Big Run Bog, Part 2

Big Run Bog

 

After driving through the town of Thomas, WV, we took a forest road leading up to he Olson Observation Tower. I'd read that originally Big Run Bog was called the Olson Bog, so again, a trail from the tower to the bog was possible. The gravel road was in better condition than the road at Dolly Sods, as it climbed up steadily through the dense forest I could catch glimpses through the trees of the drop down to the valley. We were probably at around 3500 feet altitude.

The only trail near the Olson Tower was the Allegheny Trail, traversing  thickets of Rhododendrons (R. maximum I presume, from the large leaves.) that didn't seem very promising, so we turned around and tried another road--the sign indicated this was the road to Big Run Falls. About a mile or two in, the road became impassable--huge deep pools of water and rocks, and we were afraid we'd get the car stuck there. It was tough turning around with so little room, with ditches dropping off to either side, but my friend managed to do it. 

Path in the woods led to the bog

We debated whether to try walking up the road to the falls, but it was getting to be late afternoon, and we wanted to be able to get home before dark, so we backtracked down to the main road. Along the way, my friend decided to stop at a one-car pullout to take a leak in the woods. Coming back she said, "There's a trail down there, and I can see open space behind those trees. Could that be where the bog is?" It was worth a look, so I got out and followed her down the path. 

Lovely, rich woods-- a clump of tiny golden mushrooms at the base of a tree caught my eye. Likely very young honey mushrooms

Mushrooms at the base of a tree

The path was short and opened up to a wide grassy expanse--Eureka! Here was what we'd been looking for: Big Run Bog!

Cotton grass in Big Run Bog

There was no boardwalk, and the ground was very soggy--we sank a few inches with each footstep, trying not to get in above our ankles. The ground was carpeted with cranberries laden with fruit and purple pitcher plants. Ferns in their autumn gold and clumps of Rhododendrons dotted the expanse. Who knew that Rhododendrons could live with wet feet? I'd always thought they needed good drainage, but they seemed to be flourishing here.

Cranberries

Purple Pitcher plants, cranberries, and wild strawberries

We didn't go very far into the bog, although we could guess from the tree line at the horizon that a stream or body of water must run somewhere along the farther edge. The ground was so squishy, we settled for taking photos and picking some of the cranberries. The plant diversity here was not as profuse as at the wetlands, though I'm sure we would have identified more had we continued farther in. I'd wanted to see some of the Bottlebrush Gentians that are reported to be found here, but there were none where we were.

Clump of purple pitchers with one old flowering stalk

Ferns turning gold

Details of the Pitcher plants

Time was marching on, so we turned around and headed back to Thomas. There was an interesting row of small stores along the road, and we stopped to see if there was someplace we could get some hot tea, but only one store was open, and it was not a cafe. It had some charming seasonal decorations with lots of pumpkins--I couldn't resist taking a few shots.

Store front in Thomas, WV

Detail of the fall decorations.

The drive back was uneventful, except for some rain. What a way to spend one's birthday, another great adventure in wild, wonderful West Virginia! Can't wait to get back there again soon.

Hiking on Dolly Sods, Part 2

 

Red Spruce forest.

 

 

We were still on the Wildlife Trail, which is about 1.6 miles long. Eventually we crossed a stream, and the terrain began to change. The forest became denser, darker, and mossier, the ground rockier. We must be getting closer to the junction with the Rohrbaugh Trail. It was getting on toward four in the afternoon.

 

Getting on the Rohrbaugh Trail.

 

The junction with the Rohrbaugh Trail was marked by a sign; one could see the trail dropping downhill on the right and the light through the trees hinted at the deep canyon beyond. Taking the left hand side, the Rorhbaugh Trail continues towards some towering cliffs. We crossed another smaller sod, where we saw a couple of Monarch butterflies--too far away to photograph. The bees were having a feast on the Goldenrod.

 

Bee on Goldenrod

Heal-all (Prunella vulgaris)

Getting closer to the cliffs one could see the mountains on the other side of the canyon through the Mountain Ashes in fruit. In this more exposed area, being drier, grassy spaces bordered by Rhododendons, mountain laurel, blueberry and huckleberry bushes opened up.

 

The western side of the mountains through the trees.

Rhododendron and Mountain laurel meadows.

 

Ground pine and reindeer moss grew under the dwarfed spruce on the sparse soil near the cliffs.

 

Ground pine spore structures with reindeer moss and ordinary moss.

 

Side paths near the Rorhbaugh cliffs.

Climbing over the rocks toward the overlook, one can begin to appreciate the size and splendor of this vast wilderness--the view is spectacular! 

 

Climbing towards the overlook.

