Run. Hike. Poop.

Backpacking the Perry Valley Loop: Du hast den Big Schloss

November 8, 2025By y2kemo

The Perry Valley Loop, also known as the Trout Run Valley Loop, is a demanding 30-ish mile route within the George Washington National Forest in West Virginia, though it briefly traverses the Virginia border and the Wardensville Wildlife Management Area. The strenuous loop features 5,000 feet of elevation gain and is famous for its overlooks at Big Schloss, Tibbet Knob, and Halfmoon Mountain.

Having visited many a locale in both states previously, my buddy, Coop, and I decided to visit this new, two-state area, with the hopes of catching some views and good times.

A Modified Backpacking Loop Through Grayson Highlands

September 8, 2025By y2kemo

A three-day, two-night backpacking trip my son and I took to Grayson Highlands in August 2024 starting from Fox Creek Trailhead parking lot off Fairwood Road (VA603) near Mouth of Wilson, Virginia.

Backpacking Dolly Sods in the Winter: Staying Warm Takes Work

February 23, 2025By y2kemo

frozen creek and waterfall covered in snow — Frozen Red Creek off Fischer Spring Run Spur Trail

The 17,371 acre Dolly Sods Wilderness (DSW) in the Monongahela National Forest is a rocky, high-altitude plateau with great views, wind-carved boulders, heath barrens, grassy meadows, and centuries-old sphagnum bogs. And while summers are generally cool and wet, winters are, to put it mildly, brutal. Minimum temperatures can drop to −30°F and the average seasonal snowfall is around 150 inches.

Having visited Dolly Sods in the winter before, my buddy, Coop, and I decided to revisit the area, this time exploring the southern portion, a section we hadn’t yet ventured into.

Backpacking the Roaring Plains West Wilderness: A Second Chance

November 11, 2024By y2kemo

trail cutting through pine trees with rolling mountains in background — Pipeline Access Road at Hidden Passage Trail

The Roaring Plains West Wilderness (RPW) is a picturesque backpacking destination in eastern West Virginia—3 mile southwest of the Dolly Sods Wilderness and 5 miles south of Canaan Valley State Park. The areas 6,792 acres of mixed hardwoods of red spruce and brush and bogs, grasses and rhododendron, ranges in elevation from 3,000′ along the southern perimeter to over 4,700′ feet’ at the top of Mt. Porte Crayon. The area is part of Roaring Plains, which spans 12,376 acres and is considered backcountry as opposed to RPW’s wilderness designation.

In 2017, my buddy, Coop, his brother-in-law, and I set out to pack the RPW circuit following South Prong to Canyon Rim Trail and down Boar’s Nest to the parking lot. Given the Monongahela National Forest’s fickle and unpredictable weather, we were met with a raging and impassable South Fork Red Creek. Unable to complete the route as planned, Coop and I decided to take another shot.

Backpacking Iron Mountain and Grayson Highlands: Horses and ponies

July 3, 2024By y2kemo

view of field from an outcropping with mountains in the background — View of Grayson Highlands from Crest Trail near Pine Mountain/AT junction

The summertime is a great time to hit the trails. The best! Well, except for the heat, dried up water sources, things that bite, things that fly and bite, and the heat. Did I mention the heat? Man, I am not a fan of the heat. When my nephew, Joaquin, came to town I wanted to take him on his first backpacking trip and needed to find a location where the conditions were just right (i.e. the aforementioned exceptions could be managed). Enter the Iron Mountain Trail (IMT).

The yellow-blazed Iron Mountain Trail spans 47 miles from Highway 91 near Tennessee in the south to VA16 at Iron Mountain Gap in the north. Up until 1972, the IMT was part of the Appalachian Trail (AT) when it was relocated to the south to accommodate communication towers and power lines in order to maintain the secluded experience hikers have come to expect from the AT.

I hiked the IMT previously and figured its solitude, milder temperatures, and close proximity to Grayson Highlands made it the perfect place to take my nephew.

Backpacking the Cranberry Wilderness: Let it Snow

February 25, 2024By y2kemo

snow-covered trail — A snow-covered North-South Trail (TR 688)

The Monongahela National Forest located in the Allegheny Mountains of east central West Virginia covers more than 920,000 acres and is home to some sweet backpacking destinations including Dolly Sods, Roaring Plains, and the Cranberry Wilderness. For this trip, I invited Rodrigo, and we set our sights on Cranberry.

Situated between the Highland Scenic Highway to the east, the Williams River to the north, and the Cranberry River to the south and west, the Cranberry Wilderness spans 47,815 acres and includes 15 interconnected and unblazed trails covering over 75 miles with elevations ranging from 2,400 to over 4,600 feet. In the winter it’s crazy cold and the chance for snow is always looming overhead.

Backpacking Doughton Park: Moose tracks and rain

September 17, 2023By y2kemo

grassy trail with blue skies — Coming up the MST towards the Blue Ridge Parkway

Getting away for a weekend can sometimes be a challenge. Thankfully, there are a handful of places I can quickly access including Doughton Park; the largest recreation area the National Park Service manages on the Blue Ridge Parkway.

Located just west of Stone Mountain between Wilkes and Alleghancy Counties in North Carolina, Doughton Park consists of incredible views, wide open meadows, and some really challenging inclines. Additionally, part of the iconic 1,175 mile Mountains-to-Sea Trail (MST) passes through the park and passing by some breathtaking vistas. Having been to Doughton Park before, given the campsite at Basin Cove and the challenging trails, I opted to return to the area for a weekend solo trip.

Backpacking Mt. Pleasant to Seeley-Woodworth AT Shelter

February 18, 2023By y2kemo

view of mountains from ridgeline — View from Tar Jacket Ridge

In November 2019, I ran the Mountain Masochist 50-mile trail run from Monroe to Montebello, Virginia with my buddy, Coop. During the race, we completed a 5-ish mile loop around Mt. Pleasant, an aptly named national scenic area with picturesque views. As we finished the race, and for the next couple of years, we talked about returning to the area with backpacks, but we never did, until we did.

Backpacking Mt. Rogers and Iron Mountain: The Cold Changes Things

January 16, 2023By y2kemo

trail junction in the snow — Lewis-Fork Trail/Pine Mountain Trail junction.

The Mount Rogers National Recreation Area (NRA), a nearly 200,000 acre National Forest in southwestern Virginia is one of my favorite backpacking destinations. Sure the terrain can be challenging and the weather is often unpredictable, but there are wild ponies, the Appalachian Trail (AT) runs through the area, the views are magnificent, and it can be exceptionally peaceful when there is snow on the ground. It’s a place I keep coming back to and a place I thought I’d take a friend of a friend, Rodrigo, for his first winter backpacking trip in the southeast.

Backpacking the Cranberry Wilderness: Songs About Bears

November 7, 2022By y2kemo

hiker in woods — Hiking on Little Fork Trail.
*Photo by Coop*

The Monongahela National Forest in West Virginia is one of my favorite places to visit with options that include Dolly Sods, Roaring Plains, and the 47,815-acre Cranberry Wilderness. Located between the Highland Scenic Highway to the east, the Williams River to the north, and the Cranberry River to the south and west, the Cranberry Wilderness includes 15 interconnected, unblazed, and well-maintained trails covering over 75 miles with elevations ranging from 2,400 to over 4,600 feet. The wilderness is home to deer, turkeys, rabbits, mink, grouse, bobcats, and foxes, and is a designated bear sanctuary. Having visited the area before, my buddy, Coop, and I opted to head back to Cranberry to cover some areas we hadn’t explored previously.

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