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Post by countryroads on Oct 22, 2015 15:33:07 GMT -5
Anyone been up to Haystack Knob lately? I hiked about a mile out the grade from Flatrock Run/RPTrail back in Sept, but was wondering about trail conditions beyond that. A couple of friends and I are planning a Haystack Knob hike for Oct31/Nov1, unless mother nature decides to make a snow dump or produce an early season polar vortex  |
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Post by aseege1 on Nov 24, 2015 21:18:24 GMT -5
How was it? I'm always curious about Haystack expeditions.
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Post by countryroads on Dec 9, 2015 17:15:13 GMT -5
The hiking was pretty nice. Very nice scenery. Since we decided to camp in the spruces and day hike to Haystack, we got a late start. Decision was made to head back at 1530, since we did want to hit camp before dark. We did get within site of Haystack though (so close and yet so far). Do have a question for everyone. We saw a couple of nest boxes in a couple of trees along the grade. Not sure what kind of critters they are for; maybe saw-whet owls or bats? The trip itself was pretty nice. One of my friends and I headed up Friday afternoon and camped at the end of Roaring Plains Trail (cold night around 27 degrees, but no wind). The other 2 friends met us on Saturday morning and we hiked in to the spruces campsite. Did have some pretty good wind Saturday night and a bit of rain after midnight. Funny thing is that I did a 2-nighter in Dolly Sods the next week and had temps in the 60's and maybe hitting the 70's during the day and only in the mid-40's at night. Also managed an overnighter the week before Thanksgiving. No extremely warm, but not all that cold either. Camped with my dog at the forks of red creek. Very quiet night.
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jbs86
New Member
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Post by jbs86 on Dec 9, 2015 19:08:50 GMT -5
There's a good chance those are nest boxes for flying squirrels. They're not uncommon in Appalachian high-elevation spruce and fir forests. When I was living in southwest Virginia, I saw these a lot in similar areas like Mount Rogers, Roan Mountain TN/NC, etc.
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vdeal
Forum Elder
Posts: 616
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Post by vdeal on Dec 10, 2015 10:41:09 GMT -5
CR,
Too bad you didn't make it the whole way out. Haystack is worth the effort - possibly the best view on the Mon. It takes longer than you would think though and there is a shortcut but some of it is on private land. We did it as a long dayhike using the Roaring Plains trail and the railroad grade and the round trip came in at 13.85 miles. I saw the boxes also and wondered about them. Never thought of flying squirrels.
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Post by countryroads on Dec 10, 2015 16:28:27 GMT -5
Yeah, I never thought about flying squirrels either. Does make sense though. We really should have just done it as a backpack rather than a day hike. We stood on one side of the valley and looked across longingly, but the days were getting shorter (Halloween weekend) & we wanted to get back to camp before it got too dark, hence the 3:30 turn-around time. It was nice to get some fresh water on the way back too. Nice stream! On Saturday, just before the side trail to the tower (on Roaring plains trail) we stopped for a snack and noticed a 1L smart water bottle in the bushes at the edge of the trail. It was full and still sealed! Nice score. A very nice trip with good friends.
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Post by Admin on Jan 1, 2016 13:09:26 GMT -5
Yeah, I never thought about flying squirrels either. Does make sense though. We really should have just done it as a backpack rather than a day hike. We stood on one side of the valley and looked across longingly, but the days were getting shorter (Halloween weekend) & we wanted to get back to camp before it got too dark, hence the 3:30 turn-around time. It was nice to get some fresh water on the way back too. Nice stream! On Saturday, just before the side trail to the tower (on Roaring plains trail) we stopped for a snack and noticed a 1L smart water bottle in the bushes at the edge of the trail. It was full and still sealed! Nice score. A very nice trip with good friends. That may have been somebody's water cache! |
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