DOLLY SODS

“If the campgrounds full, theres a great big ole site just in off the parking area for Roaring plains. maybe 100ft in on the left.”

“Would that be in the South Prong Trail?”

“Yeah thats it big level sites in the trees on the left of the trail. Catch up with Fridge and decide where to meet.

I saw on the other thread meet at Bear Rocks Parking?”

“I cant view any of my posts...what is wrong with TT?”

“Oh well nm now its working fine....”

“Loose your grammer skills and youll be able to post anything!”

“weirdness?”

“When is Fridgy getting there?”

“sooo Uncle Fridge, if youre gonna carry a ham into the backcountry...youre sooo gonna get eaten by a bear!!!!

WHy do I always miss the good trips...free food, good company, and I bet there will be some libations too. GAH!”

“Fridge is such a ham.”

“I should arrive Thursday noonish.
Trail Head is on FS rd 75. trail # 522 on your left. Parking on the right along 75. Bear rocks parking is actually within eye site of the trail head. There is plenty of room to park at the 522 trail head.
Cocohead...the trail head is not at roaring plaines....you take 19 in and turn right on 75. Travel for several miles passing the camp ground on your left....continue on several more miles and you will see trail head markers all along the left side of the road.”

“`bout time...............”

“Pumpkin ROLL....biscuits......Honey Glaced HAM.......whut you bringin MarkO?”

“Is this a backpacking trip or a buffet?”

“first night a feast from then on back to trail junk.”

“Take Trail #522 in until you cross the creek. Camp is on the right. They have built some wooden walk ways just as you start getting close to the creek. If I remember correctly there are a cauple of such walk ways. (Be careful not to fall on the slippery wooden walk way.)”

““first night a feast from then on back to trail junk.”
Refrigerator

I have never known you to eat "trail junk" on a trip.”

“OK got it Fridge #522 past the campground
I sould be arriving around 12 or 1
Ill be bringin sweet taters and mac and cheese. Maybe some beers too”

“hail yea....”

“Thanksgiving Day: A chance of rain and snow showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 44. Chance of precipitation is 40%.

Thursday Night: A chance of rain and snow showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 29. Chance of precipitation is 40%.

Friday: A chance of rain and snow showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 37. Chance of precipitation is 40%.”

“Meet at the Camp Ground Thursday and Camp. We will drive up the Bear Rocks Trail parking Friday morning. From the Trail head Parking #522 we hike in 2.4 miles to intersect Raven Ridge Trail #521 and continue on another 1.3 miles to camp Saturday evening. Lots of views so bring a camera......Tank up with water at Red Creek about 1.5 miles in on #522. We may have no water until Saturday mid morning. Saturday take a Northerly direction into Dobbin Slashings for approx 4.5 miles and camp near Red Creek and Bear Rocks. Sunday we have approx. 2 miles out to parking area. This entire route is on a plateau and has some stunning views. Temps will be much colder than forecast at nearby towns so plan on temps being as low as 20 with snow or freezing rain and highs to 40 ish. The views are something to see all along this route.
I will bring fire wood for thursday night camp. We FEAST THANKSGIVING at the campground. oh yea....if you do not have any libations...... you cannot set by the BIG COUNCIL FIRE.



Dobbin Grade Trail (No. 526) [4.3 miles]
Dobbin Grade is the historical name for the old logging railroad grade that starts in the Mount Storm Lake area, crosses Dobbin Slashings, and curves around to Left Fork of Red Creek. The current trail runs from Rocky Ridge Trail on the crest of Cabin Mountain, crosses Left Fork of Red Creek, climbs and descends to Red Creek, and then follows Red Creek north to Bear Rocks Trail. Beyond this point, the railroad grade enters private property. Since this trail is railroad grade and jeep road, it is very easy to follow.
Bear Rocks Trail (No. 522) [2.4 miles]
The first part of Bear Rocks Trail is an old jeep trail which runs from just south of the Bear Rocks parking lot to Dobbin Grade Trail. From here west, the trail is much narrower and less obvious. It crosses Dobbin Grade and then crosses Red Creek. The trail ascends the first part of the ridge on a prepared trail with waterbars. Right at the top of this shoulder, Bear Rocks Trail turns abruptly right, leaving an ATV track which continues straight ahead. As of October 2004, the Forest Service had erected a single post trail sign at this corner. The path through the woods is relatively obvious, but goes through two very wet areas. At the deep, but relatively dry drainage, the trail turns abruptly uphill, paralleling the drainage for a short distance, and then diverging left. Shortly the trail becomes more obvious and crests Raven Ridge with spectacular views in all directions. Once on the ridge, this trail is easy to follow. The trail ends at a saddle on Raven Ridge Trail. There is a sign at this intersection.
Raven Ridge (No. 521) [about 2.9 miles]
This jeep trail follows Raven Ridge and leads to multiple trails in the center-north of the high plains area. As of October 2004, neither end of this trail has a trail sign. The Forest Service plans to build a trail on their property to replace the western end of the existing jeep road on private property (perhaps 0.5 miles of trail).
The western end of the trail is a jeep road which gets less and less traffic the further east one travels. Shortly after the intersections with Beaver View Trail and Bear Rocks Trail, the jeep tracks are fading and replaced with narrower ATV track. From Bear Rocks Trail south to Dobbin Grade Trail, the trail is just an ATV track. There are signs for both Bear Rocks and Beaver View Trails.
To find the southeast end of Raven Ridge Trail, look for the single, small cairn on Dobbin Grade Trail approximately midway between the Upper Red Creek Trail sign and the Red Creek stream crossing. Depending upon the season, the ATV track going up the hill toward the lone aspen tree is also visible.
last edited: 11/21/09 12:20:20 PM”

