roaring plains knobs - a few of you seem familiar

“heya

im planning a little three nighter to the roaring plains coming up soon and am planning on hitting up the porte crayon/haystack area as well.

was wondering if any of yalls mighthave any advice on approaches/any problem areas on that bushwhack? some of the pics you guys posted are pretty awesome, would like to get a taste of that.

woo hooooooooo thanks”

“http://thebackpacker.com/trips/trip/581.php

This is the trip I did Memorial Day Weekend last year.
The map link is no good.

I've been to the benchmark on Porte Crayon several times and the bushwhacking there can be a real pain in the ass.
Three times I've come off the benchmark at about 130 degrees and end up at a different place on the trail from Roaring Plains to Haystack each time.
last edited: 9/12/06 8:18:40 AM”

“right on...ive reviewed that thread a few times already... you guys are like the fifth or sixth page listed by google for a search on 'roaring plains' :D...already dl'ed the .pdf maps from the wvhighlands page. check it out if you havent already.

so i dont have to worry about hiking straight up the northeast side of porte crayon then? no need to swing around and approach from a different angle or anything like that?”

“The trail from RP to Haystack isn't too tough or too far but can be a little confusing.

Its mostly old rail trails that have many switchbacks.

Once, on the way back, we got off to the right and instead of heading back to RP we were descending into the Long Run Holler.

It was easy enough to follow a creek back up out of the holler to the RP Trail.”

“nice. thanks for the heads up 8)

one last thing (sorry to string these along, they come to me in spurts), are there any potential campsites down around haystack (have you ever camped out down around there?)? or is it strictly a hike in - hike out sorta thing?

if you cant tell im really looking forward to this...went to dolly sods north last year and had a blast, am very excited for another 'alpine' excursion. 8)”

“My last trip to Porte Crayon we followed a compass heading from No Name Knob(that's between Haystack and Porte Crayon) to Porte Crayon.

That involved some serious bushwhacking and just when my kid was expressing doubts I looked around and the benchmark was within 30 feet!!
Thanks to Boy Scouts and U.S. Army for my navigation skills!!

Thunderstruck Rock is about a quarter mile from the benchmark at about 270 degrees(check the map!).
The Rock is no great shakes with some of the view blocked by spruce but it is a nice challenge and in the middle of nowhere.

The best approach to Porte Crayon is from the point where Flat Rock Run Trail mounts Roaring Plains.
The elevation there is about 4,600.
This route has the most tolerable bushshacking of any I have taken.
From there I have followed my compass and eventually angled for the highest point and there it was!
Porte Crayon has a large flat top covered with plantation spruce planted in the '30s(?).
The only views are from Thunderstruck Rock.”

“oh haha you reposted that from a thread i probably should ahve read. my bad.

say this seems like a forum where i can post funny things and not get lambasted for being off topic. am i correct in that judgment?”

“Just northwest of Haystack is a saddle area with lots of room to camp.

It is below the knob and not too windy with a lot of grassy and open space.
You do have to look around for a suitably level and dry spot but a good-sized gang could camp there.

Depending on how dry it is water can be found down-slope(northeast) from this camping area.

Depending on how wet things are this saddle area can be pretty soggy too.

The view from Haystack is real nice.
I guess you saw the pictures of us guys sittin' up there.
My hat blew off my head up there and was never seen again!”

“"...say this seems like a forum where i can post funny things and not get lambasted for being off topic. am i correct in that judgment?”
mjw666
10:03:49 AM
9/12/06

#&%!$ Yeah !!

Where do you live..............approximately?
last edited: 9/12/06 9:24:29 AM”

“i live in baltimore city, proper”

“I'm in Towson”

“haha no #&%!$ 8) i work downtown, for the city. grew up in towson tho, went to loch raven high and all that. ahhhh memories.”

“Roaring Plains in a cool place.”

“You guys ever hike the canyon rim? It's a nice way to get up to the top of the plains with tons of vistas. I hope one day to hike all the way around the Long Run Canyon Rim and hook up with the Flat Rock and Roaring Plains Tr before trying to make it to Haystack and Porte Crayon. Check this out:

http://www.midatlantichikes.com/id121.html

Someone had given me GPS data but I haven't tried it on those far out spots yet.”

“thats pretty much the route that ive been looking at.

my tentative plan is starting at the western trail head of the south prong, working up till it gets out near the rim, then cutting S/SE until I get to the pipeline.

debating whether or not ill walk further along the canyon rim and meet up with the Roaring Plains trail, or head up the pipeline to meet with the Roaring plains trail.

From there i plan on going to the eastern end of the roaring plains trail and cutting SE towards MPC and hitting up Haystack. Ill retrace my steps and head down the boar's nest trail to the car.



oh hey mrhyker, your website is awesome, i think ive posted a few reviews of hikes up there, i usually go by "mw" or 'matt w'..haha yea, i just did the lumberjack/seneca creek trail review, also did that review of hemlock gorge. also used your maps to get me thorugh dolly sods north last fall 8) thank you.
last edited: 9/12/06 11:18:55 AM”

“I call that one the sliding board. That can be one slick descent if it has rained the least. Still very steep.

The South Prong Trail doesn't get anywhere near the rim. You have to add a section of the forest road or, as is shown on my map, the Hidden Passage. The H.P., BTW, is pretty much a well used trail. I didn't even have to look at my GPS unit the last time. Anywho, they'll both get you only out to the pipeline. Still have to use the Canyon Rim or Roaring Plains Tr to get out to the back end of Long Run Valley/canyon/whatever you want to call it.”

