mtsptfam - Jun 25, 2010 12:35 pm Date Climbed: Jun 24, 2010
Awesome Creation
I climbed this mt. many times when I was a teen and had moved on to bigger and higher mountains. I decided to revisit Old Rag a few years ago and was reminded of how great some of the climbs are here in the East. I took a few well behaved teens the past two times and enjoyed seeing them soak it up. I only have two issues with this hike. Even if you go at a non busy time you still have to park at the second parking lot now that the upper lot is closed to the public. The second is the new trend for people to hike up the fire road and down the ridge tends to traffic jam things even more in the tight sections since your waiting for people to go up and come down. It is just easier if everyone is going in the same direction. I understand why though and that wont keep me from going back again and again myself in the upcoming years.
chilkoot - May 8, 2010 2:59 pm Date Climbed: Apr 29, 2010
Great southern hike
What a nice hike. Very different from other hikes in the area, I have wanted to do this one for awhile. Took my two kids and they loved all the scrambles, caves, ropes, and boulders. Great views from the top with clear skies. Note that the upper parking area is now permamently closed.
EastcoastMike - Apr 17, 2010 8:16 am Date Climbed: Apr 16, 2010
Fun
Fun Hike!
mackus - Oct 13, 2009 9:56 am Date Climbed: Aug 8, 2008
Westerner on the Old Rag
This was my first mountain East of the Mississippi and it inspired me to venture out and explore new mountains around VA. I have since done it two other times and love it.
Epica - Sep 21, 2009 11:09 pm Date Climbed: Nov 23, 1988
My first mountain... I think
It was many years ago, but I think this was my first mountain..... I was with 2 or 3 other girls from my Girl Scout troop, and we did it as a 2 day backpack... wish I had some pictures!
Judd97 - Aug 17, 2009 9:47 pm Date Climbed: Jul 12, 2009
Revisited
Did the full loop with a group of friends. I was the only one to have previously climbed the peak, so it was fun to expose new folks to this great east coast mountain.
Climbed this several times in Jr. High and High School.
scotthsu - Jun 18, 2009 10:38 pm Date Climbed: Jun 6, 2009
fun scramble
really enjoyed the sustained class 3 scramble up and the easy hike down the forest road. we even got a parking spot at the trailhead!
Nice Axe! - Jun 14, 2009 7:12 pm Date Climbed: Jun 6, 2009
Nice surprise
Ridge scramble up, fire road down. I had read there was a short section of scrambling on this route and was looking forward to it, but was pleasantly surprised to find how sustained this section was. Very fun. At the crux, there were ~20 people backed up there making use of a rope to ascend. Most attempts were pretty ugly. The summit has plenty of places to bask on a semi-private rock and enjoy some views. My dad, age 65, came with me!
thejknight - May 4, 2009 11:03 pm Date Climbed: May 3, 2009
Wet fun
Spent my Sunday hiking old rag in a rain storm. This was my 1st trek on old rag and it was nice to have the whole place to myself. Saw less than 10 people and scored a parking spot in the upper lot. 1 rock took me about 15 minutes to traverse over but once I figured a good method I was back on my way. Next time ill hike it on a dry day.
One of the many little hikes that sticks out in my mind as just pure fun. I did this with my family, and we all had a blast!
gkaufman - Mar 30, 2009 10:25 am Date Climbed: Mar 28, 2009
Slippery Scramble
Summited Old Rag first on my way to Robertson Mountain. The wet rocks made for some interesting scrambling especially on the crux.
gkaufman - Feb 9, 2009 12:17 pm Date Climbed: Sep 20, 2008
Old Rag... a league all its own
Ridge Trail up/down (I don't like fire roads)
This was my third summit of Old Rag and it simply is still great fun. I spent more time climbing/scrambling on both the lower/upper summits this time around. You can easily blow an entire day out there scrambling to different areas where you can avoid the crowds. I will say that this was the busiest I had seen it. I had to wait at least 10 minutes for 25 people to ascend the crux on my way down the Ridge Trail.
This hike decent night hike, and on a clear, moonlit night, you don't even really need a headlamp (except for in a few of the narrow rock slots). There are usually _less_ people then, but the only time that I have had the crag to myself was when it was both dark AND raining.
