Day 2 Monongahela National Forest

The morning routine was the same as yesterday to include the snorting and stomping deer.

The cloud bank was heavier and vastly bigger than yesterday. The sunrise did manage to poke out here and there. I hope you enjoy the attached videos and photos.

 

Today I would like to visit the Seneca Rocks State Park. After loading up the car and driving forest road 227 I made it to State Route 250. I arrived at the park at an empty parking lot, but what I did not know is most people park in the other lot. Lol

When I started to gear up at the car it was not raining, but as soon as I hit the foot bridge it began to rain. The rain was constant all the way up to the exposed signature rocks that Seneca Rocks is known for. The technical clothes I was wearing were made for weather like this. I wore pants and a long-sleeved shirt. This quick drying material kept me warm even though I was soaked. I pressed on up to the summit.  I passed several people and at some pint the rain had stopped. I did not know this, but it gave me a 15-minute rainless moment at the summit.

I know the rocks will still be wet and hopefully it would offer still an opportunity for me to get a few photographs. I got to the sign that talked about not being prepared and having the right gear could result in death if I want to proceed.  I pressed on because I have enough common sense.

I chose a route that offered me enough friction and handhold to climb a short section of these magnificent rocks. The rocks were slick, but the little route I had chosen to get to the first perch was a smart one.

I arrived at the first ledge and could see across the valley and could see a rainstorm moving in on me again.  I watched it for a moment to see if I could see lightning.  I saw no visual evidence of lightning and pressed on up the rock faces. I was using my military training to go up these rocks. I was keeping at a minimum of three points of contact and arrived at my last perch before the rain would find me. I thought it was taking minutes for the rain to reach me.

The winds aloft moved that storm to reach me in about it seemed like seconds. I got down from that perch as quickly as I got up it.  I still did not see any lighting, but what I did hear was thunder. It was constant and never ended as I climbed off the perch. As I finally got back to the dirt, rock, and tree root riddled path I pressed on. I was yet again soaked as I made my way off Seneca Rocks.

The trail showed signs of getting a lot of rain by forming little rivers of water.  Others may not know this but these trails when they get rain turn into waterways. You need to pay close attention to this fact.  In some areas there is nowhere else for the water to collect and run off. In some cases, these trails can hold running water inches deep.

The thunder never stopped the entire hike down the mountain. I hiked down the trail quickly. I had a piece of deadfall nearly hit me and that made me go even quicker. It’s been my experience if a piece of deadfall falls keeps going don’t stop don’t look keep moving.  There are more likely more hanging in the trees over your head and unless you’re a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle you will not be able to dodge the falling debris.

I got back to my car wet and ready to call it a day. I was praying that back at camp it was dry. With hope in my heart, I drove back to camp. While driving back to camp the clouds were parting and looking less threatening. The rain had slowed down drastically to the point where I could not see any physical evidence of rain.

I turned onto Forest Road (FR) 227 and continued to drive to camp. I was relieved that I did not see any rain puddles. This meant that the campsite saw no new rain! I finally arrived at camp and as I expected no rain had fallen.

The nightly routine would be the same except I choose to have chili tonight. I also in northeasterly direction mother nature was working overtime. The fog bank was so large that it made the horizon disappear.

I have seen fog this thick out in the open ocean but not here on land and so it was a real treat. This treat would end up hanging around for the next three days.

There was so much water vapor in the air, every surface was covered in moisture. This is one reason I always travel with my waterproof bags. It is because of these bags that my clothes remain dry and even my dirty clothes stay dry.  I mean come on who wanted to smell damp, sweaty, stinky, and dirty clothes?

Since these bags are waterproof you don’t need to worry about them. The only way to do this is you need to make sure they don’t blow away! Some dry bags when being used can blow away in the wind unless you hold them in place somehow.  You must remember these bags are filled with clothes and like a tent in the wind you need to tie or hold them down.

I went to bed that night listening to the rain hit the tarp. I was also relieved that I saw no lighting and being atop a ridge on a mountain this was real threat.