Old Rag Revisited - A Shenandoah NP Trip Report

“I just got home and I have much unpacking to do. The weather could not have been better. The company was excellent as always. HOI is the man! We had an awesome time. Spring is in full gear and it was nice to finally hike in shorts and a T-shirt again.

Trip report and pics will be coming soon.”

“report to the OMG Its Snowing thread there ENS. LOL

Glad you had a good trip.”

“Glad you guys had fun! I look forward to more TRs and pics.”

“...plus now unloaded and showered (oh yeah...)

We couldn't have possibly asked for better weather than that in Northern Virginia this weekend. It was pretty much the definition of perfect.

More comments and pictures to follow ENS's TR sometime...”

“I'm home, I smell bad...gonna take a shower.
TR and pics will follow tomorrow.

Yupp...HOI you ARE the man!!!
Weather: Ha!! PERFECT!!!!
Company: sucked!!!

NA!!!! AWESOME like always!!!
Nice to meet Techntrek and Bearmagnet.
Really now!! It WAS nice meeting you.

Okay...got to get my smelly butt into the shower.”

“I am finally home and very tired as I am sure all of yall are too. I had a great time and now consider Old Rag one of my favorites! Ok, will post pics sometime tomorrow...gotta get some sleep.”

“Great time, great people, Awesome rock scrambles! HOI's the man! Pics to come later! Thanks ENS and Bison for a excellent trip!”

“Awsome trip! HOI is certainly the man.”

“Come on slowpokes, post some pics! I'm stuck in the office and want to relive this weekend.”

“HOI! HOI! HOI!

First things first. It's already been mentioned here but it must not go unnoticed what this man did and I personally thank you for your genuine true fellowship my friend. For those of you who are reading this and wondering.....last week prior to the trip....I posted, purely as a joke, since HOI was going to meet us at the campsite on Saturday late afternoon and his hike in would only be maybe 2 miles....I said:

HOI....since ya only have a small bit of a stroll mate...you think ya can tote along a case of Yueng Ling?”

stratusloop
2:42:14 PM
4/08/05

Well…..as usual….I was strolling into camp late, along with BM and dlookout…..we were hiking up and up this awful relentless fire road and my eye caught the flicker of physical evidence, raw communication in the form of a card board cut out. It was the side of a Yueng Ling case of beer. I shook my head and did a double take not believing what I saw. My mind flashed back to last week’s post. I said to myself, no way, this can’t possibly be true. This is a retort in the form of another joke. Touché. The card board cutout was cut on one end to form a point; an arrow if you will. It was weighted down with a small dead branch. I turned my head in the direction of the arrow and saw the others busy with their tents and packs. So we turned and began walking towards the campsite. And then suddenly my eyes widened! Amazed at what I saw. Momentarily, I transcended into a surreal dreamlike state not believing what I was witnessing. Behold, I saw HOI, beer cans in hand coming towards us. I’d swear it was an illusion. But when my hand clutched the cold can, it abruptly snapped me back into reality and the dreamy feeling faded just as fast as it came. I was speechless and could not find the proper words to say to this man except “Thank You”.

When you snap open a can it has a distinguishable sound and I immediately drank the entire thing in the blink of an eye. It was like inhaling a breath of fresh air. That beer will be remembered for a very long time.

Well, HOI’s tale does not end here. Not only did HOI pack in a case of Yueng Ling, he also provided bratwurst, tortillas, mustard to finish off a delicious brat-tortilla and last but not least; a hibachi to cook the brats! This guy is unbelievable! It was magical! Unexpected! And well appreciated by all.

This was truly an expression of an inner strength of the power of giving, thoughtfulness and a genuine achievement of friendship. HOI, you’re a good man my friend and I thank God that there are people like you in our world.

Peace out...

Other commentary to be made later when I have time to write....”

“One of the most enjoyable hikes I have done. I had a great time with everyone, and it was nice to meet EarthNsky, Gemini, Bearmagnet and dlookout for the first time. Definitely a hike I will do again.

As a teaser until the official trip report is posted, here's one possible title for the trip:

Boulders, Beer, Brats, and Busted by the Fuzz!”

“"Anybody awake here?"

Said the Ranger.

I thought the trip report thread title was supposed to be something about Bearmagnet humping a rock.”

“Damn, sorry to miss this one guys, glad you had a good time and I can't wait to see the pics.
Spent the night in the park, gorgeous weather, the major incident being trying to stop the dog making a break from the tent to chase a deer in the middle of the night by clinging onto his tail as he forced the zipper open, and being dragged outside in my boxers. Was funny.

So post these pics!”

“Can't believe she let so much slide. I count 4 things we could have been nailed on. Whew!”

“chill bison...I am uploading in a sec...”

“Upload now dangit!”