“on Seneca Creek? Glad you like the site. I'm in the process of posting a real ass kicker (for me anyhow). THe AT-Mau-Har. It's only about 13 miles but has 6400 ft elevation gain and kick butt vistas. I did it as a long day hike but it could be done as an over-nighter.”

“That's 6400 feet elevation CHANGE not gain!”

“yea, thats me. 8-)

yep, the 'hidden passage' is what i was referring to when i said "cut S/SE" from the south prong trail.”

“Ann Arundel Pasadena??

I've done the Boar's Nest Trail but not in years.
There is no point to it unless you want to kick your own ass.

I like to park at FR 19 at the South Prong Trail head and take The Hidden Passage(not too hard to follow) to what we call The Front(.5 mile from pipeline).
There is a good site there but the weather can blow you away there.

I know the way to the Rim Trail from the pipeline.
Its a great hike and though there is not much elevation change its kinda tough with all the rock-hoppin'.

At the point where the Rim Trail meets the RP Trail there is a good site that will fit lots of people.
I call it The Rim Site.

The Rim Trail is hard to follow in places.
There is a large boulder field as you hike west from The Point(looks down on the convergence of Long Run and Roaring Creek) and toward Porte Crayon.
When the boulder field runs out you must go down to it's bottom and look for the continuation of the Rim Trail.
Its about another mile to get to The Rim Site and the RP Trail is spittin' distance from that site.”

“I did the route on my site in 3 days. You can't do the rim fast. Besides, who would want to. If my focus is on MPC and the Haystack the next time I go out there I might go in on the east terminus of SP. Save my energy. Might even use either it or the FR to get back to the cars after I do the loop.

Is the boulder field you're talking about before or after the TeePee trail? That's as far as I've gone but I don't recall going "down" a boulder field. There is one place that looks like you'd go down but there are a bunch of cairns close together that keep you up on top.

Does this "Rim" site have water?

Yep, Pasadena, AA county.”

“"I know the way to the Rim Trail from the pipeline."

Uh...........pipeline to The Rim Trail, that is.

Anyway, one can follow the "Rim" from a point looking down on the steep fall of Roaring Creek.
After a little while you cross Roaring Creek( good water source) and continue around the rim of Roaring Creek's holler until you reach The Point.
Drop your load and scramble out to The Point for some great views.
From there you are looking down 2,000 feet to the convergence of RC and Long Run.
Across the holler a mile or so is Haystack Knob looking like the inverted hull of a ship.”

“The boulder field is well past the TeePee Trail.

There is water somewhere along there but its not great. I always water up at Roaring Creek.

Between The Point and TeePee Trail is a small campsite......the entire Rim Trail is very rocky and it would be hard to find a place to bed down....from this site one can see Seneca Rocks.

The boulder field is well after the TeePee Trail.”

“guh. i was gonna link you guys to the topo maps on wvhighlands.org but apparently the site has disappeared...”

“at the site with the view of Seneca Rocks. We hiked past TeePee Tr to that boulder field for one last view but didn't go any further. Bewteen TeePee and the boulder field there is a spring under a big rock but its muddy and unreliable.”

“Say, I've been in the Baltimore area. I graduated in 1955 from Ft. Leonardwood. I returned to the area numerous times during 1996-2000 to visit my daughter near Towson. She graduated in 2000 from JHU.

East Baltimore Street will never be the same as in the 50's, thank goodness!
last edited: 9/12/06 1:34:15 PM”

“The boulder field is well after the TeePee Trail.
Twice..........I gotta watch my editting!!

Bewteen TeePee and the boulder field there is a spring under a big rock but its muddy and unreliable.

Yeah, that's it!
You can hear the water down under the big rock.

Hey Slim, I live in Towson.”

“There are some good pool players in that area. Are you oneof them?”

“I couldn't hit the broad side of a barn door with a pool cue.”

“There is a pool hall up in our little downtown.....Recher Theater and Rec Room(pool hall) Bar.

Oh yeah......I ain't a pool player.”

“im a pool player.

lol i work for the city. my office is on the block. its pretty hilarious.”

“We must do a Roaring Plains trip!!

How about a Fells Point trip in the interim?

Full Moon Saloon?”

“While in the area I camped at Patapsco Valley State Park, I used to drive a short way toward Baltimore to the:
VIP Billiards, Highway 40 near Ellicott City,
6541 Baltimore National Pike
Catonsville, Md.

Their rates seemed quite high, especially for the 3-cushion billiard pool tables. However, I would usually hit the balls around for a while during some of the evenings.

The campground at Patapsco Valley SP was much more reasonable than the hotels. So I always stayed there during my visits.”

“Smart feller......”

“i'm ready for a trip to the plains”

“Let's go!!”

“I could be tempted..”

“Bumpity-Bump !!”

“hmmmmm

COLD WEATHER EXXXXTREEEMMMMEEEE HIGH PLAINS MADNESSSSSS LOL
last edited: 9/13/06 8:49:51 AM”

“Hmmmm, a cold weather visit to The Plains is best done by way of Flat Rock Run Trail.

The high roads can be snowed-in pretty good so we park down in the valley by the horse farm.....Laneville.

I have a connection who lives in Laneville.
They can give me updates on the snow conditions on the Plains.

The Flat Rock Run Trail is a good climb.....five miles to the plateau.

Who's up for a snowshoe trip?”

“me”

“I remember what it is like there in the winter... lots of snow drifts and it does get cold. Although, I remember that the wind didn't bother us last time.

”