LM:W2: Dolly Sods Intro to Winter Backpacking, 20ish miles
Details
Just throwing this up to hold the date for now. I'll flesh out the plan later. Much will depend on the weather conditions. But I want people to have plenty of time to "gear up", if needed. My intention is to make this trip accessible to everyone with regular three-season gear, plus a few supplements.
Trip Update! Now with 80% more plan!
After meeting the Vienna North Kiss & Ride Saturday, we'll drive to the Red Creek TH via this route:
https://goo.gl/sSZQKp (thanks for not letting us embed links anymore Meetup).
We'll start by doubling back on the road and use the bridge to cross Red Creek. We'll have a bit of a bushwack to get to Little Stonecoal trail, but we'll keep our feet dry(er). We'll make our way to Big Stonecoal, and shortly after make camp. 3-4 miles all told, but they will be tough.
Sunday morning, we'll take Big Stonecoal north and around to the Blackbird Knob Trail, then hit Blackbird Knob itself. This will be something around 5 miles. Then, depending on conditions, we'll pick a route and eventually meander back south to the Red Creek trail and make our way to Lion's Head. Figure on 10ish miles for the day minimum. Monday morning, we'll make a short (less than 3 miles) walk back to our cars. We'll get to ford Red Creek! Fun times! After that, it's back on the road to find some breakfast either in Cabin, WV, or somewhere further east.
Dolly Sods is pretty spectacular in winter, but it also has some challenges. So the plan is likely to be fluid (which is true for most winter trips). Depending on conditions, this trip could easily slip into "W2" rating territory. If that happens, we'll make a judgement call based on the attendees and their gear. If it looks likely to fall in our W3 category, we'll change venues. You can review the winter rankings here: https://www.meetup.com/DC-UL-Backpacking/pages/10991232/Winter_Rankings/
At minimum, you should plan to have a second sleeping pad, and bag/quilt that will get you down into teens. You should also have a solid shell jacket, gloves, and overall wind protection as the Sods can be quite exposed. A balaclava is a very good idea. And of course plenty of layers for camp. A traction device such as Microspikes may also prove wise, as it can get very icy where there is mud the rest of the year.
You will have the opportunity to learn some critical cold weather back-backing skills, such has layering, water management (like keeping it in liquid form), and tricks for staying warm at night.
To attend this trip, I'll need a detailed gear list from everyone - not just applicants. The only exceptions will be for winter veterans who have already earned their stripes on a previous W1-W4 trip.
Also, it's about 300 miles round trip. DCUL policy is to reimburse drivers, so riders should expect to chip in $30 each.
By RSVP'ing to this or any DCUL trip, you are agreeing to our Liability Waiver: https://www.meetup.com/DC-UL-Backpacking/pages/1647528/Liability_Waiver/