IMAGES TAKEN BETWEEN OCTOBER 2-6, 2023 ON MY 5TH VISIT TO DOLLY SODS

IMAGES TAKEN JULY 3, 2023 ON MY 4TH VISIT TO DOLLY SODS (1ST WITH FRIENDS!)

IMAGES TAKEN BETWEEN AUGUST 17TH-22ND, 2022 ON MY 3RD VISIT TO DOLLY SODS

I was beyond fortunate to spend a full three days exploring Dolly Sods on my third visit since 2020. As most of my trips this year, it was a very last minute decision, once again arriving post-midnight to the lot atop FR 75 at Bear Rocks. It always blows my mind, the wide open skies absolutely bursting with billions of stars, the milky way faintly visible to the naked eye. I arrived just in time to watch the moon rise up where, last time I'd been sitting, had watched the sun come up. A full circle moment. 

It was so unfortunate that the clouds moved in and so did the rain, shortly after my arrival. Sunset was a bust, but thankfully the rain didn't last all day. While organizing my pack and getting ready for the day, had a lovely chat with a few other backpackers returning from their overnight ventures. I learned a lot about the best "tucked away" areas, some of the area's rich history, and discussed the vital importance of Leave No Trace Ethics. Backpackers can be some really good, honest people. 

I took all the time in the world to drive along FR75, stopping occasionally for photographs and to admire the perfect summer scenery. I found a trail that led to an amazing vista, facing East but slightly more North than Bear Rocks - another perfect vantage point for a sunrise. I also found "the Tree", not without advice from the backpackers I'd been talking to that morning. I was taking my time because I was only planning on hiking about 3 miles that day, my first true experience hiking into the Wilderness for an overnight stay. The Rohrbaugh Trail was my target - I'd heard amazing things about the vistas at the Rohrbaugh Cliffs, and I wanted to try my luck at catching a brilliant backcountry sunset and stargazing, the experience was so much better than I could've imagined. I was stunned into silence and admiration from the entire day - hiking deep into a forest covered in moss and ferns, assortments of dozens of different mushrooms popping up everywhere; hiking through fields of wildflowers, often taller than my shoulders, sometimes taller than me, enjoying the buzzing of bees and watching butterflies seemingly everywhere; the amazing view the Cliffs have to offer, complete with intricate and eye-catching rock formations. The stars, it seems like there are billions from here, was the icing on the cake. 

There's no shortage of campsites around Rohrbaugh, as is the case with much of the Sods, as I've experienced having hiked almost 20 miles across her amazing landscape the last couple years. It was hard to leave this magical place the next morning, but I knew the hike back was going to be so enjoyable and I couldn't wait to get started. 

IMAGES TAKEN THURSDAY OCTOBER 14, 2021 ON MY 2ND VISIT TO DOLLY SODS

My first of many late-night arrivals to that little parking lot at the top of Forest Rd 75 at Bear Rocks, it was so completely worth it from the magnificence and power of watching a completely dark world wake up as the Earth rotated its way from a bazillion stars in the sky to a flooding dazzle of sunlight on the horizon. 

Everyone should see at least one Bear Rocks sunrise. 

It's also on this trip I discovered one of my favorite backcountry campsites a few hundred feet off the road, but well hidden in a lovely grove of ferns and pine trees - my favorite combination! 

I only spent a day and a night here, as I was spending most of this trip exploring the Canaan Rd area of MNF. But I spent the whole day hiking - about 12 miles along the Blackbird Knob, Rocky Ridge, Harman Knob loop in the central portion of Dolly Sods. The views to the West are just as expansive as the views to the East - I was not fortunate to be able to catch sunset from a vantage point along the Rocky Ridge Trail, but my oh my would it be brilliant!

IMAGES TAKEN THURSDAY OCTOBER 22, 2020 ON MY 1ST VISIT TO DOLLY SODS

It's an amazing exhilaration of  awe-inspiring brilliance when you crest the top of Forest Rd 75 for the first time at Bear Rocks, sitting on the cusp of Wilderness territory and National Forest boundary. The expansive view of rolling West Virginia mountains, each layer more monotone blue than the previous, for miles and miles brings such a deep respect and admiration for the scenery your eyes are taking in for the first time. Its an amazing site, the one-sided spruce trees, the well-rounded and well-weathered geological wonders that create the massive natural rock structure that compromises Bear Rocks, the strength behind the breeze felt while standing atop a plateau, nothing of substance there to offer protection, all of is so wonderful in its natural, wild state. The Wilderness is Dolly Sods. Bear Rocks is a Nature Preserve which is receiving hundreds of more acres in 2024. And the surrounding land is all USFS - Monongahela National Forest. 

I knew from the first moment I laid eyes across the sweeping expanse of Dolly Sods, beginning almost immediately as FR75 narrows down from the Bear Rocks parking area, it was a special place and I would return as often as possible to explore her Wilderness.

As I'd been camping about an hour's drive away with a friend on my solo day trip to hike at Dolly Sods for the first time, I was just there for a half a day trip, but it was more than enough to keep me hooked for life on the beauty West Virginia has to offer and understanding her significance. Photos are limited because I was still learning to use my relatively new camera and was honestly so overwhelmed by my first visit, I was enjoying the moment rather than focused on the photography aspect.

So after getting my satisfaction of exploring around Bear Rocks in the daytime, I started the official Bear Rocks hiking trail, from the pictured wooden trailhead information board/registrar. I took a relatively short loop across the Bear Rocks Trail, Dobbin Grade, Raven Ridge connector in the northernmost reaches of Dolly Sods. It was so incredibly muddy and boggy, I was so worried I'd lose my boots! The thickness and depth of bogs around Dobbin Grade and the mouth of Red Creek must not be underestimated! Despite the bizarre trail conditions that I was not accustomed to, it was one of the best hikes in my life and from that moment on, I wanted to work up the nerve to camp out overnight on multi-night hikes and enjoy all of the wondrous beauty the Sods have to offer.