View from the overlook.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Rorhbaugh Cliffs.

 

Getting back to the main trail we wandered through through thickets of  Rhododendrons and Mountain Laurel so dense they overhung, forming tunnels.

 

Getting back on the main trail from the overlook.

 

 

Rhododendron forest.

 

Beyond the climax of the overlook, the trail stepped back into the shelter of the forest. The forest once again changed character, becoming very mossy and lush. The rocky trail was intersected by a number of small streams and run-offs, and the Rhododendrons were taller, shaded by red spruce and hardwoods. The tree roots intruded upon the trail as much as the rocks, making it difficult to walk smoothly. The muddy patches continued, and we had to skirt around them as best we could.

 

The Rorhbaugh Trail beyond the overlook.

Big Belled Web Caps (Cortinaria largus)

Stream on the Rohrbaugh Trail.

 

Mushrooms began to appear again, though not in the profusion and variety as on the Wildlife Trail. Mosses carpeted the sides of the trail and rocks, Sphagnum moss in the wetter parts.

 

Moss on the sides of the trail.

Sphagnum moss.

The tall trees, Rhododendrons, and mosses gave the forest a magical, fairy-land atmosphere. Imagine how lovely it would be when the Rhododendrons and Mountain laurel are in bloom!

 

The Rorhbaugh Trail

 

This was the last photo I was able to take--my phone ran out of power completely right after this. The rest of the hike was very similar, rockier and muckier in some places, up and down, mostly up, with many beautiful sights. We harvested two more Lion's Mane mushrooms along the way, fortunately well within our reach without needing any sticks. More than enough for a great supper for both of us and our spouses!

We were totally exhausted by the time we reached the trailhead and my friend's car, well past six PM. We'd been hiking for over five hours to cover the 5.2 miles of both trails. We drove back to my car at the Wilderness trailhead and drove down the dusty mountain road as the sun was leaving the tops of the trees on the heights--it was after 7 PM and starting getting dark.  We were still a two and a half hour drive from our homes--I didn't get home until a quartet to ten that night.

I "left it all" as they say, at Dolly Sods that day, but I'd love to come back in the spring to see some of the bogs in the lowlands, as well as the Rhododendrons and mountain laurel in bloom!

My Garden Blossoms

Peony 'Coral Charm'

Herb's bed with Peonies

 

The weather had been atrociously hot for this time of the year, and our region still in severe drought. Last week we finally got a bit of rain and the temperatures dropped to more normal levels. My garden had offered some blooms, and is now offering more. The peony 'Coral Charm' had three flowers this year, though with the drying winds, they only lasted a few days. I moved it to its present location two yeas ago and it seems to be recovering strength. Behind it 'Duchesse de Nemours' is full of buds that are starting to open.

My Rhodendron 'Brandywine' was not as full as on other years--some of the trusses were blighted and had only a few flowers, probably because of the drought. My other Rhododendron 'Anna Rose Whitney'. which I transplanted last fall hoping that it would prosper in a shadier area where the soil is more moist, suffered so much I regretted having moved it--but it's now showing some promising new growth.

 

Rhododendron 'Brandywine'

Rhododendron 'Anna Rose Whitney'

My Virginia Fringe tree in the east woodland garden didn't put forth a lot of bloom this year, and neither did the Pagoda Dogwood, but they seem to be gaining some height--all to the good.

 

Virginia Fringe Tree (Chionanthus virginicum)

Pagoda Dogwood (Swida alternifolia)

Pagoda Dogwood

The pale lilac Dutch iris were lovely last week and the bearded irises made a decent show as well. The yellow irises produced only one flower stalk, but the white and bicolors in the front garden and the blue 'Victoria Falls' were quite impressive.

 

Pale Dutch irises

Iris bed in front of house.

'Victoria Falls' iris.

Iris 'Blatant'

Iris 'Pink Attraction'

Back in Herb's bed, last fall I planted a row of the charming Allium 'Christophii' (I think that's what it is, not sure) which is starting to bloom.

 

Allium 'Christophii'

Allium 'Christophii'?

 

In the back bed the Verbascum 'Southern Charm' is putting on a lovely show along with some red Columbines and a small pink Salvia.

 

Verbascum 'Southern Charm'

 

Salvia 'Pink Profusion'

 A couple of other Salvias, the deep purple "May Night' and a light blue are also blooming. I hope most of these will still be in bloom for the month's "Bloom Day."

 

Salvia 'May Night'

 

Light blue Salvia.

Lastly, here's some photos of the spring harvest from my home veggie garden: lettuce and Cherry Belle radishes, with an arrangement of irises in a vase for a backdrop.

 

Spring harvest

Irises in vase with spring harvest.