West Virginia

Travis Tops Out on Dolly Sods

Marshall Travis conquers Dolly Sods on his American Discovery Trail hike, braving fierce winds and potential snow.

John Wesley Brett

Mar 10, 2024 • 3 min read

Red Creek Campground, Dolly Sods Wilderness - January 31, 2022. Photo by Briana DeSanctis.

Marshall Travis is on top of the world a month into his American Discovery Trail cross-country thru-hike. Travis reached the Dolly Sods Wilderness in West Virginia at 9:30 a.m. this morning (March 10, 2024) after the 7-mile-long, 2,000-foot incline that is Public Road 75.

Not affiliated with nor authorized by the American Discovery Trail Society®

At just shy of 4,000 ft altitude, Dolly Sods is as high as he'll get until he reaches the Rocky Mountains. The view is breathtaking. And so are the challenges.

For Marshall, the wind chill was at 1 degree, and winds were gusting at plus 40 miles and hour this morning, according to OpenSnow.com - the weather app inside Gaia GPS.

Without cell service and iffy Wi-Fi (Red Creek Campground has Wi-Fi, but reports are not to count on it), it may be a day or so before we hear Marshall's thoughts. There's a 50-50 chance of a couple of inches of snow tonight.

We are reminded of Briana "Rocky Mount High" DeSanctis' Dolly Sods winter crossing in 2022 - which went from elation to frustration over a few hours in a series of videos. She woke up in her tent along Alder Run on Dolly Sods, buried in four inches of new snow!

Marshall 'California Chrome' Travis

Began: February 13, 2024 - Westbound
Support Links: YouTube, Facebook, GoFundMe

Best wishes and good thoughts to Marshall!

Hike Your Hike - John.

Iowa

Segment 2 - Atlantic to Des Moines

In the Des Moines suburb of Windsor Heights, we have relocated the trail slightly from streets with no sidewalks to a route of continuous sidewalks and bike paths. We have also added 26 new Hiker Notes waypoints for services in the area.

West Virginia

Segment 3 - Philippi to Dolly Sods Wilderness

Added location of a successful stealth campsite, Marshall Travis.

Segment 4 - Streby to Old Town

Additional Hiker Note regarding a shelter and picnic table.

Maryland

Segment 1 - Old Town to Hancock

Added a few hiker notes from Marshall Travis for the segment.

Segment 2 - Hancock to Harpers Ferry

Added new Alternate Turn-by-Turn directions, maps, and Gaia GPS Route and Waypoints between Williamsport and Taylor's Landing. The Alternate is almost 10 miles shorter than following the winding C&O canal between the two points. Suggested by MarshallTravis'24

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