Ascent of Watoga Knob on 2013-04-21| Others in Party: | "Lucy" - Larry's dog
----Only Party on Mountain | | Date: | Sunday, April 21, 2013 | | Ascent Type: | Successful Summit Attained | | Motorized Transport to Trailhead: | Car | | Peak: | Watoga Knob | | Location: | USA-West Virginia | | Elevation: | 3280 ft / 999 m |
Ascent Trip ReportMy second time climbing this peak. First time getting lost! Found the BM with no problem but wanted to do a different way down to our cabin and was trying to avoid all the no trespassing signs on the north side of the state park line. I thought I found Mark's property and was now allowed access back to the cabin but got disoriented in one of the ravines and compass headings and got myself lost. I had Larry's hunting dog with me "Lucy" who was having the time of her life, but I was due back to go fishing with the guys on the river! I knew I was in trouble when I bust through the Rhododendrons at the bottom of the last ravine and there was my creek, but no road!
Took a few deep breaths and did what makes sense. Headed all the way back up to high ground. When I got to the top there were no park trails or forest service roads! Luckily this time of year there were no leaves on the trees but all of the hollers and ridges look the same and they twist around and have tricky bearings. There are hollers inside of the ridges. I could not find the BM peak right away. I pulled out my cell phone and at the top got my first signal 1-2 bars but enough to pull down a map and I could see I was closer to the Watoga Park reservoir than I was to the cabin I started from. Realizing somehow I was far west of where I thought I was, I reaquired the highpoint BM a second time and then came down carefully the way I came up.
Ended up with a 4 mile 1,000 gain hike. At least I had a dog for company. I advise to any peakbaggers trying this State Park HP. Stay on the SP trails at all times and do not go off bushwhacking without a GPS. Too much private lands and the ability to get lost and shot by a turkey hunter.
Left at 9:50 AM and was back at 11:30 AM
32 degrees starting and 38 F ending |
| Summary Total Data | | Total Elevation Gain: | 1060 ft / 322 m | | Total Elevation Loss: | 920 ft / 280 m | | Round-Trip Distance: | 4 mi / 6.4 km | | Grade/Class: | 1 and 2 | | Quality: | 3 (on a subjective 1-10 scale) | | Route Conditions: | Maintained Trail, Unmaintained Trail, Bushwhack | | Weather: | Cool, Calm, Clear
32 to 38 F | | Ascent Statistics | | Gain on way in: | 580 ft / 176 m | | Gain Breakdown: | Net: 520 ft / 158 m; Extra: 60 ft / 18m | | Loss on way in: | 60 ft / 18 m | | Distance: | 0.9 mi / 1.5 km | | Route: | west ridge from cottage | | Start Trailhead: | Chicken House Run Creek 2760 ft / 841 m | | Time: | 25 Minutes | | Descent Statistics | | Loss on way out: | 860 ft / 262 m | | Loss Breakdown: | Net: 380 ft / 116 m; Extra: 480 ft / 146m | | Gain on way out: | 480 ft / 146 m | | Distance: | 3.1 mi / 5 km | | Route: | meander off course west and back down | | End Trailhead: | private residence (guest) 2900 ft / 883 m | | Time: | 1 Hours 30 Minutes |
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