Dolly Sods/Roaring Plains Trail Maintenance and Party!

Ok, here is one of our classic annual work trips and party on the mountain in the best Wilderness areas in the Mid-Atlantic! We will head up to Dolly Sods on Friday evening, backpack in about 1/2 mile at the Red Creek trail head behind Laneville Cabin. We will break into groups of 5-7 and do trail maintenance on trails in Dolly Sods and Roaring Plains for the Monongahela National Forest Service! The trails and views are fabulous while doing the work and afterwards we can do some swimming and campfire fun at camp! Summer is a great time to visit the "Sods" as Red Creek will "almost" not freeze you to death when you swim in it! By the end of the weekend you will be able to relive all the great sights and know everything about Dolly Sods, especially how much cooler it is up there in the Summer! The Huckleberries and Blueberries should almost be ready by then to enjoy as you walk the trails in the "High Country" and the Rhododendron may still be in bloom as well! We will do our normal feast on the mountain, so the food will be first rate with a pot luck for Saturday dinner. The cabin is in disrepair so not available, so we can do a group feast with what we bring in our cars. People will need to bring some sides or another dessert or drinks, and everyone needs to help with the cooking and/or cleanup. Normally the food contribution ends up being around $20 per person so bring cash. You will need to supply breakfast and lunch on Saturday and Sunday. So let's do our annual trail maintenance in Dolly Sods and Roaring Plains like we did 5 years ago and fix up Rocky Point, Dunkenbarger, and Roaring Plains trails so people don't keep getting lost coming down it! In the process you will learn all there is to know of one of the finest Wilderness Areas in the United States, while making a few more great friends with great stories to boot! Please be in shape as Dolly Sods can be some of the toughest hiking in the East but we will vary the work crews to suit your fitness level. For the newbies, this year will have to backpack up Red Creek 1/2 mile to camp, but will be next to Red Creek where we all linger far into the night and one of those memories you will remember for a long time...especially the cool Dolly Sods summer evenings (15-25 degrees less than the DC area)! So for your effort on Saturday you get 2 nights in your tent in a beautiful location next to a swimming pool and whirlpool, give back to a great Wilderness while enjoying the coolest place to be in Summer in our area, help the backpacking and hiking community, and get a great party to boot! Kids and well behaved dogs are welcome, so this is a family event as well. Oh, the pictures you ask? Check out some of the many Hidden Falls, Swimming Holes and Vistas you will get to enjoy as we did in year's past! Pics here:

https://www.meetup.com/dc-backpackers/events/13192731/

and here:

https://www.meetup.com/dc-backpackers/events/13457820/

So enjoy the pics and get ready for one of our great summer extravaganzas on the mountain, Washington Backpackers Meetup Style in all it's glory!

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Laneville cabin/ Red Creek trail head GPS location:
38.97234,-79.39824

Map of Dolly Sods and driving directions, information, and wilderness restrictions here:

http://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/stelprdb5152038.pdf

Please print a copy of the map and bring it with you.

****Remember there is no cell service where we will be so if you have to contact us, please do so by Friday by noon as we will go up early.

Weather: http://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?lat=39.020266643861994&lon=-79.32609558105469#.UdwOODvQqeR

To sign up for potluck, please respond to me in the discussion.