znord737 - Jun 1, 2012 10:02 am Date Climbed: Oct 15, 2011
Old Rag
Drove up From Virginia beach On the Friday night, camped our in a friends farm for the night. Then we made a pre-dawn ascent. The fall colours were stunning.
BobEnein - May 29, 2012 11:45 pm Date Climbed: Apr 1, 2012
Old Rag climb
Did the famous 9 mile loop. Probably the best hike in Virginia and a great workout. The mountain is crowded in the weekend and the parking lot might be full by early morning so be prepared to park half a mile farther. The views are great and what is unique about this mountain and given its height you are always above the cloud with great views. Be prepared for some traffic jams near when negotiating the tough rock spots. Be careful since it's common to get injured on these rocks but enjoy this great exhilarating hike.
BConley - May 12, 2012 7:29 pm Date Climbed: May 12, 2012
Perfect
Really enjoyed this one. Scrambling was great fun. Glad we got an early start (7am) when we got back to the parking lot if was nearly 100% full.
Great rock scrambles, trails on incline, and vert climbs. A few choke points on the path will cause delays on weekends (time most popular for hiking). Inexperienced or moderate hikers should definitely go with people who have climbed before. Take plenty of water during Spring and Summer months. Also, due to the difficulty level, this is really not a trail for children unless you are ok with not completing full loop.
Ruvicha - Apr 8, 2012 9:06 pm Date Climbed: Aug 3, 2008
Best Hike in SNP
Old Rag is actually a spur off the eastern side of the Blue Ridge. I've climbed it a bunch of times and never get tired of it -- the scramble to the top is great fun and the openness of the summit means you actually get to see something besides endless oak trees. It's the best hike in Shenandoah National Park.
Went with a friend who had traversed Old Rag many times. One of the best hikes if not the best hike in Virginia aside from Mountain Rogers/ Peaks Of Otter. Very crowded but the views were breathtaking and well recieved. Get there early and knock it out. I will be back yearily if only just to climb it.
CheesySciFi - Feb 18, 2012 10:45 pm Date Climbed: Feb 18, 2012
One of the best
Old Rag is fully deserving of its popularity. It has to be one of the best mountains east of the Mississippi River. I went up the Ridge Trail on a mostly clear day that turned out to be warmer than expected. I met some interesting people, but it wasn't terribly crowded like it can get in some days, and I enjoyed the spectacular views from the top.
SteveJackson - Feb 3, 2012 12:15 am Date Climbed: Jan 25, 2012
Favorite in Shenadoah
Hiked the Ridge Trail on a sunny January weekday. I was worried about crowds but only ran into 2 other hikers. Despite the warm temperatures (upper 40's to low 50's) I ran into light ice on the rock scramble. The rock scramble was awesome though! Descended on the Ridge Trail rather than completing circuit on fire road. My favorite day hike so far in Va.
Interesting trail, lots of fun! one easy third class move on the ridge at best.
indianabob - Nov 29, 2011 10:12 am Date Climbed: Nov 27, 2011
Thanksgiving Weekend
Fun hike/climb. We did this as part of a four day backpacking trip and hit the trail early from camp to beat the crowds. Incredible weather for late November. We had a blast.
Judd97 - Nov 12, 2011 10:10 pm Date Climbed: Nov 12, 2011
Veteran's Day Weekend
Went up today, the Saturday after Veteran's Day; a long weekend with 60 degree weather. Sounds like a recipe for a circus, but it wasn't too bad since we went up the night before and camped out at the base. Left for the peak around 6 am, saw a handful of people along the way but had the summit to ourselves for about 30 minutes. Great weather; all the snow melted off with the exceptions of a few pockets deep in cracks where the sun can't reach.
hightinerary - Aug 9, 2011 9:08 am Date Climbed: Mar 5, 2011
This was one of the first mountains I ever climbed, if not the first. I was 11 years old, and since then I have probably been up it at least 30 times, during all seasons of the year. Once when I was 14 my friends and I did a winter ascent, off trail, with homemade ice axes! In a lot of ways I grew up on this mountain.
Been up there many times and in all seasons. Winter is the best because it's less crowded, the air is cleaner, and snow and ice can throw interesting twists into the route.
This was my first mountain that required anything more than plain hiking to get to the top. That was in May 1994, I think. It opened my eyes to a bigger and better mountain world.
sparkes384 - Nov 25, 2010 11:03 am Date Climbed: Nov 20, 2010
Moonlight hike
Great hike with some great friends.
jasano2 - Nov 15, 2010 8:15 am Date Climbed: Nov 14, 2010
Good Old Rag
Finally got to experience 1st hand the ragged one. Definitely worthy of it's title and many repeats to come. There is no shortage of friendly faces that's for sure!
96avs01 - Nov 6, 2010 2:38 pm Date Climbed: Nov 5, 2010
Thoroughly Enjoyed
Great dayhike with some remaining fall colors. The summit was packed with a corporate team building party having quite a good time with sandwiches and wine.
ericvandrick - Oct 29, 2010 2:23 pm Date Climbed: Sep 18, 2010
Fall 10
Did this with my dad. It was a fun hike.
TiogaBradford - Aug 21, 2010 7:14 pm Date Climbed: Jul 10, 2010
Better than DC....
A welcome relief to get away from the noise and traffic of DC! To date, this is my favorite peak in the South.
znord737 - Jun 1, 2012 10:02 am Date Climbed: Oct 15, 2011
Old RagDrove up From Virginia beach On the Friday night, camped our in a friends farm for the night. Then we made a pre-dawn ascent. The fall colours were stunning.
