Winter Camping the Dolly Sods Wilderness - 3 Day Backpacking Trip
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- Опубликовано: 5 окт 2024
- 3 Days of Winter Camping, Backpacking, & Campfire Cooking in Dolly Sods, West Virginia. GPS data at www.sintax77.com
For this adventure we decided to revisit the Dolly Sods Wilderness for some early December winter camping and backpacking.
List of Trails Used, In order:
Day 1
Park at Red Creek Trailhead, N38° 58.372' W79° 23.847'
Red Creek Trail TR514
Cross Red Creek at junction with Big Stonecoal Trail
Big Stonecoal Trail TR513
Set up Camp at "Tj's Moustache Camp"
Here's how to find it:
Heading north on Big Stonecoal, pass the intersection with Dunkenbarger trail on your left. Not to far ahead, Big Stonecoal will make an abrupt right turn to make a water crossing across Stonecoal Run. Instead of making the turn, continue straight along the banks, towards the woods. The camp should quickly become apparent.
Water is obviously plentiful. Firewood is probably another story, as this looks to be a popular area in warmer weather. We were equipped with hatchets and saws to process down tress, so all was well. However, during a warm weather trip without tools, I doubt we would have found much smaller stuff just laying around.
Day 1 Stat Totals
Mileage: 5.85 Miles
Gross Elevation Gain: 1,444'
Gross Elevation Loss: 453"
Campsite Altitude: 3,613'
Day 2
Backtrack a little bit to previous day's water crossing.
Continue on Big Stonecoal Trail TR514
Arrive at the junction with Blackbird Knob Trail and Breathed Mountain Trail
Continue on Breathed Mountain Trail TR553
Turn left at junction with Red Creek Trail TR514
** Shortly after heading out on Red Creek Trail, we found a decent supply of running water on the trail, which was much appreciated, as there would certainly be no water up towards Lion's Head, where we intended to camp. As it was running in December, I'm thinking this may be a good option in other months as well. No guarantees though. It's possible this was just snow melt run-off from up above. If all else fails, you could bushwack down to Red Creek, as we had actually planned to do, prior to finding this little gem on the trail.
Continue on Red Creek Trail TR514
Bear to the right on Rocky Point Trail TR554
Turn abruptly right at the unofficial spur trail to Lions Head at N38° 59.243' W79° 22.062'
** This is not an official trail and will not be found on maps, however, it is marked with a cairn (pile of rocks). Head straight up from the cairn. There is a false summit a little ways in, but you need to actually bear to the left in order to navigate towards Lion's Head and the eventual campsite. If you go straight towards the false summit, you'll know it, as there is no where else to go but straight down. No worries, relax, enjoy the view and retreat towards whence you came. You'll have to hop down some rocks, but the path should be apparent.
Head north on the Unofficial Spur Trail Towards Lion's Head
Pause to "ooooh and ahhhh" at the sights
Continue north towards camp
Setup Camp on the ridge beyond Lion's Head
Day 2 Stat Totals
Mileage: 8.6 Miles
Gross Elevation Gain: 1,083'
Gross Elevation Loss: 1,099'
Campsite Altitude: 3,678'
Day 3
Bushwack Northwest towards Rocky Point Tr
Continue on Rocky Point Tr TR554
Turn left to head south on Big Stonecoal Trail TR514
Take Red Creek Trail TR514 Back towards Parking lot and vehicle
Find a cheeseburger!
Day 3 Stat Totals
Mileage: 3.6 Miles
Gross Elevation Gain: 127'
Gross Elevation Loss: 1,332'
Trip Totals
Mileage: 14.49 Miles
Gross Elevation Gain: 2,654'
Gross Elevation Loss: 2,884'
After watching this I understand now why you hike alone so much.
I've found the larger the group, the harder it is. Somebody always wants to be the "alpha male" Survivorman type.
Hexmag grip tape glock
@@OutLan lol
I love this, wish I had mates like this
I've spent upwards to 12 hrs this week watching your videos I'm a first time adventurer you are Yoda to me lol
I don't know if you will see this but i recently passed by your channel and man do i LOVE your vids. Im now just getting into backpacking and stoked to when i have everything. Keep the videos coming. Thanks for putting out good quality vids and gear reviews.
Yep, I see it :) Thanks, man. Glad you enjoy the vids!
We got a lot of the same gear, I just bought a Dutch hammock to go along with my Dream Hammock.
Sweet video. It looked like almost to many people for you and Mike. I'm glad he didn't get hurt that could have been bad. Keep the videos coming. I'm a big fan.
finally got to watch this , it looked like a great time , a small army with you ,more the merrier , really enjoyed watching mate , thank you for taking the time to share .. cheers
Tony Haha, yeah we had a full on brigade for this one. Engineering crew, kitchen patrol, firewood acquisition team, you name it!
great video! cant beat some Jim Beam out in the woods! thanks for posting!
