Backpacking Dolly Sods Part 1 - The Lower Sods

[@Inspector007]

Found this interesting; the Sods were used for WWII military training: In 1997, a work crew extensively surveyed trail locations and known campsites for shells.[12] Workers made 32,594 excavations along the trails and discovered and detonated 14 live mortar shells, most along the Fisher Spring Run Trail. All were exploded on site. Two others were inert. They also found numerous railroad spikes, iron tools and horseshoes left over from logging days. Off-trail searches proved to be impossible,[13] so some of the artillery and mortar shells (60 mm and 81 mm rounds) shot into the area likely still remain there. (See this link for a photo of two shells found in July 2006.)

[@ethanimprovements]

Been going to the Sods since the '80, I use Purple Lizard maps these days. And I have found exploded ordnance only once during that time. Thanks for the video!

[@bradfordhenson]

Looks like a relaxing trip. Nicely done.

[@SchillBrothersOutdoors]

Except for the 5 AM Deer alarm clocks! Scared the crap out of us the first night

[@alexwbanks70]

I also went there for 4 nights this summer. We saw a HUGE bear on Red Creek trail. It was foraging about 30 above the trail. We came around a bend and there it was. I said Whoa Bear... It looked up at us and took off down across the trail towards red creek. It was BA!!!!

[@christopherchidsey]

Great video guys! I love hiking Dolly Sods. Did you visit Lion's Head while up on top of Breathed Mountain?

[@SchillBrothersOutdoors]

We did not make it up there unfortunately :( Just gives us another reason to go back!

[@FishFerTrout24]

Schill Brothers Outdoors You were camped 500 yards from lions head in planted pines on top the mountain.

[@EraOneSamael]

I'm from Cleveland and I was down in the Sods last weekend. So unbelievably different from what you get in Ohio, it's my favorite place to backpack so far. Great set of videos on it!

[@terrybragun4988]

I was just there on Monday and saw two bears across from the breathed mountain campsite you guys used!

[@SchillBrothersOutdoors]

no way! That is a little eery...Were they across that little field area?

[@terrybragun4988]

yeah just hanging out in that grass which was cool to see. Also if you didnt see lion's head you keep following that trail in the pines that the campsites are on and then take a right at the end and it is literally right through the trees there.

[@SchillBrothersOutdoors]

Thanks for the info. We ran across 5-6 groups looking for lion's head...

[@james.kayaks]

Very much the same whitetail deer. They're just very abundant and very used to people, so they're not frightened.

[@oldmenhikingjeffgandee]

We have a trip planned for the first of June, starting from the north at the Bear Rocks trailhead, and planning on working our way down and across the Breathed Mountain Trail to Red Creek. Did you actually camp along the Breathed Mountain trail? That's where I think we'll end up our second night, and I can't find much on campsites on that particular trail.

[@seanmcnabb6115]

Dolly Sods is the coolest place on the east coast! Every 20 minutes you're in a different ecosystem it seems like. What camp chairs are u guys rocking? Those look awesome and comfy. Way better than rock chairs or logs 😂 What's the weight on them?

[@Tipster49]

sean mcnabb I’ve heard them say a name with the word ‘zero’ in it. A quick google search brought up a 1 pound chair called a Helinox Chair Zero and I think it looks like the one they use. It’s currently $119 on REI and Moosejaw. I’m gonna keep my eyes out for it to go on sale somewhere.

[@timlois]

Why are you so terrified of the deer? They are not scared of you. They know danger, and avoid it. Good video BTW.

[@ryanbundick]

We were ther 2 years ago and had the same deer issue.They seem to like the area we where all using to pee.

[@michaelb2999]

Yeah, those are whitetail just like the ones in Ohio. Have to go out west to see any other deer species (Mule Deer). I'm a fellow Central Ohio native and live up by the zoo, we have a similar deer problem. Sometimes I pull into my driveway at night and there will be a dozen just hanging out around the yard. I think when they're so overpopulated, they're just so focused on finding food they don't really care if you're standing there unless they feel that you're a threat. You're right though, they're super annoying once the "cuteness" factor wears off.

[@richardchellette108]

Scientists have discovered that some deer may have a taste for human flesh. They might might have been waiting for an opportunity to get one of you alone so they could make their move.

[@SchillBrothersOutdoors]

I knew there was something up with them....