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Post by arfcomhkr on Jan 1, 2015 12:58:03 GMT -5
I was looking at the two DSN trips on the site here. I haven't done that section and was wondering if it would be too wet up there for a spring hike. How are the crowds in that section?
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Post by Admin on Jan 1, 2015 14:33:11 GMT -5
Dobbin Grade is always a wet slog regardless of the time of year. Most of it can be avoided by using what I call the unofficial Dobbin Grade By-pass Trail shown in The Dolly Sods Circumnavigation - Mod 1 Hike. Loading the waypoint of the trail junction of it with the Raven Ridge Tr into your GPS will make it easier to find. It's almost impossible to see unless you know what you're looking for. Uou have to cross both forks of ed Creek and, if you do the loner DSN loop, you "might have to wade across what I refer to as Dobbin Run (an un-named stream through the bogs) the beavers have dammed up over recent years. The last report I received was that the dams had been broken but you never know with those rodents. |
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vdeal
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Post by vdeal on Jan 1, 2015 15:20:54 GMT -5
Avoid the Dobbin Grade trail and you'll be good to go other than a few stream crossings that are entirely manageable. Dobbin Grade is one of my least favorite trails on the Mon. As for crowds my normal advice applies - avoid weekends if possible and holidays at all costs. Two years ago I did a 13 mile dayhike up there and ran into people only in two places. It's like anywhere else, pick your spot and time right and you'll likely avoid the crowds.
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Post by Admin on Jan 2, 2015 7:46:53 GMT -5
If you have to do a weekend do the weekend immediately before or after (preferred) a 3 day weekend.
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Post by arfcomhkr on Jan 2, 2015 9:04:30 GMT -5
I'm having a little bit of trouble picking out the unofficial bypass on the map. Is it the blue line listed as .82 miles out to the Bear Rocks trail?
I'll probably have to do a weekend if I want to go with anyone else. I'm about the only retired person in the group.
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Post by aseege1 on Jan 2, 2015 9:30:52 GMT -5
That be the one. The western trail junction is hidden by some overhanging branches.
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Post by arfcomhkr on Jan 2, 2015 9:35:07 GMT -5
If you do go on a weekend, stay on the western side of the wilderness and you will see less crowds. Avoid "The Forks" like the plague. Yeah, going to do one of the DSN bacpacks listed here. Hopefully early spring. One other thing. I'll be coming in from the Petersburg side. I guess Jordan Run to FR75. How is that? |
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Post by Admin on Jan 2, 2015 9:43:25 GMT -5
I'll post a marked up map here soon. Will you be coming down Jordan Run Road from the north?
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Post by arfcomhkr on Jan 2, 2015 9:49:16 GMT -5
I'll post a marked up map here soon. Will you be coming down Jordan Run Road from the north? Not sure which end of Jordan Run I'll go up. I think the South side might be closer to town, but either way. I've only been up there from the Laneville side. |
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Post by Admin on Jan 2, 2015 10:03:02 GMT -5
Looked at the map. The 0.82 mile trail is the un-official by-pass. BTW, I'll be leading a group up there to do an overnighter if the doc clears me should you want to join in. I'm still finalizing my schedule.
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vdeal
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Post by vdeal on Jan 2, 2015 13:08:27 GMT -5
The west end of the bypass trail is definitely hard to find but the east side is pretty easy. Jordan Run Rd on the north end is a bit rocky. You really only have three trailheads you can use, Bear Rocks, Beaver Dam and Blackbird Knob. Avoid Beaver Dam because it dumps you onto the middle of Dobbin Grade and you have a muddy slog from there. While the western side is less crowded you might still find people at the rocks on Rocky Ridge Trail and at the Blackbird Knob trail crossing of the Left Fork of Red Creek. The Forks can be bad also but that isn't really Dolly Sods North.
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Post by countryroads on Jan 2, 2015 18:17:47 GMT -5
If I have to hike a weekend, I start early and make camp early, otherwise you have to get creative with your campsite (please use no trace guidelines). The Dobbin Grade Bypass is, in my opinion, a very pretty walk.
I actually like hiking Dobbin Grade. It is a very pretty hike, but you definitely must be prepared to do a mud bog walk. I usually take some old walking shoes and just plow on through. It is pretty much impossible to go around the muddy places, so embrace them.
Now that I am retired, I try to avoid weekends. As has been stated, the best weekends are those following holiday weekends, ie Memorial weekend, July 4, and Labor Day weekend. Lastly, enjoy your hike. Even though the north area is getting pretty crowded, it is a still a beautiful hike.
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vdeal
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Post by vdeal on Jan 2, 2015 20:57:21 GMT -5
I guess one's interpretation of a "very pretty walk" varies wildly. While the scenery around the Dobbin Grade is decent it is far surpassed by other areas of DSN and the trail is simply a morass on the east side. Of course, this is just my opinion but others have found my takes on trails to generally echo their own experiences.
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Post by jnk556 on Jan 3, 2015 8:23:12 GMT -5
Arf, once you get this squared away let me know, and I'll prepare myself for whatever may come. Can't be any worse than the slog we took up on the Teepee trail when we got lost in that bog. DS is one place I have done very little exploring. It's either all rocks, or all mud.
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vdeal
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Post by vdeal on Jan 3, 2015 10:41:54 GMT -5
Dobbin Grade and Teepee are two entirely different animals. Dobbin is wide open (an old railroad grade) with much more mud than Teepee which, while muddy, is marked more by the laurel thickets you have to bust through. As for your statement about all rocks or all mud if you're referring to DSN then you couldn't be further from the truth. Large areas of DSN are wide open, pleasant walking. It's nearly field like at spots.
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Post by aseege1 on Jan 3, 2015 15:32:18 GMT -5
Teepee is more Vietnam, where Dobbin Grade is Middle Earth.
Arf, to answer your question about route: yes, Jordan Run to FR75 would be the appropriate way in from Petersburg.
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Post by jnk556 on Jan 3, 2015 16:01:58 GMT -5
I was referring to a bog at the end of teepee when arf and i took a wrong turn. It was wid open, but was like quicksand. I know how the north is, just making a comparison with arf
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vdeal
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Post by vdeal on Jan 3, 2015 18:23:49 GMT -5
Understood on the bog you're talking about now. Been there myself. Dobbin Grade is still different. It's not really a bog but just a muddy old railroad grade with major drainage issues. I still advise to avoid it if possible.
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Post by arfcomhkr on Jan 3, 2015 18:59:54 GMT -5
Looked at the map. The 0.82 mile trail is the un-official by-pass. BTW, I'll be leading a group up there to do an overnighter if the doc clears me should you want to join in. I'm still finalizing my schedule. Might take you up on that, never know. I can offer you a place to crash for the night and recover afterwards. The cabin has most of the creature comforts. |
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Post by Admin on Jan 4, 2015 9:31:56 GMT -5
Looked at the map. The 0.82 mile trail is the un-official by-pass. BTW, I'll be leading a group up there to do an overnighter if the doc clears me should you want to join in. I'm still finalizing my schedule. Might take you up on that, never know. I can offer you a place to crash for the night and recover afterwards. The cabin has most of the creature comforts. I'm getting old and, also like you, am retired. I am thinking of doing this one as a base camp in the hidden spruce grove on Raven Ridge and a day hike. I think most of my backpacks will be base camps this year. Also thinking, due to its popularity, of doing it in the middle of the week. I recently noticed that by driving west and then south to get to the trail head is only about 15 minutes longer than going south (through D.C. - yuk! - in rush hour sucks.). If I do I'll call it a retiree hike although anyone with ample vacation time can join. |
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