After a rather cloudy morning at Dolly Sods, things cleared out. Exploring the western part of sods is interesting, it is much more like around Canaan Heights then the eastern portion which is mostly heath barren.
Taken on Friday October 27, 2023 at Dolly Sods Wilderness.
Looking west from Canaan Mountain down into the valley.
Taken on Friday October 27, 2023 at Dolly Sods Wilderness.
Looking south-west off Cabin Mountain at Dolly Sods to the high-elevation Canaan Valley, towards Dry Fork. To the left is Rich Mountain and to the right is Canaan Mountain.
Taken on Friday October 27, 2023 at Dolly Sods Wilderness.
Looking across the Red Creek to Alder Run Trail which was impassable without getting quite wet due to high water levels in the Red Creek. While many of the colors were faded, there was still some nice color in the heath, it's bright red color emblematic of the Dolly Sods in the highest locations along the Allegheny Front.
Taken on Friday October 27, 2023 at Dolly Sods Wilderness.
A beaver lodge along the Harman Trail at Dolly Sods Wilderness.
Taken on Friday October 27, 2023 at Dolly Sods Wilderness.
The heath barrens of Dolly Sods. Once an old-growth forest, after it was logged at the turn of century, it became ravaged by decades of fires and became over time permanently huckleberry plains or heath barrens.
The cold and wind, along with loss of organic matter made it impossible for full forests to regrow, giving it the characteristic landscape of Northern Canada or Alaska tundra.
Taken on Friday October 27, 2023 at Dolly Sods Wilderness.