“Thanksgiving Day ....http://www.wunderground.com/cgi-bin/findweather/getForecast?query=Harman, West Virginia&wuSelect=WEATHER

Mostly cloudy with a chance of rain and snow showers. Highs in the lower 40s. Chance of precipitation 50 percent.

Friday
Mostly cloudy in the morning...then becoming partly sunny. A chance of rain and snow showers. Highs in the upper 30s. Chance of precipitation 50 percent.

Saturday
Mostly sunny. Highs around 40.


NOAA FORECAST>>>> DUHUHHUU

Thanksgiving Day: A chance of rain and snow showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 43. Chance of precipitation is 50%.

Thursday Night: Rain and snow showers likely. Cloudy, with a low around 28. Chance of precipitation is 60%.

Friday: A chance of rain and snow showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 37. Chance of precipitation is 50%.

Friday Night: A chance of snow showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 27. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 40.”

“Whos bringing the tarp?”

“I have tarp.”

“Chief Beef has spoken!

I will bring an offering for the BIG COUNCIL FIRE.”

“I have HAM...SWEET POTATOES....SOURCREME..BUTTER.....I think Mark Hayes will bring BISCUITS and a PUMPKIN ROLL.
I have a tarp and bringing a truck load of fire wood. Somebody bring some BEER! Not the cheap junk either. Some of that Yankee beer would be fine.”

“Roger, Chief Beef!

Should I go ahead and bring the BIG STOVE?”

“all up to you little beef. I was planning to roast the sweetpotatoes in the fire. Ham is already cooked and all we need to do is heat up on the fire. Little beef you da man.”

“Either way we will have good pow wow and dance naked around the fire.”

“You first little BEEF”

“Yo Little Beef?”

“Thanksgiving Day: A chance of showers, mainly after 9am. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 47. Chance of precipitation is 40%. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.

Thursday Night: Rain showers likely before 11pm, then rain and snow showers likely between 11pm and 3am, then snow showers likely after 3am. Cloudy, with a low around 30. Chance of precipitation is 60%.

Friday: Snow showers likely. Cloudy, with a high near 36. Chance of precipitation is 60%.

Friday Night: A chance of rain and snow showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 25. Chance of precipitation is 50%.

Saturday: A chance of rain and snow showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 40. Chance of precipitation is 40%.

Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 25.

Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 45.



WE COULD GET SIGNIFICANT SNOW ON FRIDAY. THIS FORCAST IS FROM ELKINS AND THE SODS ALWAYS GET HIT HARDER.”

“FREE BEER, WINE, LIQUOR.....FOOD
last edited: 11/23/09 3:10:54 PM”

“MarkO....I may bring my big 4 season tent with heater....you want to share the load.....hehehe”

“ok, i just wrote a real nice note to all of you Dolly Sods guys--didnt put any apostraphes, and it still didnt post. I cant write love letters more than once so you ll have to take my word it was nice!! If you heare any faint harmonica notes on the wind this weekend know it is me thinking of you and being thankful for having you guys in my life!!”

“I had the same problem on the Linville thread the other day...everytime I tried to post I got a message "no time warping". It was funny and frustrating at the same time.LOL”

“Aw thanks, darling!
Not you Fridge, ya lop-eared varmint!

Hmmmm, 4-season tent with heater?
What`s the shootin` iron for?

As much as I would like to, I don`t think the weather will permit any musical stuff. I will be listening for your sweet harmonica on the wind, Sunnydayz.
I just hope it does not turn into a howling blizzard.”

