Due to a last minute change in plans, i'm apparently headed there.
What say ya?
What say ya?
Dolly Sods - Red Creek Trail
- Thread starter govwontletmebuycoolguns
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Lots of water when I was there in 2008. Beautiful area. Temps will be running down into the 40's at night in a couple of weeks. If you use Verizon, don't plan on cell service.
I'll be nearby (in Pendleton County) over Columbus day weekend.
I'll be nearby (in Pendleton County) over Columbus day weekend.
Dreago
Ultimate Member
- Jul 27, 2009
- 2,539
Dolly Sods is really beautiful, in my opinion......though it's been a few years since I've last been. The only heads up I have is if you find anything metallic off the beaten trail you want to be careful. They used to have signs up warning about unexploded ordinance, but I think that was just to cover their asses. Never heard of anything being found and the last time I went I didn't even see the signs anymore.
Half-cocked
Senior Meatbag
- Mar 14, 2006
- 23,937
If you're there on a clear, moonless night, prepare yourself for a religious experience.
ground chuck
Rookie Jedi
Was there earlier this year. Cross the creek while it's low. It rained over night on us and it rose from ankle deep to waist deep. Prepare to slop it if there's rain the forecast, gaiters highly recommended. If it's dry enjoy your hike.
Streetgang
OP4
If your using a pump to filter water from red creek, put a coffee filter over the input end of the hose. The water at dolly sods has a fair amount of sediment in it and the coffee filter will save you from having to clean the filter element so often.
There are some great spots along the trail to camp. The advice about the wet is so right. I've been there so many times when the fog rolled in and everything was soaked for the rest of the weekend.
There are some great spots along the trail to camp. The advice about the wet is so right. I've been there so many times when the fog rolled in and everything was soaked for the rest of the weekend.
That area is truly "God's Country." But to pile in with everyone else, expect cold and wet this time of year. WV has had a bit of a drought recently, but the highlands tend to still get a decent amount of rain this time of year regardless of what is happening elsewhere due to the altitude and temperature changes. Waterproof boots and gaiters are highly recommended even with our rain as the dew tends to settle heavy and thick around there. Keep your eyes peeled for bears, they're pretty ornery this time of year around there. As for unexploded ordinance, it's still a very real danger up there if you go off trail by even a few feet. The forest service has some warnings about that particular danger here: http://www.fs.usda.gov/generalinfo/mnf/recreation/generalinfo/?groupid=119410&recid=12366
They've found an disposed of live ordinance as recently as last year. To make matters even more "fun" quite a few of the unexploded rounds are white phosphorous. That was the case just two years ago when some boy scouts from Elicott City found a live round near the intersection of two trails.
Now, I've hiked there for decades and never found anything myself, but it's still a possibility. 1-888-283-0303 is the number to call in the unlikely event you do come across something.
They've found an disposed of live ordinance as recently as last year. To make matters even more "fun" quite a few of the unexploded rounds are white phosphorous. That was the case just two years ago when some boy scouts from Elicott City found a live round near the intersection of two trails.
Now, I've hiked there for decades and never found anything myself, but it's still a possibility. 1-888-283-0303 is the number to call in the unlikely event you do come across something.
I've been there five or six times over the years. You're in for a treat. Are you planning to hunt?
There are usually a lot of people there (as forest trails go). They're there for a reason--it's absolutely beautiful and the semi-tundra/high mountain type microclimates are really interesting. Bring gators to keep your pants dry if you have them.
As others have said, don't plan on doing any metal detecting haha. You could end up having a bad day. I'm one to poke around off-trail quite a bit, and I've never found anything. But I think the military used it as a firing/test range for a couple decades, so there is a lot of stuff out there.
Have fun and leave only footprints
There are usually a lot of people there (as forest trails go). They're there for a reason--it's absolutely beautiful and the semi-tundra/high mountain type microclimates are really interesting. Bring gators to keep your pants dry if you have them.
