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Post by jnk556 on Jan 11, 2015 14:52:27 GMT -5
So, Arfcomhkr is thinking about coming into his cabin next week, if the weather holds as it is forecast. Anyways, thought about maybe a ride up to Bear Rocks for a day hike/kill time outside day. Anyways, I've never been up there in the winter, and I don't think I've ever been up Jordan Run to tell you the truth. Wondering what the conditions may be like?? I know here near Elkins we originally had about 8" of snow, but that pretty much blew away after the several wind events. I'm sure up on the sods I could figure there to be possibly 10-14" with drifts, but that is a guess. So I guess what I'm after is anyone been up to bear Rocks during winter?? Any spots to watch out for on the road up, how steep is it, ect? We'll probably end up taking arf's truck, as his Dodge has locking diffs, so it can climb a tree  Jordan run is plowed I'm assuming, as it is a county road, but after the turn off on to FR75, I'm sure it is not? Fill me in folks  |
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hikeer
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Post by hikeer on Jan 11, 2015 15:15:06 GMT -5
The FS road up from Jordan Run will not be plowed if there is any snow. Doesn't appear to be much snow in the forecast between now and then so it should be fine. Generally, the road is passable in the winter unless there is a lot of snow. However, you need to be aware that the Forest Service locks the gate a little over a mile below Bear Rocks, so you'll need to plan on walking up the rest of the way.
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Post by jnk556 on Jan 11, 2015 15:18:13 GMT -5
The FS road up from Jordan Run will not be plowed if there is any snow. Doesn't appear to be much snow in the forecast between now and then so it should be fine. Generally, the road is passable in the winter unless there is a lot of snow. However, you need to be aware that the Forest Service locks the gate a little over a mile below Bear Rocks, so you'll need to plan on walking up the rest of the way. Crap, forgot about the gate  Where exactly is the gate?? you say a shade over a mile down the hill? |
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Post by dunkard on Jan 11, 2015 16:11:13 GMT -5
I thought the gate on the northern end of FR75 was close to Jordan Run Rd. but I could be wrong I always come in from Laneville. You could also come in on FR19 off Jordan Run its not gated and snow permitting will get you to the top of the Mnt. However you still have to hike in from the southern gate on FR75 but at least your on top of the front at that point. You could also ride the lift up from timberline and hike in using the cabin mnt/rocky ridge and the bear rocks trail. Someone more knowledgeable of the Jordan run entrances will chime in.
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Post by dunkard on Jan 11, 2015 16:21:56 GMT -5
FYI The southern gate on 75 is 6 miles from bear rocks and I hike from timberline is around 7 miles. Hopefully someone more knowledgeable about the northern entrance will shed some light on that gates location
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Post by jnk556 on Jan 11, 2015 18:42:08 GMT -5
Well, there goes that idea I guess. I know the southern gate is right on FR75, but that is a ways from Bear Rocks. I wasn't sure where the gate was at the northern end, but if it is near Jordan run that is a hell of a walk up a mountain, forget that.
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hikeer
Senior Member
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Post by hikeer on Jan 12, 2015 6:11:38 GMT -5
There are two gates on the northern end, and one is right down on Jordan Run, but I've never seen it locked. The top one is just right at a mile below Bear Rocks. They lock it every year right after the 1st of January. I've walked it several times, it isn't a bad walk.
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Post by dunkard on Jan 12, 2015 6:21:09 GMT -5
thanks for the clarification hikeer.
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vdeal
Forum Elder
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Post by vdeal on Jan 13, 2015 8:36:41 GMT -5
The northern gate is almost exactly one mile down from Bear Rocks. It's in the sharp turn. As hikeer has said the walk isn't bad. That is the closest you can get to the top unless you talk the chair lift at Timberline but then you're on the opposite side of the mountain which isn't necessarily a bad thing. I've only ridden the lift back in the days when I downhill skied so not sure how much it costs. Of course you could come up FS19 from Laneville to the gate which is near the Rohrbaugh Plains trail and walk out that and get great views down the canyon.
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Post by jnk556 on Jan 14, 2015 17:03:24 GMT -5
Ok then. We may go check it out. Not planning on doing a whole lot of hiking, just maybe up, look around take some pics, and come back to the truck. If the sods up in there are thawed, it would be a mess to try to hike anyways.
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Post by jnk556 on Jan 18, 2015 11:45:12 GMT -5
Well, we tried to make it up there Saturday, weather was decent, sunny, but still cold up there. Road was so so past the lower gate, a big patch of thawed and refroze ice was right at the bottom gate. From there on it was a mix of thawed clear road, and snow covered ice. We took the truck as far as that property development road, and parked. The road from there on up to the upper gate had about 2 inches of snow and nice wide iced over tire tracks. Arf took the dog up the hill about 1/4mi, and I walked on up to the upper gate. From there on up the hill, it was snow drifts and frozen snow. I didn't really feel like walking the last mile, so i just turned around and came back down.
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Jordan run is plowed I'm assuming, as it is a county road, but after the turn off on to FR75, I'm sure it is not?
Where exactly is the gate?? you say a shade over a mile down the hill?
