Here is how wiki describes it:
"The Monongahela National Forest is a national forest located in the Allegheny Mountains of eastern West Virginia, USA. It protects over 919,000 acres (3,719 km2) of federally-owned land within a 1,700,000-acre (6,880 km2) proclamation boundary that includes much of the Potomac Highlands Region and portions of 10 counties.The MNF includes some major landform features such as the Allegheny Front and the western portion of the Ridge-and-valley Appalachians. Within the Forest are most of the highest mountain peaks in the state, including the highest, Spruce Knob (4,863 ft), also the highest point in the Alleghenies."
Better description: THE MON IS AWESOME.
You might know the mon better as the home of Canaan, Timberline, and Snowshoe. It's also the home of world class climbing (Seneca) and some of the best backpacking on the east coast (Dolly Sods). Long story short, I'm going to be spending a lot more time there this fall and winter- it's only 2.5-3.5 hours to get there, depending on where you want to base camp.
PICTURS:
Cool skies and an epic sunset/storm driving in across Route 55:
That same storm produced a DOUBLE RAINBOW:
On Saturday we hiked part of the North Fork Mountain trail, which Outside mag called the best trail in WV. The views were pretty stunning:
Looking down the valley towards Seneca:
Looking towards VA:
We then headed up to Dolly Sods- I think I'm going to be spending A LOT of time in the Dolly Sods/Roaring Plains/Flatrock Plains area this fall and winter. So many backpacking projects. So many backcountry skiing projects
Epic views from up there as well. We are now looking at North Fork Mountain on the right (with the cliff bands), directly where the previous pics were taken:
If you haven't heard of Dolly Sods, do some googling and read about it. The ecology and terrain are considered sub-alpine, and the terrain looks like you should be somewhere in the Canadian tundra, not WV:
Another view:
More tundra:
Canada, or WV?
Seneca Rocks is a climbers paradise. So many aesthetic lines and a wide variety of difficulties. Also, a sunset:
I got up early the next morning, but no clouds so the sunrise sucked. Did get this though- no post processing here other than a little sharpening, just a perfect gradient from nature:
The last day took us to a hike through Flatrock Plains. So much great hiking and backpacking potential in the area. I bet this is fun in the spring, with the snowmelt:
This hike took us to an overlook of the entire Dolly Sods area. POP QUIZ SKIERS: do you see what I see?
