Wayne County High Point Trip Report
one area 1 1/4 miles southeast of Wilsondale (1,560+ ft)
Date: September 30, 2001
Author: Michael Schwartz
From US 119, take WV 10/73 toward Logan. In about 1.5 miles, turn right at sign for Mud Fork Road and
go downhill for a block to a T-intersection with Mud Fork Road/CR 5. Zero odometer. Go right (west) on
CR 5, cross under the very high US 119 viaduct at 1.2 miles, and head for Dingess in Mingo County.
Before Dingess, make sharp right that is easy to miss on the return. Next reach a fork and bear right toward Breeden.
The road in this stretch passes over 11 one lane bridges and a single lane tunnel under a railroad embankment.
Park off the road near a truck parking area at a point 22.9 miles west of the start of Mud
Creek Road. If this is not obvious, continue another couple of miles to the Wilsondale Post Office,
and backtrack 2.5 miles to where the pipeline shown on the topo crosses the road and climbs west to the high point.
Park just south of the pipeline crossing.
While I was loading my pack, Henry, who lives in the mobile home uphill just to the north of the parking spot,
came down to see if I had broken down. He said the parking area was private property, and that the
owners could be touchy, but thought the car would be OK for a couple of hours early on Sunday morning.
He said the pipeline right of way was the best route to the high point. He also looked at my boots
dubiously, warning me that this was snake country and that heavier and higher boots were in order.
Needless to say, I saw no reptiles whatsoever.
The stream west of the road must be crossed to climb to the high point. This was a time of very low water,
so I was able to rock hop my way across, but in wetter times, the crossing would be a damp one. The hike
up the right of way is very steep, and a bit of a scramble in places. Fortunately, it is not too overgrown,
and has nothing worse than a few blackberry bushes. The right of way passes directly over the summit.
Trip Statistics: Time up was 45 minutes, down was 25 minutes. Elevation gain 760 feet.