Backpacking North Fork Mountain, West Virginia
This might be the best backpacking trip I've ever done! If I could only choose one word to describe the North Fork Mountain Trail, that word would be "views". This trail is a 24-mile point to point hike along a mountain ridge in West Virginia. You're never more than a couple of minutes away from extraordinary views on this trail, especially during the times of year when there are no leaves on the trees.
We got off to a less than ideal start in dense fog, rain and fairly high winds. The first five hours of the hike we weren't able to experience the beauty of the mountain views, but the dense fog draped the forest in a beauty of its own. When visibility is limited, you tend to focus on and enjoy the less dramatic things that nature has to offer. Luckily, the fog eventually burned off and the mountains started sharing their beauty with us.
The overlooks on this trail are simply stunning. It was cool to be able to look across the valley at various points and be able to spot Spruce Knob, Seneca Rocks, Roaring Plains and Dolly Sods. Those are all places we have backpacked before and this trail stretches so far that you walk past all of them, it was a pretty cool experience. Along with the amazing views, we walked through very diverse forest scenery. The trail winds through pine forests, deciduous forests, rock fields, forest service roads and along a pipeline.
We decided to set up camp at the halfway point of the trail, which is when the wind really picked up. It probably took us an hour to set up our shelters. Per usual, I was sleeping in my Warbonnet Blackbird hammock, sheltered from the wind with my Warbonnet Mountainfly tarp, Wooki underquilt and Diamondback top quilt. The temperature only dipped to about 35-36 degrees, but we had sustained winds all night of 30mph with constant gusts up to 50-60mph.
Sara constantly struggles with staying warm during fourth season backpacking trips. Her cutoff is typically around 40 degrees or else she just can't stay warm. We've been working on multiple different ways to keep her warm. I purchased another Warbonnet quilt for her, a Diamondback rated for 0 degrees. She has been using an insulated Nemo Tensor pad with an R-value of 4.2 which hasn't quite been cutting it. For this trip we also brought along a Thermarest Z-Lite pad which provides 2.0 extra R-value. This is the first "winter" trip she's ever done where she stayed warm enough, mission success.
There is no other way for me to describe day two other than amazing. We spent hours walking along cliff edges with endless views. Per usual, the video doesn't do it justice even in 4k at 60fps. I can't stress this enough, get out there and experience this trail for yourself! We wrapped the trip up by voyaging up to Chimney Top rocks and taking in the amazing views there. After Chimney Top, the hike down to the car was 2,000' of elevation drop over the course of about 2.3 miles. I'm really glad I had my Cascade Mountain Tech trekking poles for this trip, they definitely helped save my joints on the way down from the mountain.
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Пікірлер: 68
Loved the video. I can see the mountain from my house and hiked my times.
@Bacon_N_Backpacking
3 ай бұрын
One of my favorite trails!
@jimhikes2580
3 ай бұрын
@@Bacon_N_Backpacking Just wondering who shuttled you guys?
@Bacon_N_Backpacking
3 ай бұрын
@@jimhikes2580 I forgot the name, it’s in the description box I believe
I've been down there several times and was looking to return. I usually go down to the Roaring Plains and haven't seen anyone each time I go, which is fantastic! Is this route an out-and-back (same trail)? The view looks great.
@Bacon_N_Backpacking
Жыл бұрын
Full video will explain what we did. Basically it’s a point to point, we used a shuttle service. Roaring Plains was awesome, I have a video on that as well as Dolly Sods and Spruce Knob in WV. Heading back to Roaring Plains soon hopefully to do the western half.
@michaelbroyer3918
Жыл бұрын
Point. To. Point. Common man....easy
I like that you backpack with a chest pack. I’ve been thinking the same for local hiking. For backpacking I did get a zpacks FUPA that I’d like to try.
@Bacon_N_Backpacking
Жыл бұрын
I might try a fanny pack as well, the kit bag was good for when I was using a pack with a hip belt. Now that I'm mainly using a frameless pack without a hip belt I may go the fanny pack route.
Love North Fork! One of my favorite areas to backpack. Great trip video…thanks for sharing!
@Bacon_N_Backpacking
6 ай бұрын
Went there twice within a six week span, really enjoyed both trips. I’m looking forward to going back.
