Spruce Knob
| West Virginia |
Elevation: 4,863'
Vertical Gain: 890'
Vertical Gain: 890'
Date: July 9, 2010
Time: 11:56 AM
Time: 11:56 AM
Weather: Mild, hazy
Party: Bob, Kevin
Party: Bob, Kevin
Today was an interesting day. In keeping with our tradition of hiking to the highpoint when that
option is available, Kevin and I ended up driving past the entrance road to the Spruce Knob
summit to the Lumberjack Trail head for an 8.2 mile hike one way to the summit which was
probably not much more than a direct mile or two away from where we started. The long out
and back along the ridge line on old logging roads had the advantage of making the elevation
gain mostly not too noticeable and we were able to make good time, leaving at 9:15 and
reaching the summit tower before noon. I was expecting a hot day but we only stayed a half
hour at the top and were on our way back down before the temperature reached into the 80's.
The return trip on the same trails was also quick with mostly 20 minute miles. During a short
break at the turn from the Huckleberry Trail onto the Lumberjack Trail, Kevin was intrigued to
watch a spider on the signpost capture its prey.
We had some amusement along the ridge on the Huckleberry Trail on the way out. I was
hearing odd little noises in the brush which gave me visions of Gremlins running just out of
sight so I wandered a little off the trail to investigate. Suddenly, several grouse exploded from
the underbrush away from me right towards Kevin's head. He can't deny that at least a little
yell escaped his lips as he ducked.
After more than a 16 mile day we felt that we earned the good pizza we had while overlooking
the Seneca Rock cliffs and sitting out on the covered upper deck of the Front Porch
Restaurant, pretty much the only choice back at the town of Seneca Rocks. A heavy
downpour hit as we ordered which we actually enjoyed watching. We were thinking that it was
good that we came right there and were not stuck sitting in our tent at the nearby campground.
I bought some dry firewood in the general store but a fire was not to be since a light rain
lingered well into the evening. It turned out to be an enjoyable evening though. We decided to
bring our cooler and hang out under a pavilion near our tent site where we were joined by a
couple of guys from West Virginia who were in the area doing some trail running. It also turned
out that they had each through-hiked the Appalachian Trail in different years. (They still looked
the part.) We shared what beer we had left and spent a couple of hours hearing about their
hikes and other adventures.
The following morning we took a three mile round trip hike up to the top of Seneca Rocks
which from a distance look a bit like the plates on the back of a Stegosaurus, only they are a
couple hundred feet high. After packing up, we broke in the new Rogue some more on miles of
dirt roads through the Dolly Sods Wilderness, which is a high plateau area with vegetation
more like what you would find high up in Canada. Here, we found a 3.3 mile loop hike to do
before we needed to hit the road.
Our three day trip officially ended when we pulled into the driveway at 11:50 PM. We covered
1001.2 miles in 20:19 of driving time. The average speed was 49 MPH with a fuel economy of 26
MPG.
option is available, Kevin and I ended up driving past the entrance road to the Spruce Knob
summit to the Lumberjack Trail head for an 8.2 mile hike one way to the summit which was
probably not much more than a direct mile or two away from where we started. The long out
and back along the ridge line on old logging roads had the advantage of making the elevation
gain mostly not too noticeable and we were able to make good time, leaving at 9:15 and
reaching the summit tower before noon. I was expecting a hot day but we only stayed a half
hour at the top and were on our way back down before the temperature reached into the 80's.
The return trip on the same trails was also quick with mostly 20 minute miles. During a short
break at the turn from the Huckleberry Trail onto the Lumberjack Trail, Kevin was intrigued to
watch a spider on the signpost capture its prey.
We had some amusement along the ridge on the Huckleberry Trail on the way out. I was
hearing odd little noises in the brush which gave me visions of Gremlins running just out of
sight so I wandered a little off the trail to investigate. Suddenly, several grouse exploded from
the underbrush away from me right towards Kevin's head. He can't deny that at least a little
yell escaped his lips as he ducked.
After more than a 16 mile day we felt that we earned the good pizza we had while overlooking
the Seneca Rock cliffs and sitting out on the covered upper deck of the Front Porch
Restaurant, pretty much the only choice back at the town of Seneca Rocks. A heavy
downpour hit as we ordered which we actually enjoyed watching. We were thinking that it was
good that we came right there and were not stuck sitting in our tent at the nearby campground.
I bought some dry firewood in the general store but a fire was not to be since a light rain
lingered well into the evening. It turned out to be an enjoyable evening though. We decided to
bring our cooler and hang out under a pavilion near our tent site where we were joined by a
couple of guys from West Virginia who were in the area doing some trail running. It also turned
out that they had each through-hiked the Appalachian Trail in different years. (They still looked
the part.) We shared what beer we had left and spent a couple of hours hearing about their
hikes and other adventures.
The following morning we took a three mile round trip hike up to the top of Seneca Rocks
which from a distance look a bit like the plates on the back of a Stegosaurus, only they are a
couple hundred feet high. After packing up, we broke in the new Rogue some more on miles of
dirt roads through the Dolly Sods Wilderness, which is a high plateau area with vegetation
more like what you would find high up in Canada. Here, we found a 3.3 mile loop hike to do
before we needed to hit the road.
Our three day trip officially ended when we pulled into the driveway at 11:50 PM. We covered
1001.2 miles in 20:19 of driving time. The average speed was 49 MPH with a fuel economy of 26
MPG.
I forgot our maps so I took this digital picture of the map at the kiosk.
We headed northeast on the trail above the word "SPRUCE" and back
to the summit on the one below it. This could've been an easy drive up!
We headed northeast on the trail above the word "SPRUCE" and back
to the summit on the one below it. This could've been an easy drive up!
Kevin doesn't look like he just
hiked eight miles ...
hiked eight miles ...
... but Bob sort of does. This is
the observation deck on the
summit which can be reached
from a short trail from the parking
lot, i.e. the easy way.
the observation deck on the
summit which can be reached
from a short trail from the parking
lot, i.e. the easy way.
This observation deck is at the top
of the trail to Seneca Rocks. It
overlooks the town of Seneca Rocks
and we could pick out our tent at the
campground far below.
of the trail to Seneca Rocks. It
overlooks the town of Seneca Rocks
and we could pick out our tent at the
campground far below.
I'm standing part way out on
Seneca Rocks, a popular rock
climbing area.
Seneca Rocks, a popular rock
climbing area.
So many shopping choices in this
town - Yokum's store or Harper's
Old Country Store? The Front
Porch Restaurant is in the
background.
town - Yokum's store or Harper's
Old Country Store? The Front
Porch Restaurant is in the
background.
Our site with the great views of
Seneca Rocks in the background.
Seneca Rocks in the background.
Travelling through Dolly Sods ...
hey, Kevin, wait for me!
hey, Kevin, wait for me!