As others have said, don't plan on doing any metal detecting haha. You could end up having a bad day. I'm one to poke around off-trail quite a bit, and I've never found anything. But I think the military used it as a firing/test range for a couple decades, so there is a lot of stuff out there.
Have fun and leave only footprints
CrazySanMan
2013'er
One of my favorite places in the world, even after everywhere I've been in Colorado and Utah.
FYI,
Found this here.
http://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/mnf/alerts-notices/?aid=36692
Dolly Sods Emergency Closure Notice
Area(s): oracle.sql.CLOB@7e297e29
Date(s): Sep 22, 2016
Contact(s): Amy Luebke, Red Creek Fire Public Affairs Specialist
To provide for Public Safety and to protect National Forest Property and Resources, the Monongahela National Forest Supervisor has issued a closure order for the southwestern part of the Dolly Sods Wilderness Area. A small wildfire, called the Red Creek Fire, is burning in the Dolly Sods Wilderness Area. It was discovered on Friday, September 16, 2016. Although the wildfire is small at this time, the danger of the fire is compounded by the possibility of unexploded ordinances in the Sods.
This closure notice includes but is not limited to the following Trails: Big Stonecoal Trail (TR 513), Little Stonecoal Trail (TR 552), Rocky Point Trail (TR554), Dunkenbarger Trail (TR 558)
For more detailed information select the following: Dolly Sods Closure Notice, Dolly Sods Closure Map, Red Creek Fire Update
Found this here.
http://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/mnf/alerts-notices/?aid=36692
Dolly Sods Emergency Closure Notice
Area(s): oracle.sql.CLOB@7e297e29
Date(s): Sep 22, 2016
Contact(s): Amy Luebke, Red Creek Fire Public Affairs Specialist
To provide for Public Safety and to protect National Forest Property and Resources, the Monongahela National Forest Supervisor has issued a closure order for the southwestern part of the Dolly Sods Wilderness Area. A small wildfire, called the Red Creek Fire, is burning in the Dolly Sods Wilderness Area. It was discovered on Friday, September 16, 2016. Although the wildfire is small at this time, the danger of the fire is compounded by the possibility of unexploded ordinances in the Sods.
This closure notice includes but is not limited to the following Trails: Big Stonecoal Trail (TR 513), Little Stonecoal Trail (TR 552), Rocky Point Trail (TR554), Dunkenbarger Trail (TR 558)
For more detailed information select the following: Dolly Sods Closure Notice, Dolly Sods Closure Map, Red Creek Fire Update
Blah.
Thanks for the heads up....we'll stay east of that area.
Thanks for the heads up....we'll stay east of that area.
Well, they just found a second fire and implemented a whole bunch more restrictions for the entire Dolly Sods Wilderness. Guess we'll be going somewhere else.
Cranberry Wilderness is another good hiking and camping spot in WV that's not too far from Dolly Sods. It's also a boreal forest and bog area with some breathtaking scenery, true wilderness, and great hiking.
Fire restrictions might be rescinded soon if they get rain like we're supposed to get down here.
The area is popular for Bigfoot and UFO hunting. I had my own double Foo Fighter sighting myself... somewhat nearby, one night in November, 1976.
Ended up going to Harriman in NY.
Meh.
Meh.
Could camp in Mopar's yard for that....
Streetgang
OP4
I was planning on heading up there next weekend. Found out two days ago that there is an open fire ban and 1/2 the area is closed due to the fires. I'll probably go to Cranberry Wilderness. The place is almost deserted compared to DS. It's a good 90 minutes further but worth it.
Biggfoot44
Ultimate Member
- Aug 2, 2009
- 33,108
So do I head there for good hunting, or stay far away ?
Yep, pretty underutilized. Mainly fly fishermen and serious backpackers if you do come across someone. My troop used to do a week-long winter camp there. It wasn't uncommon to wake up to a couple feet of snow from the overnight.
Streetgang
OP4
In a few weeks the fires will be out and the rains will have come. I would suggest checking hunting rules for DS. I'm not sure, but I think hunting rules are different there since it's a wilderness area.
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