpacked in there for a two nighter a few years ago - long enough that I have forgotten the names of the trails - when I get home and have access to my maps I describe it a little better - we were both using hammocks at the time. Wrt to water crossings - yes at the very least you will cross Laurel Fork at least twice and probably more often depending on your route. My comments on the trail conditions should be taken with a large grain of salt because it has been a few years since we were there - signage was not the best, at least one trail we just sort of wandered through a field with no obvious trail until we got to the bottom of the field and could see the trail again, Slabcamp trail was rather eroded in small sections and a bit weedy toward the top. We met up and parked by the picnic area in the northern corner of the area. From that point if you go down the trail (? name) to the Fork and cross the Fork you will come to an area suitable for a number of campers - when we were there there was no-one there but that was not surprising since it was a mid-week BP as I recall. This area looked to be the best place since it is near several trails for the basecamp/dayhike approach. There also seemed to be some good swiming holes in the Fork also.”

“My proposed route (subject to change" can be found on the following map: http://mrhyker.tripod.com/gwnf-laurelfork-rev1.JPG. This requires about 2 miles of road walking but will put us on the Bearwallow Run Trail and a portion of the Laurel Fork Tr that is probably least traveled. THe USGS map shows a trail that might knock off 0.5 miles of the road walking if it really exists.

Any photos you care to share Ice?”

“i can't temember the trail names off hand but will look them up.

the first trail was buck run (?). it went by a beaver pond right at the start but was a really nice hike down towards the laurel fork (creek?).

i'll look it up too and fill in what i remember different than hoi.”

“you might as well just hike with us from now on mrhyker. you always want to go where we do. lol.”

“hoi, is that the one i made those little laminated maps of?”

“i just looked at your map link.

we went donw buck run. camped at the base near the water. next day we went up cold springand back down christian run. there was a big open field at the top of christian run that would work as a good camp area, but it's removed from any really central area.

we camped near the water at the base of christian run/slab camp the second night.

hiked up slab camp (eroded in many places to a point that you can hardly hold the trail) and as hoi said, the field you hit about 2/3 the way up it could get confusing if you let it. we just hiked across it and ended up coming upon a boardwalk that turned out to be the trail. there is a camp right where slab camp meets the forest road at the top. we ate lunch here. we then took the locust spring spur and missed the hook up with the locust spring. we ended up on an old road bed where hoi fell down and bent his new pole. hahaha.

we could see locust spring trail at the base of the hill through the woods, so we hike/slid down to it. and hiked it back to the picnic area.

it was very quite, as hoi said. we saw nobody the whole time. it is a beautiful area. most of the wooded area is open (not much undergrowth) which allows great views of the woods.

none of the creek crossings were bad, but i don't think the water was high while we were there. the one at the base of buck run might have covered the toes of our boots while we rock hopped and the time we came back across (the bottom of christian run) there were plenty of large boulders that we didn't even come close to getting wet. there were some great swimming holes right here.

that's all i remember and i think it's acurate, but if not, hoi can correct me (except for the part of him falling down, hahahaha).

actually, i can't believe i haven't been back there. thanks for reminding me. it's on my short list.

i'll post more as it comes back to me.
last edited: 1/11/06 6:54:44 PM”

“didn't we see stuff near the creek we were surprised to see down there hoi?”

“btw, i think the only access that is feasible is through west virginia and entry to the northwest corner. you will be right near the picnic area before you can turn to head down toward bear wallow.”

“The Forest Rd I need to hike down to get to the top of Bearwallow is FR106 I think. Sound familiar?

I've spent the last couple of years hiking in the Mon. Finally getting around to BPing more in VA and PA.

HOI, I'm good for at least one fall per trip ... even on level, dry ground!”

“looking at my map, yes, 106.”

“Dave, which map are you using. I have NG Maps Illustrated and Leonard Adkin's 50 Hikes in N. VA.”

“from what I remember I don't think that you have to hike down 106 - you could drive down it - from what I remember when we hit the road after coming up Slabcamp was that it was a decent FS road and people had obviously been driving on it to the Slabcamp trailhead - also I don't think you are within sight of the picnic area when you would turn onto 106 - its a bit higher up as I recall

wrt to the fall and bent pole - it may have happened but I can't remember it anymore so it wasn't any big thing (innuendo !!!) I do remember that it was the first hike I did with trail runners and my legs felt a lot stronger at the end

odd stuff seen - a cable across the fork that looked as if it might have been possible to slide across on it; a couple abandoned tents between Buck Run and Slabcamp Run; a lot of old RR cuts and old roads left over from logging days - the bushwhacker in me wanted to go exploring but ... we mostly stayed on the trail when we could see it

we used a small laminated map that Baume made

no photos by me - I never carry a camera

one flower I remember was a wood sorrel :
”

“is to still start and end at the picnic area. I hope to take the Locust Spring trail to the junction of the Locust Spring Spur trail, make a hard right there and go up to the forest road. From there I'd hike south to the Bearwallow trail and follow it down to Laurel Fork. Will probably camp there. Will then make a left and tie in with your loop but do it in reverse finishing with Buck Run Tr.”

“The white rhodies may be making an appearance by the time of your trip.”

“you know Baume - I have a bit of an itch to head back there too - what do you think about May?”

“I'm sure we'll have room.

I hit te Mountain Laurel in Dolly Sods right at the peak last year. Maybe I'll get Lucky with the Rhodos this year.”