DOLLY SODS

“There are a couple of us headed to Dolly Sods the weekend of Nov,16th,17th,18th. Plan is to meet at FS road 75 at the end and park at Bear Rocks. The road ends there and you can park there or park just up approx 2 /10 mile on the right side of FS road 75 at the Bear Rocks trailhead.
Take Bear Rocks Trail #522 west to Red Creek, approx 1 1/4 mile in. We will camp at Red Creek where there is a wide spot for several tents just across the creek.

Saturday Morning head up to Raven Ridge along the Raven Ridge Trail #521 for approx 1.1/4 mile and hang a left on Rocky Ridge Trail #524. Continue on Rocky Ridge Trail #524 for approx 2 1/2 miles and turn right on Harmon Trail #525, or you can continue on for another 1/2 mile and turn right on the BlackBurn Knob Trail #511. Both Trails will intersect approx 1 1/4 miles down and cross the Red Creek. We can camp here or look north from Red Creek and notice a stand of Big Pines some 1/8 mile. We could camp here as well.

Sunday morn, head up Black Bird Knob Trail #511 approx 3/4 miles and take a left heading North on Upper Red Creek Trail #509 for approx 1 1/2 miles to intersect the Dobbin Grade #526. take Trail #526 for approx 1/1/2 miles to intersect Bear Rocks Trail and turn right to head to the Trail head 1/ 1/4 miles away.


Need directions to Dolly Sods. e mail at refrigertorfridge@gmail.com
last edited: 11/07/07 3:50:34 PM”

“Is this where you are talking about for the trailhead? http://www.topozone.com/map.asp?lat=39.06602&lon=-79.30125&datum=nad83&u=4&layer=DRG25&size=l&s=50”

“one day I will make it up there.”

“Sure ting, Ewk.

Maybe Fridge can lose you in the wilderness like he done TownDawg.
last edited: 11/08/07 9:57:46 AM”

“Yo HOI..you got it. There is a wide spot there by the trail head on the right, enough for 3 to 4 vehicles. I have a map I can e mail you so check it out.”

“any one know the weather report for there”

“Tonight: Rain likely, mainly before 2am. Cloudy, with a low around 33. Southwest wind between 6 and 9 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible.

Monday: Scattered showers, mainly before 11am. Cloudy, with a high near 55. West wind around 11 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.

Monday Night: A chance of showers, mainly after 8pm. Cloudy, with a low around 41. West wind between 6 and 13 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible.

Tuesday: Showers likely. Cloudy, with a high near 58. Southwest wind between 3 and 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible.

Tuesday Night: Showers likely, mainly before 11pm. Cloudy, with a low around 44. Calm wind becoming south around 6 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible.

Wednesday: A chance of showers. Cloudy, with a high near 59. Chance of precipitation is 40%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible.

Wednesday Night: A chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 36. Chance of precipitation is 50%.

Thursday: Partly sunny, with a high near 41.

Thursday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 27.

Friday: Partly sunny, with a high near 45.

Friday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 28.

Saturday: Cloudy, with a high near 46.
Saturday Night: A chance of flurries. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 27.

Sunday: A chance of flurries or sprinkles. Partly cloudy, with a high near 44.”

“backpackerbryan..... Is this weather forecast enough. Davis WV............will you be doing your dance around the fire again?”

“umm dont know.......bringing any shine”

“also....any room for a ride?”

“naked moondances?”

“well.....if ur a girl.......as long as u dance with me......lol”

“Yea I got room for a ride Backpacker Bryan.”

“now yall all come ya here.............”

“what time are ya'll meeting at the trailhead?”

“I am planning to be there no later that 7 pm. It all depends on how fast my Pick ups are. They need to be ready to throw there gear in my truck and scoot.
The camp spot isn't in very far. Red Creek, after crossing there is a wide spot on the right or if there isn't enough room we can set up tents just before we cross in the field. TR#522 Bear Rocks. Don't make a mistake and turn on Trail #526 going to the left.”

“Uncle Fridge, are you gonna wear blaze orange?

I don't look good in orange...lol. What are the chances of my being mistaken for a deer? My pack has grey on it...”

“Pink will do........(just kiddin) You'll be okay. The hunters I have encountered there at the Sods almost road hunt. We will be in too far for them to want to drag a deer that far. Although they may want to illegally ride there 4 wheeler in so far.”