“Yea, for pete's sake here! I want pictures!”

“BTW....for those of you who missed the presentation....

ENS....for his forthright valiant display of pure energy, spanning the globe as a jet setter, then climbing Old Rag, then hiking up that blasted relentless good for nothing Old Rag Fire Road, doing all of this deprived of sleep for more than 24 hours then getting up at the crack of dawn for a leisurely stroll up Robertson Mountain.....for his effort....he was awarded the Land of Lakes Butter - Bustin' Out Award.

Dude...hope you treasure that award with admiration as you do with all of those other trophies you have on the shelf....nicely done mate!”

“Gem....you slouch...git those pics uploaded pronto....”

“On the one hand you have to admire ENS's energy, on the other you have to wonder if he is mentally unbalanced :O”

“heeheehee...now I am gonna make you all wait...I'll make it a private album until I am done with it. hahahahha”

“OK Gemini....and just think....I was gonna pack in for you a nice layout of sushi the next time we connected on the trail....but....nope you blew it!

NO SUSHI FOR YOU!”

“grrrrrrrrr!!!
tsss...i still can't believe you really brought sushi.”

“god I love sushi, not advisable in the pack on a warm day though.”

“Bearmagnet goes on TT trips?????

Gem, maybe we can do sushi together in June. And speaking of that, I think it's time we came out of the closet, don't ya think?”

“yeah....I think it's time to come out of the closet!!!
sushi in june sounds good, but too late...i think i get some now. hahahaha...

but the closet thing...yeah...we have to fess up.”

“She can't hide the pics!

http://community.webshots.com/album/320058742RPhoQw”

“oh come on bison, they are not all up yet, and I have no captions on them....

that reminds me...where your womans pics huh?
last edited: 4/11/05 11:02:15 AM”

“Closet thing?????

Speaking of sushi, stratusloop, you wetted my appetite so badly that just 4 hours after the post-trip-pigout I was sitting in front of 4 different varieties of maki/sushi. Ooooooo, yum.”

“Y2....its an art form to pack sushi correctly during warm weather....these things require very careful procedures...and can be easily spoiled if you're not careful....only certified skillful artisans such as me-self can performed these matters......but....thanks but i'll pass on the advise mate.....have a pint on me....

Boy was that mighty tasty......woooohooo...
last edited: 4/11/05 11:06:49 AM”

“The pics I've seen so far are Awsome! Great job Gem!”

“I'll have to take some tips on it. There used to be a odgy suchi place in my old office building, god that place stunk in summer.
Looks like a fantastic trip guys.”

“Wow, HOI hiked in 18#'s of beer and he doesn't drink. Very nice.

Sounds like yall had a blast.”

“Despite my best efforts on my Illonois trip with Ruby, she spurned my admonitions. Now I understand...Gemini and Ruby are an item and it is high time that they come out of the closet. At least I understand better now why neither of these women would jump my male athletic single bones. I feel better now that I know its not ME.”

“stikmon....you big ole moose boner...you tellin' tall tales again? But really? They're an item?

Gem....I think ya got some explain' to do...”

“hahahahahahahaha!! you are all dorks!!!”

“Man does that ever look like fun. I went to a wedding this weekend..... Near Paramus NJ. I did a litle shopping.”

“Who was supposed to do the trip report?”

“Uh, hmmmmm, Oh, I remember, it was Techntrek!”

“I ain't doing a TR this time. I post it on my site, but I don't want to right now... maybe in a couple of days.

It's ENS's job to do the TR. ha!!”

“Geez Gemmie, I didn't see any of your trademark "stupid picture" self-portraits..........or shadow "group shots".”

“Oh, no, I did the report for the Blair Witch hike. It's all you, ENS!

MarkO, stupid pics are there:

http://community.webshots.com/photo/320058742/320085585lRZdUG”

“Thanks!!

There are some hairy faces.”

“Damn Techntrek...I tought you had some pictures scanned and up. LOL
yupp, that's the only stupid pic this time. Too many people...and psss...don't tell anyone...but I kept bugging them...and they just didn't seam to understand why I wanted a stupid picture.

no fun i tell ya, no fun.
LOL”

“Sorry, Gem, gotta get my old-fashioned film developed first. You'd think I would have a digital camera by now...”

“With a name like "techntrek".......yeah”

“Gem - awesome pics!!! I dont think mine turned out as good. :(”

“oh em...sure they did! did you upload yet?”

“thanks guys.”

““On the one hand you have to admire ENS's energy, on the other you have to wonder if he is mentally unbalanced :O”

well if needed, i can take on his case. my caseload isn't fully loaded down yet.

sounds like you guys had a blast... can't believe HOI packed in a case of yuengling!!! whatta nut. sorry i missed the trip, but i had a blast in VA anyways even though there was no hiking involved.”