In spite of the weather, it looks like it was a beautiful trail to hike and as always, the video was great and informative. Thanks.
@Bacon_N_Backpacking
Жыл бұрын
The trip was great, one of my all time favorites. Thanks for watching!
W❤️W! That’s Incredibly Awesome! Cheers for more exciting and lovely adventures!🥂❤️✨
@Bacon_N_Backpacking
Жыл бұрын
It was a great trip, thanks for watching!
Wow, just wow 🤩! Your videos are always so mesmerizing, I can't wait to see more.
@Bacon_N_Backpacking
Жыл бұрын
Glad you like the video, thanks for tuning in!
If there's a more stunning trail in the East than the NF trail, I just don't know where it is. I love that you got so quiet during that last panorama of Chimney Rocks, almost as if you were paying tribute to their beauty. Great work.
@Bacon_N_Backpacking
Жыл бұрын
Yeah it’s one of my favorite trails I’ve been on, super cool spot
Great video, thanks for sharing.
@Bacon_N_Backpacking
Жыл бұрын
One of my favorite trips I’ve ever done, thanks for tuning in!
wow quality content. that sunset you experienced through the trees was gorgeous.
@Bacon_N_Backpacking
Жыл бұрын
I actually did a sweet time lapse of the sunset but the wind was so violent that the trees were just jerking wildly the whole time and it was super distracting lol. You’ll have to get out there, one of my favorite trips for sure.
@michaelbroyer3918
Жыл бұрын
agreed!
The video quality is excellent. Next time camp at Table Rock which is one mile south of the Chimneys and take a zero day. On your zero explore the the chimneys. Really suggest checking out my NFM videos if you have time. Fantastic video and I will be out there in 3 weeks. Ciao
@Bacon_N_Backpacking
Жыл бұрын
Subbed, I'll take a look tonight. My West Virginia trips are pretty fast paced with the five hour drive on each end. I'm trying to conserve PTO for longer trips so we drove down Friday night, arrived at 1am Saturday and were on the trail at 9:30am Saturday morning. Got home at 11:30pm Sunday lol, but it was worth it.
@ronosmianski812
Жыл бұрын
Hey Michael!
I've done the southern half and have planned the northern portion several times. One of these days I'll make it happen. Great video.
@Bacon_N_Backpacking
Жыл бұрын
Get out there and do it! Trust me when I say the best views are in the northern section, it’s almost an hour walking along a shear cliff face on the way to chimney top.
Looked like a nice adventure.
@Bacon_N_Backpacking
Жыл бұрын
It was an awesome trip, one of my all time favorites. Thanks for watching!
WHAT A BEAUTIFUL VIDEO LOVED THE FOG PICTURES THE MOUNTAINS AND THE SUNSET AND SUNRISE WERE GORGEOUS. LOOKS LIKE YOU HAD AN AWESOME TIME TOO BAD YOU HAD SUCH WIND BUT THE WHOLE VIDEO WAS GORGEOUS. TELL SARA HI FOR ME ALSO LOVED THE BARN MAYBE NEXT TIME YOU CAN SHOW ALITTLE MORE ABOUT THE BARN CATCH YOU IN THE NEXT VIDEO VERY GOOD QUALITY BLUE SKY WAS SUPER GORGEOUS LOVED IT
@Bacon_N_Backpacking
Жыл бұрын
Great trip
The mountains in the distance and just to the north of Seneca Rocks could actually be the Rohrbaugh (Roaring Plains) Plains area. When driving up the mountain toward the Red Creek Campground on the Forest Road (#19 If I remember correctly) from the Red Creek Ranger Station in Laneville there is a forest road off the right (South) that is gated most of the year. It is opened for hunting season. I hiked back past the gate to camp and crested the ridge and the view looking down the mountain was Seneca Rocks. This viewpoint was from the Eastern Continental Divide. The stores at the intersection of Routes 33 and 28 were visible as well.
@Bacon_N_Backpacking
Жыл бұрын
Yeah we could see all the popular spots on the other side of the valley, Spruce Knob, Roaring Plains and Dolly Sods. Really cool trip.
To spooky for me😊
@Bacon_N_Backpacking
3 ай бұрын
It was a vibe
I look forward to this hike. Thanks for the preview. Who makes your chest rig?
