Dolly Sods Hang - Late Spring

[Hickery]

I was thinking next time I go there I wanted to start at the Laneville cabin anyway, and go up Little Stonecoal to Dunkinbarger just because I haven't been on those two trails yet. Dunkinbarger would connect to Big Stonecoal, which in turn connects to Breathed Mountain. I thought the spot people were talking about that looked good for a group hang was on the upper part of Big Stonecoal, near the Breathed Mountain trail, so it may be one of the places you're thinking of. Lots of time to collect info and plan between now and then.
As to timing, the wildflowers probably come later at that altitude - maybe in May? Getting to Little Stonecoal or Big Stonecoal from Laneville requires crossing Red Creek - not always possible in Spring runoff.

Thats how I hiked in to the group site in the fall.Real diverse thru there.I had to wade across Red Creek.

[MacEntyre]

I would love to do this hang... won't know until much later if I can.

[Hawk-eye]

I'm tentative on this one depending on when that Gorge Gathering is, but I'm sure that's in May as well.

May 22 through the 25 ... but folks will be there most of that week.

[USMCStang]

May 22 through the 25 ... but folks will be there most of that week.

Thanks Hawk-Eye for the confirmation.

I'd prefer to go to the Sods a little earlier in May. Who is up for May 4 - 6, beginning at Laneville Cabin, and heading North to the Big Stonecoal Area for night one (Friday night), and either the forks or the left fork site (from last fall's hang) for night two (Saturday)? If we make it an early day Saturday, we may be able to get some choice sites near the forks, and it won't be a long hike.

Obviously, many of you prefer to make it a longer or shorter hike. I would prefer if we could just nail down our campsites and dates, and hangers can either group up to hike in from Red Creek, Laneville, or Cabin Mountain, based on road conditions. As long as you know where you will be hanging, you can hike your own hike.

I'd like to get a sizable group, and being that the Gorge hang is going on later in May, I know a lot of people can't get out twice a month.

What's the consensus on dates? I'll at least be coming in on a Friday or earlier, no matter the weekend.

EDIT: I checked the historical weather. For May 4 - 6, the average high is 68, and the average low is 41. It was colder than that for last fall's hang. The national forest website lists snow as a possibility between October - April.

Obviously, the weather in the Sods can change wildly in a heartbeat, but roads should be passable. Creeks are a different story. Both the Big Stonecoal and Left Fork sites can be reached without crossing Red Creek or its right fork if you park on public road 80 on the West side of the Sods. The Left fork is relativley small.

[WV]

This sounds pretty good. It's way too soon for me to be sure, and I'm also hoping to get to the Gorge Hang, but it's nice to have a clearly presented plan to keep in mind. It should make coordinating with others easier. too.

[MacEntyre]

...Trail Days is the weekend prior to the Gorge hangin'.

[USMCStang]

I agree on having a detailed plan. I'll give it a day or two, and if no one objects, I will officially start a new thread with trip details and dates (May 4 - 6) right at the top and ask the mods to close this one. I am unable to edit my original post above.

Before that happens, here's the tentative details. Post up if you have a different idea.

Official Dates: May 4 -6
Friday, May 4th Campsite: Upper Big Stonecoal Trail; Approximately 39.017111, -79.377139
Saturday, May 5th Campsite: Left Fork of Red Creek, just upstream of the Blackbird Knob Trail Crossing; Approximately 39.037753, -79.358883
Hike your own hike in from Laneville Cabin, FR80 (west side of the sods), or FR75 at Red Creek (east side of the sods)

[sweetbabyd]

I was thinking next time I go there I wanted to start at the Laneville cabin anyway, and go up Little Stonecoal to Dunkinbarger just because I haven't been on those two trails yet. Dunkinbarger would connect to Big Stonecoal, which in turn connects to Breathed Mountain. I thought the spot people were talking about that looked good for a group hang was on the upper part of Big Stonecoal, near the Breathed Mountain trail, so it may be one of the places you're thinking of. Lots of time to collect info and plan between now and then.
As to timing, the wildflowers probably come later at that altitude - maybe in May? Getting to Little Stonecoal or Big Stonecoal from Laneville requires crossing Red Creek - not always possible in Spring runoff.

where ever WV goes, there go i... *VW fan 4-evers!* last Dolly Sods trip was deeply meaningful and beautiful with some of the best people in the world!
sbd

[sweetbabyd]

I would love to do this hang... won't know until much later if I can.

i hope you can Mac - the Sods were profoundly beautiful!

[MacEntyre]

where ever WV goes, there go i...

I'll hang anywhere with WV, too.