Seneca Shadows / North Fork Mountain / Dolly Sods, WV

Photos by Michael Juskelis, 2009/07/25-28.

After setting up camp, we made the obligatory trek to the top of Seneca Rocks.

Looking straight down towards the Visitor Center.

Looks like a storm is coming in!

The Stromberg's crossing Red Creek.

A panoramic view of Dolly Sods.

The beautiful left fork of Red Creek surrounded by Blueberry bogs.

Crossing the left fork.

A heath meadow above the left fork.

Crossing the left fork near its confluence with Red Creek.

The swimming hole at "The Forks".

The falls at "The Forks".

The first vista at the top of the Redmond Run Trail.

Looking through a hiker's window on North Fork Mountain.

Richard takes a photo from atop Andrew's Rock while Don watches.

A panoramic view from atop Andrew's Rock panning south-east: Shenandoah Mountain and the Great North Mountain to north-west passing through Dolly Sods and the Allegheny Front.

A view along Chimney Rocks.

A view along all of Chimney Rocks. We started behind that high peak in the distance.

The two pillars of Chimney Top. How do they climb up there for photos?

Looking across the valley near the village of Cabins, WV.

Looking down at the gap formed when the north fork of the south branch of the Potomac River was part of an ocean.

Flora:

Large Flowered Leafcup (Polymnia uvedalia) was found growing along the lower portions of the Seneca Rock Trail.

Small Flowered Leafcup (Polymnia canadensis) was found at higher elevations.

Fields of Dogbane (Apocynum androsaemifolium) were found along the Blackbird Knob Trail in Dolly Sods. The small flowers will turn into long, slender seed pods.

St. Johnswort (Hypericum perforatum) grows profusely in the Sods.

Silvery Nailwort (Paronychia argyrocoma).

The fruit of Bristly Sarsaparilla (Aralia hispida).

Also see Richard's pictures.

Other pictures from Dolly Sods: