Dolly Sods

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Vivi

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Planning to take my first trip to Dolly Sods sometime late this winter or early spring. Tell me anything you think I should know, or just load this thread up with pictures to make me anticipate my visit :D
 
You're in for a real treat! Keep in mind that late winter or early spring, and you'll almost certainly be dealing with snow. If at all possible, go during the week. Even in the winter, you're sure to see many others on the trails. Because of snow, there's a good chance you'll be parking at the Laneville Cabin, and hiking in from there.

Hollowdweller probably has more miles in at Dolly Sods than anyone else here. He also has lots and lots of great pictures. He's sure to chime in! :)
 
I think that is one of Hollowdweller's favorite stomping grounds. He and I have discusses hiking there several times over the past few months. I was kinda concerned when I saw this, but he said it wasn't anything to worry about as long as you don't touch them.

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:eek:
 
Scott Free said:
You're talking about the bombs—right? :)
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Bombs? What b... oh, yeah right.:p

Actually they are mortar and artillary shells. Some are dummies, some duds, some as live as the day they were born. But supposedly they have swept the trails and 20 yards to each side and all of the major established camping areas. It was an artillery, mortar and manuver practice area leading up to the invasion of Europe during WWII.
 
At gun shows you can often find empty "bombs" that look similar to the one on the warning poster. I've often thought of hiding one, and then "finding" it in the future when I had friends along. The practical joke potential is enormous! :)
 
You wouldn't put a smoke bomb or loud ticking clock inside would you? I sorta kinda like the clock idea.
 
I've been up there before with Hollowdweller. Its a beautiful place with interesting mountain bogs and varying degrees of terrain all over. make sure to look for rasberries. I'm sure HollowDweller will chime in, he knows that place well.
 
You'll enjoy the Sods. I've spent some time up there. Here are a couple of pictures of the "Sods" in the spring.

Brandon
 

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Vivi,

Good to see you.

If you go in spring and want any company let me know.

Winter up there is more tough.

Due to the elevation often there is snow up there in April. Also the wind is pretty brutal at times.

I would check with the ranger station to find out when the road on top is open. Sometimes in winter it is closed.

My friend Mr Hyker has a website with dozens of hikes in DS and the MON listed.

www.midatlantichikes.com

Here's a link to a live webcam of Dolly sods. You can click on "landmarks" and it shows you what you are looking at. Lots of snow on the ground up there right now and 1 degree.

http://www.fsvisimages.com/doso1/doso1.html#


IMO my favorite time to visit there is in July to Oct because that is when there's tons of blueberries and cranberries you can forage.

Here's some pics of the last hike I took there.

http://www.hollowdweller.com/viewtopic.php?f=12&t=396
 
PS If any forumites would be interested in a say 2 night 3 day backpacking trip there this year I'd be glad to meet you there and go.
 
Joezilla said:
I've been up there before with Hollowdweller. Its a beautiful place with interesting mountain bogs and varying degrees of terrain all over. make sure to look for rasberries. I'm sure HollowDweller will chime in, he knows that place well.
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HERE is the thread with the pics of that trip we took Joe:thumbup:
 
Could be very cold, dress warm. I spent a very cold couple of nights there with my Dad back when I was a kid, huddled under a piece of vizqueen. Great memories.
 
I've woken to heavy frost in mid August. Also, what Hollowdweller said about the wind is definitely right. It can be ferocious.
 
Thanks for the advice. Cold doesn't bother me much, hoping it will make the experience more secluded if I go sometime in the next month. I have lots of warm clothes so as long as I stay dry I should do fine.

Hollowdweller, thanks for the offer. I might take you up on that in the late spring.
 
Remember that any of the crossings of Red Creek would be very tricky this time of year.

Also the trails are really rocky and there are holes that could be covered up by snow.

Probably your safest hike this time of year there would just be a quick in and out on Wildlife and Rorhbaugh Plains Trail.

Go down Wildlife Trail and make a left onto Rorhbaugh Plains. Go about a mile and you are at the "Unamed Vista" A big bunch of cliffs overlooking Red Creek. Behind the cliffs are numerous sheltered camping spots with fire rings that would keep you out of the wind and snow.

About a quarter mile before you get to the big cliffs and camping spot there is a small seep/creek that is a water source.

If you were feeling Froggy you could also backtrack, pass Wildlife Trail and then continue on Rorhbaugh Plains to where Fisher Springs Branch goes down into the canyon. When you get to the bottom there is a nice waterfall with camping spots also although I would be somewhat paranoid to make the steep descent with any snow on the ground.

Trailhead of Wildlife
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View from Cliffs on Rorhbaugh Plains
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This is from the cliffs looking down Red Creek toward the Laneville Wildlife Cabin
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The sheltered camping area behind the cliffs
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Water source. It was nearly dry but I followed the drain back up about 75 yards and found a pool.
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cairn marking junction of Rorhbaugh Plains and Fisher Springs Branch
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Waterfall with camping spots at the bottom where Fisher Springs Meets Red Creek Trail
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Map

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Be careful if you go up there! FS 75 is sometimes Gated during winter. Check before you go.
 
I would definately caution Hollowdwellers advice! I spent a weekend in Dolly Sods a couple of Novembers ago. It was just in time for the first snow. We camped in the wildlife opening at the junction of the Wildlife Trail and the Rohrbaugh Plains trail (or close). The temp that night got down to about 15 F and man was it ever windy!

Have and awsome trip!

Brandon
 
bkduckworth said:
I would definately caution Hollowdwellers advice! I spent a weekend in Dolly Sods a couple of Novembers ago. It was just in time for the first snow. We camped in the wildlife opening at the junction of the Wildlife Trail and the Rohrbaugh Plains trail (or close). The temp that night got down to about 15 F and man was it ever windy!

Have and awsome trip!

Brandon
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Brandon,

If you mean the little meadow the wife and I camped there once in the woods on the edge of that little widlife clearing. It came a hellatious rain.

We were under a 12x12 tarp right in the middle and in bivvies and the rain was still hitting us. That's up so high the clouds were right on top of us!

On the Windy front we were down in Roaring Plains one time and the wind actually knocked my friend Kate down when we were out on a talus slope
 
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