Old Rag Mountain Revisited - Mid April T rip

“this is a repeat of an outstanding trip that Bison and I did last year. The route will be virtually the same.

We will climb Old Rag Mountain via the Ridge Trail which is a challenging climb with full packs on. Old Rag is like a hiker's jungle gym with it's many rock scrambles. If the weather is nice, we will spend some quality time up on the summit of Old Rag soaking in the amazing views and have lunch. The summit is frequently crowded, however, we probably won't find solitude up there. Never the less, Old Rag is an amazing mountain and after you climb her, you will agree. We will then descend Old Rag via the Saddle Trail and take the Old Rag Fire Rd up towards Robertson Mountain. There is a side trail that leads towards the summit of Robertson Mountain. There will be more amazing views up there as well as some additional rock scrambling. The vista from the top of Robertson should yield spectacular views of Old Rag Mountain and the Blue Ridge to the west. We can either camp somewhere near the summit of Old Rag or camp in the same place that Bison and I camped last time, which is a little ways off the Corbin Mountain trail, not far off the Old Rag Fire Road. Sunday morning we will continue up the Fire Road towards Skyline Drive, but before we reach the drive we will cut acorss the Limberlost trail to the White Oak Canyon Trail. We will then descend the Blue Ridge through White Oak Canyon, which is an amazing gorge with beautiful waterfalls and cliffs.

The scenery along this route is amazing to say the least. It is simply nothing short of spectacular. It will be a challenging hike, but every step will be worth it considering the scenery.

The mileage will be 8 miles for Saturday with around 4,000 feet of elevation gain and 2000 loss and 6 miles for Sunday with 2,000 feet of loss and 1000 feet of gain.
last edited: 1/23/05 9:36:31 PM”

“Only one problem with the route. There's only room for two tents on Robertson Mtn. So assuming that there are going to be more than that we should plan to camp where we did last time.”

“Bison, yeah, that would work. If we get more people this time, lets camp at the same spot we camped last time. That was a nice spot. If it's just you, embear and me, lets camp on the summit of Robertson Mtn.”

“All sounds good to me! Looking foward to hiking with you again ENS.”

“This wasn't the one where is was v icy was it? YOu made thatone earlier in the year huh?”

“Y2, the icy trip was in February, shouldn't be icy in April, although we did get a bit of a snow flurry while we were on the summit.”

“perhaps this trip may be do-able for me.”

“ebear, you'll like this hike. Old Rg is a lot of fun. It's a full body climb up Old Rag. White Oak Canyon is amazingly beautiful with the waterfalls and the deep gorge.”

“They always list that hike out of White Oak Canyon as easy. That's a complete lie!”

“yeah, it's far from easy. They always list Cedar Run as strenuous and I think White Oak Canyon is a lot harder than Cedar Run. White Oak Canyon is the steepest trail I have encountered in SNP.

Y2, I hope to hike with you again sometime soon. How have you been doing? Cheers!”

“
White Oak Canyon Falls


Summit of Old Rag Mountain


Old Rag's Craggy Ridge line - the rocks you see are the rocks that you scramble over on the way up to the summit of Old Rag Mountain.
last edited: 1/24/05 6:42:49 PM”

“I know ENS. You've been a busy guy lately huh. I need to get outdoors a little more. Would be good to see ya again now you've moved to the back of beyond”

“hope you can make it for this trip Y2”

“I think Y2 is busy cabining with his gf in the smokies....”

“woo woo”

“oh yeah that's right.”

“woohoo, gemini is aboard for this trip!”

“yippee!”

“Y2 is now aboard. Looks like we're building a good group for this trip! Who else is interested? Seriously cool trip this is!”

“The Web Shots pics look awesome. I'm gonna put my self down as a maybe. I'm still comtemplating retirement from my other spring/summer weekend hobby.”

“what's that? softball?
last edited: 2/01/05 5:14:37 PM”

“If someone will carry my pack I'll go.”

“Yea, been playin' for at least 15 years on Sunday Mornings. Doubleheaders at 9:00am will seriously cut into my trail time. I don't know, lots to think about.”

“There's plenty of time for you to plan on being there for this one Bearmagnet.”

“yeah, BM, ask off of work now. I'll tell you what, you go and I'll carry (crossing fingers) your pack up and over Old Rag.”

“My pack is 5400 and always full. I like my 2 person................holy #&%!$! I can't remember what kind of SD tent I have!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm blaming the late hours on my memory lapse and NOT on the fact that I haven't used it since..................july.

:(

I'm gonna go cry now.”

“why do you guys always have to plan buttkickers, btw?

I like old rag - done it many times. Why do it with a full pack?”

“because it's fun. Buttkickers are fun! Woohoo”

“Orion AST!

Ha!

My stove done did break in Glacier and I have yet to send it back to MSR.”

“ENS, is this as bad as the trip we did in Oct?”

“bad? that trip rocked!!! I don't think this trip is as hard. It's rough though.

You can do it Ewk.
last edited: 2/01/05 10:45:38 PM”

“If ewker lyra bit nigal the trees and some others join then i'll consider it.
last edited: 2/01/05 10:46:43 PM”

“good luck on getting bit on this trip. He likes flat trails....




not that there is anything wrong with that...
last edited: 2/01/05 10:48:09 PM”

“I know I can do it and yeah that trip rocked and I had a great time except for one thing :(

where exactly is this trip taking place..Northern Va?
last edited: 2/01/05 10:49:48 PM”

“BM, if I was to drive all the way up there for a trip you had better get your sorry butt out there also.”

“you're camera being stolen? that sucked.

Yeah, N. VA. The central section of Shenandoah Nat. Park.”

“I have yet to be the weakest link on a trip.
last edited: 2/01/05 10:51:48 PM”

“this is your chance BM”

“ENS, is this the place

http://www.nps.gov/shen/PDF%20documents/Maps/Road_and_Trail/Old_Rag_area.pdf”

“LOL ENS - you're undying enthusiasm makes me want to strangle you sometimes, in a friendly way of course

I also have one pet peeve - I don't care that you didn't bring alk-ee-hol on the trip but eye my flask and i'll kill ya.

You can have the last of my food, just don't male me ration my whiskey.
last edited: 2/01/05 10:55:37 PM”

“that is the place Ewk!”

“sign up already BM and Ewker, dangit”

“BM, I'm very excited tonight. Reason you ask? Well, I met this chick and she's attractive. Best part is, she backpacks, has all the gear and knows about cool places to backpack. She has a cool dog and he goes with her on backpacking trips. I need to hang out with her again.

She's quite cool too. Very smart and has good taste. She used cool adjectives. She had a good vocab. I dig that. Me, I still talk like a first grader, so hopefully she doesn't think I'm a neanderthal.
last edited: 2/01/05 11:02:18 PM”

“Night time lows?

You met a chick? After promising to carry my pack? You two timing slut!
last edited: 2/01/05 11:02:12 PM”

“Oh, get over yourself; you know you love it...”

“ha, I crossed my fingers”

“Who the hell you talking to Phantom?”

“Cool Chick, has her own gear, a dog that backpacks, knows good places to backpack, good vocab...

ENS if you're movin' in on my girlfriend we're gonna have to throw down.”

“this girl's name is Rachael”

“Oh, Ok then, Congrats! You may be moving into the very exclusive club of those of us who have backpacking girlfriends, it's a very hard club to get into but the membership benefits are AWSOME!”