>Tree line in Pa/WVA?
Evans Harrell
: > Hi,
: > I'd like to know whether there are areas in Pennsylvania or West
: > Virginia that are above the tree line. In particular, I'd like to find
: > some hiking trails within a 2 or 3 hour drive of Pittsburgh that will
: > get me above tree line. Is this possible? Any suggestions?
: > Thanks,
: > Diane Moran
The nearest true tree line to you will be in New Hampshire in the
White Mountains, where there is a tree line at 4000' or so. There
are rock outcroppings in the Appalachians where you can get nice views,
and there are a few of those in West Virginia, but there are nicer
ones in the Adirondacks, if you are willing to drive that far.
I have been told that the Dolly Sods area of West Virginia has open
country due, I think, to past logging, but have not seen it personally.
Otherwise the vistas will be at best intermittent in WVa.
In the South there are "balds," which are not true tree lines, but
offer 360 views.
Diane M. Moran
Charles F Wild
Spruce Knob is the highest point in West Virginia, and has trees growing on top
(although they are stunted).
Mike Hennessy
> Hi,
> I'd like to know whether there are areas in Pennsylvania or West
> Virginia that are above the tree line. In particular, I'd like to find
> some hiking trails within a 2 or 3 hour drive of Pittsburgh that will
> get me above tree line. Is this possible? Any suggestions?
> Thanks,
> Diane Moran
I don't think so. The higest points in PA and WVa are under 6,000 ft., as
I recall and I don't think that's high enough. I can't recall where the
higest point in PA is, but I think I remember driving past a roadside
sign among the trees identifying it as such. I was just looking at a WVa
map and the HP in WVA is only a few hundred feet higher than Seneca Rocks
which is not above the TL.
As for suggestions, get a REALLY fast car and drive to the rockies. ;-)
Mike Hennessy
PittsburghPA
mi...@telerama.lm.com
Frank Sutman
West Virginia. It is a high plateau at about 4,000 feet with lots
of open, and sometimes boggy terrain. Like some arctic areas. The
area burned over (maybe in the Civil War?) and never grew back. Neat
place.
Flotsam
I second the recommendation. But bring rain gear, a pair of waterproof
shoes/boots as well as extra shoes, cause it can get really wet n'
sloppy. The weather can be pretty unpredictable.
I believe Dolly Sods is the only example of subarctic plain/bogs this side
of Canada. Supposedly, when the glaciers receded after the ice age the
plateau vegetation stayed about the same. I don't know anything about a
civil war fire, but it used to be grazed by sheep.
-dan
______________________________________________________________
. * . _ . . . | "Son, you got a panty on
' / \ ' . ' | yer head" - fr raising AZ
) ) / | \ Zz Zzz |--------------------------
( ( / | \ Z Zz | daniel...@jhuapl.edu
<\^%m/^=> / / \ \ |
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Michael Meador
: Hi,
: I'd like to know whether there are areas in Pennsylvania or West
: Virginia that are above the tree line. In particular, I'd like to find
: some hiking trails within a 2 or 3 hour drive of Pittsburgh that will
: get me above tree line. Is this possible? Any suggestions?
Not available, at least not in the classical definition. However, there
are several areas along the Allegheny Front in eastern West Virginia
where the long N-S ridgetops are alpine-like. Ice, wind and little or
no soil limit species and growth such that there are large expanses with
only scattered vegetation above 3-4 ft. It is a wonderful area!! Go
when the blueberries are ripe.
key words, info sources:
Monongahela National Forest, headquarters in Elkins
Dolly Sods
Spruce Knob
Seneca Rocks
Randolph, Pendleton, Grant counties
Michael Meador (607) 277-2020 (via ORA operator)
Vice President (607) 272-0736 ext. 271 (direct)
Odyssey Research Associates Inc. (607) 277-3206 (Fax)
301 Dates Drive
Ithaca, NY 14850-1326 USA e-mail: mic...@oracorp.com
--
Michael Meador (607) 277-2020 (via ORA operator)
Vice President (607) 272-0736 ext. 271 (direct)
Odyssey Research Associates Inc. (607) 277-3206 (Fax)
301 Dates Drive