“7 PM - as in you are night hiking into the campsite?

any word on snow currently up on the Sods?

I am a bit concerned about getting my Honda up there and stuck in the snow”

“Haven't herd of any problems with snow. Lets do a check the day before we go.
I might get there by six pm.”

“theres snow? what? Ummmmm six...if we leave Roanoke at 2 or 2:30...how long exactly does it take to get to this place?”

“well if the dang fog ever clears there is the webcam to get a clue about snow or no snow: http://www.fsvisimages.com/doso1/doso1”

“cool fridge....im planning on driving up to roanoak and leaving my truck with sweetpeas' car.....ill be leaving statesville round 1030 or so.....”

“10:30 am....that had best be a.m. :)”

“do you even know where I'm supposedly leaving my car? lol.

You want Interstate 81 exit 150 B toward (I think it will say Daleville...it might also mention Fincastle) You come off the ramp and take the left most RIGHT turning lane. Stay in that lane and bear right onto whatever that road is...lol. At the light turn right (watch out for big trucks...they just assume run you down as not). After you turn right at the light you'll travel under Interstate 81. Shortly thereafter there will be a park and ride on your left. You will likely miss the turn. It's ok, there is ample opportunity to turn around. You could stop at the Mill Mtn. Coffee and buy me a latte....no, I'm kidding. Coffee doesn't like me. There is a gear store in there too (Outdoor Trails)..but don't stop or we'll never get to Dolly Sods :)”

“Light snow at Dolly Sods this weekend, but most of it was melting. I doubt there is any snow now.”

“hhmmm.....i might just leave a little early to stop by that store!....lol”

“SNOW................a little dusting maybe............but thats at a lower elevation township.....we will be a couple thousand feet higher in elevation and it could be snowwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww.
last edited: 11/13/07 2:57:19 PM”

“im gonna freeze ....”

“Parts of the state had 2 inches of snow last Friday night, but it has been in the upper 60's in the WV lowlands this week, most if not all of the snow has melted in the mountains.”

“wvmtnmatt........where are you from?”

“Huntington, WV about as far from Dolly Sods as you can get and still be in the state. WV, KY, OH border.”

“I am from Beckley.I live in Virginia now.”

“due to work I won't be going on this trip - have a good time ya'll”

“My grandma was from Elkins.”

“Oh Sorry to hear that HOI.”

“GARRETT-PRESTON-TUCKER- INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...OAKLAND MD... GRANTSVILLE...KINGWOOD... TERRA ALTA... PARSONS...DAVIS...THOMAS 128 PM EST THU NOV 15 2007
...SNOW ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 6 PM THIS EVENING TO 12 PM EST FRIDAY...

A SNOW ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 6 PM THIS EVENING TO 12 PM EST FRIDAY.

SNOW ACCUMULATION OF 2 TO 4 INCHES IS EXPECTED TONIGHT...WITH ANOTHER INCH EXPECTED ON FRIDAY MORNING. HIGHER AMOUNTS MAY BE EXPECTED ON RIDGES HIGHER THAN 27OO FEET.

SNOW HAS ALREADY BEGUN IN THE HIGHEST ELEVATIONS AND INCOMING COLD AIR ON NORTHWEST WIND WILL TURN ANY LINGERING RAIN SHOWERS TO SNOW BY THIS EVENING.

A SNOW ADVISORY MEANS THAT PERIODS OF SNOW WILL CAUSE PRIMARILY TRAVEL DIFFICULTIES. BE PREPARED FOR SNOW COVERED ROADS AND LIMITED VISIBILITY. USE CAUTION WHILE DRIVING.”

“Sounds like winter has finally come to WV.................Ye haaaaaaaa”

“snow on the ground.....glad i bought that down jacket!”

“wohooooooooooo I made it back..........SNOW on the GROUND. Some places along the Raven Ridge Trail had a foot or more........Temps Friday night got to 21 with the wind estimated at 40 mph.......Saturday it stayed around 35 deg... up until 1 pm...then it got to 40ish and Sunday was 50ish.........
Seen Bear sign............BIG BEAR sign.......
All the trails within the N Western segment has now officially been Trail Posted with nice signage...........YO dub......you cannot get lost now...............
last edited: 11/18/07 4:45:04 PM”

“This was an awesome trip! My first time sleeping in snow. Fridgy found us the coolest camp spot EVER.”

“it was an awsome spot....ill gladly camp there again!”