“That blizzard is always possible up on the plateau. Should be an interesting trek thru the high meadows with the snow blowing in from the west. Will need good rain/windgear and some gloves for sure. May bring the parka too.

Hope my new rain jacket arrive before Thursday!

Fridge you bringing that extra tent for Mark?

I just printed my maps from MrHykers site.”

“No extra tent. I will call him and make him an offer.”

“Fridge you bringing that Hilleberg Condo? Hell Marko can sleep in the vestibule if he is that choosy...or he can just cowboy camp if he has the balls.”

“Bringing my new tree tent. Hooks into a tree. Sleeps 1 person. New stuff in the testing phase. Off the ground too. Should be on the market by summer 2010.”

“The weather looks like it going to be excellent! Of course it should be much more brisk up there.
NOAA.GOV/ELKINS
THURSDAY NIGHT
SNOW AND RAIN SHOWERS LIKELY. LIGHT SNOW
ACCUMULATION POSSIBLE. COLD WITH LOWS AROUND 30. WEST WINDS 10 TO
15 MPH. CHANCE OF PRECIPITATION 70 PERCENT.

FRIDAY
SNOW SHOWERS LIKELY. ADDITIONAL LIGHT SNOW ACCUMULATION
POSSIBLE. BRISK WITH HIGHS IN THE LOWER 30S. CHANCE OF SNOW
70 PERCENT.

FRIDAY NIGHT
CLOUDY WITH A 50 PERCENT CHANCE OF SNOW SHOWERS.
LOWS IN THE UPPER 20S.

SATURDAY
MOSTLY CLOUDY IN THE MORNING...THEN BECOMING PARTLY
SUNNY. HIGHS IN THE LOWER 40S.

SATURDAY NIGHT
PARTLY CLOUDY IN THE EVENING...THEN CLEARING. LOWS
IN THE MID 20S.

SUNDAY
SUNNY. HIGHS IN THE UPPER 40S.”

“Wish I could come but alas I have outta town company!”

“Bring company! Plenty of food....I have a 22 lb ham and I ainttellin what else we havin....just show up with a paper plate and fork spoon then head to the cooler.”

“NOAA
Thanksgiving Day: Showers likely, mainly after 4pm. Cloudy, with a high near 39. West wind between 3 and 11 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.

Tonight: Rain and snow showers before 11pm, then snow showers and freezing rain between 11pm and midnight, then snow showers after midnight. Low around 27. Breezy, with a west wind 9 to 12 mph increasing to between 18 and 21 mph. Winds could gust as high as 31 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New snow accumulation of 1 to 3 inches possible.

Friday: Snow showers. High near 31. West wind around 18 mph, with gusts as high as 28 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New snow accumulation of 1 to 3 inches possible.

Friday Night: Snow showers likely, mainly before 9pm. Cloudy, with a low around 25. West wind around 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.

Saturday: A slight chance of snow showers before noon. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 37. West wind between 8 and 13 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 28.


Under ground weather....http://www.wunderground.com/cgi-bin/findweather/getForecast?query=Harman, West Virginia&wuSelect=WEATHER
This will be very close to the SODS.

Today
Mostly cloudy this morning...then partly sunny with a slight chance of rain showers this afternoon. Highs in the mid 40s. West winds 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 20 percent.

Friday
Snow showers in the morning...then snow and rain showers likely in the afternoon. Areas of blowing snow. Additional snow accumulation of 1 to 3 inches. Total snow accumulation around 5 inches. Blustery and cooler. Near steady temperature in the lower 30s. West winds 15 to 20 mph. Gusts up to 35 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation 90 percent.

Saturday
Partly sunny. Not as cool with highs in the mid 40s. West winds 10 to 15 mph with gusts up to 25 mph.

Saturday Night and Sunday
Partly cloudy. Lows in the upper 20s. Highs in the lower 50s...in the upper 40s across higher elevations.”

“When I got to Red Creek Camp Ground Coco, Fridge and Calves had a fire going so I just pulled up a chair.

The light rain soon turned to snow and the wind picked up.

Sticks arrived at 2 AM while the rest of us were unconscious.

Friday we went for a five mile hike which started into a very stiff head wind with horizontal ice blasting us.

Saturday I headed home under a clear blue sky and a light snow covering of 2-3 inches, temperature 20 and wind a steady 30 MPH.

Passing through Petersburg, WV about 24 miles away and thousands of feet lower it was 55 degrees.”

“sent more pics”

“Thanks sticks!

Those Saturday pics are real nice. Always love gettin out the day after a snow storm”

“What pictures?”

““What pictures?”
mARKo

the ones I sent cocohead.”