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Post by jnk556 on Jul 18, 2018 8:15:38 GMT -5
Ok, so whether I do this one this coming weekend, or wait a week, it is next on the list. Horton Trail, from Whitmer trail head over to the falls on Seneca creek, and back.
While I have hiked Seneca Creek, and camped above the falls, the falls themselves have eluded me. I have not hiked Horton before, so now is the time to cross these two things off my list.
Anyone been over Horton lately? Is it marked well? How about the crest of Allegheny, is the intersection confusing, signed or? I know I'm looking at about 7mi total out and back, with 1000ft gain the middle, so that will be the challenge, uphill both ways per say, no worse than the high falls trail I'm sure!
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vdeal
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Posts: 616
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Post by vdeal on Jul 18, 2018 9:02:27 GMT -5
jnk, Seems like I'm the only one besides you still hiking in WV. Anyway to the Horton Tr. I've only ever done the side from Seneca Creek to the Allegheny Mountain Tr. I last did that in September 2014 and that part of Horton Tr was fine. Allegheny Mt Tr is an old woods road so it's easy to see and I believe there was a sign up there. That side of Horton is pretty steep. Personally I would hike the Seneca Creek Tr. the whole way to the falls and back. Much prettier with plenty of waterworks and Judy Springs to boot. It is 10 miles total but not bad. I would make sure the water is decent or the falls will be lame. You can check the water levels in WV here. There is no gauge on Seneca but you can check some downstream gauges and get an overall feel. Right now looks pretty good for summer and there is rain forecast this weekend. I've done most of the west side trails at Seneca but don't feel any desire to do the west side of Horton. It doesn't offer anything to me compared to Seneca Creek, Judy Meadows, High Meadows, Lost Meadows, etc. I don't know how steep it will be on that side but Swallow Rock and Bee Run on the west side and Bear Hunter and Horton on the east are steep so I would expect nothing less. Good luck which ever way you go.
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Post by jnk556 on Jul 18, 2018 14:56:00 GMT -5
Yeah veal I think really we are the only ones local enough to have done a lot of these trails.
I have hiked about 80% of Seneca creek trail, all of it but the section from Tom's lick to bear hunter. So I really dont want to do that all over again.
Yeah Allegehney is a decent road walk, done sections of it as well as bear hunter, and swallow rock, and those latter 2 suck lol
West side of Horton looks gental, up the creek, and of course the east side is steep, but only a mile long so I think its doable.
I'm shooting for maybe waiting a week on this one since my right knee was giving me fits in downhills last Saturday on Canaan mtn.
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vdeal
Forum Elder
Posts: 616
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Post by vdeal on Jul 19, 2018 8:01:47 GMT -5
jnk,
I know two other folks on this board are local but one isn't doing much hiking this year and has not done as many areas. The other may be but I don't know her directly. Arf used to hike in WV a lot but haven't heard from him in a while. VA3pinner has also done a lot in WV but he is fairly quiet. Outside of me and my hiking buddy (who isn't on the board), you and Galiwalker it's pretty quiet around here for WV. I still see folks out from time to time but where I travel I wouldn't expect to see many - that's good for me since I enjoy the solitude.
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Post by jnk556 on Jul 19, 2018 15:28:29 GMT -5
Yeah, Arf is my buddy, and we used to backpack together, he's retired from backpacking for the most part. He bought a cabin near Petersburg, and he takes care of it and driving back home to OH these days.
Looks like this weekend is a off weekend, as I'm going to Arf's place this weekend and relax.
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Post by jnk556 on Aug 1, 2018 17:50:51 GMT -5
Ok, got out on Sunday for a beautiful day of hiking. Bought a new truck the day before, so I got a good test drive over to Whitmer, and a nice although strenuous 7.5 mi hike. The Horton trail on the west side is very nice except for the last .5mi or so where it gets steep a it approaches the top of Allegheny. The east side, is steeper for sure, but it goes along the side of the mtn, and thus the hike back up did not seem too horrible, although the trip down to the falls my right knee once again gave me a hard time. Falls were running well, and never seen another person other than a group that were up near the top of the falls, and left as I approached the bottom. Camping spots were very nice looking down there. Oh, and BTW, I hate stinging nettles
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