Dolly Sods Hangout

[lukesteg]

hey are you gonna stay there sat night?

[USMCStang]

hey are you gonna stay there sat night?

Yep. I don't know exactly where I'll be hanging yet, but it will definitely be along one of the creeks. I figured I'll just hop in the blackbird knob trail, and see where I end up.

I may leave around midnight friday so im there before sunrise.

[USMCStang]

I created a new thread for next weekend's surveying trip, so as not to keep hijacking this one. I'm taking a GPS with me to mark good group hang sites along the Blackbird Knob trail.

http://www.hammockforums.net/forum/s...ad.php?t=34642

[Country Roads]

There might be a good group hang site along the left fork heading upstream of the crossing from Blackbird knob trail. Also good sites just off Beaver View Trail; lots of hardwoods, but might have to be careful of the wind. Let's see: If you head towards the Roaring Plains West Wilderness, there are some places around the head waters of South Prong Creek along South Prong trail (eastern side of the forest road) or you could head out the Forest road to the Roaring plains trail and hike it up to near the junction with Flat Rock Run trail; lots of Balsam fir trees (I think they are balsam fir), but you would have to carry water for about 3 miles (unless it has rained a lot), but it is not .

There is a nice pine plantation along Breathed Mtn Trail about 1 mile or so from Red Creek. Lots of red pines that look pretty stable (I have not camped or hung there though), but you would have to carry water about 1/2 to 3/4 miles of easy walking.

I might hang along Red Creek a couple of days next week, someplace between Fisher Springs Run trail junction and the forks. The dog likes to swim, so we need a swimmin' hole.

[WV]

Lots of good choices, CR. There are some springs on the Breathed Mt. Trail, but folks new to Dolly Sods may not want to leave the Forks area unless it's really crowded. I'm wondering also if we'll have a large group ourselves for the September hang. Last year there were 40 boy scouts starting out the same day we arrived, but they divided up into four groups of ten and all went in different directions. Ten is the maximum suggested (required?) group size there.

[USMCStang]

I've been there about 6 times, and I've always stayed in Dolly Sods North. The farthest south I've been is the forks. I always start from either Blackbird Knob/ Red Creek Campground or Bear Rocks. For a group hang, they have plenty of trailhead parking.

On the Blackbird Knob trail, I've always wanted to camp on the right fork at the first crossing, where the island is, but since it's only 1.5 miles in or so, I've generally just stopped for 15 minutes and continued on. It looks like there's tons of spots right in that area, so maybe I'll end up there next weekend. Here's a pic:


Word is that the Dobbin Grade Trail at it's intersection with the upper Red Creek trail has been flooded by a new beaver dam. Dobbin Grade was already wet, but at least it wasn't a lake

CR...your suggestion is another spot I've always wanted to try out. I think this is where you're talking about:


I really want to make the group hang, but I'll settle for a few of ya headin down with me next weekend. No one has replied to my "scouting trip" thread yet

[Country Roads]

This is pretty much the spot; Up stream is a pretty big area for camping/hanging. I also have been told that there is a nice spot about a 1/4 mile downstream of the Blackbird knob crossing of the left fork, but I have not checked this out yet.

The island in the middle of the right fork, seems to lack any privacy. I know that when the water is up a bit, folks cross right at the island, since it is a bit easier when the water is up and you have people in your campsite.

I can testify to the really wet crossing at Upper Red Creek and Dobbin Grade. It was probably waist deep and that does not count sinking into the mud! I went about 40 to 50 yards upstream of the dam and crossed. There appears to be two dams, one at the crossing and one a bit below it. I guess that accounts for how deep it is getting. This is why I love wilderness areas!

I think, if a person wanted to head up late, hike in a short distance and camp, that going downstream at Alder Run might produce some good spots (it is rocky, but in a hammock it does not matter).
My favorite place is the north area. I explored it way before the forest service "sanitized" it, but it is still so worth it. I still amazes me how unprepared people are up there sometimes. It is a very pretty place, but it can get real ugly real fast. I have had storms form right on top of me on what started out as just a day of broken clouds. I have had fog roll in so thick, you could hardly see your boots. I have had rain clouds park on top of red creek when the "chance of rain" was only 20% and been stranded on the backside of red creek.
I bet that you can tell that this is my favorite place

[USMCStang]

The island in the middle of the right fork, seems to lack any privacy. I know that when the water is up a bit, folks cross right at the island, since it is a bit easier when the water is up and you have people in your campsite.

Good point on the crossing. I'll traipse around the area to see if there is anything larger and more secluded up or downstream.

I think, if a person wanted to head up late, hike in a short distance and camp, that going downstream at Alder Run might produce some good spots (it is rocky, but in a hammock it does not matter).

This was one of my "leading candidates" for a group hang. Since it's hardwoods, it won't be as difficult to find a larger area for a bunch of hangers.

I bet that you can tell that this is my favorite place

The Sods comes in a close second to the Smokies for me, but since the Smokies are 8 hours away, I can't squeeze an overnighter in there. I've done a few weekend overnighters at Dolly Sods, and plan quite a few more.

Any chance of pushing the group hang to July 23rd - 24th gang?

[Tendertoe]

I'm a no go for that weekend. Sorry

I can't wait for your recon though. Keep us posted.

[USMCStang]

OK people, Luke and I are off tomorrow for an overnight recon mission along the Blackbird Knob Trail. I'm taking my ultra whizbang scientific GPS, and I'll mark waypoints at what appear to be good spots. I'll be sure to take pictures as well.

For anyone who wants to take a look at one of my previous trips, pictures can be found here:https://picasaweb.google.com/mike.we...eat=directlink

Pay no attention to the tent. Someone, erm, left it there.