As i'm sitting here, eating my tuna packet, watching you guys eat steak... I gotta get out more often.
Always look forward to these vids, great job... looked like a blast.
Your backpacking videos are always top-notch. Way to go sintax77!
I went on my first 3 day backpack adventure last week and ever since then you've been the Yoda of my camping knowledge keep it up I'm learning a lot and I'm very entertained by your easy going demeanor. keep killing it bro!
Keep the trips/videos coming Sintax77! Hope there will be more group trips like this in the future. Money making mike aka TrailKilla always makes your trips more cool too. Glad you share your experiences with us, thank you.
Wow great video sintax. I am prepping for a southern NY appalachian trail trail hike and your videos help me get in the mindset. Thanks again for your great work and keep the videos coming.
Thanks, man. You doing the NY AT section as a winter trip, or in the upcoming season?
Early spring (around March) so there might still be some snow at higher elevations. So I will be bringing the snowshoes
Big group looks like a lot of fun...beautiful up on that ridge the last evening!
Good video, as usual! Looks like a blast. Nothing like steak in the backcountry!
Looks like the weather was tough, but you can never go wrong at the Sods! Great video!
Great video. Looks like a great bunch of friends.
With all due respect to you east coast backpackers, you guys need to take a trip out west to see the best scenery in the country. I used to think it was weird that people would take their vacation here (WA state) but now after watching a number of these videos, if you love the outdoors it makes a good, relatively cheap vacation.
***** I love the videos despite being geographically challenged. And I suppose if one wants to start saying where I live is prettier than where you live it could go on forever since there always seems to be somewhere nicer.
Another great video Sintax77! Im looking forward to seeing what you have in store for spring and summer 2015.
Yes new video. I already know its going to be a good one.
Thanks for sharing, looks like a ton of fun.
Nice! Thanks for sharing. The other route to the pines is just about 400 feet further on from where you went up. It is marked by a double cairn, but those could have been covered by snow. I love camping in those pines! Camped there is late July with WV and Ferret from hammockforums. Spectacular place any time of year. Nice steaks! You boys know how to party.
now that is some serious camp cooking, great trip and great video.....
Looks like a beautiful area.
Great vid as always , just did a winter hike up in Table Rock State Park in SC. thanks for all your tips. They worked for me.
Loved the video even though it's not something I would do but it did look like everyone had a good time.
Another great trip!! Looks like you all had a lot of fun. I found that adding a cheapo space blanket under me in the hammock adds a little to the termperature gain. It is a little crinklly sounding but it does work. Glad to see the Dutch sock helped out.
Good tip,I've got a 6 pack of those lying around, so I'll have to experiment some time. The Dutch sock was a definite win - pretty sure I would have froze my butt off without it.
+1 for the space blanket, although I use the grabber brand which is much heavier than the thin mylar ones I've taken a PLUQ & space blanket into the mid 20s and woke up toasty warm.
Love how you did the pop up facts this time!
You make awesome video trips Sintax77! I really enjoy them!
***** Thanks, man. Glad you enjoy.
40 minutes, and All I'm thinking about are steaks! Lol. Looked awesome, I was waiting for someone to lose one in the fire. Didn't expect the trays to hold the weight.
Another great vid, man! Love the steaks and the booze. Reminds me of the time I went backpacking in the Charles Deam Wilderness in Indiana and my buddy carried in boxed wine and cheeses and didn't tell us until we got to camp. When he broke them out, the whole group was amazed! It was an awesome night.
Love the trip vids! Keep 'em coming! I hope to have a few more of my own very soon.
Right on, man. Nothing like some good eats in the middle of nowhere.
sintax77 I love the Sods. Went there over Memorial Day weekend a couple years ago and am dying to go back. When we were there, we got dumped on by torrential rains for about four straight hours. I remember the rocky trail vividly because it basically was like hiking up a waterfall. The scenery there is absolutely amazing. I would love to go back and see the Lion's Head.
After your Cranberry Wilderness vid, though, I'm thinking about going back down there.
Awesome trip.
Awesome video looked like you guys had a Blast, Thanks
put some sticks through the loops of the chain saw and use those as handles to save your fingers.
Cmon. Me and my bud crossed the linville river this past September! Was pretty dang cold too haha
Your intro with all the guys made me immediately think this was the start of r a horror movie! 😂 Seriously though, I love your hiking videos, especially the ones with your wife. Definitely motivating me to get back into hiking after I'm done helping from a recent surgery.
