Post by GaliWalker on Jan 22, 2024 8:14:34 GMT -8
Canaan Valley hikes, West Virginia (Jan/21/2024)
Dolly Sods
With the recent heavy snow in the mid-Atlantic, I grabbed my snowshoes and headed to the Canaan Valley area for some fun and frolic. I began with Dolly Sods. I got a later than usual start, because while the roads were plowed, they weren't salted, so I had to exercise care while driving on the snowy surface. My 3.25hr commute turned into a 4.75hr affair, but it wasn't too bad, just slow. When I parked at the Red Creek Trailhead it was 9am. The temperature was 7°F, with a windchill of -11°F.
It was 9:15am by the time I was done layering up and strapping on the snowshoes. My plan was to hike FR19 3mi to the Rohrbaugh Trailhead and then take the Rohrbaugh Trail for 2.5mi to the Unnamed Vista. In the early going up FR19 the snow depth was maybe 8in, and well packed, so I mostly floated atop the untouched surface in the snowshoes. Unfortunately, the snow was soon 2ft deep and powdery, and I was sinking in nearly a foot with every step. It was exhausting work, particularly since I hadn't got out for a proper hike in a while and was lacking a step in the fitness department. A paltry 2.25mi in (and ~1800ft of elevation gain) I decided that I could find another overlook that rivaled the Unnamed Vista for views, and which was easier to access. So I turned around and headed back down.
Virgin snow on FR19
Hiking back (selfie)
Back at the car, I took a short 0.5mi trip up the Red Creek Trail to check out the creek. The snowy, icy landscape was so pretty!
Lindy Point
I drove the short distance through Canaan Valley to Blackwater Falls State Park. I parked at the Blackwater Falls State Park Cross Country Ski Center and headed up the Canaan Loop Road. The snowy road was well tamped down by other hikes and skiers, so I left the snowshoes in the car and just booted it. About a mile later I was at the Lindy Point Trailhead, at which point I took the short 0.4mi trail to the overlook.
Blackwater Falls
I finished up with an obligatory stop at the Blackwater Falls Overlook.
Dolly Sods
With the recent heavy snow in the mid-Atlantic, I grabbed my snowshoes and headed to the Canaan Valley area for some fun and frolic. I began with Dolly Sods. I got a later than usual start, because while the roads were plowed, they weren't salted, so I had to exercise care while driving on the snowy surface. My 3.25hr commute turned into a 4.75hr affair, but it wasn't too bad, just slow. When I parked at the Red Creek Trailhead it was 9am. The temperature was 7°F, with a windchill of -11°F.
It was 9:15am by the time I was done layering up and strapping on the snowshoes. My plan was to hike FR19 3mi to the Rohrbaugh Trailhead and then take the Rohrbaugh Trail for 2.5mi to the Unnamed Vista. In the early going up FR19 the snow depth was maybe 8in, and well packed, so I mostly floated atop the untouched surface in the snowshoes. Unfortunately, the snow was soon 2ft deep and powdery, and I was sinking in nearly a foot with every step. It was exhausting work, particularly since I hadn't got out for a proper hike in a while and was lacking a step in the fitness department. A paltry 2.25mi in (and ~1800ft of elevation gain) I decided that I could find another overlook that rivaled the Unnamed Vista for views, and which was easier to access. So I turned around and headed back down.
Virgin snow on FR19
Hiking back (selfie)
Back at the car, I took a short 0.5mi trip up the Red Creek Trail to check out the creek. The snowy, icy landscape was so pretty!
Lindy Point
I drove the short distance through Canaan Valley to Blackwater Falls State Park. I parked at the Blackwater Falls State Park Cross Country Ski Center and headed up the Canaan Loop Road. The snowy road was well tamped down by other hikes and skiers, so I left the snowshoes in the car and just booted it. About a mile later I was at the Lindy Point Trailhead, at which point I took the short 0.4mi trail to the overlook.
Blackwater Falls
I finished up with an obligatory stop at the Blackwater Falls Overlook.