Date: 2013-10-17
To: Shakedown Hike 2 of 3
Miles today: 0.0

I traveled to Petersburg, West Va., to meet up with some Appalachian Mountain Club Members, in order to hike the Dolly Sods area of the Monongahela National Forest. Although the government was shut down and park offices were closed, the national forest was open for hiking and backpacking. The hike was on October 12th, 13th, and 14th, 2013. Originally, the backpacking trip was scheduled to be about 30 miles, but due to some rough bushwacking up and over a mountain, we lost some time and had to cut our mileage to 22 miles, in order to complete the hike on Monday at about 2 PM. Most trails in this national park are not blazed, instead there are signs in the beginning of the trail junctions. We were never lost, we always knew where we were and where we wanted to go, but sometimes we could not find the trail and thus the reason for bushwacking. There were three of us, down from six who originally signed up.The weather forcast called for rain and during the entire six hour trip to Petersburg, I had my windshield wipers on in my truck. This was going to be a wet hike.The area was named after 18th Century homesteaders (The Dahles) and sods means mountain meadows: hence the name Dolly Sods.We started our hike about 11:00 AM Friday, and finally arrived at our camp for the night about 6:30 PM. It drizzled most of the day so we set up our tents in the rain. During the night hours, with our headlamps on, we cooked, and then ate our meals in the rain.At different trailheads, they have bulletin boards and a notice that immediately catches your eye saying,"Don't Touch The Bombs"! During WWII, the tenth Mountain Division practiced their specialty on the nearby Seneca Rock Cliffs, while the US Army used the mountains that I hiked for a practice artillery and mortar range. Obviously, since I am here writing this journal, I did not step on any bombs.I thought of Big Agnes as I was putting my tent up in the rain. On my last hike, I damaged the zipper on my rainfly and sent it off to Big Agnes for repair. It was repaired and back in my hands in one week at no charge. They have a great support and repair crew and I thanked them for their speedy and professional service, because without this rainfly I would have been soaking wet.Because I could not get my sleeping pad to pack nicely on my backpack, I took my air mattress along, and was much more pleased with it this time than I was on my last hike.After spending most of the second day bushwacking, it was pleasant to get into camp at about 3 PM with no rain and a little sun. I was about 30 yards from the roaring Red Creek. It was the dominant sound of the forest that evening.I hung out everything I could to dry, cooked up a big evening meal, chatted for awhile, and I was in my tent reading by around 6:30. Twenty minutes later it started raining again. I was remembering last night while hanging my bear bag, I managed to get it tangled up pretty badly, about 12 feet in the air, so in the morning I fashioned a 15 foot pole to retrieve my bear bag and tonight it hangs very nicely about 15 feet in the air, 50 feet from camp.Our last morning we had to cross the creek, so we donned our stream fording sandals to keep our boots dry. This was about the fourth time we had to take our boots and socks off and walk across a body of water in our sandals.We finished up our hike at about 1:30 PM and said our goodbyes at the trailhead, where we had parked our vehicles. It was such a pleasure to walk out of the woods again and see my truck.My hike leader and his co-leader were two great guys. It was by far the most educational hike I have ever been on. The leader was very well versed on plant, flower, tree, and bird life in the forest, and it was a pleasure to hear him talk about these things.Even though I was wet for the entire hike, I managed to keep the two most important items dry, my socks and my sleeping bag. Even my pack had a cover over it while it rained, and it was still saturated with water. This water from dampness adds weight to the pack, so I was probably hauling around an extra five pounds because of it.I ate well on this hike, and it was the first time I ever came home heavier than when I left. I guess those three double cheeseburgers and two quarter pound hot dogs and the gallon of fluids I ate and drank on the way home, put my weight back on. My mom will be happy that I ate well.I was at an altitude of around 2600 to 4400 feet high. This was an enjoyable hike, and it has upped my coping and toughness experience levels so that someday soon, I will begin with confidence the journey of my lifetime.Since retirement around May 1st I have hiked or backpacked 800 miles. Next up, a well earned VACATION to visit relatives in Georgia and Florida. Right after that, if all goes according to plan, Shakedown Hike #3, a 75 mile circle hike in North Central Pa. with the Wilmington Trail Club, will occur. This hike will take us about a week. I'll let you know how that goes.I'll see you on the trail.