Allegheny, Wayne, Monongehella

Which National Forest to visit come November once the campaigns and work are all behind me? I have options whne I can take off a week and hopefully enjoy some November sun while traveling under mild conditions as El Nino holds winter a bay or so I hope.

I’ve been thinking about some time getting down to the Allegheny National Forest. It’s been some years since I was last down that way, I’ve wanted to ride the Jake’s Rocks trails now that their complete. Plus, US 6 is always a good place to scope out rural burn barrels and rural life. Many people that part of Pennsylvania live without weekly rural trash service. Have some nice fires, maybe explore some parts of the National Forest I haven’t in the past. Good service with the cell phone up around Jake’s Rocks which helps pass the time on long winter nights, when it’s dark a little after 5 pm. Plus I use my phone for streaming radio and news, so it’s all the more essential.

Then I’ve been interested in exploring Ohio more. Do people burn garbage there? Not what the law says, but local practice. What is the land scape really like, what the are the opportunities for building an off-grid retirement there? I want to see more the coal country part of Ohio, where there are deep hills and hollows. I’ve heard the Wayne National Forest offers fewer places to camp along roadside sites, as it’s not as remote or large, but I am still evaluating options. I need to study maps, it would work out well to drive down from Allegheny National Forest, see also parts of Western PA before exploring down there.

And then there is Caanan Heights and Thomas, West Virginia. Monongehella National Forest. Didn’t go last autumn as I feared Big Red was on his lats legs, my paranoia made me choose a rather fun Adirondacks trip instead. Still, if it looks to be relatively warm, ice free, I want to spend several nights up at Canaan Heights, a special place in my mind. Do a day trip up to Dolly Sods to hike, and maybe drive up to the top of whatever that highest peak is in West Virigina. Though it might also be fun to go down to the New River Gorge.

Snow, ice, winter, and just life could get in the way, but I am considering what a November trip might look like once campaign is done. Plus in the middle of that week is November 11, Veterans Day, so it’s only four days off from work. Southern rifle season opens that weekend, so that’s another consideration – probably don’t want to hike or be doing a lot of firewood gathering in woods that Saturday, though I guess it’s fine to do a quick overnight like at Sugar Hill or that pond outside of Greene, on my way back home after vacation. Especially if I arrive after dark, and just use propane for cooking and staying warm.