@Bacon_N_Backpacking
Жыл бұрын
You’ll love that trail, views everywhere. Kit bag is from Hill People Gear
@CharlesBehm-oy9lh
7 ай бұрын
A buddy and I did a large loop in dolly sods this past October. Just subscribed to your channel after realizing how many times I had referred to your videos for tips when planning our trip. This north fork mountain trail is next on my list with hopefully time to climb the via ferrata. Would you be willing to put your gpx file in the description? Who did you use for a shuttle service? Also, I got the kit bag and it was just what I was looking for. Thanks!
Looks awesome. Very different from my snow-covered mountains out west
@Bacon_N_Backpacking
Жыл бұрын
Yeah I tend to prefer the western mountains overall. Once you get above the treeline the views are endless. Nothing compares to that, but West Virginia is within driving distance for a weekend trip so I’m more than content with my eastern mountains haha
@cdhikes2906
Жыл бұрын
@@Bacon_N_Backpacking haha, for sure. You've got to work with what you've got.
@Bacon_N_Backpacking
Жыл бұрын
@@cdhikes2906 I do intend to do a Colorado trip, possibly this year. We’re also considering the white mountains in New Hampshire this year instead.
@cdhikes2906
Жыл бұрын
@@Bacon_N_Backpacking The Rockies are definitely sick. I've already had to plan most of my hiking for the summer so my wife has an understanding of how much I'll be gone (planning 20 CO 14ers and 1 in CA) haha. If you come out to CO, I'd love to get together (if not for hiking, then for dinner or something). SF
Great video. What was the scoop on that spring?
@Bacon_N_Backpacking
3 ай бұрын
I’ve been there twice and it was gushing both times
Where did you get on this trail? I lived in Northfork, WV, many years ago. Of course I recognized Pinnacle Rick as it is not that far from Northfork. My question is, how long or how many miles would you have to drive to get from the start of your hike to the end of it? I often think of our ancestors traversing all those mountains way back when. Thanks for an answer. I have always thought the mountains are beautiful.
@Bacon_N_Backpacking
5 ай бұрын
Rt 33 by Future Generations University. It is about a 45 minute drive from TH to TH.
Dude you never use trekking poles. Welcome to the club.
@Bacon_N_Backpacking
Жыл бұрын
Not so fast, I’m still experimenting lol
@michaelvancini4616
Жыл бұрын
@Bacon N Backpacking well it's only a matter of time before you turn to dark side young apprentice 🤣🤣🤣
@Bacon_N_Backpacking
Жыл бұрын
@@michaelvancini4616 we shall see, they definitely helped on this trail when descending 1,000' per mile. My only gripe is that now I have to stash my tripod instead of carrying it in my hands which makes recording way more of a hassle. I'm still figuring out how I want to deal with that.
@michaelvancini4616
Жыл бұрын
@Bacon N Backpacking yeah I didn't think of that. Well use them when. You take a break from filming.
What time of year did you hike this?
@Bacon_N_Backpacking
21 күн бұрын
End of March
Who did you use for the shuttle?
@Bacon_N_Backpacking
Жыл бұрын
Link is in description box below the video. The same lady who rents the barn runs the shuttle service.
Hey do you have info for the shuttle service you used?
@Bacon_N_Backpacking
Жыл бұрын
It’s linked in the description box
is this trail 24miles one way or round trip
@Bacon_N_Backpacking
Жыл бұрын
One way it’s a point to point. There are shuttle services in the area or you can take two cars. It’s about a 40 minute drive between the trailheads.
@michaelbrock6222
Жыл бұрын
@@Bacon_N_Backpacking OK thanks
@stevenbishop5633
6 ай бұрын
Nice video. Thanks. Would you comment on the purported spring. I’d like to know more about it.
Greetings, I do a podcast called the Hammock Hangers Podcast and Organize an event called Hangcon. We would love to have you on our podcast to talk about your hammock adventures. Would you be interested coming on and recording with us?
@Bacon_N_Backpacking
Жыл бұрын
Yeah I’d be interested
@ajglenn03
Жыл бұрын
@@Bacon_N_Backpacking what's your email or contact info? Didn't see a way to message you.
@Bacon_N_Backpacking
Жыл бұрын
@@ajglenn03 If you check my channel page my email should be on there