Ridges ‘Round Cranberry

[spklbuk]

Just outside the thriving megalopolis of Holcomb, WV Morris Creek makes its way to the Cherry River


The forest surrounding Holcomb Road on the way up Hinkle Mountain is stunning. Pottsville Sandstone ridge cap boulders strewn all about.










Botanical toehold.





Beech woodpecker fodder.



Peering West Virginia’s ceiling atop Hinkle Mountain.


Closed USFS gates were a theme for today. Though I cussed a bit about the gates, the scenery more than made up it.




Hey! An open gate out to Snakeden Mountain. Forest Service must be slippin’.


Now how did that get there?


Well at least I picked a soupy spot for a dirt nap. The strap on my EDC bag was the only casualty. Little did I realize those locked gates were protecting me from myself!




Made my way into Richwood for a rehydration and post-oopsie aspirin break. Snowflake is none the worse for wear and her pilot once again reminded to listen to those inner voices. Maybe I’ll learn…eventually?



Headed home up Little Laurel Creek watershed and past one of my favorite vistas.






High ground solitude and rare calm of September on a November day led to an extended bout of cloud watching.





Time to roll on.



A brief photo essay set to the Stillest Hour by the .357 String Band...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vVR85ntU6hM

 

[TNWalker]

Very nice! Thanks for sharing. ::008::



Steve ::022:: ::26::

 

[spklbuk]

It was a good day Steve. Two new to me roads! Hope we get to ride a trail like these sometime.

 

[twodogs]

Hey Jim,

Looks like you had a great ride..... Just hard to beat those mountains of WV. Strange though, when I rode the Cranberry Area all I saw was coal slurry

Looking forward to coming your way again next September.

 

[spklbuk]

Alan you were in the Beech Knob area, Cranberry Wilderness is further north and zero coal.

There are timber haul roads aplenty sans the coal slurry near Beech Knob (for example see the road pic at my favorite vista, it is within one mile of the wind mill mountain top office bldg). Y'all just happened to pick the sloppy winner!

Perhaps we can have a look see next Sept.

BTW, 2016 FJR EOM announcement should be forthcoming soon. Motel negotiations are in the works.