Old Rag Mountain Revisited - Mid April T rip

“Gem, it is forbidden”

“I'm bringing Adrenalin If I go.”

“dang!! it's a picture of ENS or BISON crawling through rock formations.”

“there is plenty of rock scrambling fun to be had on this trip. The first day up and over Old Rag is where all of the scrambling is pretty much located. Then we hike up the Old Rag Fire Road to Mt. Robertson. I think we should check out the view from the top of Robertson Mtn. We can drop packs for that peak bag. Bison said that there is some scrambling at the top of Robertson. Then we will camp in the saddle between Robertson and the Blue Ridge. i forget the name of the trail. It's the same place we camped last year. The second day, there is a short climb on the Old Rag Fire Road and then it is all down hill through White Oak Canyon, steep down hill though and past amazing gorge scenery. Gemini, I already know that you will have a blast on this trip!”

“Have you tried getting a 5400'cu pack through those formations? Is it feasible?”

“mine is 4870 I think. We'll have like 10 people on this trip. We can help eachother out. It'll be fun. Last year, when i got stuck, I had a whinie kid behind me. I wanted to punt him off the mountain. We'll be fine. We'll start hiking nice and early in the morning. It's going to be so much fun.”

“Oh come on BearMagnet! It would be great to meet you.
I can not wait for this trip.”

“I think I may go and buy a Gregory Z pack tonight. small, lightweight and comfortable and bison approved.

I'll get a different color than you Bison”

“But y'all are buttkicker pros. I believe I'll be eating your dust.”

“BM you'll be fine and it'll be a lot of fun, some places may be difficult to get through but like ENS said we'll just find a way.”

“ENS - Thats the only color of Z-pack I've ever seen, I think they only make it in black/Grey.

Great pack though, you really should get it anyways if your lookin' to have something specific for weekend trips.
last edited: 2/15/05 4:27:32 PM”

“they have red now too. I'm going to get the red one.”

“Ah, Flame red, cool...”

“If I come I will be using my Golite Trek pack, maybe a tarptent or a Hex 2 shelter. I would like to leave the pole at home, are there trees to hang it from.
last edited: 2/15/05 4:30:52 PM”

“Yes. My one hike with Bison on Old Rag was so...............relaxing. Kind of like an Olympic marathon. ;)”

“BM: I think you may just get hooked. LOL.

I wonder if a hammock would be okay for that trip.

Bison, for how many days are you able to pack with the z pack? It's smaller then my osprey but lighter... tempting...

damascus has the ula in stock. I was wondering if I should get me one of them.
last edited: 2/15/05 4:32:44 PM”

“Gem -

Is this the pic?

I can pack for 2 nights with the z-pack, maybe 3. If I was into ultra-light I could probably pack for a week.
last edited: 2/15/05 4:33:50 PM”

“Bison, LOL, that was one of the pics! the other pic...well...all I saw was a backpack. either one looks like fun.”

“BM, I'd say our hike was harder with the ice than going over Old Rag with a pack.”

“The ice was the only reason I was able to keep up with you! LOL!”

“BM, don't worry with embear there he will take forever to get up and get going. You can beat him down the trail plus they will have to wait on embear to fix the enteria meals ;)”

“i think ewker has to come.”

“Nope, I'm converting her to Mary Jane's Farm meals ;)”

“BM, I want to just don't like the idea of driving 10 hrs after work on Friday. Trying to find someone to ride with me.”

“I bet Gemini would drive 10 hours...

So no excuses Ewker.”

“Someday i want to do the Smokies. I used to drive down and see a friend in Greenville, SC. I've done dayhikes there but nothing else.”

““But y'all are buttkicker pros. I believe I'll be eating your dust.”

don't worry, BM, i haven't been the same since i hurt my knee and now i can barely hike at a medium pace (like adam sandler says).”

“Oh. Well as long as we have a gimp along I won't feel to bad. ;)

can you describe, briefly, what's wrong with your knee?”

“Same as mine, too much gravy!
last edited: 2/15/05 5:05:59 PM”

“we'll all be hiking at a slow pace on the way up OldRag Fire Road. Bison and I were taking breaks every five minutes on that climb.”

“Y'all should come just to see my knee brace; looks "intense" and people always ask me what's wrong. Covers another 6"+ above & below my knee and has three major velcro straps with tiny plastic like supports on each side that tend to stick out.

keeps my defect in place.”

“no knee problems yet, but once in a while after running I can feel some sort of pain. Not even sure if I can call it pain, it's not hurting, it's just feels different.”

“I think this is the pic Gem speaks of:
http://community.webshots.com/photo/133229583/133254678ymTZdj

this is the scenery seen on Day two, in White Oak Canyon:
http://community.webshots.com/photo/133229583/133285340VNzzSR”

“I think I may either Tarp Tent or get a hammock for this trip.”

“Gem, you prolly get a little swelling from the pounding your knees take while running. Try some ice packs on 'um after your run, I'll bet it makes them feel better.”

“My kneecaps are good. The left one sits to the left of where it's suppossed to. Tendon/ligament pain while carry a pack brought this defect to light.

In my right I have "supllication(sp?) of the patella". Luckily, it pops back in before I hit the ground.

The left one requires the bionic brace.”

“they said i have a "suspicious" medial tear but that it'll heal on it's own eventually. not bad enough to do surgery. it only gets aggravated when i hike... especially during inclines and even a bit while dropping elevation.”

“Scorch, how was the knee in the Glens?”

“it didn't hurt during the hike, but the next day i couldn't walk on it too much. then it was fine the day after that.”

“that sounds like a big improvement. Go Scorchfire's knee! Glad to hear it's on the mend.”

“"People really carry beer on trips?"
BearMagnet

Shhhh.....”

“Well damn I'm there!”

“hopefully, ENS!”

“Uhhhhhhh. I have yet to get my stove replaced. I need water for dinner and breakfast. Would this be a problem?

Anyone have Shenendoah passes?”

“it's not gonna be that bad BM.”

“I have a shenandoah pass. I can get us all in.”

“You bringing Imperial Stout? No need to chill, eh?”

“I got a parks pass too, so no worries”

“You have a car?”

“I have a parks pass three.”