create account login
|
Welcome to thebackpacker.com create account login |
|
trips - Shenandoah Trip- Old Rag Mtn/ White Oak CanyonTrip Info
Description--- Old Rag is considered to be the most technical mountain in the Mid-Atlantic States. You will use all fours on this trip. --- PLAN: arrive at large Old Rag Parking area by 7am Saturday morning(probably best to get there around 645 and 650) We will then shuttle necessary vehicles to the Cedar Run parking area by 730 and the goal is to be on the trail by 8am. ---- Trail map with the road into the parking area included and trail map with out the road to the parking area Directions to the parking area: Take US 522 to SR 231, which is .8 mile South of Sperryville, and 12.7 miles North of Madison. Go South 8.3 miles on SR 231, cross the Hughes river, and immediately turn right (West) onto SR 602. Stay on the left side of the Hughes river. The route number will change to 601, 707, and then 600. Do not cross the Hughes river a second time. After 3.5 miles from SR 231, just beyond Nethers there is parking for about 200 cars on the left (The "Big Trailhead"). There is a small parking area .8 mile farther at the end of SR 600. - Elevation Profile. Don't let this scare you.  The Old Rag Mountain Ridge Trail traverses this craggy ridge line. This is a repeat of a trip Bison and I did last year the same time of year. This will be as difficult of a backpack as it gets in Shenandoah National Park. We will climb Old Rag Mountain via the Ridge Trail and then descend via the Saddle Trail and then climb up Old Rag Fire Road to the Corbin Mountain trail and camp about a half mile down on that trail. After camp is set up,I'd like to climb to the summit of Robertson Mountain, which offers an exposed view and some nice rock formations. If the weather is nice, it may make for a cool spot to chow down some dinner and catch the sunset. Sunday, we will continue the climb up Old Rag Fire Road almost to Skyline Drive. We'll cut over to the White Oak Canyon Trail via the Limberlost Trail. While descending the Blue Ridge in White Oak Canyon, we will hike passed some of Shenandoah's most spectacular waterfalls and through a most beautiful gorge. We will finish in the Cedar Run parking area. This is an outstanding hike, with lots of rock scrambling and amazing views. Old Rag is an awesome mountain.  The summit of Old Rag - with HawksBill looming in the back ground.  White Oak Canyon Falls Here is a link to my photo page for pics taken on this same route: http://community.webshots.com/album/133229583yWiHXl 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. Bison and I camped last year on the Corbin Mountain trail, not far off the Old Rag Fire Road. This worked out well and will make for a good campsite this time around. There is a water source nearby and interesting rock formations. 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 more than 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. Most of Sunday's hike is down hill, except for the climb to the Limberlost Trail.
 = Yes,  = Maybe
Trip Attendees
Picture Albums Old Rag Mountain (8 pics) - BackSlackerOld Rag Mountain / White Oak Canyon (1 pics) - EarthNsky
Threads
|
SearchReady to Buy Gear?Sponsored Links
Great Outdoor Sites |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
