Hello true believers!!!
this is my going to be my first trip report of 2022. My goal for these is to provide a basic overview for each of the trails I have done. They will be similar to my Long Trail series, but condensed into 1 post.
Part 1: Fun Facts
Hike Name: North Fork Mountain Trail (NFMT)
Location: West Virginia
Permits Required?: No
Hike Type: Point-to Point
Direction Hiked: NOBO (South to North)
Month and Year Hiked: Mid-April 2022
Distance Recorded: 24.10 miles
Time Completed In: 2 Days, 1 Night
Elevation Gain Recorded: 3,435 feet
Link to Activity: https://www.alltrails.com/explore/recording/pendleton-county-navigate-5caf41d?u=i
GPX File:
Part 2: Trip Report
Day 1: April 22nd, 2022 (Trailhead at U.S. Rt 33 to unnamed campsite, 8.3 miles)
It all started on Friday…I took a half-day from work and left around noon from Northern Virginia. After about 2.5 hours of driving I arrived at the northern trailhead, parked my car at the small lot right at the end of the trail and waited for my pre-arranged shuttle. As I organized my pack, my shuttle arrived, I got in and he drove my about 30 minutes to the southern end of the trail where I would begin my adventure in earnest.
I began at approximately 1530 hours. The temperature was in the 70’s, it was sunny with not a cloud in the sky (more on that later). The weather had called for this all weekend, which was not typical for my luck. The vistas started right away, and because the entire trail is on top of the mountain spine, I would be getting great views all weekend.
Since I started so late (for hiking standards), I did not expect to make it that far on day 1; however, three factors pushed me to try for a campsite that is 8 miles in.
Factor 1, Water: The NFMT is said to be the driest mountain in the Appalachians, and I was carrying 8 liters of water (more details on the water section later in the post). For context, on most hikes, the maximum amount of water I carry is 3 liters, and if there is plentiful water sources, I usually carry only carry 1 liter.
Factor 2, Terrain: For the most part the trail was pretty gentle. Because the entire pathway is on top of a ridge, there aren’t many steep climbs and descents. I was moving pretty quickly.
Factor 3, Campsites: In doing my research for the NFMT, I was able to determine there were a ton of campsites. I passed at least 10 great options for setting up camp on the first day. In addition, there were only a few cars parked at each trailhead, and I did not pass anyone on the trail, so I assumed there would be plenty of room at the campsites.
After a nice steep climb around mile 8, I made it to a very short spur path. After fighting my way through thorns and Rhododendron, I finally made it to a wonderful campsite. It was massive, it had plenty of room and best of all it had a great fire ring, with plenty of dry fire wood. After getting settled in, I worked on the fire. As the sun set, the temperature was going down, and while it wasn’t freezing, mid-April meant it wasn’t warm either. eventually, I had a great fire going and a campsite all to myself.
Unfortunately, I still have trouble sleeping while camping, and I forgot to pack my Emergen-C melatonin powder, so it took a while before I fell asleep, but that was a minor issue, on an otherwise great day of hiking.
Day 2: April 23rd, 2022 (Unnamed campsite to trailhead at WV Rt 28, 15.8 miles)
Since I was not in any rush, my plan for day 2 was to sleep-in a little; however, due to the previously mentioned lack of a good night’s sleep, I woke up with the sun. I packed-up camp, made sure the fire was completely out and set off.
It was a chilly morning, but with no clouds, it looked like it was going to be another beautiful day. My pack was still heavy due to the excessive water I was carrying, and I had about 4 miles to go to the halfway point, and the only source of water the NFMT offers. Not far down the trail I passed a tent in another site, this marked the first people I had seen on the trail. The next few miles had more great views as you stayed right on top of the ridge, it continued right up until the trail diverted to fire access road 79. This part of the trail was not great as it drags you from the mountain views. There were a lot of vehicles, heavy equipment, and a construction crew building a pipeline of some sort. Luckily, it is only a 2 mile section.
Right after the pipeline, you go back into the woods and hit mile 12.5, which the half-way point. This area contains a small parking lot, a campsite, and is the only area that can be reached by a vehicle. It is also the only place on the trial you can cache water. Most importantly for me, it contained my only chance to refill water. After a short walk into the woods west of the parking lot, I found the spring, and it was running fast, clear, and cold!!!
I decided this would be a great spot to take a break and assess my plans. Since it was only 0900 hours, and I was already at the halfway point of the hike, I was going to be able to finish on Saturday. It would mean pulling a 16 mile day, but I was making great time and I wanted to push myself a little. I filtered more water and started walking again.
As I continued north, I began to climb once again to the ridges, and the trail became a lot rockier. Large stones and outcroppings erupted from the western side of the ridge, and I began to see what my shuttle driver told me about this area being underrated for rock climbing.
