A Visit to Dolly Sods

A Visit to Dolly Sods In Spring, 1997, I took a trip with the Howard University Biology Department to West Virginia. Howard University and the USDA Forest Service co- sponsored a week-long forest biology field course. We stayed at the Blackwater Falls State Park, and did coursework in the Monongahela National Forest. One of our trips was to the Dolly Sods Wilderness Area. More information about Dolly Sods can be found in the history, scenic area, and flora and fauna links created by the Forest Service. Below are some of the photos from that trip.

First, we parked in an area off one of the main roads and started walking. Before we could hit the trail to go deeper into the valley, we had to scramble across piles of rocks. Luckily, none of us sprained an ankle or crashed on our faces, and we made it to the trail.
		Along the way, we could see for miles -- miles of landscape with nothing in it, except for the occasional hiker. The landscape looks a little bare, but that was because the photo was taken in spring, before everything leafed out. The evergreen trees you see in the background are Picea rubens, Red Spruce, which is native to West Virginia.
Every now and then, we would encounter a sculptural rock which was interesting and mysterious enough to work well if it were exhibited in front of the National Gallery of Art in Washington, DC. Is it a thumb? Or? Your guess is as good as mine.
		Deeper into the valley we saw trees, creeks, and ponds close-up. Near one of them we breaked for lunch. We sat on some large rocks that functioned as tables.
Creeks serpentined and disappeared into groves of evergreens. Getting deeper into the valley required getting wet feet.
		On the way up out of the basin, we admired the view again. It was amazing to me that there was space this large that was undeveloped.
Of course, then we had to get back, by scrambling up more rocks.
		And more rocks...
Later, we took a drive to one of the highest points, where we could see for miles; in the distance, we could see mountains. The wind howled and howled up there, so strongly, one could hardly stand.
		Some of us stayed inside the van, but I wore a plastic fishing raincoat and pants over my jeans and sweater and was comfortably warm, and enjoyed photographing more sculptural rocks. I also took a short snooze.
Another rock, this one colonized by lichens. So why all the rock photos? Have you ever seen SO MANY rocks?!
		After one last look at the view, and resisting the temptation to fly off with the howling wind, we headed back.