Post by GaliWalker on Feb 20, 2022 7:57:19 GMT -8
North Fork Mountain (West Virginia - Feb/19/2022)
North Fork Mountain sports my favorite views in the mid-Atlantic, which is why it's my go-to place to hike and take pictures, even though I've done similar trips there numerous times in the past.
After a 3.25hr drive I began my hike from the northern trailhead around 6:15am. A surprisingly bright gibbous moon floated in the sky and shafts of moonlight filtered through the bare hardwood forest. I used my headlamp for the first 20min, but then the combination of moonlight and daylight became strong enough for me to put it away. At this point it was only slightly windy, but I knew that, based on the forecast, I was going to be in for it later in the day.
Dawn was just breaking as I reached the ridge crest and first views. Gorgeous morning sunshine spilled over the spine of North Fork Mountain, from behind me, and splashed the top of New Creek Mountain across the valley. Unfortunately, the wind was brutal atop the ridge - maybe 40-50mph - so I splayed the tripod legs wide as I took some photos. I didn't linger too long because even though the temperature was 25°F, the strong wind made it feel much worse.
Enjoying the lightshow (selfie)
I labored up the ridge, just below the crest and out of the worst of the wind, and then took the steep side trail up to Chimney Top. I typically poke into every nook and cranny of this spectacular viewpoint and its rocky spires, but the wind was so bad that I only took a solitary photo before resuming the hike.
View from Chimney Top
Travel was easier after Chimney Top, with quite a few flatter parts, but the final mile or so to the 5.1mi mark, and my turn around point, was a consistent climb. A large rock fin adorned the ridge crest. I climbed atop this fin for the final views of the day, before retracing my steps to the car.
Looking back at Chimney Top
Snow showers getting blown over the ridge
Honeycomb rock fin
View from atop the rock fin
Stats: 10.8mi, 3200ft gain, 6.25hrs
North Fork Mountain sports my favorite views in the mid-Atlantic, which is why it's my go-to place to hike and take pictures, even though I've done similar trips there numerous times in the past.
After a 3.25hr drive I began my hike from the northern trailhead around 6:15am. A surprisingly bright gibbous moon floated in the sky and shafts of moonlight filtered through the bare hardwood forest. I used my headlamp for the first 20min, but then the combination of moonlight and daylight became strong enough for me to put it away. At this point it was only slightly windy, but I knew that, based on the forecast, I was going to be in for it later in the day.
Dawn was just breaking as I reached the ridge crest and first views. Gorgeous morning sunshine spilled over the spine of North Fork Mountain, from behind me, and splashed the top of New Creek Mountain across the valley. Unfortunately, the wind was brutal atop the ridge - maybe 40-50mph - so I splayed the tripod legs wide as I took some photos. I didn't linger too long because even though the temperature was 25°F, the strong wind made it feel much worse.
Enjoying the lightshow (selfie)
I labored up the ridge, just below the crest and out of the worst of the wind, and then took the steep side trail up to Chimney Top. I typically poke into every nook and cranny of this spectacular viewpoint and its rocky spires, but the wind was so bad that I only took a solitary photo before resuming the hike.
View from Chimney Top
Travel was easier after Chimney Top, with quite a few flatter parts, but the final mile or so to the 5.1mi mark, and my turn around point, was a consistent climb. A large rock fin adorned the ridge crest. I climbed atop this fin for the final views of the day, before retracing my steps to the car.
Looking back at Chimney Top
Snow showers getting blown over the ridge
Honeycomb rock fin
View from atop the rock fin
Stats: 10.8mi, 3200ft gain, 6.25hrs
