so its the east,, how far can it be to do the back door trick?? someone should start lookin,, hell someone already knows...
Why don't folks just start hikin' thru the woods towards the site from all points, instead of sitting at front gate? Old injun trick... Good thing to know: It's nearly impossible to get lost for very long in the WV mountains. Just go downhill, and follow water downstream and sooner or later you'll come to civilization.
theres a cemetary about a mile north,does anyone know its name??, does anyone know anything bout the jeep trail that winds up on the ridge a 1/2 mile from main meadow?? where it comes from?? i cant do shit online an id have to order the topos,, only you locals can help..
Heres a possibility? (from http://gorp.away.com/gorp/resource/us_wilderness_area/wv_otter.htm) Shavers Mountain Trail #129 9.2 miles Average hiking time: 4.5 hours This trail follows the crest of Shavers Mountain. It begins at the junction of U.S. 33 and FR 91 (Stuart Memorial Drive) and ends where it meets the Green Mountain trail, near the Tucker/Randolph county line. 1.8 miles of this trail is outside the wilderness boundary, and much of the rest of it is very close to the boundary, so you may see the results of activities by private landowners from the trail.
so how far is shaver mountain peak from the trail head?? shit i see 3 easy ridges to follow after it to basically the main meadow..
Don't you think that the LEOs have already thought about these options and that they would have patrols around the entire area? Not trying to be a naysayer just wanted to bring it to light. Do you think they'll (LEOS) will give in if there is enough people.
Hey Guys.. This probably really doesn't help, and it's so vague anyways. I'm sort of hoping someone else might know more, plus I probably don't really understand the question. This spring my boyfriend and I traveled West Virginia rather extensively for a film. We went to Elkins via Monterey Virginia. I am a bit confused on if it was through highland county or through warm springs, but I am almost positive we got to Elkins by going to monterey and turning when we got into town. I'll try to figure that out as soon as possible because the road went straight to the national forest the gathering is in. Don't know if that will help though. That's the way I'm going because the other directions sound way out of the way since I'm only an hour and something away from where I live now. I just have to figure out what to do when I get to the national forest. Anyone familiar with what I'm talking about? Man now that I'm thinking about it I honestly can't remember if it was the time I turned right in hot springs or when I turned left and immediately right. I really hope someone can figure this out cause it went right to the forest.
Well,I've seen a couple of people around these forums,saying they live right around that area. I'll see if I can find them and send them some PM's or emails..have them check out this thread. They just might know a way around...
Well from what I can tell the LEO,s must be serious. I work at Snowshoe where the LEO"'s base is. And I must tell you there is a lot of them there. Usaully there are only two LEO's for the whole National Forest. And there is a pile of them at the command post. They must of brought in every LEO from the east coast. The Jeep trail is a road that the forest service uses to access the meadows for mowing and seeding or in case of forest fire. One could probally hike in from the north, or south on the jeep trail, but it looks like a 6 to 8 mile hike. I have a feeling that you will find a LEO at any trail head that accesses that area. They must have about 30 or so officers. So they have plenty to spread around the area. And if the LEO's want to they could drive right into the meadows. Seems that they have the main entrance from the south all tied up. So I think that the more people that come things will get better, There is not to much they can do. I will look into some alternative routes today. Just hang in there folks, I think the LEO's will give up after a while. I will post again once I have more info... Peace,
I am now hearing that the forest service is trying to relocate the gathering to another area in the National Forest. And that they are going to supply porta pots and everything. Somewhere in the Spruceknob area. When I hear more I will update all. Peace
The idea of hiking 7 or 8 miles from a different trailhead actually occured to me *before* hearing about all this stuff. Why? Because living in the cold white North for half my life and being of mixed racial composition has made me pretty much *expect* harassment from from LEO's and and slack-jawed stares from the populace in the South. My apologies to all the native Southerners on these forums, but its the truth. I've lived the other half of my life in the South, and there isn't a day that's gone by where I didn't feel like a stranger. Just last month I was harassed by a cop for parking in a space clearly marked "visitor parking" in what was otherwise a permit-only lot. The officer could not articulately explain to me what these 8 spaces were for if they weren't for actual "visitors" so my only conclusion was that I was being harassed because he 'didn't like the looks of me'. Sad to say it, but I've given up on fighting petty harassment like this long ago and just move on because i've got better things to do with my life. I do a lot of backpacking where I have to hike for half a day or most of the day to reach my intended campsite. An 8 mile hike is about average and not a big deal; obviously that wouldn't be the case for people with kids and/or people hauling gear to set up a kitchen. I can't recall for certain what the *normal* permit situation is at Monagohalla but I'm pretty sure individuals and small groups are FREE to camp wherever they like as long as it follows Leave No Trace ethics and is an adequate distance away from roads, trails and major streams or creeks. It sounds like there probably *will* be LEO presence at all trailheads in the surrounding area, although some may just be 'making rounds' rather than staying posted. But as far as the ridge trails that lead there, I would just have an 'alternate campsite' picked out and as far as they are concerned *that* is where you are going. I don't care how freakified you look, just respond "what Gathering?" if they ask about it. I can almost guaruntee they cops won't *follow* you down the trail. In 30 years I have rarely seen a cop (or most forest rangers for that matter) get out of their cars or trucks and WALK unless they absolutely have to. Forest Rangers often use horses to access remote parts of the forest, so those of you with kids and dogs might want to keep that in mind also.
Seriously, most rainbows can hike a few miles, and "30" freddies can't do shit about 20,000 heavily laden freaks moving along game trails. Unless one of the alternative locations proposed turns out OK and is accepted, we'll just overwhelm them with numbers like every gathering previous. If you're brave, go NOW and help the peaceful claiming of land, otherwise show up july 1 and it'll all be settled.
there have been blocades at other gatherings & by court order they were ended, they were not allowed to prevent food, water, medical, or elderly/disabled from easy access & others were forced to park faraway & be shuttled in. at a woodstock reunin years ago they blocked access to the original site & we held a march to 1 entrence were forced to march 10 iles to another, then they allowed 25 people to go down for 20 minutes & then they would allow 25 more..when the 1st 25 were down there me & about 50 pedople went off through the woods crossing ravines & barbed wire & when 1 cop saw me being helped over the last fence (i'm in a wheelchair) he got on the radio & had everyone let in. so i'd say yes it may be a bad time to go early, cause you can expect harrassment, but if your ready to go, just go because it will take the numbers to end it. 1 thing however, only go early if your ready to be 100% peaceful in the face of conflict, we dont need anyone getting hot headed & causing things to escal;ate.. we need enough people willing to just hug the fs & leo's untill they just say oh what the hell..just let em go have theyre fun./ we especialy need elders who have experience communicating with them & negotiating a peavceful solution. on that note i'm still ready to go as soon as any of u drop by philly & pick me up..heehee i'm ready to hike cross country again so they'll just open the gates & let us all in if anyone can just get me there.
i hope you make it there and have a good trip down ........i think they realize there eventualy gonna let it rip .and this just posturing just ussless
Give me a shout if there is anything I can help with. Don't know what I can do but I will try. I do live IN the town.
