Dolly Sods with the kids (West Virginia - Aug/16/2015)
Aug 17, 2015 8:39:35 GMT -5
Post by GaliWalker on Aug 17, 2015 8:39:35 GMT -5
Aug 16, 2015: Dolly Sods with the kids
One of my favorite destinations in the mid-Atlantic to hike in is Dolly Sods. Located in West Virginia's Monongahela National Forest, Dolly Sods is a 4000ft high plateau. The southern end is more densely wooded, but the northern end is much more open. Rolling grasslands, dotted with groves of Christmas card spruce trees, and views galore make Dolly Sods North a popular and worthy destination to hike in.
I had been keen to show off Dolly Sods to the kids for some time. Even they had been clamoring to go, but various distractions had kept putting off the trip. Finally, yesterday, on a gorgeous sunny day, we were able to make it happen. I picked Dolly Sods North for its spectacular and in your face beauty.
We began the day with an early 3:30am start from Pittsburgh; the kids didn't even notice, since they could continue sleeping. By the time we got to the Bear Rocks Trailhead, it was a little shy of 7:00am and a beautiful morning was underway. We all trouped up to nearby Bear Rocks first, to bask in the gentle warmth of the morning sun and the glowing 360° views. I've spent many an early hour perched at Bear Rocks taking pictures, but yesterday's 1hr or so, with the boys clambering around on the boulders that abound at the viewpoint, was my most favorite ever.
Misty finger
Sunrise on North Fork Mountain
Backlit
Perch
In conversation
Around 8:00am, we closed the book on Bear Rocks and headed off into the 'Sods, along the Bear Rocks Trail. This is one of the gentler trails in the region, but one of the most scenic. Open grasslands and the odd wooded hill made for perfect rambling opportunities. We kept it relatively short and sweet, hiking 2.5mi in, to the end of the trail and then back the same way. The kids had fun, frolicking around and cracking jokes the entire time (Son #1 to son #2: “Are you an alligator who is need of some first aid?”...”Huh?”...”Do you want Gatorade?”...”Ha ha”. Youngest son to Dad: “I look like an explorer and you like one of those lazy fishermen.”). I had even more fun, enjoying their company and their enjoyment.
Down the trail
Young 'un on the trail
Filtered sunshine
Through the woods
Rambling the grasslands
Hiking through meadows
Good times!
One of my favorite destinations in the mid-Atlantic to hike in is Dolly Sods. Located in West Virginia's Monongahela National Forest, Dolly Sods is a 4000ft high plateau. The southern end is more densely wooded, but the northern end is much more open. Rolling grasslands, dotted with groves of Christmas card spruce trees, and views galore make Dolly Sods North a popular and worthy destination to hike in.
I had been keen to show off Dolly Sods to the kids for some time. Even they had been clamoring to go, but various distractions had kept putting off the trip. Finally, yesterday, on a gorgeous sunny day, we were able to make it happen. I picked Dolly Sods North for its spectacular and in your face beauty.
We began the day with an early 3:30am start from Pittsburgh; the kids didn't even notice, since they could continue sleeping. By the time we got to the Bear Rocks Trailhead, it was a little shy of 7:00am and a beautiful morning was underway. We all trouped up to nearby Bear Rocks first, to bask in the gentle warmth of the morning sun and the glowing 360° views. I've spent many an early hour perched at Bear Rocks taking pictures, but yesterday's 1hr or so, with the boys clambering around on the boulders that abound at the viewpoint, was my most favorite ever.
Misty finger
Sunrise on North Fork Mountain
Backlit
Perch
In conversation
Around 8:00am, we closed the book on Bear Rocks and headed off into the 'Sods, along the Bear Rocks Trail. This is one of the gentler trails in the region, but one of the most scenic. Open grasslands and the odd wooded hill made for perfect rambling opportunities. We kept it relatively short and sweet, hiking 2.5mi in, to the end of the trail and then back the same way. The kids had fun, frolicking around and cracking jokes the entire time (Son #1 to son #2: “Are you an alligator who is need of some first aid?”...”Huh?”...”Do you want Gatorade?”...”Ha ha”. Youngest son to Dad: “I look like an explorer and you like one of those lazy fishermen.”). I had even more fun, enjoying their company and their enjoyment.
Down the trail
Young 'un on the trail
Filtered sunshine
Through the woods
Rambling the grasslands
Hiking through meadows
Good times!
