Warning - Wolf Creek area near VA Route 615

imported
#1

Warning to any hikers reading this journal. When/if you get to the area near Route 615 (it crosses the trail in southwest VA about 5-8 miles south of Bland VA), I suggest you take the High Water Trail when you go through this area if there has been any significant rain at that point. If you take the AT, You’ll have to cross Wolf Creek at least 16-18 times and it can be very difficult or even dangerous if the water level is high. Avoid this by taking the High Water Trail, which starts just south of Route 615. There’s a warning about it in the AT Guidebook but I either overlooked it or neglected to read this section.
Wolf Creek is dangerous if the water is high. Red encountered the same conditions and you can read about it there too for the same day.

I was ripe for hypothermia after crossing and re-crossing Wolf Creek time and again through ankle to waist-deep water. Toward the end it got deep and wider too so I left my chest and hip straps unfastened because I was starting to get concerned about falling amd being swept down-stream or even drowned by the weight of my pack. This concluded the last section of this hike for me and it was really a little frightening. I really did thank God to be out of there safely.

Sky Rider

#2

I’ve read about this situation in other hiker journals. The high water trail exists for a reason. Be safe. :cheers

Maintain

#3

I remember going through there last year with high water. We met Camo '01 (whom we met in '01 at Newfound Gap) at Jenkins Shelter hiking back to Damascus for Trail Days and he told us the water was OK. It was high and deep like Sky Rider said. But is was good practice for Maine where the water crossings was real fun! Caution is needed on several areas of the trail. After we got to NH and ME there were many days I was wondering if the kids were going to inherit the farm. It is all part of the Adventure. No rain, no pain, no Maine!

Papa Smurf

#4

I might add that where Wolf Creek and the AT interwind with each other is actually the head waters of Wolf Creek, which eventually flows into New River at which point, it is as big as many so called rivers I’ve seen. Wolf Creek is also stocked with trout, but at the point where it crosses the AT, it is normally too small (note I said normally) to be much of a trout stream. Downstream however, the creek does indeed get much bigger. :cheers

Maintain

#5

I’ll be hiking that area in late June…I’ve been a white blaze purist so far,and would rather not detour if safe…so how will I know how high is too high? My son (5’0") will be with me, and will this be a problem for us/him? Also, all the crossings ive made thus far were less than ankle deep, but if higher than boot tops, should one wade across barefoot to keep the boots dryer? Traction on wet stones a problem? objects cutting feet a problem?

Cutman11

#6

I’d agree (without having done water crossings in ME that these were less dangerous. The point was basically that they should also be considered as problems – again take the High Trail if in doubt.

if higher than boot tops, should one wade across barefoot to keep the boots dryer? I’d recommend against it. My solution was to get soaking wet with my boots on. If you have something like Tevas try those early on and see how they work. Following this if your feet are soaking wet dry out as best you can put a pair of dry socks on and then plastic bags on your feet (between wet boots and dry socks) until your boots dry out a bit. Plastics bags like those available from grocery stores or WalMart/KMart are ideal – light, free and available almost anywhere.

Traction on wet stones a problem? Yes, even in boots.

objects cutting feet a problem? Generally stones were smoothbut slippery, since current was strong. Bring your hiking poles!

Skty Rider

Sky Rider

#7

The Wolf Creek AT stream crossings are normally not that bad unless it has rained and rained and rained, which it has this Spring. I’d see what the weather is like when you are hiking this section. If it hasn’t rained on you real bad for 4 or 5 days or the rain has been real light than, you should be okay. Generally in the Spring, it gets a little high due to heavy rains and more heavy rains, but these normally ease quite a great deal as we progress into Summer. Would not remove boots anywhere to cross a stream, too much old metal and glass in streams (broken beer bottles, etc) and you never know where it is. Keep your boots on, cross the stream, then sit down, take them off, pour water out, wring socks out, take a break, put everything back on and go on down the trail or hike a while with wet boots on. It’s better than getting multiple surgical stitches in your foot or even bleeding to death on the AT. I’ve heard of no near drownings in this area, only people wading some chest deep waters to get across some of the many stream crossings there and being a little concerned about making it to the other side. There are PUD’s (Pointless Ups and Downs) on the AT. Perhaps we should also have PSC’s also (Pointless Stream Crossings)-----I’ve heard hikers say there are as many as 10 AT crossings of Wolf Creek, I haven’t counted them, but I know there are a lot. Hope this helps. :cheers

Maintain

#8

Is this Wolf Creek the same one that has crayfish in it? I think it might be. I took a break once along some stream south of Bland and the little critters kept nibbling at my toes.

tim

#9

All and I mean all (99% at least) of the Virginia mountain creeks and streams have crayfish in them. If you soak your feet in a deep pool you might get nibbled on, but probably not by crayfish. They all also have salamanders in them and most have at least small minnows in them. Crayfish make a nice meal if you can find enough of them. Just pop them into boiling water and when they turn orange, they’re done. You eat them the same way you eat lobsters (i.e. you eat the tails and claws (if big enough)). And crayfish can get quite big, six inches long or more although most are much smaller than this. Crayfish are highly prized as food in certain parts of the deep south. I think what might have been nibbling on your toes were small fish or minnows. Generally if a crayfish nibbles on you with their claws, you will not call it nibbling, you will call it pain. :slight_smile:

Maintain

#10

Cuttman11, don’t worry about Wolf Creek that area has heavy traffic. When we came through there on our thru hike last year it was when VA had flash flooding. They said it was some of the worst rain in years and we saw lots of young children with there family there. A local church met us at the wooden bridge near the gravel road before the last short section near Bland, VA and was taking hikers to a turkey and dressing dinner. Awesome! I was able to jump rocks and not get my feet wet. Flame however, put on her tevas and waded knee deep in places. It is not that bad a creek you just cross it constantly. Enjoy your hike and don’t worry about Wolf Creek.

Papa Smurf

#11

Thanks, that makes me feel better. I wouldnt be too worried about myself and a deep crossing, but with a 10yr old who was finishing a 90mile hike…I think we will manage fine from what youve said. Thanks./Cutman

Cutman11