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Post by arfcomhkr on Oct 29, 2014 7:58:37 GMT -5
I'm looking for places to hike that are somewhat close to my place in Upper Tract and that keeps popping up.
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MRHyker
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Post by MRHyker on Oct 29, 2014 9:53:48 GMT -5
It's a great over-nighter but be prepared for multiple creek crossings and stinging nettles (in season). I prefer to hike the west side of the Wilderness. Read the Outing Critiques on my website. There are still some huge hemlocks at the headwaters that have yet to succumb to the Woolly Adelgid (spl?).
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rpcv
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Post by rpcv on Oct 29, 2014 10:01:35 GMT -5
It has been a number of years, but I've done it twice and I enjoyed it both times. MRHyker is right about the number of creek crossings. I lost count at 14 or so. The campsite at Hiner Spring is nice.
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Post by MRHyker on Oct 29, 2014 10:04:55 GMT -5
14 sounds about right. If you opt to do the east loop make it 15.
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MRHyker
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Post by MRHyker on Oct 29, 2014 10:07:21 GMT -5
Where is your cabin again and what is your travel time/distance limits?
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Post by virginiapine on Oct 29, 2014 10:10:06 GMT -5
I wonder how big the flow in the creek gets? My wife and I hiked there a little bit years ago, and the stream wasn't too bad, and the creek was about a meter across at it's mouth a week ago when my son and I camped not far from the trailhead (he found crayfish and little trout in the stream).
How obvious are the trails now, as compared to 10 years ago? Does anyone blaze the trails there (I know the USFS does not)?
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MRHyker
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Post by MRHyker on Oct 29, 2014 10:24:27 GMT -5
I wonder how big the flow in the creek gets? My wife and I hiked there a little bit years ago, and the stream wasn't too bad, and the creek was about a meter across at it's mouth a week ago when my son and I camped not far from the trailhead (he found crayfish and little trout in the stream). How obvious are the trails now, as compared to 10 years ago? Does anyone blaze the trails there (I know the USFS does not)? These details are discussed in the link I provided. Crossings can be up to about 20 feet across and knee deep during periods of high water (Usually in the winter and after ice out). Trails are pretty obvious but you may have to look around for their continuations at the crossings.
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vdeal
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Post by vdeal on Oct 29, 2014 10:52:45 GMT -5
I've done Ramsey's Draft twice. The first time was back in 1989 before the Hemlock Wooly Adelgid hit and the hemlocks were in their glory. The stream was decent sized but you could see where it had flooded and I wouldn't want to be down in there then. I went back in the summer of 2001 and the hemlocks were a sad sight to see but some were still alive. Take my advice and don't go in the summer. The temps were in the upper 80's with humidity around 90% and then I was wearning a bug net to keep the no-see-ums off my face. I nearly passed out from that combination. Hiner Spring was a welcome respite with the water flowing out at 44°F. The hike to Hardscabble Knob and down the west side the next day were much nicer. I honestly don't know if I'll ever go back and think that someone who has been there more recently could better answer whether it's worth it. Let us know where your cabin is and we can come up with some ideas. For some reason I want to think you said Upper Tract.
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Post by arfcomhkr on Oct 29, 2014 10:59:48 GMT -5
Where is your cabin again and what is your travel time/distance limits? It's on Cave Mountain, 2 miles North of Upper Tract on 220. Between Petersburg and Franklin (W.Va) The Eastern edge of the Mon NF. The maps say it's part of Spruce-Seneca Rocks NRA. National Forest is 100 yards from my gate. Too bad there's no road that goes over the mountain as it's probably only 5-6 miles to Seneca Rocks as the crow flies. Driving there is another matter.
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MRHyker
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Post by MRHyker on Oct 29, 2014 11:03:52 GMT -5
If you have an address can you message me with it?
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Post by arfcomhkr on Oct 29, 2014 11:21:30 GMT -5
If you have an address can you message me with it? Yes, but it won't do you any good. That part of the state is still in the process of getting actual physical addresses. It will do you no good whatsoever, you won't be able to map it. It's a Petersburg address and my place is in Upper Tract, not even the same county as Petersburg. I think I can send you a link to it on google maps. let me check and get back to you.
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MRHyker
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Post by MRHyker on Oct 29, 2014 11:28:04 GMT -5
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Post by MRHyker on Oct 29, 2014 11:40:46 GMT -5
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Post by aseege1 on Oct 29, 2014 12:16:23 GMT -5
I was in Ramsey's last April. 16 crossings I counted, all knee deep from the spring rain. At that time the trail was recently cut back and re-blazed, in very good shape. Sadly, the last Hemlocks I saw standing were diseased, everything else was dead. Make camp at the upper campsite in Hiner Spring in the bowl area, it will keep you out of the wind.
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MRHyker
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Post by MRHyker on Oct 29, 2014 12:28:31 GMT -5
Have you guys done any of the Canaan Mt hikes? That's 1 hour 20 minutes away.
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Post by arfcomhkr on Oct 29, 2014 13:20:14 GMT -5
Have you guys done any of the Canaan Mt hikes? That's 1 hour 20 minutes away. Yeah, I've done a decent amount of Canaan Mountain over the last few years. Looks like I'll be hiking up in the Sods area more than I thought since both ends of Jordan Run Road are pretty accessible from Petersburg. Off your list, we did Big Schloss this spring.
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MRHyker
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Post by MRHyker on Oct 29, 2014 13:25:08 GMT -5
I thought you might have but I didn't see an Outing Critique from your partner.
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vdeal
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Post by vdeal on Oct 29, 2014 13:49:02 GMT -5
There's also a trail down in Smoke Hole and of course North Fork Mt.
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Post by arfcomhkr on Oct 29, 2014 14:58:52 GMT -5
There's also a trail down in Smoke Hole and of course North Fork Mt. Did North Fork Mountain last fall, before I bought the place over that way. Lots of rattlesnakes back in smoke hole.
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Post by jnk556 on Oct 29, 2014 18:01:10 GMT -5
I thought you might have but I didn't see an Outing Critique from your partner. Damn, you mean i missed one? Ramsey's draft has been in the back of my head all these trips we plan, but the distance from your place, and those creek crossings really don't excite me. I know I googled it once, it is 2hrs from your place to Ramsey's draft, and that is going 220 to Montery, then you have to go over the mountain, hell you might as well go to Stauton, it's only about 20min from there. Arf, if your thinking of trips for next year, i already have spring planned, I just haven't let you in on it yet We have to do Dogway over in Cranberry before the leaves come out too much, and maybe do some exploring back up around Spruce.
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