BobEnein - May 29, 2012 11:45 pm Date Climbed: Apr 1, 2012
Old Rag climbDid the famous 9 mile loop. Probably the best hike in Virginia and a great workout. The mountain is crowded in the weekend and the parking lot might be full by early morning so be prepared to park half a mile farther. The views are great and what is unique about this mountain and given its height you are always above the cloud with great views. Be prepared for some traffic jams near when negotiating the tough rock spots. Be careful since it's common to get injured on these rocks but enjoy this great exhilarating hike.
BConley - May 12, 2012 7:29 pm Date Climbed: May 12, 2012
PerfectReally enjoyed this one. Scrambling was great fun. Glad we got an early start (7am) when we got back to the parking lot if was nearly 100% full.
SauceForTheGoose - Apr 15, 2012 4:55 pm Date Climbed: Apr 7, 2012
Old Rag is definitely a repeat-worthy trail.Great rock scrambles, trails on incline, and vert climbs. A few choke points on the path will cause delays on weekends (time most popular for hiking). Inexperienced or moderate hikers should definitely go with people who have climbed before. Take plenty of water during Spring and Summer months. Also, due to the difficulty level, this is really not a trail for children unless you are ok with not completing full loop.
Ruvicha - Apr 8, 2012 9:06 pm Date Climbed: Aug 3, 2008
Best Hike in SNPOld Rag is actually a spur off the eastern side of the Blue Ridge. I've climbed it a bunch of times and never get tired of it -- the scramble to the top is great fun and the openness of the summit means you actually get to see something besides endless oak trees. It's the best hike in Shenandoah National Park.
Ledintheblood - Feb 22, 2012 8:59 pm
First Mountainerring HikeWent with a friend who had traversed Old Rag many times. One of the best hikes if not the best hike in Virginia aside from Mountain Rogers/ Peaks Of Otter. Very crowded but the views were breathtaking and well recieved. Get there early and knock it out. I will be back yearily if only just to climb it.
CheesySciFi - Feb 18, 2012 10:45 pm Date Climbed: Feb 18, 2012
One of the bestOld Rag is fully deserving of its popularity. It has to be one of the best mountains east of the Mississippi River. I went up the Ridge Trail on a mostly clear day that turned out to be warmer than expected. I met some interesting people, but it wasn't terribly crowded like it can get in some days, and I enjoyed the spectacular views from the top.
SteveJackson - Feb 3, 2012 12:15 am Date Climbed: Jan 25, 2012
Favorite in ShenadoahHiked the Ridge Trail on a sunny January weekday. I was worried about crowds but only ran into 2 other hikers. Despite the warm temperatures (upper 40's to low 50's) I ran into light ice on the rock scramble. The rock scramble was awesome though! Descended on the Ridge Trail rather than completing circuit on fire road. My favorite day hike so far in Va.
rasgoat - Feb 1, 2012 5:30 pm
NiceInteresting trail, lots of fun! one easy third class move on the ridge at best.
indianabob - Nov 29, 2011 10:12 am Date Climbed: Nov 27, 2011
Thanksgiving WeekendFun hike/climb. We did this as part of a four day backpacking trip and hit the trail early from camp to beat the crowds. Incredible weather for late November. We had a blast.
Judd97 - Nov 12, 2011 10:10 pm Date Climbed: Nov 12, 2011
Veteran's Day WeekendWent up today, the Saturday after Veteran's Day; a long weekend with 60 degree weather. Sounds like a recipe for a circus, but it wasn't too bad since we went up the night before and camped out at the base. Left for the peak around 6 am, saw a handful of people along the way but had the summit to ourselves for about 30 minutes. Great weather; all the snow melted off with the exceptions of a few pockets deep in cracks where the sun can't reach.
hightinerary - Aug 9, 2011 9:08 am Date Climbed: Mar 5, 2011
X+I have climbed it at least ten times.
WildBlue - May 5, 2011 10:08 am
Favorite place on earthThis was one of the first mountains I ever climbed, if not the first. I was 11 years old, and since then I have probably been up it at least 30 times, during all seasons of the year. Once when I was 14 my friends and I did a winter ascent, off trail, with homemade ice axes! In a lot of ways I grew up on this mountain.
MtMtnHiker - Mar 14, 2011 8:46 pm
Old RagSolo climb that started it all.
Bob Sihler - Jan 30, 2011 3:27 pm
Intro to a greater worldBeen up there many times and in all seasons. Winter is the best because it's less crowded, the air is cleaner, and snow and ice can throw interesting twists into the route.
This was my first mountain that required anything more than plain hiking to get to the top. That was in May 1994, I think. It opened my eyes to a bigger and better mountain world.
sparkes384 - Nov 25, 2010 11:03 am Date Climbed: Nov 20, 2010
Moonlight hikeGreat hike with some great friends.
jasano2 - Nov 15, 2010 8:15 am Date Climbed: Nov 14, 2010
Good Old RagFinally got to experience 1st hand the ragged one. Definitely worthy of it's title and many repeats to come. There is no shortage of friendly faces that's for sure!
96avs01 - Nov 6, 2010 2:38 pm Date Climbed: Nov 5, 2010
Thoroughly EnjoyedGreat dayhike with some remaining fall colors. The summit was packed with a corporate team building party having quite a good time with sandwiches and wine.
ericvandrick - Oct 29, 2010 2:23 pm Date Climbed: Sep 18, 2010
Fall 10Did this with my dad. It was a fun hike.
TiogaBradford - Aug 21, 2010 7:14 pm Date Climbed: Jul 10, 2010
Better than DC....A welcome relief to get away from the noise and traffic of DC! To date, this is my favorite peak in the South.