Canaan Valley, WV - Dolly Sods Wilderness Area

Discussion in 'Adventure, Hiking, Backpacking and Travel' started by DiscoveryLover, Sep 4, 2018.

  1. DiscoveryLover

    DiscoveryLover Member

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    Labor Day weekend I went to Canaan Valley, WV with my family. I hiked the Dolly Sods Wilderness area, Rocky Ridge Trail. Did a route of 11.66 miles, just under 6 hours. Weather started great, then 2 rain storms came through, made for soggy trail conditions. @Stone

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    Overlooking Canaan Valley. Elevation about 4,000 ft.
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    Rain storm coming
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    Rain storm in the background
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    Last edited: Sep 20, 2018
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  2. Strigidae

    Strigidae Administrator Staff Member

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    How did you manage in the rain? Did you shelter in place or slog through? Look like some elevation changes there!
     
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  3. DiscoveryLover

    DiscoveryLover Member

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    2nd Rain storm coming
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    Beaver pond in the distance
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    Creek crossing
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    Rain turned the trails into streams
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    Soggy trail
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  4. DiscoveryLover

    DiscoveryLover Member

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    Rain storm in the distant
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    Finally stopped raining
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    Distant storm
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    Shaerks Terrashaerk
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    Mystery Ranch Scree
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    FYI
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    Also went and saw Blackwater Falls
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    and Blackwater Canyon
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  5. DiscoveryLover

    DiscoveryLover Member

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    I just slogged through. There was just thunder and rain, not much wind or lightning. I had my gortex raincoat, pack cover and boots. I had a 5Col tarp shelter just in case it got worse. But I was mostly out in the open when the storms hit.
    My boots and pants were soaked tho. I had gortex boots, but the mud and water was so deep in spots, my boots submerged and filled with water.
     
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  6. SEMO

    SEMO Member

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    Nice endurance trip with the rain.
    Pretty pics. Everything looks super green after the rain.
     
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  7. packmen21

    packmen21 Bottom Feeding Spammer

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    Looks Great
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  8. Bushman5

    Bushman5 Member

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    WOW! I thought BC was beautiful.........this is amazing!

    love this photo


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  9. ThreeRidges

    ThreeRidges Member

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    Was there a few years ago, soaked feet but lots of fun. Did a big loop, camped two nights. There are some killer spots to camp there (and easy access to water)
     
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  10. DiscoveryLover

    DiscoveryLover Member

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  11. Stone

    Stone Member

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    Got it. Present and accounted for. :)
     
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  12. Stone

    Stone Member

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    Fine photos. Such beautiful country.

    So far south for me (northern Maine).
    But so much like here in terms of ruggedness, wildness.
     
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  13. Stone

    Stone Member

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    This.

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  14. DiscoveryLover

    DiscoveryLover Member

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    Thank you. It's definitely different terrain.

    "Dolly Sods is a rocky, high-altitude plateau with sweeping vistas and lifeforms normally found much farther north in Canada. To the north, the distinctive landscape of "the Sods" is characterized by stunted ("flagged") trees, wind-carved boulders, heath barrens, grassy meadows created in the last century by logging and fires, and sphagnum bogs that are much older.

    Dolly Sods is the highest plateau east of the Mississippi River with altitudes ranging from 2,644 ft. at the outlet of Red Creek to 4,123 ft. at the top of the eastern edge mountain ridge on the Allegheny Front. Much of the high plateau section lies at nearly 4,000 ft. elevation.

    The climate of Dolly Sods is classified as humid continental, similar to portions of Canada. Daily weather can vary greatly with large extremes in temperature occurring dangerously fast. Fog can form/roll in extremely quickly, dropping visibility to dangerous, disorienting near-zero conditions. Access roads can quickly become blocked by dense fog, downed trees from high wind, and snow/snow drifts.

    This section of the Allegheny Front is one of the windiest spots east of the Mississippi. The effect of these winds can be seen in the flag-form red spruce trees; their branches grow mostly on one side (east), away from the prevailing west winds. Because of the drying influence of the winds, stunted branches are produced on the west side of the tree above the protective shrub layer. Stunted branches on the east side give the trees a twisted appearance.
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    It's neat seeing the 'flagged' trees. (not my pic)
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  15. KnOeFz

    KnOeFz Member

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    Great pics, lousy weather :p
    Love all the little streams you came across.
    Thanks for sharing.
     
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