I've been very busy with a number of things these last few weeks. My wife and I have been members of the Kanawha Trail Club for several years, (we actually met on a hike) and although I can't keep up with the younger folks now, (back injury just before retiring) we gather with them several times a year for special outings in the mountains.
Last weekend we drove to Blackwater Falls State Park near Davis West Virginia and the week before that, we spent a weekend at Stonewall Jackson Lake State Park to celebrate my birthday.
But after our hiking at Blackwater Falls (we took a very short hike of about 3 miles) we decided to drive to a place I've always wanted to go called the Dolly Sods Wilderness Area . It's at an elevation of about 4,000 ft and would be a GREAT radio spot to spend a weekend. We drove 'upwards' for what seemed forever to get there because it's an old "service road" that only allows you to drive about 20 mph (for at least 20 miles) before reaching the ridge and a 360 degree view of too many miles to count.
This week the temperature will drop into the 30's here in the valley and I expect Dolly Sods will be under several feet of snow. The wind just screams up there during bad weather. You wouldn't want to go there unless you were an expert woodsman and prepared to stay awhile till the snow melts.
Here's a few more pictures of the view from up there last week. Maybe next summer I can spend a few days and take the HF rig along? I'm not real sure I'd want to camp overnight here because of the isolation and the "rocky barren ground".
4 comments:
Beautiful countryside in WV. Drove through it many years ago. I miss my Adirondacks right now. Will be gorgeous when the first snow falls.
Hallo John,
What a beautiful location. All that space! I am tempted to join in a walking/rambling group in Torquay as it would be fun to walk with other epople who love the outdoors. Very wet here in SW England at the moment so am more than happy to just put the kettle on and sit down with a good book. Just starting "Loving and Leaving the Good Life" by Helen Nearing. Don't know if you've heard of it but she and her husband were into simple living and self-sufficiency as well as humanitarian work. Looks a fantastic read to tide me over for a day or two!
73 Adam
Hello Dick....my favorite place in America is "Mohonk Mountain House" in the mountains of New York. ever been there?
Adam...sounds like a good read. I'm reading a book about China now by Peter Hessler. It's called "River Town". An American, he lived and taught English for a few years with the Peace Corp.
Helen Nearing sounds like an interesting person. I'm sure the world would be a better place with more like her and her husband.
John,
Absolutely beautiful! Must be breathtaking for an afternoon's QRP outing during the summer.
Larry W2LJ
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