Hardy County High Point Trip Report
Date: November 6, 2000
Author: Mike Schwartz
Drive west from Baker on WV 55 to the hamlet of Needmore, marked only by one very dinky sign.
Needmore is becoming known locally as Bakers Run, as seen by the large sign on the only business, the
Bakers Run General Store, from which odometers should be zeroed. Continue west on WV 55 for 0.8
miles to a left turn onto Lower Pine Grove Road (CR 23/6). At 2.3 miles, turn right onto an unsigned
paved road. Follow this road, which bears left at a substantial field road at 4.6 miles, having turned to
gravel along the way. Just ahead at 4.7 miles, on the right, is the farm of Gary Funk, owner of much of
the land traversed on the hike to the high point. Bear right at 4.8 miles, bear right again at 5.1 miles,
where a gravel road/driveway goes uphill to the left. From here, descend, and just after the road turns to
the left, see a gated farm road on the right. Parking is available about 100' past the gate.
Hike uphill along a barbed wire fence and cross it eventually to intersect the field road that leads uphill
from the aforementioned gate, or just hop the gate and walk the field road directly. Following the field
road, pass through a metal gate, then reach a major fork, and bear right. Continue on grassy road to a T-
junction with a better dirt road, and go right a short distance to a large hayfield. Aiming for the far upper
corner of the field, either walk straight across, or stay on the road to a left turn onto another dirt road that
you want to intersect at the top of the field. At the upper corner of the field, continue uphill on the dirt
road until it crests at an open area, with the mountain crest right in front of you, another 200-300 vertical
above. Here the road starts to descend and contour to the north. It may well lead up the summit ridge
from the north, and there is a remnant "road" on top, but I did not explore that possibility. From the crest,
bushwhack up the spur ridge right in front of you, passing by a common sight in the woods, a telephone
booth. Yes, a standard glass and metal phone booth, with the fold-in door, standing in the middle of the
woods. Unusual hunting shelter or just a touch of whimsy -- take your pick. The spur becomes very steep,
passing over two rocky sections, and hits the summit ridge just SW of the northern high point. Mark the
spot to ensure descending the correct spur. Ascend north (right) to higher ground. There are two bumps
in the ridge near each other that are candidates for highest ground. I searched about 20 minutes for the
BM, but all I found were some very old timbers at one of the bumps. These bumps are a very short walk
from where you reach the ridge. I walked north another quarter mile, finding only lower ground. For the
southern high point, walk south about 1/2 mile, passing the low saddle, and an interesting landmark, a
large hollowed-out beech tree, opposite a fallen tree with a couple of rocks piled on it. Just before
reaching the southern point, pass a pair of old Posted signs, and climb the well-defined knob. Allow 2 - 3
hours for the round trip. As I returned to my car, a local gentleman hauling chicken manure passed by,
and we had a nice conversation. He told me that Bears Hell is used by the locals to describe the area,
rather than the mountain, as indicated by the topo. He said Mr. Funk, the landowner, had seen my car,
but did not mind my hiking his land, as long as it did not involve hunting. I looked for Mr. Funk on the way
back, but could not find him. If permission could be obtained, the field roads described in the hike all
start from his farm, and could be driven up to the crest near the telephone booth.