Seneca Creek & Sinks of Gandy cave, West Virginia

Seneca Creek - Backpacking
Sinks of Gandy - Caving
Seneca Rocks - Rock climbing (Experience people only)

Seneca Creek:
A hiker’s paradise, Spruce Knob has amazing views and is home to one of the 5 best backpacking routes in the mid-Atlantic.

Seneca Creek route is a 10 mile easy loop, located in West Virginia’s Monongahela National Forest. On this trail you’ll get to experience a little bit of everything.
There’s beautiful streams and waterfalls, high mountain meadows.
We will move in as soon we arrive (mid day) getting to camp area around 4-5 pm, go for a swim in the main waterfall attraction of the area to refresh and come back to eat something.

With so many options, the Spruce Knob-Seneca Rocks Recreation Area can be as challenging or easy as you want, trails that zigzag all through the valley and along the mountaintop, and they have various lengths and degrees of difficulty.

The trails that zigzag through the park below, some of which lead to this summit, venture through meadows, along mountainsides, into dense spruce forests, and along rocky ridges. Here, rhododendron and blueberry flourish, creating a colorful canvas through spring, and in the fall, the forest erupts in fiery hues in every direction.

This time I am taking a different approach, on this ocaccion we will star our day at Seneca Creek middle parking lot, Lumberjack trail, about 7.5 miles, and walk our way on the ridge of down to one of the most beautiful waterfall on the area where we will spend the rest of our first day on the wild arriving to this area between 4pm.
Next day early in the morning break camp (7am) and head back to parking lot following a different trail, Seneca Creek, 5.5 miles, arriving to our cars around mid day, from there we will drive for 30-45 minutes to The Sinks of Gandy cave where we will walk thought whit the help of our headlamps.

The Sinks of Gandy - Day Hike cave is truly a diamond in the rough,
Sinks Gandy Creek travels some 3,000 feet through the sinks as it passes under a spur of Yokum Knob, a summit in the Allegheny Mountains. Its upstream entrance is about 30 feet wide and 15 feet high. The tunnel is principally a single long passage from 4 to 35 feet high with a few minor side-passages. The main passage averages 40 to 60 feet wide though in some places opens to nearly 100 feet wide. In many places the creek fills the entire floor of the passage and in others is confined to a narrow trench. Its downstream entrance is offset by about 100 feet to the east of the creek's channel, which exits through boulders.
Water shoes are a must have.

After exiting the cave we will head back to Seneca Rocks, we will camp here our second night, (Saturday)
Monday morning, 7am break camp, fix breakfast, 8am hikers head to Seneca Rocks Summit using they feet and legs (2-3hr) while rock climbers climbers head to the climbing walls and ascent to the summit using ropes and rock climbing equipment plus they sole will not to fall as an moral support.
Hikers will head back home as soon the make it back to the parking lot (1pm) climbers when ever we finish our pursuit (4-5pm)

A very busy long weekend, fill whit plenty wild adventures

Note: We all will meet at Vienna Metro station on Saturday 9am and soon be on the move so try to be there on time.

Backpacker gear list:
1.) Tent
2.) Sleeping bag
3.) Sleeping pad
4.) 2 pieces rain suit or poncho
5.) 2-3 Extra pair of socks.
6.) Backpacking stove + pot/cup/dish/spoon
7.) Dehydrate food for your self.
8.) Camel bag/bottle or similar for drinking water.
9.) Snacks/sandwich/power bars or equivalent, etc.
10.) Water - Saturday and Sunday we will refuel from a stream
11.) Head lamp + extra batteries
12.) Water shoes + small towel
13.) Bug spry

Climbers gear list:
Backpacker gear list plus your own personal climbing gear
Helmets are mandatory.

Not cellphone reception on the area

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!!
Have a ride: Please post where you are coming from, what time, and how many spots you have.
Need a ride: Post that you need a ride and contact any offers via e-mail for those that are offering rides.
NOTE: Rides are not free, tip your driver accordingly for fuell expenses.