Survival Mode - Dolly Sods - Winter Backpacking - 20 miles round trip

IMPORTANT - READ
This is a by law 10 person limit capacity trip, If you are NOT 100% committed please do NOT RSVP

Survival Mode Winter Backpacking

The Dolly Sods Wilderness — originally simply Dolly Sods — is a U.S. Wilderness Area in the Allegheny Mountains of eastern West Virginia and is part of the Monongahela National Forest (MNF) and one of the most desirable trekking areas for the free bird and adventure spirit.

A legend from the 1800 say: "In Randolph County, Virginia, is a tract of country containing from seven to nine hundred square miles, entirely uninhabited, and so savage and inaccessible that it has rarely been penetrated even by the most adventurous.
The settlers on its borders speak of it with a sort of dread, and regard it as an ill-omened region, filled with bears, panthers, impassable laurel-brakes, and dangerous precipices. Stories are told of hunters having ventured too far, becoming entangled, and perishing in its intricate labyrinths.

The desire of daring the unknown dangers of this mysterious region, stimulated a party of gentlemen . . . to undertake it in June, 1851. They did actually penetrate the country as far as the Falls of the Blackwater, and returned with marvelous accounts of its savage grandeur, and the quantities of game and fish to be found there."

Dolly Sods is a rocky, high-altitude plateau with sweeping vistas and lifeforms normally found much farther north in Canada.
To the north, the distinctive landscape of "the Sods" is characterized by stunted (“flagged”) trees, wind-carved boulders, heath barrens, grassy meadows created in the last century by logging and fires, and sphagnum bogs that are much older. To the south, a dense cove forest occupies the branched canyon excavated by the North Fork of Red Creek.

The name derives from an 18th century German homesteading family — the Dahles — and a local term for an open mountaintop meadow — a "sods".

State: West Virginia
Counties: Grant, Randolph, Tucker
Elevation: 3,734 ft (1,138.1 m)
Coordinates: 38.972729, -79.397824
Download the Dolly Sods Trail Map here:
https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/mnf/recreation/recarea/?recid=12366

Trail details:
Friday night we will hike about 1 mile and camp around Red Creek and Little Stonecoal trail intersection (wild camp), next day morning (Saturday) we will break camp and head North-West following Little Stonecoal trail (TR552 on map) to Dunkenbarger trail (TR558) to Big Stonecoal trail (TR513) to Blackbird Knob trail (TR511) to Rocky Ridge trail heading north to the intersection of Dobbin Grade (TR526) trail and to our next camping location on the plateau, about 10 miles trek, enjoy the scenery and dinner.
Next morning (Sunday) head east on Dobbin Grade trail (TR526) heading to Upper Red Creek trail (TR 509) and from there all the way south to Red Creek trail (TR514) and to the parking lot area, this section will be about 10 miles trek for a grand total of 20-22 miles weekend trek so "make sure" to wear your most comfortable hiking boots.
Note: Doe to local stream wether conditions to be face, we may not even make half way but we will fight and give all what we have and go as far as we can, so, be prepare.

Gear list:
Note: Make sure you are 100% water proof.
What you need to bring:
1.) Tent - Sleeping pad - 0 or -20F Sleeping bag
2.) 2 pieces rain suit
3.) 3 extra pair of socks - 1 will stay on the car
4.) Backpacking stove + pot/cup/dish/spoon
5.) Dehydrate food
6.) Big mouth bottle for drinking water - NO camel back
7.) Snacks/sandwich/power bar or equivalent, etc.
8.) Saturday and Sunday we will refuel from a stream or melting snow.
9.) Warm jacket whit hud, hat and water proof globes, Balaclava
10.) Water proof shoes-boots
11.) Extra pair of shoes (one stay in the car)
12.) Gaiter (Must have)
13.) Liquid fuel cooking stove
(Gas canister do not work in freezing temperatures)
14.) Googles
15.) Micro spikes (Must have)
16.) Snow shoes "Mandatory to bring"
(You wont be allowed to join us if you don't bring this piece of gear)

General meetup location: Vienna Metro Station - 7:30pm
Time driving:3 hr. each way
Google driving direction from Vienna metro:
https://maps.app.goo.gl/KUW283UFEe5kJJnLA

CARPOOL: Don't forget if you want a ride or are willing to offer a ride – be a friend to the environment, save money, and make friends by just posting a message!!