Dolly Sods
West Virginia
1996
I had to call a bunch of different numbers trying to get reliable information. It’s something I do when on our way to the wilderness. How’s the water supply? Any vermin we need to be aware of? What’s the condition of the trails? Y’know, any particular challenges we should prepare for?
This time we are planning a trip to the Monongahela National Forest and I’d like to get some intel about camping and ground conditions. I have a little trouble understanding the recorded announcement as it is garbled but I’m pretty sure I heard something about “wildflower emergencies.” There was also a warning about dealing with “unexploded ordnance” in the Dolly Sods area. Um…
Dolly Sods is one of the prettiest places in the eastern United States. Everybody says so. Including me. It is the first place I ever backpacked. It is a place where I almost got swept away in Red Creek, overflowing like a tempestuous river, coming closer to losing my life in the wilderness than at any other time. It is the first place I ever saw a llama in the wild. It is also a place where I learned how quiet this planet can be. I’ve got some history with Dolly Sods.
But what is this business about unexploded ordnance? In the earlier part of the 20th century, this land was owned by the U S Government. The Army staged military maneuvers and practiced their artillery and mortar skills here. Once the land was returned to the United States Forest Service in 1950, a bomb and shell disposal team came in and scoured the area, ridding it of all the remaining bombs. Except they didn’t. They collected and destroyed more than 200 mortars, projectiles and other rounds. Unfortunately, they also left many more than 200 mortars, projectiles and other rounds in the area. No one knows how many.
When you get to Dolly Sods, you see posters…
WARNING
HIGHLY EXPLOSIVE LIVE BOMBS
from WWII training can still be found in Dolly Sods.
DO NOT TOUCH!!
A photograph shows what the bombs look like. There is also a telephone number to call if you find one.
And some people think hiking is dangerous!
As far as I know however, I encountered no wildflower emergencies. And if I did, I didn’t know it. In fact, I don’t know what a wildflower emergency is. Do you? The mind reels with possibilities.