IMAGES TAKEN BETWEEN AUGUST 17TH-22ND, 2022 ON MY 3RD VISIT TO DOLLY SODS

I WAS FORTUNATE TO SPEND THREE DAYS EXLORING DOLLY SODS FOR MY THIRD VISIT TO THE WILDERNESS AREA SINCE 2020. THIS WAS A PRETTY LAST MINUTE DECISION, SO I ARRIVED LATE ON A MID AUGUST NIGHT TO BRILLIANT STARRY SKIES AND THE MOST PERFECT MOONRISE OVER BEAR ROCKS I COULD'VE HOPED FOR. THE NEXT MORNING'S SUNRISE WAS A BUST BECAUSE OF RAIN AND CLOUDS, BUT I HAD A LOVELY CHAT WITH OTHER HIKERS ABOUT THE BEST UNPOPULAR AREAS, CONCERN FOR LACK OF LEAVE NO TRACE, AND THE AREA'S RICH HISTORY. 
I TOOK ALL THE TIME IN THE WORLD TO DRIVE ALONG FR75, SEARCHING FOR SCENIC VISTAS AND PHOTO OPPORTUNITIES. IT WAS ON THIS TRIP I DISCOVERED A LOVELY ROADSIDE VISTA, PERFECT FOR STARGAZING AND CATCHING A SUNRISE WITHOUT THE CROWDS. I ALSO FOUND "THE TREE" FOR THE FIRST TIME AND STILL HOLD CLOSE THE FEELING OF PEACE BEING NEAR SUCH A MAGNICIFENT BEING BROUGHT ME. 
THIS WAS ALSO MY FIRST EXPERIENCE BACKPACKING INTO THE WOODS FOR THE NIGHT. I'VE HEARD AMAZING THINGS ABOUT THE ROHRBAUGH TRAIL AND A 6 MILE ROUNDTRIP WAS EVERYTHING I NEEDED TO TAKE IN THE SERENITY AND GREENERY THIS TRAIL OFFERS IN MID AUGUST. EVERYWHERE I LOOKED THERE WAS LOADS OF FERNS, MOSS, AND MUSHROOMS. THE FIELDS OF WILDFLOWERS WERE A LOVELY TOUCH. I CAMPED CLOSE TO THE ROHRBAUGH CLIFFS AND ENJOYED THE SUNSET AND STARGAZING OVER THE RED CREEK VALLEY BELOW. YOU CAN ALSO SEE THE LION'S HEAD ROCK FORMATIONS FROM THE VANTAGE POINT AT ROHRBAUGH CLIFFS. 
THIS WAS A VERY MEMORABLE EXPERIENCE FOR ONE OF THE FIRST OVERNIGHT BACKPACKING TRIPS IN THE SODS AND I WILL ALWAYS CHERISH THE PEACE AND GRATITUDE I FELT BEING THERE. 

IMAGES TAKEN THURSDAY OCTOBER 14, 2021 ON MY 2ND VISIT TO DOLLY SODS

I HIKED 10 MILES BEGINNING AT THE BLACKBIRD KNOB TRAILHEAD, GOING WEST; TURNED RIGHT ONTO ROCKY RIDGE TRAIL AND CONTINUED NORTH UNTIL TURNING RIGHT AT INTERSECTION WITH HARMAN KNOB TRAIL AND CONTINUING EAST UNTIL MERGING BACK WITH BLACKBIRD KNOB TRAIL AND RETURNING TO TRAILHEAD. 

IMAGES TAKEN THURSDAY OCTOBER 22, 2020 ON MY 1ST VISIT TO DOLLY SODS

I HIKED 7 MILES BEGINNING AT BEAR ROCKS TRAILHEAD HEADING WEST; MAKING A LEFT AT THE INTERSECTION WITH DOBBIN GRADE HEADING SOUTH/SOUTHWEST; TURNED RIGHT ONTO RAVEN RIDGE TRAIL AND HEADING NORTH UNTIL INTERSECTING BACK WITH BEAR ROCKS TRAIL AND RETURNING TO THE TRAILHEAD GOING EAST