Haha, thanks, Crystal. Hope you're able to get back out their soon!
Have you ever heard of using pine sap to start a fire ? Scrape a blob off the side of Any pine tree. Use the sap instead of twigs. It doesn`t take much to get the sap burning & it will get the bigger stuff started faster. It even works in the rain & snow.
Hail to the Redskins, TJ!
A) Love the videos! I take lots of photos and videos of my trips -- and realize it takes a lot of skill and work to put it all together like you do.
B) How does your MSR stove do in sub 20 degree weather? I picked up the Universal for those temps but wonder if the inverted canister works well enough to go that route instead.
Did mike forget his snowshoes this time...lol...love the vids...you guys do it proper
Haha, thankfully he didn't need them. But Mike, TJ and I will be doing a winter trip up in New Hampshire next month, so he better play it safe and juat throw them in the car now. ;)
sintax77 you guys doin the presidentials or a little south of them? Either way us subs look forward to watching
galaxy 500 We're going all in and rocking the Prezzies :)
Sintax-call me for the next dude trip!! I'm in!!
Great video. Looks like a fun time was had by all.
Gotta love the woods in the winter, love the hammock set up, I am planing on purchasing one this year and leaving the tent at home. Hammocks are getting popular and must be a reason. LOL
Regards
Mark
Try putting a solar blanket over your bug net, works really well!
Great like always
Looked like a great trip.
Thanks for the video
I've been jealous before of your trips, but this one tops the list. What I would do to go on a hike with you!
Wow it really looked like a Lion head!!!
Nice.
Looks like fun.
Keep the vids coming,nice job.
thanks for sharing your trip, i like your hammock set up.
..bill
man that was a great video really makes me want to get me some gear and start going camping
Wish I could have came!!!
Oooh, gotta get one of those and1 bear bags!
TJ's mustache needs a Hennessy Hammock!
Hey I actually have that pocket chainsaw. Someone gave it to me for christmas but I thought to myself it was a gimmick so I didn't bring it winter camping with me. Looks like it worked nicely for you boys though, I'll have to give it a shot next time. Great video.
Yeah, that litle saw surprised me too - it's pretty awesome for it's size.
sintax77
Is that pocket chainsaw any lighter and more efficient than a Bacho Laplander saw?
I have a pocket chainsaw and have found it to be a lot of work. I've been using a 15 inch Sven Folding Saw which weighs in at 10.8 oz. That is a little more than the comparable Laplander at about 6.5 oz but you get a very aggressive 13 inch blade. Thanks for all the entertaining videos Syntax.
"hE's CuTtiN' a TrEeEeE dOwN!"
"It's ded, shut up"
I laughed out loud at this XD
Another awesome vid.
If you put the lint in paper egg cartons it holds together better and you can just break off how many you will need. They will start a fire in the rain.
I spotted some Brew Free or Die IPA, imported all the way from over here in San Francisco!
Sucks what happened to Mike's jacket. He seemed really bummed about it. Great Video again Sintax!
great video as always man
fun adventure. i watched a couple. subbed. i am from mt hood oregon. i live in the national forest on a mt 11245 feet tall. i do tons of fun snowshoe. camping. survival skills. shelters. guns. all kinds of videos also. peace.
MOUNTAINOUS Right on. I've seen a couple vids of Mt Hood / oregon hiking. It looks awesome!
Sweet love your stuff
That looked like an awesome trip. I picked one of those pocket chainsaws up just to see what it can do. It was cheap enough. I was surprised to see it work as well as it did for you guys. Also, you and your buddies all sound like North East Philly boys...am I close?
Hi sintax, another great video - can't get enough of them. I'm wondering about two things.
1. Do you prefer hiking alone, with a small group or with a large one like you did this time?
2. Are you coming back to the Whites this year?
that was fun...good old Wva...almost heaven. i gre w just a few miles over in Ohia..i camoed lot but never Wva. you guys know how to party...but moon shine would of warm your body and souls up. you got to to ky. or on down to the smokies...d;))
Those tree's were some animals home 😜
Another awesome video Sintax. Usually you go solo or just you and Mike. After this do you like the bigger group better or prefer the solitude? My usual backpacking trips are just me and 2 other guys, same rhythym, same speed, same thoughts and I like that. On another note, saw some Dale pale ale and 21st amendment ipa. Good beer choices by the group!
Great group trip, looked like a blast - and everyone can share the weight of the "luxuries". What packs, sleeping bags, shelters???
A funny part is where he thought the Nalgene bottle was warming him clear until dawn. It was exactly the opposite.
I've marinated mine in Jack Daniels marinate and pour a tad of JD in with it.
