Maryland - Backbone Mountain - 3360 Feet - August 15, 2001

Thursday, August 9, 2001 - We drove south on 281 and WV 26 to Kingwood, WV to paddle the narrows section (class II) of the Cheat River. We again ran a bicycle shuttle. We saw two small snakes below Calamity Rapid.

Friday, August 10, 2001 - We drove south on 281 to Markleysburg, PA and took MD 42 to Friendsville, MD. We then hiked along the upper Yough to National Falls. This is the premier whitewater run in the eastern United States (class V). The hike is about 5 miles one way. The trail becomes progressively worse. A photographer mountain bikes the trail to Cheeseburger Rapid.

Saturday, August 11, 2001 - We swam at the natural water slides on Meadow Run near Ohiopyle. These photos are from a visit earlier in the summer.

Sunday, August 12, 2001 - We drove south on 281 and WV 26 to I-68. We took I-68 west to Cooper's Rock State Forest and set up camp. The campground was very quiet. The ranger sold firewood and ice.

Monday, August 13, 2001 - We climbed Easy Slab at Roadside Rocks. Tuesday, August 14, 2001 - We climbed Rebolting Development at Haystack Block.

Wednesday, August 15, 2001 - We left Cooper's and drove east on I68 to 26 south. We took 26 to Kingwood, WV and 7 east. 7 turned into MD 39 and took us to Oakland, MD where we turned south on 219. We drove on 219 back into WV to just past Silver Lake. The trail to Backbone Mt. is on the left side of 219 and is marked with a spray painted "HP." The trail was about a mile one way. The highpoint was just past the stone WV-MD border marker. There was a mail box with certificates to complete and keep. We could not find a USGS marker. We then drove south to Blackwater Falls and Seneca Shadows Campground at Seneca Rocks.