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Post by jnk556 on Sept 28, 2014 10:01:57 GMT -5
After our trip there a couple weeks ago, and passing the gate for the Dogway Fork "fly fishing only area" I have studied maps, and still have yet to figure out if that road goes down to the Cranberry River or not, and if it does, is there a bridge across the river to FR76??
Arfcomhkr and I were discussing the possibility of a future hike of going down in there, across the river, and from there where ever we wanted into the wilderness. Avoiding having to cross the Cranberry river without a bridge. After hearing the crossings at Kennison, and fishermans trails suck, it would be kinda a new route into FR76, rather than walking all the way from the Glades, or having to drive all the way around to Richwood, and to the Cranberry Campground....
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Post by jnk556 on Sept 28, 2014 10:19:09 GMT -5
Found my answer, looks like FR78 drops off of FR232, and drops down to cross the Cranberry around the Dogway shelter. Anyone been down around that area??
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vdeal
Forum Elder
Posts: 616
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Post by vdeal on Sept 28, 2014 19:57:46 GMT -5
jnk,
I've been on a part of that at the top and seen a deer hunter riding a bike down. Down at Cranberry I believe I recall a low level bridge but it has been many years since I've been there.
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Post by jnk556 on Sept 28, 2014 20:21:49 GMT -5
Think I have found what is a low water bridge across the cranberry, in pictures on the web. Arfcomhkr, nor I have never been past Birchlog trail, so I wasn't sure. I'm already thinking up a hike into this area. Maybe for next spring. There once was a old logging town up on Dogway fork about 2mi from the Cranberry river called "dogtown". What is left, or the area it was once in, probably looks nothing like it once was, but I would really like to find this area.
I just finished reading a excellent book on the Cranberry called "the cranberry wilderness story" By Luther Baker. This book has sparked my interest on whole list of places in the area which i plan to check out in the next few years.
BTW, if anyone is interested I can give you Mr. Bakers info on how to purchase a copy of this book. It is not available online.
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vdeal
Forum Elder
Posts: 616
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Post by vdeal on Sept 29, 2014 6:40:48 GMT -5
jnk,
The low water bridge is clearly visible on FlashEarth. Just type in Richwood WV and go from there. With Bing labels on you can see the FS roads and the bridge. Turn the labels off to see the bridge.
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MRHyker
Forum Elder
Out to Lunch
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Post by MRHyker on Sept 29, 2014 8:22:53 GMT -5
From my recollection it is poured concrete over 3 or more large culverts. It is suseptable to flooding when the river is high and the culverts get clogged with debris.
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vdeal
Forum Elder
Posts: 616
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Post by vdeal on Sept 29, 2014 12:38:20 GMT -5
Here's a picture of the bridge.
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Post by jnk556 on Sept 29, 2014 17:40:53 GMT -5
yeah, that is the pic I found. Looks like a pretty decent bridge, and unless the river is up and muddy, I don't think it would be flooded the majority of the time.
There appears to be a liming station up on Dogway as well. Hrmmmm. I wonder if it is located near the former site of "dogtown"....
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vdeal
Forum Elder
Posts: 616
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Post by vdeal on Sept 29, 2014 19:06:00 GMT -5
Did some reading and indeed there is a rotary drum liming station on Dogway that by all accounts has been very successful. Check Google Earth and you can see the building and the dam on Dogway. BTW, the road crosses Dogway a few more times heading downstream.
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Post by arfcomhkr on Sept 30, 2014 11:54:26 GMT -5
Looks interesting. I'm always looking for something new (to me)in the Cranberry area as I've backpacked a good portion of the more popular trails. Some multiple times.
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Post by jnk556 on Sept 30, 2014 18:02:29 GMT -5
Looks interesting. I'm always looking for something new (to me)in the Cranberry area as I've backpacked a good portion of the more popular trails. Some multiple times. I've been in e-mail contact with Luther Baker, the author of the cranberry book, and he is a wealth of info about the area. From what i understand the old town was near where the current liming station. He also said there were many camps back up in there, so it might be worth a whole hike just to devote to that area. I think a spring hike is in order, before the underbrush comes out, and we can see the rail grades better, and any old artifacts. Arf, i know you just love following me into these old places looking for old junk from years past!
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