The rest of hike the continued with endless views and incredible rock formations. As I got closer north, I started seeing more and more hikers. I even passed 2 individuals who I had met on Friday at the northern trailhead parking lot. They were doing an out-and back hike from the parking lot to the halfway point and back.
After chatting for a bit, I went on ahead to another great ridgeline spot, and took a lunch break. With only a few miles to go, I called my wife (I surprisingly had great cell service on the northern half of this hike). I told her I would be finishing early and coming home that night.
The last 2 miles of the trail are a long descent to the parking lot, but right before is probably the crown jewel of the NFMT. Chimney Rocks offers some of the best views you will get on the east coast.
After soaking up the view, I began the final descent to the parking lot where my adventure started. Ol’ Silver was still parked right where I had left her, and after a 16 mile day, it felt good to take off my socks and shoes. I blasted the AC as I made my way back home singing Country Roads.
Part 3: Miscellaneous Details
Logistics:
Because this is a point-to-point hike, completing this trail will require you either a shuttle service, hitchhiking, or getting a hiking partner and parking a car at each trailhead. I hiked NOBO, so I parked my vehicle at the northern trailhead which consists of a small parking area. the southern trailhead is approximately a 30 minute drive. The southern trailhead has an even smaller (and less safe looking) parking area near a radio tower.
Since I was hiking alone I called the closest ranger station a week beforehand to get information on the area. The ranger told me Uber, Lyft, and Taxis would be very difficult to get, but the Seneca rocks climbing school offers shuttle services for hiking the NFMT. I called them and left a message explaining my hike plans. They got back to me within a day and we were able to arrange a shuttle for $50.
When I arrived at the parking area, the driver was right on time, and drove me straight to the trailhead, they were extremely courteous and offered helpful tips about the area. I would definitely recommend them if you need a shuttle. You can find out more about them here.
NOTE: They wanted me to put in the post that they only can offer shuttles when they have time, so there is a chance they will not be able to assist you if you reach out to them.
Water:
As stated earlier, the only water source for the NFMT is a semi-reliable spring located approximately 12.5 miles in. This creates a challenge if you are looking to complete this hike in one trip. There are several options to safely ensure you have enough water for this hike.
-Option 1 – Cache water somewhere on Forest Road 79 where it joins the trail for about 2 miles. You can store water at many points on the road. Just remember where you put them!!!
-Option 2 – Filter water at the spring. This is what I did, I was able to find the spring and fill up and filter there. Just be prepared in case the spring is dry, which has been known to happen during dry seasons.
-Option 3 – Carry all the water you need for the entire trip. This is not ideal, but it is better than suffering from dehydration.
Navigation:
The trail is pretty easy to follow, it is well-marked with blue blazes throughout most of areas of the trail. There are a few sections that can be confusing so, make sure to get a paper map if possible. you can pick up a map that has the trail here. For my hike, I used a GPX file from Alltrails, and loaded it into my Garmin fēnix 5x to navigate.
Difficulty:
Overall, the terrain would suggest this trail is not that difficult. There were few steep climbs and descents, and for the most part the trail went in a straight line. I went NOBO because it is easier. If you choose to go SOBO, you start off the hike with a pretty difficult climb right at the start. The aspect that makes the NFMT tricky is the previously mentioned water situation. Carrying a lot of water means a lot more weight.
Hazards/Environmental Concerns:
I hiked this in Mid-April, and there were more leaves on the trail than there were on the trees. With the sun out all three days and minimal cloud cover, I got some minor sunburns on my arms. Bring sunscreen!!!
Camping/Lodging options:
There were a ton of campsites along all sections of the NFMT. Many had well established fire rings and plenty of spaces for tents and well spaced trees for hammocks. Some of these sites had a short side trail leading to them, but most were right next to trail.
Wildlife/Insect Pressure:
Wildlife on North Fork Mountain includes whitetail deer, wild turkey, black bear, Coyotes, bobcats, gray foxes, timber rattlesnakes, eastern newts, peregrine falcons, and allegheny woodrat, bats and a variety of other species.
Because of the cool weather, I did not encounter many insects, but I imagine in the summer they are probably pretty bad.
Last Word
The unofficial state slogan of West Virginia is “Wild and Wonderful”. In my limited backpacking experience, I have found those words to be extremely accurate. It a beautiful state that has some incredible and surprisingly diverse ecosystems. The NFMT lived up to this. It is short enough that you can complete it in a weekend, remote enough to avoid crowds, and not too difficult, as long as you account for the water situation. This is a must-hike trail if you get the chance.
Thanks for reading folks, as always if you have any suggestions, comments, or questions, I would love to hear from you. Please reach out.
Hike on, Wayne!!!