In this section I will detail day hikes and backpacking trips I have accomplished, mileage, shelters, and opinions on the hike. These are since I have set up the site in 2004. To see my section hikes of the AT from 2003 to present, go to Trail Journals |
Hiking Trails |
In this section I will detail day hikes and backpacking trips I have accomplished, mileage, shelters, and opinions on the hike. These are since I have set up the site in 2004. To see my section hikes of the AT from 2003 to present, go to Trail Journals |
Hike 1 August 6-8, 2004 Destination: Dolly Sods Wilderness, West Virginia Mileage: 4 miles Highlights: easy hike in for families, large creek for swimming, plenty of natural campsites, good blueberry picking in season Rank: 4 |
This is the first backpacking trip I have done since injuring my ankle while running, damaging most of the tendons. Thus I was a bit shaky carrying a fifteen pound pack. Day 1 August 6, 2004 Arrived in the Dolly Sods Wilderness at Red Creek Campground. Hiked in about 1/4 mile along the Red Creek trail to some pine trees and a large campsite complete with fire ring and stone chairs. Made our home before darkness set in. Had popcorn. Day 2 August 7, 2004 Found old privy way in the back of the woods (!). Departed area not knowing we were on an old trail and not the reroute. No hikers at all. Easy to follow via the cairns set up. Plenty of blueberries ripe for the picking. Vegetation of region seen in the far north and in Canada. Hiked the 2 miles to Red Creek. Did not cross the creek but instead turned left at the junction and bushwacked through the woods to large campsite with fire pit and more stone chairs. Arriving at nine AM we had the day to enjoy. Explored the area, picked blueberries, relaxed in God's creation. Very chilly night, glad for the campfire. Day 3 August 8, 2004 Nice sunny day. Packed up and hiked back. Did not follow the regular trail but followed the one we had ventured down and found plenty of bnlueberries and again no hikers. Solitude galore. After arriving at the car, drove to Bear Rocks for nice views. |
Hike 2 Late August, 2004 Destination: Ramsey's Draft Wilderness, Virginia Mileage: 7 miles Highlights: Good camping areas, river, some virgin forest growth Rank: 2 Okay, why would I rank a trail as a two? Because quite frankly this is not a trail but a bushwhack through an area devastated by flooding. While we hear of man's destruction all the time, Ramsey's Draft is an example of what flooding and beetle damage can do to a pristine wilderness. This must have been a great place at one time - large virgin growth, wild river, river gorge, until the floods came. Negotiating the many difficult river crossings, fallen trees and trying to find your way through without hurting yourself makes the scenery seem to evaporate. And I guess getting stung by yellow jackets doesn't help either. We finally had to bail out as the going was simply too rough to handle. But there are some excellent camping areas. We spent two very pleasant nights there at some great sites. I do wish there was a way some of the destruction could be cleared so people can enjoy this once beautiful place. |
Hike 3 May 27-29, 2005 Destination: Big Schloss, Virginia, West Virginia Border Mileage: 14 miles total Highlights: good campsites, views Rank: 4 Day 1 May 27, 2005 Arrived Friday night for a mere 1/2 mile trek in to a gorgeous campsite along Stony Creek Trail, off Forest Service 92 near Columbia Furnace, VA. Plenty of firewood and nice isolated campsite Day 2 May 28th Continued up the Stony Creek trail at a moderate elevation change. Began to cloud up. Reached the Tuscarora Trail, turned left, hiked along an old logging road. Turned left onto Mill Mountain Trail. Began to rain but found refuge in an old shed left from an air beacon warning system from the 1940's. Bunks inside, but pretty nasty. Evidence of large mouse population. Waited out the rain, then continued on to Sandstone Spring. Found nice campsite near the trail early in the afternoon, just before all the Memorial Day hikers came looking for sites. Relaxing afternoon. Rain early in the evening with a lot of wind, so spent the night in the Kiva. Day 3 May 29th Continued on Mill Mountain Trail to the top of Big Schloss. Beautiful views. Saw a large timber rattler on the summit, but did not warn us with the rattle. Hard to believe we walked past the rattler unaware. Returned down the Mill Mountain trail to the Big Schloss cut off trail, to Forest Service 92 and back to our van. Easy weekend hike with plenty of campsites and nice views. Good for those getting used to the backpacking scene. And you can get your food supplies for the trip at the nearby Woodstock Wal Mart Supercenter. |
