Post by GaliWalker on Aug 28, 2017 6:54:05 GMT -8
Roaring Plains, West Virginia (Aug 26, 2017)
After a not-up-to-par hiking season, at least so far, I was looking for exercise as well as fun. Roaring Plains, a 4000ft plateau in West Virginia's Monongahela National Forest, is always a sure bet to deliver in this situation. The views are expansive and it's easy to pick a route that makes you work for the views.
One of the best of the viewpoints is the 4,555ft high Haystack Knob, which is located at the southwestern corner of the plateau. This viewpoint is not accessible by the official trail network, and has the added complication that the surroundings are on private property, which makes getting there a problem. In the past I'd made two trips to this vista, with unsatisfying results. The first time, I picked a long approach route from the north/east, barely avoiding the private property signage, which culminated in a steep bushwack to finish the deal...unfortunately, I ended up on the easternmost part of Haystack Knob. The views were great, but they weren't the views. My second attempt was from the west, and utilized a jeep road for the final 1.7mi...unfortunately, while I made the 'correct' (western) summit block, the entire hike had been in driving rain and netted me no views whatsoever. In short, I had unfinished business to take care of.
Not the correct viewpoint on Trip #1 (2015)
No views on Trip #2 (2016)
After an 2:45am start from the house, I was at the Flatrock Run Trail trailhead by first light. In cool temperatures I made steady progress up to the top of the plateau. The forest was a lovely green, although most of this greenery was in the form of nettles, so I was glad that I had worn long pants. Despite that fact that it was late summer, there were plenty of flowers still doing their thing.
Fields of nettles
Just past the junction of the Flatrock Run and Roaring Plains Trails, I hung a right onto a continuation of the Roaring Plains Trail. A bounty of beautiful mushrooms and peak-a-boo views of the Roaring Plains canyon rim kept the interest quotient high.
Mount Porte Crayon in the distance
Beauty in gloomy places
I wrapped around the treed Mt Porte Crayon to intersect a trail heading off towards the west. I took this and climbed up and over a pass. This put me on the gravel jeep road that traversed the western side of the ridge.
About three quarters of a mile later I unexpectedly hit a snag: a gate, festooned with private property signage barred further access. This was most definitely not there on my previous attempt, although it's possible it was open and I hadn't noticed it as such. Drat! Hoping to salvage some views from the day, I climbed up the grassy slopes of the 4659ft hill, which I'd planned to tag on my way back from Haystack Knob. Woof, the views from Pt 4659 were great! Picturesque Green Knob to the south and Haystack Knob to the southeast flitted in and out of shadows cast by the partly cloudy sky, while more pastoral views were on offer to the west. I took my time up there, make the most of my consolation prize.
Green Knob
Haystack Knob
Hiking/photography stats: 17mi, 3700ft elevation gain, 10.75hrs
After a not-up-to-par hiking season, at least so far, I was looking for exercise as well as fun. Roaring Plains, a 4000ft plateau in West Virginia's Monongahela National Forest, is always a sure bet to deliver in this situation. The views are expansive and it's easy to pick a route that makes you work for the views.
One of the best of the viewpoints is the 4,555ft high Haystack Knob, which is located at the southwestern corner of the plateau. This viewpoint is not accessible by the official trail network, and has the added complication that the surroundings are on private property, which makes getting there a problem. In the past I'd made two trips to this vista, with unsatisfying results. The first time, I picked a long approach route from the north/east, barely avoiding the private property signage, which culminated in a steep bushwack to finish the deal...unfortunately, I ended up on the easternmost part of Haystack Knob. The views were great, but they weren't the views. My second attempt was from the west, and utilized a jeep road for the final 1.7mi...unfortunately, while I made the 'correct' (western) summit block, the entire hike had been in driving rain and netted me no views whatsoever. In short, I had unfinished business to take care of.
Not the correct viewpoint on Trip #1 (2015)
No views on Trip #2 (2016)
After an 2:45am start from the house, I was at the Flatrock Run Trail trailhead by first light. In cool temperatures I made steady progress up to the top of the plateau. The forest was a lovely green, although most of this greenery was in the form of nettles, so I was glad that I had worn long pants. Despite that fact that it was late summer, there were plenty of flowers still doing their thing.
Fields of nettles
Just past the junction of the Flatrock Run and Roaring Plains Trails, I hung a right onto a continuation of the Roaring Plains Trail. A bounty of beautiful mushrooms and peak-a-boo views of the Roaring Plains canyon rim kept the interest quotient high.
Mount Porte Crayon in the distance
Beauty in gloomy places
I wrapped around the treed Mt Porte Crayon to intersect a trail heading off towards the west. I took this and climbed up and over a pass. This put me on the gravel jeep road that traversed the western side of the ridge.
About three quarters of a mile later I unexpectedly hit a snag: a gate, festooned with private property signage barred further access. This was most definitely not there on my previous attempt, although it's possible it was open and I hadn't noticed it as such. Drat! Hoping to salvage some views from the day, I climbed up the grassy slopes of the 4659ft hill, which I'd planned to tag on my way back from Haystack Knob. Woof, the views from Pt 4659 were great! Picturesque Green Knob to the south and Haystack Knob to the southeast flitted in and out of shadows cast by the partly cloudy sky, while more pastoral views were on offer to the west. I took my time up there, make the most of my consolation prize.
Green Knob
Haystack Knob
Hiking/photography stats: 17mi, 3700ft elevation gain, 10.75hrs