Burr... I live in California. 48 degrees is freezing here LOL...
In Washington State it can be 48 degrees year around. :( sad but true.
been mild winters last few years for a change but mild summers too.... not like the east coast.
Good video
Now that's what I call roughing out
Thanks for sharing the trip with us, Sintax. I'm headed out for a 2-day trip next week to explore 350 acres along the Chickahominy River here in VA. Nothing like the elevation changes you guys had up at Dolly Sods though!
What did you think of that pocket chainsaw? I carry a Corona 7" folding saw for cutting firewood. It's only 9 ounces and let's me tear through dead wood. That chainsaw looks like a lot of effort and doesn't have the same control as a hand tool.
finally! keep the vids coming.
LMAO when yall were talking to Mike about his down jacket getting ripped, all I could see was a bunch of girls comforting another girl for.breaking a nail. It's funny the things us guys get upset about..lol.
Awesome
You almost made it to the lions head trail I was yelling at the screen for you to keep going but you couldn't hear me . I have been there a couple of times and it is tricky to find . Last August we camped in the spot where you drank the s'mores liquor in mini solo cups .
Frozen my butt off. In the summer before up there
It's own sleeping bag I lost it lol
Next time ,show us the cheese burgers. We would stop at Mac Donald's on the way backs.
That was a big crew.
i believe its actually a "blister" of hikers, not a gaggle
It's all fun and games til someone looses some down....
UrbanSuburban hahah :D
And their bear bag branch lol
TrailKilla has all the bad luck...
***** Bear attacks are rare and happen most often when someone gets caught between a mother bear and her cubs. I'm pretty sure Sintax77 carries a pistol whenever regulations permit, but for example in Finland, I have yet to see anyone carry a firearm of any kind while hiking.
They say the most dangerous animal in the world is a mother when it comes to her babies. The dad might be twice as big as the mother but his ass is TOAST if he messes with one of mama bears babies!..LOL
Great video. I noticed a roll of Reflectix on your pack early on - was that a fall-back plan in case your UQ / sock setup wasn't warm enough? Keep up the good work!
Chuck Carter Should have mentioned that. I used a folded over piece as a sit pad. Works really well - under 2 oz and keeps the butt dry.
YES! I love your vids!
You rock! Love your videos :)
have you ever heard of a underbelly for your hammock. I've been doing a lot of research on it and once I save up some more money im thinking about buying one. it seems like a really cool luxury item
Awesome video!! Out of the several trips you have taken to Dolly Sods which area do you prefer for a early fall trip.
First part of the video seemed like a military training exercise, then ya'll busted out the booze! Looked like a good trip. That winter sock looks nice. Did you feel that it added a lot of warmth?
Nice video!
Why was the food stored in bear sack up on a tree at night for winter backpacking - aren’t bears hibernating in DollySods - just curious
hey hey
An updated gear video would be greatly appreciated.
It's on the list, I promise ;) Working on my 3 season ultralight loadout from the Fall Cranberry trip for next video.
Awesome ! I can't wait.
Wouldn't a hack saw with a wood blade be a lot easier to cut with? It doesn't weigh much, the only problem is you would have to hang it outside of your pack. But It would save you alot of time and energy, especially in the winter when you need a lot of wood fuel.
pgibbons72 Very true. I brought the pocket chain saw mostly out of curiosity, and it packs a major punch relative to it's weight, but if you know you've got some decent wood work in store, a legit saw would certainly be worth the extra handful of ounces. In this case, we had a nice hatchet, but the pocket chainsaw made for a pretty cool bonus. I'd say it's the perfect saw to carry when you don't think you need one.
Thanks for the video! Could you describe what it was like hiking up Big Stonecoal from Red Creek? How steep? What were the trail conditions?
It's deadwood Jim.
Man. Look at all that meat. The steaks man! The steaks...Perv. Side note: I'll probably never carry in a cut of meat like that, but it sure looks tasty though.
I used to feel the same way, but for winter trips with friends, I think it my new standard. With the shorter winter nights, a decent meal is a really fun way to pass the time. Plus, your pack feels so much lighter the next day ;)
Quick question. The snakeskin you have for your tarp/rainfly. Is that the all one piece together, a package deal or is just an accessory you buy separate for the tarp/rainfly? thanks. I'm looking but not having any luck finding them.
Nice video, what video editing software do you use?
I had a question about your quilts. I am looking at the Hammock gear quilts and wanted your opinion on the temp ratings. I hike mostly in Northern Florida with lows in the 40's to occasionally the upper 30's. Did you find the 40° comfortable enough in that range? Was much colder on that trip but you also used a lot of other stuff at that temp. Just wondering how low I could expect to use just the quilt.