Old Rag Mountain

Old Rag is one of the most popular hikes in the area. So much so, that the park service has to limit the number of people on the trail. This is due to the many bottlenecks on the rocks. If you are behind a slow person, it can hold people up for 10s of minutes. It is 3268' high and roughly 2500-2600' from the base. The park flier describes the hike: "The circuit hike to Old Rag is a very challenging 7.2 mile hike and rock scramble. From the Weakley Hollow Parking Area, the Ridge Trail takes you across a strenuous rock scramble to the summit. You then use the Weakley Hollow Fire Road, which returns to the parking area." They don't lie.

Panoramic View of the Blue Ridge from the Top of Old Rag

7:30 comes early. More would have come, but they partied with the Spanish medical students late into the night

Old Rag is in the background. Parking is extremely tight at the trail head, so we have to park at the lower lot and walk 0.8 miles up to the trail head.

The beginning

You break out of the trees at about the 2/3s point and see the really challenging part of the hike.

The photos don't do justice to how tight it is. You have to snake your body to conform to the shape of the crack. However, there is a walk around.

The peak is the one to the right. If you look closely you make out two people on the ledge slanting down to the right below the rock on the left.

It is not a all clear what holds this rock in place.

Lichens nearly the size of playing cards

Views of the Blue Ridge from the top

12:00 and suddenly there is big thunderstorm building

And we got caught in it. Fortunately there was a shelter on the way down. The photos don't do justice to the violence of the storm. Others weren't so lucky. Many on the trail after the storm looked like drowned rats.

Clearing storm.

The students sang all the way down the fire road. Their rendering of the Colonel Boogie march brought tears to my eyes. Recommendation: Don't let them sing or whistle for you.

The End

Our cars have defects, they always make sudden turns into Tastee Freezes.