christopherrobin
Forum Elder
“People say nothing is impossible, but I do nothing every day.”
Posts: 259 
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Post by christopherrobin on Nov 5, 2014 9:16:20 GMT -5
Ok, just got the book, "The Last Forest" and now Cranberry Wilderness has shot up to the top of my to-do list. What is the best local weather report to check for there? Any reason not to go now? Thanks!
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Post by Admin on Nov 5, 2014 9:27:05 GMT -5
Richwood, WV. It's an awful long drive for you ... maybe 6 hours from Sykesville, MD. A lot of stream crossings that can't be avoided.
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Post by arfcomhkr on Nov 5, 2014 10:07:43 GMT -5
Marlinton for weather. I've backpacked it the winter before.  You can stay pretty dry if you do the Big Beechy-Middle Fork loop. You could go the North South trail and go over to the Middle Fork on Laurelly branch and only have one real crossing where it meets Middle Fork (I think). It's not much of a crossing IIRC, but it was done in the fall. The lower section of North Fork can be iffy or even impossible when the water is up. Tea Creek, Tea Creek mnt. and Gauley mnt aren't bad. There are a bunch of crossings on the upper end of Tea Creek but can be rock hopped for the most part if you take some time to look at them a bit instead of just jumping in. The only iffy crossing up there is where the right fork dumps into Tea Creek by the shelter. We ended up bushwhacking upstream a bit to find a better place to cross with dry feet. |
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Post by Admin on Nov 5, 2014 10:19:36 GMT -5
Marlinton is @ a much lower elevation than the Wilderness.
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Post by arfcomhkr on Nov 5, 2014 10:22:37 GMT -5
Marlinton is @ a much lower elevation than the Wilderness. That's true but it's still pretty close and good enough for a general forecast. I've learned to never put much faith in any of the forecasts for the mountains anyway.  |
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Post by arfcomhkr on Nov 5, 2014 10:25:32 GMT -5
BTW OP. 150 is not plowed at all during the winter. Better have a decent 4X4 if you go back in there and leave your vehicle for a few days. You can be down on the Cranberry with no snow and have a foot or more up on 150. Been there, done that. Here's a little story you should read before venturing into the Cranberry during the winter. It's not mine, but it's an informative read none the less. www.iplayoutside.com/Articles/1998/12/00-winter_hike97.html |
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christopherrobin
Forum Elder
“People say nothing is impossible, but I do nothing every day.”
Posts: 259
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Post by christopherrobin on Nov 5, 2014 10:43:14 GMT -5
Thanks for the info! I will check both places for the weather, and prepare for the worst. Yeah, it's a pretty long haul, but I need to do it! The descriptions in the book are wonderful, although it is heartbreaking to read knowing what happened...
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Post by arfcomhkr on Nov 5, 2014 10:46:03 GMT -5
Thanks for the info! I will check both places for the weather, and prepare for the worst. Yeah, it's a pretty long haul, but I need to do it! The descriptions in the book are wonderful, although it is heartbreaking to read knowing what happened... It's one of my personal favorite places to backpack. Lot's of solitude which I love although a bit lacking on views. |
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vdeal
Forum Elder
Posts: 616
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Post by vdeal on Nov 5, 2014 11:28:51 GMT -5
You can get a bit more detailed forecast by using the NWS forecast zones. Cranberry is in three counties mainly - Webster, Pochantas and Greenbrier. The zones for those counties respectively are WVZ038, WVZ046 and WVZ508 (Western Greenbrier). Just do a Google search for "forecast for WVZ046 (or any other zone)" and within the first few responses you'll see a link to forecast.weather.gov with a heading like Zone Area Forecast for Pocahontas County, WV.
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christopherrobin
Forum Elder
“People say nothing is impossible, but I do nothing every day.”
Posts: 259
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Post by christopherrobin on Nov 5, 2014 11:36:33 GMT -5
Hey, great tip, thanks!
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Post by countryroads on Dec 18, 2014 18:52:29 GMT -5
I usually get the weather (especially temperature) as close as I can, then subtract 10 or 15 degrees to ballpark expected temps. This usually works, but I have been surprised a few times, especially at D-sods.
Temps in late August of this year: forecast of 51 in Davis, so should be around low to mid-40s in Dolly Sods; night temp at 3 am was 35 degrees and 32 degrees at 6 am. It warmed up to the upper 70's and the second night was 52 degrees. I was using a 3-season Yeti underquilt and a 40 degree top quilt. Only my feet were a bit chilled. Was a great night though. The stars were spectacular!
So in short, carry your warm jacket on those mountain hikes, even in summer.
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vdeal
Forum Elder
Posts: 616
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Post by vdeal on Dec 19, 2014 10:02:26 GMT -5
Countryroads, temps in late summer, early fall in the mountains is tricky. You were actually experiencing a fairly common phenomena the second night. People always think higher is colder but that's not right. On calm, still nights with radiational cooling colder air (because it's denser due to the molecules being closer together because of less energy in the form of heat) will sink down into the lowest areas and the higher areas will actually be warmer. I live on a ridgeline with deep valleys nearby. Even though I have much colder winters than the surrounding area just a few miles away I have a longer growing season. In fact, my first average frost in the fall is around October 20th despite frosts mere miles away in the lowlands weeks earlier. Same thing happens in the spring also. So, the bottom line is, don't automatically subtract temperature for higher elevations, especially in spring and early fall (especially fall). BTW, the standard formula for elevation based temperature change is 3.5°F per 1000 feet of elevation gain.
At Dolly Sods your location will make all the difference in the world. Down along Red Creek will probably be colder on a calm night and then you throw in a bit of moisture which makes the sensation of coolness even more intense. Highlands will obviously feel cooler with a breeze but if it's calm they may be warmer. Of course, being prepared with a bit of extra warm gear never hurts but your chance of being super cold is low. A light down vest or jacket is light, compact and will provide much warmth.
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Post by countryroads on Dec 20, 2014 14:44:41 GMT -5
My first night was downstream on the right fork hanging in some hardwoods. I was maybe 15 feet above the creek, but near the mouth of Alder Run. It was nice clear night. I expect I was getting double cold from both creeks. Second night was under the spruces along Dobbin Grade; away from the creek and not in the open.
I think this is why I love the WV mountains so much. They keep you on your toes. It was a nice hike. I headed down to the forks and then decided to hike up the right fork, which I had not done before. It was a very pretty hike. Did see a bear in the little meadow below my campsite. Next day I headed back out B-bird knob trail and then out rocky ridge tr (which I still prefer to call cabin Mtn trail) and down dobbin grade.
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