WV> Dolly Sods Hike 'n Hang, WV Summer 2018 planning thread...

**Tyroler Holzhacker** · 01-12-2018, 10:42

Anyone interested in a Summer hike/hang in the Sods, WV's east coast highlands paradise? Maximum party size of 10, hang anywhere you want and for free. BYO food. Bear country, so be sure to know how to hang your food/use a bear canister. The Sods can be swampy in places, but rewards you with amazing scenery. Plan on approaching from the picnic area in the southern part of the sods. I will start a gear list spreadsheet, info sheet as we approach summer. I am thinking July 12th-14th and return home Sunday. This gorgeous gem in the East is only 4 hours from DC! Hope to see what interest we can generate here. . One caveat, the rangers say it is crowded in the summer, but at least it will be better than the week of the Fourth. In any case, this wilderness area is huge, so that shouldn't be much of a concern. Ground dwellers also welcome, but we will try to convert you to above ground camping!

Seasonal weather for July is 58 for a low, 81 for a high, and 70 for mean temperature. Precipitation is .18" avg for this time of year, so pretty perfect hiking/camping weather.

Please use the spreadsheet for signing up for this event,
and feel free to modify the spreadsheet if you want to add anything.
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets...sLc/edit#gid=0

**Badweissenbier** · 01-12-2018, 11:35

I would love to go that area is always beautiful, However that is boy scout camp week

and I have to get them young ones out and loving nature. If you decide on another week I would jump right in

**OldNWay** · 01-12-2018, 12:08

I would be interested

**Tyroler Holzhacker** · 01-12-2018, 12:11

Enjoy your time with the scouts. I like to plan my getaways around holidays, so maybe Labor day weekend, Columbus day weekend are possible alternate dates. That said, the weather forecast for the Sods during the week of July 4th looks pretty incredible.

**Tyroler Holzhacker** · 01-12-2018, 12:12

Thanks.. how many are with you OldnWay?

**Wilderness Seeker** · 01-12-2018, 12:19

Add me to the list. Sound fun

**Tyroler Holzhacker** · 01-12-2018, 13:43

Originally Posted by Wilderness Seeker

Add me to the list. Sound fun

This makes 3 people so far not including any other hikers coming with.. I will add a spread sheet soon for updating purposes. BTW, we can have more than 10 people, but I think the park prefers group sizes not greater than 10 at a site, so we may break the groups into sub groups if the total exceeds 10 campers. There is strength in numbers and will keep the bears at bay.I have maps and compass and am pretty good at land navigation. This wilderness area is kind of infamous for not the greatest trail markers. This would also my first time at the SODS. I am going solely by map reconnaissance, thus anyone experienced with land navigation would be gladly encouraged to join the group. I promise all we will not get lost if we stick together.

**Badweissenbier** · 01-12-2018, 14:06

Originally Posted by Tyroler Holzhacker

This makes 3 people so far not including any other hikers coming with.. I will add a spread sheet soon for updating purposes. BTW, we can have more than 10 people, but I think the park prefers group sizes not greater than 10 at a site, so we may break the groups into sub groups if the total exceeds 10 campers. There is strength in numbers and will keep the bears at bay.I have maps and compass and am pretty good at land navigation. This wilderness area is kind of infamous for not the greatest trail markers. This would also my first time at the SODS. I am going solely by map reconnaissance, thus anyone experienced with land navigation would be gladly encouraged to join the group. I promise all we will not get lost if we stick together.

I have found the smartphone internal GPS to really work well. You might get an app that will let you download maps. I'm sure there is no phone service but the GPS works just fine without. I had the chance to compare an iphone to my garmin and it was spot on with the garmin. I now have REI's maping app which will let you download the maps for an area.

**Tyroler Holzhacker** · 01-12-2018, 15:01

Thanks, I just loaded Topo maps+ a free gps mapping app with offline functionality. This ought to be a game changer.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H4AkcqTvjRo

**Tyroler Holzhacker** · 01-12-2018, 15:42

Hey everyone: I just got off the phone with the ranger office at the Sods, and they basically said the Sods will be packed to the gills for the 4th of July and into the weekend. This means you won't get the best Sods experience. Let's look at picking a date not around the federal holiday. Any suggestions for alternate dates.. I am thinking Thurs-Sat July 12-14. Bastille Day, but thankfully, that's not a holiday over here.