Backpacking High is Cooler

OVERVIEW

Come cool off at Dolly Sods, WV: my *favorite* place to go backpacking within a handful of hours of Cville. Its Wilderness is unique, and different every visit.

Much of the vegetation on Dolly Sods’ 4000-foot plateau is interesting and rare in the Southeast USA, more typical of arctic tundra northern Canada! Look forward to awesome views, challenging wet mushy steep trail in some areas, potentially adventurous stream/river crossings, campfire fun, and much more.

Figure somewhere around 15 to 25 miles total over the weekend. In having guided many trips to Dolly Sods, I’ve learned that its unique terrain suits best for not having a specific trail plan – rather, just go with the flow. *Every* trail there has its own unique beauty; we’ll see what we see when we’re there. First-time (and seasoned) backpackers are welcome if you are physically fit and are a strong hiker. Backpacking means you will be carrying on your back everything you’ll need out in the wilderness overnight, in this case 2 nights, and hiking with all that on during the day. Our Saturday night campsite will be different than / further in than our Friday night one.

New to tha club, adventure title pun got ya dazed and confused? There won’t be any herb affecting my mind when we’re on-trail. You are the owner of your own mind.

This adventure starts out with everyone waitlisted, and then as drivers sign up, folks will get off the wait list. Folks who withdraw after the deadline or don’t show up, get dinged with a “No Show” in the club’s system, affecting future ability to attend trips.

WITHDRAW/CANCEL-PARTICIPATION DEADLINE is the same as the posted signup deadline for every club adventure unless otherwise noted. If you are on the wait list and make other plans, please WITHDRAW ONLINE (otherwise if you get off the wait list last-minute and don’t show up, and someone else could have gone in your spot, that’s a problem).

DRIVERS needed and greatly appreciated (~325 miles total). Drivers please arrive with completely full tank of gas, then the club will pay to fill up your tank upon return plus give you a 50% TIP! (max $20/driver tip). The more drivers, the bigger we can grow the size of this trip to let in any waitlistees. Thanks!

ANTI-SPAM MUST-DO: My emails often get lost in spam world. I don’t text – no smart phone – and must rely on your completing the following step please:
On a computer (won’t work on a phone), in your email “Settings” –> “See all settings” –> “Filters” –> “Create a new Filter” –> from @solowfa.com (keep it with nothing before the @ — don’t let google fill in any suggestion) then click “Create Filter” NOT the search button –> check box “Never send it to spam” and then finish with the “Create Filter” button.

GEAR-BORROWING:
See: https://outdoorsatuva.org/gear/
In case that doesn’t work for you, if a trip participant volunteers, they will try to coordinate gear borrowing.

FRIDAY DEPARTURE TIME & Sun. return time: We will have a car or two leaving Cville earlier if people can go earlier and get settled at Friday night camp earlier. If you get no notice of earlier departure, see you at the posted trip departure time & location with your pack already 100% packed ready to hit the trail. Return time Sunday is a guesstimate.

COMMUNAL DINNER Saturday: Plan that we’ll provide you with boiling water to put into your freeze-dried (such as Mountain House) or other just-add-hot-water meal. If a trip participant volunteers to organize a communal dinner, you can participate in that instead if you follow any emails that might come out about that and that person confirms your communal choice.

WEAR & BRING Checklist:
Wear non-cotton clothes, gaiters, WATERPROOF boots, and pack: __ many clothing layers (non-cotton) including hat & gloves you might like to have at night / early morning — much colder & maybe windy at 4000 feet at night, __ EXTRA SOCKS, __ 2-3 L water, ___ tons of extra water we’ll leave in car but we’ll use Friday night and Saturday morning as we’ll likely camp somewhat near car, __ ready-to-eat Friday dinner enjoy before leaving, in car, or upon arrival, __ 2 breakfasts 2 no-cook lunches 1 dinner (see above) & lots of snacks, __ Sunday dinner money or dinner left in car, __ whatever you might like to enjoy at a campfire party, __ cup/bowl/spoon/pot/whatever you’ll need, __ whistle, __ rain gear, __ small towel (e.g. PackTowl), __ flashlight/headlamp NOT cellphone light, __ hike poles, __ t.p., __ baggie, __ hand sanitizer, __ ear plugs, __ backpack, __ backpack rain cover, __ tent, __ sleeping bag rated at least 30 degrees lower than Petersburg, WV forecast low, __ sleeping pad, __ fabric or plastic grocery bags in which you’ll put all your food and all scented items to hang from a tree overnight, ___ cordage if you have for hanging food, __ meds, __ extra corrective lenses if applicable, __ blister care packs bandaids etc., __ musical instrument? __ camera? __ sunglasses? __ sunscreen? __ suggestion: spray your boots, hat, and clothes with permethrin, and have picaridin on-hand for your skin in case trail is buggy in areas.

Trip Leader will provide one Steri-Pen (water purification), one food-hang rope, one small shovel, and one stove to heat up your water for if needed for dinnertime freeze-dried meals, all for communal use; as well as major first aid items as needed.

Trip Leader Mateo is a Wilderness EMT and Geo Medic, the instructor or instructor’s trainer of the Wilderness First Aid & CPR courses posted in the club, co-founder of this always-rad club, a street medic in support of protestors against neo-nazis and injustices, and will be happy to help all glorious outdoorsians in need.