Koba - Oct 20, 2008 12:13 pm Date Climbed: Oct 11, 2008
Holy crowds
Didn't see a single person coming from Skyland down the Old Rag Fireroad until the base of Old Rag, holy freakin' crowds!
silversummit - Sep 14, 2008 11:52 pm Date Climbed: Nov 20, 2004
Climbed twice!
First climb - As a 16 year old backpacker (1965) - young and carefree!
Most recently in 2004 and boy did I feel the difference! Had to have help (my posterior pushed up one of the chutes) and needed to stop to catch my breath sometimes -UGH!
I'm supposed to try again this fall but I will have to really get back into shape! And pay this time! I don't think we paid anything in 2004!
Hiked Old Rag this morning. Nearly 90-degree temperatures with high humidity and lots of haze, but the trail was nearly empty for a summer Sunday afternoon (people may have been scared off by impending afternoon thunderstorms). For a time being we were the only group on the summit, which, to me, constitutes a beautiful and successful hike. Old Rag is the ONLY hike I've found in the Southeast that never gets old (just more crowded it seems).
I scampered up here in the late 1990s. It is a rare scramble in the vicinity of DC.
R2Creatives - Apr 21, 2008 3:53 pm Date Climbed: Mar 21, 2008
First Hike with my Daughter
My daughter an I hiked this mountain on a spectacular spring day! There was not a cloud in the sky and when we returned to the parking lot the temp. was 65-degrees! We are looking forward to returning for some roped climbing.
Bluebell08 - Apr 16, 2008 12:57 am Date Climbed: Mar 8, 2008
Great fun
Went in Feb and May 2006 too, winter ascent = not so easy. Great fun scrambling to the top, was quite windy tho. Fire road makes for an easy descent. Will certainly go again.
mtsptfam - Jun 25, 2010 12:35 pm Date Climbed: Jun 24, 2010
Awesome CreationI climbed this mt. many times when I was a teen and had moved on to bigger and higher mountains. I decided to revisit Old Rag a few years ago and was reminded of how great some of the climbs are here in the East. I took a few well behaved teens the past two times and enjoyed seeing them soak it up. I only have two issues with this hike. Even if you go at a non busy time you still have to park at the second parking lot now that the upper lot is closed to the public. The second is the new trend for people to hike up the fire road and down the ridge tends to traffic jam things even more in the tight sections since your waiting for people to go up and come down. It is just easier if everyone is going in the same direction. I understand why though and that wont keep me from going back again and again myself in the upcoming years.
chilkoot - May 8, 2010 2:59 pm Date Climbed: Apr 29, 2010
Great southern hikeWhat a nice hike. Very different from other hikes in the area, I have wanted to do this one for awhile. Took my two kids and they loved all the scrambles, caves, ropes, and boulders. Great views from the top with clear skies. Note that the upper parking area is now permamently closed.
EastcoastMike - Apr 17, 2010 8:16 am Date Climbed: Apr 16, 2010
FunFun Hike!
mackus - Oct 13, 2009 9:56 am Date Climbed: Aug 8, 2008
Westerner on the Old RagThis was my first mountain East of the Mississippi and it inspired me to venture out and explore new mountains around VA. I have since done it two other times and love it.
Epica - Sep 21, 2009 11:09 pm Date Climbed: Nov 23, 1988
My first mountain... I thinkIt was many years ago, but I think this was my first mountain..... I was with 2 or 3 other girls from my Girl Scout troop, and we did it as a 2 day backpack... wish I had some pictures!
Judd97 - Aug 17, 2009 9:47 pm Date Climbed: Jul 12, 2009
RevisitedDid the full loop with a group of friends. I was the only one to have previously climbed the peak, so it was fun to expose new folks to this great east coast mountain.
JHH60 - Jun 23, 2009 4:34 pm
First real mountainClimbed this several times in Jr. High and High School.
scotthsu - Jun 18, 2009 10:38 pm Date Climbed: Jun 6, 2009
fun scramblereally enjoyed the sustained class 3 scramble up and the easy hike down the forest road. we even got a parking spot at the trailhead!
