Cranberry Wilderness - Monongahela National Forest WV | 4-day Backpacking Report

This is the full length trip report with natural sounds and on-trail commentary from a 4-day backpacking adventure that I took to West Virginia's Cranberry Wilderness. In total I covered ~36 miles on this loop in the Monongahela National Forest starting from the Big Beechy Trailhead.
Trails hiked included North Fork, Tumbling Rock, North South, Middle Fork and Big Beechy. Cranberry Wilderness Forest Service map (in full color) available here: www.fs.usda.go...
Highlight Video set to music:
• Cranberry Wilderness -...

[@LayneComfort]

Country roads take me home

[@twofeetaway4127]

Life is old there, older than the trees

[@ajmiller7102]

good ole West Virginia....thank for taking us along!

[@LayneComfort]

My first backpack in West Virginia, I hope to make it back to this beautiful corner of the world

[@paulmartin2455]

So glad I came upon your video. I loved watching your appreciation and enthusiasm for the Mon. Keep hiking.

[@LayneComfort]

Thanks for the kind words Paul! There are more areas in the Mon that I hope to explore one of these days

[@rescheetz]

Enjoyed watching your backpacking adventure of West Virginia's Cranberry Wilderness looking forward to the next one.

[@LayneComfort]

Thank you Ruth & Jim, I hope to make it back up to West Virginia for another trip in the future

[@bartdelashmet5039]

Just got back from the Panthertown Valley. Used your trip as a guide and it was great! Weather was great, leaves were changing and the area was spectacular. Thanks for showing the way.

[@LayneComfort]

Very cool Bart, it’s a beautiful time of year to be out in a beautiful location like Ptown. Glad you had a good trip out there!

[@hikewithmike4673]

love the Einstein quote!...awesome video!...this place is on my bucket list!

[@LayneComfort]

Einstein was a smart fella! Thanks Mike hope you make it!

[@GauleyRiverWoodWorking]

Very good, quality video man thanks enjoyed watching. Used to ride horses into the middle fork of the three forks of Williams river, and camp 2 weeks during deer season. Always a rugged and accomplishing feeling.

[@LayneComfort]

Thanks man. That is cool to be able to spend 2 weeks out like that, I'm sure it led to a feeling of accomplishment. I'd like to get more time out in the WV backcountry myself

[@OneMansOdyssey]

Looks beautiful, but pretty wet! Nice hot cocoa weather.

[@LayneComfort]

The rainy days bring more appreciation for the sunny ones

[@kamperempobezdrozach-bozen9271]

Wow, very good.

[@LayneComfort]

Thank you!

[@thehafricanultralighter4973]

Have you been to Dolly Sods! Handful of miles north of Cranberry also in Monongahela. You should absolutely check it out if u never been! I just discovered your channel and you got some great videos man. Appreciate the work. Very detailed trip reports.

[@LayneComfort]

Thanks for the kind words Gabe! I have not yet made it out to Dolly Sods but I hear lots of great things. I hope to visit there one day, there are a handful of places in the Mon I’d like to check out

[@thehafricanultralighter4973]

@@LayneComfort it's a very large forest and lots of amazing opportunities for adventure. I live 6 hours away and still try to be there qs much as possible.

[@HammockMountain]

I enjoyed watching this video. I hiked the same trails last weekend. Absolutely beautiful forest! I wanted to get video of the old plane crash but, due to a medical emergency with one of our group, we never made it that far. I did manage to get some video for my channel though. New subscriber here. Cheers! 🥷⛺️🐢

[@LayneComfort]

You’re right, this is a beautiful forest! Hope all is well with the medical emergency. Best of luck with your video!

[@jefftoler9017]

Blue crawdad at the beginning, do you realize how rare that is?

[@LayneComfort]

It was really cool to see. I believe there is a population of blue crawdads living in that area

[@jefftoler9017]

@@LayneComfort I'm from Wyoming county

[@LayneComfort]

I'm from Randolph County (North Carolina)

[@Whileweweresinners]

Awesome work man!

[@LayneComfort]

Thank you!

[@michaelbroyer3918]

Nice video of an area I know well

[@LayneComfort]

You know it better than me I’m sure. I need to make it back up to WV, so many places on my to-explore list out there in the Mon

[@ParkWanderers]

Loved the backpacking trip - it's gotten us even more excited to hike Cranberry Wilderness! Another great trip report.

[@LayneComfort]

Thank you! Cranberry is a beautiful place, enjoy your hike there

[@PopPopTN]

Always enjoy your trip reports, great information and laid back attitude!

[@LayneComfort]

Thank you Pop Pop. Good to hear from you!

[@jtdums]

Thanks Layne! Another place for me to explore. Keep up the great trip reports.

[@LayneComfort]

Thanks for watching Jim! Cranberry is well worth the visit to explore

[@DMC_Runs]

Another great report, thank you Layne!

[@LayneComfort]

Thanks Dain, glad you enjoyed!

[@RhodySeth]

Another wonderful relaxing video. Seems like the rain wasn't as bad as it could have been. And you appear to take it in stride. That blue crawfish was wild - what an unexpected find.

[@LayneComfort]

I can’t control the rain, but can control my reaction to the rain. That blue craw was a big surprise - turns out they are a species of blue burrowing crawfish that live in West Virginia.

[@ShoesOnTheTrail]

Another great trip report, Layne! Thanks for sharing your adventures with us. Currently escaping my work day while watching :)

[@LayneComfort]

Thanks Scott! Have a good rest of your work day today. I haven’t forgotten that we are going to swap Gorge trips in the future

[@ShoesOnTheTrail]

@@LayneComfort looking forward to it! Happy trails

[@nomadicrecovery1586]

How are the ticks in there ? I’m headed up from Florida but. HATE ticks

[@LayneComfort]

I didn’t have any problems but I’d figure there are definitely some in there depending on time of year. There is a lot of brush to whack through so I’d recommend treating your clothes with permethrin & checking at the end of days. I hate em too

[@steveakersdrums]

According to the Audubon Institute, only 1 in 10,000 Crayfish turn blue..

[@LayneComfort]

I later found out that in West Virginia they have a species of digging crawfish that are blue

[@madmaxhiking6455]

Another great trip report. I've had CW on my mind for a while now. I think you might have lucked out for it to not be a 100% mud pit. Also that blue crayfish was 🔥

[@LayneComfort]

All in all I thought the conditions were pretty manageable. I'm hoping to make it back up to the Monongahela next year. That blue boy was special!