Spruce Knob, maps and Pooh Sticks

Friday dawned clear and cold.  It was 43 degrees outside and 55 degrees inside.  We knew it was supposed to cool down but we decided to keep the furnace off.  Everyone slept just fine and I turned it on when I got up with the girls.

Our Thursday destination was Spruce Knob.Spruce Knob, at 4,863 feet (1,482 m),^[1] is the highest point in the state of West Virginia and the summit of Spruce Mountain, the highest peak in the Allegheny Mountains.^[2]

THE VIEW FROM THE TOP

The summit of Spruce Knob can be reached via several lower trails or by car.  The by car route

gets you within 900 feet of the observation tower.  The trail routes require time and supplies.  

We chose to drive to the parking area and then hike one of the trails near the top.  We picked

a route called Huckleberry Trail and had the girls, water and food.  This trail is fairly flat and mostly 

tree covered but it does break into a few "alpine meadow" areas.  As always, Penny Lane

took the lead and was one happy girl.  Annie Belle rode some but walked most of the way.

A LOOK FROM ONE OF THE ALPINE MEADOWS

Rob and I noticed that the moss in the tree covered areas was incredibly plush and green.The

growing environment must be perfect.

THE MOSS IS SEVERAL INCHES DEEP

Our hike out was uneventful.  We saw a few campers who had chosen to reach the summit

via the hike and camp option.  We also saw a few mountain bikers.  We did not see any

bears.  We thought about bears but did not see any.  When we got back to the parking area,

we hiked the other direction to the observation tower.  Penny Lane loved this.  The wind was

blowing and it was nice and cool. 

PENNY LANE WITH THE WIND IN HER FACE

GORGEOUS BUTTERFLY RESTING ON AN EVERGREEN BRANCH

As we prepared to drive back to the RV, we decided to try a different route.  We had zero cell

service but we knew we were at the top and a road going down would take us to the bottom.

This is all well and good but maps do help.  With no cell service GPS was not an option

and our paper maps were in the RV.  As we headed down, we came to several forks in the road.

Most were marked with signs and we just kept going.  Many of the signs were riddled with bullet 

holes and I must admit that the theme song from Deliverance did cross my mind a time or two.

After many miles of back country dirt roads, we finally came to a paved road and made our

way back to the RV.  The paper map will stay in the car and Rob now knows how to take screen

shots of the maps he pulls up on his phone.

TWO VERY TIRED PUPS

We arrived tired and hungry and decided that we were going to eat at the camp restaurant but Rob

wanted to soak his feet and play Pooh Sticks before we went.

THE WONDERFUL RIVER JUST BEHIND OUR CAMPER

The restaurant, Bella's, sets the perfect tone for a West Virginia campground eatery.  Very rustic

with country music, a bar and good food. It is a very no nonsense place but the service is great

and the food is very tasty.

We took the girls for a very short stroll after dinner and the resident turkey gave Penny Lane the

 evil eye as she attempted to investigate her new and interesting friend.

RESIDENT TURKEY PREPARING TO PECK PENNY LANE

Darkness fell and the stars were brilliant.  We happily retired to the comfort of our fabulous home.

Another great day in this thing we call life.