[Philmont]: Dolly Sods

An interesting place. I believe Dolly Sods is fairly renown as being
the only locale east of the Mississippi that has had measurable snow
every month of the year. I have been there in late May and June with
temperatures in the 20's - and I don't recall ever being hot there. The
flora and fauna are more reminiscent of far upstate New York and
southern Ontario than the rest of the mid-Atlantic.

One issue with Dolly Sods that merits a warning - as of my last visit (7
- 8 years ago???), the trail maps were *atrociously* bad, and people got
lost there all the time. I'm talking experienced woodsmen, not clueless
rubes. As of the mid-90's, the trail maps were more suggestions than
actual (and in some places, were just flat-out wrong). It is one of the
few places where I always did a double check of the Scouts' map and
compass work, and memorized every trail junction in reverse (like when
you're caving). Perhaps this situation has since been rectified, I
haven't heard. With superb GPS Units and map writing programs now
common, I would cetainly hope so. But it would probably be worth having
(and knowing well how to use) a GPS unit, as well as having excellent
map and compass skills, and purchasing every map of the place you can
find. It is no place to be bumbling around, even in the summertime.

But even given all that, it is as remote and beautiful an area as
probably exists east of the Mississippi, with the possible exception of
some of the most remote areas of Maine. It would have made a wonderful
Phil-East. And still makes for a great 2 - 5 day backpacking adventure
for experienced Crews. I highly recommend it - but go in with your eyes
open, and your GPS fully charged.

- Dr. Bob

Jim Krempel wrote:
> Scott Sibley wrote:
> "Any suggestions for things we should consider, that are within a weekend
> drive from Philadelphia?"
> =========================
> Scott:
> Our "graduation shakedown" before Philmont 04, after a hiking a lot of the
> AT in this region, was a long weekend backpacking trek in the Dolly Sods
> National Wilderness Area of West Virginia. Part of Monongahela National
> Forest, it is amazingly wild and very different from "normal" East Coast
> hikes, yet not too far from anything.
> You can make it as rugged and difficult as you want. Keep in mind that the
> elevation is at the 4000 ft level, which means you can have cold weather
> almost anytime. After driving out I-68 and 95 degree temps, our Sunday
> morning on the Sods in July was a frosty 34 degrees!
> A link is attached:
> http://www.fs.fed.us/r9/mnf/sp/dolly_sods_wilderness.htm
> See you on the trail!
> Jim Krempel
> Advisor 710H 04 (and back again in 06)
> Severn, MD
>

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Received on Fri Dec 31 20:09:17 2004