Nice Axe! - Jun 14, 2009 7:12 pm Date Climbed: Jun 6, 2009
Nice surpriseRidge scramble up, fire road down. I had read there was a short section of scrambling on this route and was looking forward to it, but was pleasantly surprised to find how sustained this section was. Very fun. At the crux, there were ~20 people backed up there making use of a rope to ascend. Most attempts were pretty ugly. The summit has plenty of places to bask on a semi-private rock and enjoy some views. My dad, age 65, came with me!
thejknight - May 4, 2009 11:03 pm Date Climbed: May 3, 2009
Wet funSpent my Sunday hiking old rag in a rain storm. This was my 1st trek on old rag and it was nice to have the whole place to myself. Saw less than 10 people and scored a parking spot in the upper lot. 1 rock took me about 15 minutes to traverse over but once I figured a good method I was back on my way. Next time ill hike it on a dry day.
Hotoven - Apr 16, 2009 11:32 pm Date Climbed: Sep 10, 2001
Fun Hike As A KidOne of the many little hikes that sticks out in my mind as just pure fun. I did this with my family, and we all had a blast!
gkaufman - Mar 30, 2009 10:25 am Date Climbed: Mar 28, 2009
Slippery ScrambleSummited Old Rag first on my way to Robertson Mountain. The wet rocks made for some interesting scrambling especially on the crux.
gkaufman - Feb 9, 2009 12:17 pm Date Climbed: Sep 20, 2008
Old Rag... a league all its ownRidge Trail up/down (I don't like fire roads)
This was my third summit of Old Rag and it simply is still great fun. I spent more time climbing/scrambling on both the lower/upper summits this time around. You can easily blow an entire day out there scrambling to different areas where you can avoid the crowds. I will say that this was the busiest I had seen it. I had to wait at least 10 minutes for 25 people to ascend the crux on my way down the Ridge Trail.
jamesmh - Nov 30, 2008 11:02 am
Generally crowdedThis hike decent night hike, and on a clear, moonlit night, you don't even really need a headlamp (except for in a few of the narrow rock slots). There are usually _less_ people then, but the only time that I have had the crag to myself was when it was both dark AND raining.
Koba - Oct 20, 2008 12:13 pm Date Climbed: Oct 11, 2008
Holy crowdsDidn't see a single person coming from Skyland down the Old Rag Fireroad until the base of Old Rag, holy freakin' crowds!
silversummit - Sep 14, 2008 11:52 pm Date Climbed: Nov 20, 2004
Climbed twice!First climb - As a 16 year old backpacker (1965) - young and carefree!
Most recently in 2004 and boy did I feel the difference! Had to have help (my posterior pushed up one of the chutes) and needed to stop to catch my breath sometimes -UGH!
I'm supposed to try again this fall but I will have to really get back into shape! And pay this time! I don't think we paid anything in 2004!
eruselow - Jul 13, 2008 7:04 pm Date Climbed: Jul 13, 2008
Best hike in the SoutheastHiked Old Rag this morning. Nearly 90-degree temperatures with high humidity and lots of haze, but the trail was nearly empty for a summer Sunday afternoon (people may have been scared off by impending afternoon thunderstorms). For a time being we were the only group on the summit, which, to me, constitutes a beautiful and successful hike. Old Rag is the ONLY hike I've found in the Southeast that never gets old (just more crowded it seems).
Sam Page - Apr 21, 2008 9:45 pm
2xI scampered up here in the late 1990s. It is a rare scramble in the vicinity of DC.
R2Creatives - Apr 21, 2008 3:53 pm Date Climbed: Mar 21, 2008
First Hike with my DaughterMy daughter an I hiked this mountain on a spectacular spring day! There was not a cloud in the sky and when we returned to the parking lot the temp. was 65-degrees! We are looking forward to returning for some roped climbing.
Bluebell08 - Apr 16, 2008 12:57 am Date Climbed: Mar 8, 2008
Great funWent in Feb and May 2006 too, winter ascent = not so easy. Great fun scrambling to the top, was quite windy tho. Fire road makes for an easy descent. Will certainly go again.