Laurel Fork Wilderness - South in WV

[WV]

Old friend Frank and I spent two days doing a loop in Laurel Fork South, yet another of West Virginia's well kept secrets. We took the Camp Five Trail to the Laurel River Trail, which we followed downstream as far as where the Beulah Trail comes in, spent the night, then headed back upstream and completed our loop on the southernmost section of the Laurel River Trail and a FS road "seeded with game feed." Mileage covered was modest - either 11 miles or 13, depending on whether you believe the distance in the MNF Trail Guide or the measurements of Frank's GPS.
Laurel Fork Wilderness 8-2010 002.jpgHonest, we were having fun. We always look serious in photos. Bonaparte, with the saddlebags removed from his harness, was seriously interested in something off to the side.
Laurel Fork Wilderness 8-2010 006.jpgAlong the river the trail goes through meadows with ironweed now in bloom.
Laurel Fork Wilderness 8-2010 016.jpgFrank liked Aarn Mountain Magic 55 pack. It's good to have as a loaner because it adjusts more easily to different body types.
Laurel Fork Wilderness 8-2010 019.jpgThe new tensegrity legs for the Bushcooker LT II stove worked well. We could easily have put up a hammock and sat in it while cooking supper. I'll do that next time, but I'd move on and camp somewhere else afterward.
Laurel Fork Wilderness 8-2010 024.jpgLaurel River is actually the Laurel Fork of the Cheat River. Farther downstream, in Laurel Fork Wilderness - North, it gets bigger. (To be explored in the future.)
Laurel Fork Wilderness 8-2010 027.jpg We camped close to the river, though there were beautiful big stands of second-growth yellow birch and spruce above the river on both sides. Next time I'll get off the beaten track a bit (though, as expected, we didn't see a soul the whole time.)
Laurel Fork Wilderness 8-2010 031.jpgThere was an interesting yellow grass-like fungus growing in the shadow of a log.
Laurel Fork Wilderness 8-2010 032.jpgWe stopped for lunch in this pine grove, setting up our hammocks close enough to pass the gorp without getting up - the approved distance, similar to the Cistine Chapel. Then we slept for a couple of hours before hiking the last 3 mles.

[Poppabear]

Very nice report and pictures. I especially like the first picture with Bonaparte in it. He is one fine looking dog. Thanks for sharing.

[NCPatrick]

Thanks for posting your report. Got a map to where this is (share the secret)? I may head up that way to check it out. Looks fantastic.

[HamMike]

Looks like a nice trip. Noble looking dog ya got there!

[spklbuk]

Glad y'all had a good trip. Thanks for sharing it with us.

[jlb2012]

Thanks for posting your report. Got a map to where this is (share the secret)? I may head up that way to check it out. Looks fantastic.

here's a brochure: http://www.wvhighlands.org/Maps/usfs...s_brochure.pdf

map: http://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_...rdb5090659.pdf

[WV]

Thanks for posting your report. Got a map to where this is (share the secret)? I may head up that way to check it out. Looks fantastic.

here's a brochure: http://www.wvhighlands.org/Maps/usfs...s_brochure.pdf

map: http://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_...rdb5090659.pdf

Thanks, HOI. That's the place. Coming from the South, as the brochure says, it's just 12 miles off Rte. 28 on FR 14. Of course, we couldn't get closer to the Camp Five trailhead than about a mile because there was a big tree down across the road. It didn't change our trip much, because we just backed up 1/4 mile to where the Laurel River Trail came out. We parked there and walked it. We would have walked that stretch at the end of our loop anyway, so it didn't add any mileage.

NCPatrick, that's right on your way to Dolly Sods, about 30 miles up the road. Seneca Creek is on the way, too, as well as Spruce Knob. Lots of nice places to stop.

[Shug]

That picture of the river made me soooo miss the woods!
Loving the stove stand ........ living the good life in the piney woods.
Top notch report.
Shug

[Crash]

You have so many good places in WV to go camping.
Thanx for the photos.

[Can't Wait]

Looked like a great trip always better with a friend along as well