West Virginia - Spruce Knob - 4863 Feet - August 17, 2001

Thursday, August 16, 2001 - We hiked the trail to the top of the North Peak of Seneca Rocks and top-roped Oh Pooh on the east face. Oh Pooh was too easy, but a climbing school had Isadora's Run already rigged.

Friday, August 17, 2001 - We drove south on 33 for about 15 miles and turned right on CR33-4 just before Judy Gap. CR33-4 turns into FR112 and goes west toward Spruce Knob. After about 10 miles on FR112, we turned right on FR104. It was another 2 miles to Spruce Knob. Some trees on Spruce Knob had limbs on only one side because of the wind. The USGS marker was embedded in the sidewalk on the east side of the observation tower. We hiked about 2-1/2 miles north along the ridge and back. This was a rocky trail and I was surprised to see mountain bikers. Saturday, August 18, 2001 - We left Seneca Shadows and drove past Spruce Knob to the Sinks of Gandy. Gandy Creek flows into a hillside and emerges about 2/3 mile later from another hillside. We followed the creek through the earth. It was very muddy. There is a long pool at the end. You can swim this pool or take a dry side channel out. We missed the side channel and were not looking forward to the swim out. Another group of cavers came along and showed us the dry way out. It is marked on the right wall with "Dry Out." The Sinks were not easy to find. About 6 miles past the turn off for Spruce Knob, we turned right onto FR1 toward Spruce Knob Lake. We traveled about 3 miles on FR1, past Spruce Knob Lake to a T in the road. We turned left onto CR40 for about 1/2 mile. The road made a sharp right and then a sharp left. There is a small parking area on the right side of the road at the sharp left. The Sinks are about 1/8 mile further. We went through a gate on the left into a cow pasture and walked about 100 yards to where the creek entered the hillside. The Sinks are on private property. We had asked for information at the Seneca Rocks Visitor Center and were given the phone number of the owner (Donley Teeter, 304-227-4594). We called and were given permission to go through the Sinks. From here, we headed home.