Wednesday, November 12, 2014

October Cabin Stay




An October Stay In An Appalachian Cabin


This is the road to the cabin.   One could say it is less traveled.


The Cabin is there if you look closely.


Candles and a fire make things cozy.

Mid Fall Asters


Heading out to catch a showing of Almost Alpine or was this the next day when we headed back to airports and work I just do not remember.


Wednesday, October 29, 2014


 

OLD RAG
MAY HAVE FIRST SNOW THIS WEEKEND


In honor of potential first snow check out Teton Gravity Research's 2014-2015 gnarly ski movie:
ALMOST ABLAZE


Here are some good Hunter S Thompson quotes to go with the spirit of TGR's Almost Ablaze:
  •  I have always loved blizzards, if only because of the driving experience - which is definitely an acquired taste.
  • There is no such thing as paranoia.   Your worst fears can come true at any moment.
  • The Edge... there is no honest way to explain it because the only people who really know where it is are the ones who have gone over.





 


TGR Almost Ablaze Trailer:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=036S6vboR_M




When there are still bright colored leaves on the trees and the snow falls you can get some great pictures.    See the this blog's Oct. 29, 2011 post.
 

NEXT WEEKEND
OLD RAG MAY HAVE SOME SNOW AND 
SUNSET WILL COME AN HOUR EARLIER ON SUNDAY 
 

SATURDAY OCTOBER 25, 2014

PATC TRAIL PATROL

ONE-ON-ONE TRAINING 
 
 
 
Saturday October 25, 2014 I provided Brian S. (https://www.facebook.com/hikingmegalopolis), One-On-One New Member Training  for  PATC's Trail Patrol on Old Rag.   It was the busiest  day for Old Rag that I have seen.   That said, Brian and I had a very productive and fun day. 
 
 

SUNSET FROM OLD RAG SUMMIT

 
 
 

Sunday, October 19, 2014

Peak Leaf Color Peak Crowds



OLD RAG FALL WEEKENDS
PEAK LEAF COLOR & GOOD WEATHER MAY MEAN 
CROWDS LINES AND WAIT TIMES

ALL PHOTOS FROM MID OCTOBER 2011
Double Click To Enlarge

 



 

Wednesday, October 1, 2014

Camping high on Old Rag had already been restricted in order to protect its rock outcrop areas.   The article below lists some new rock Shenandoah National Park outcrops where camping has just been restricted as well.



Rock outcrops tend to be:


  • popular for their views (high use)
  • fragile
  • islands in the sky with unique ecosystems
  • often have flora or fauna whose closest neighboring examples are hundreds of miles away

Shenandoah Closes Some Areas to Protect Outcrops

Posted: Oct 01, 2014 11:39 AM EDT Updated: Oct 01, 2014 11:42 AM EDT

Shenandoah National Park, photo courtesy of wikipedia.orgShenandoah National Park, photo courtesy of wikipedia.org



HARRISONBURG, Va. (AP) - Some campsites in Shenandoah National Park have been closed to protect rock outcrops that house rare plants and animals.

The closures are part of the park's new rock outcrop management plan. The plan prohibits access to the higher-altitude areas of several attractions, including Little Stony Man and areas of Overall Run Falls North and Mary's Rock.

Shenandoah spokeswoman Karen Beck-Herzog tells The Daily News-Record that the areas closed to camping were chosen because of their proximity to sensitive plant and animal populations.

Species considered at risk include Virginia pine, northern red oak and the Shenandoah salamander.

Beck-Herzog says park officials are monitoring areas closed to the public for regrowth and recovery.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Information from: Daily News-Record, http://www.dnronline.com

Tuesday, July 22, 2014

Old Rag Signs 2014, PATC Old Rag Cabin Vintage Blog Post Fall 2010

 
Pictures and some text for now more text later.
 
 
This blog entry starts with Old Rag Signs from Summer 2014 and ends with some remembrances from Fall 2010.  
 
 
FRANK'S GINGER ALE STAND
GOOD STUFF





PATC's  future OLD RAG CABIN

PATC CABIN RENTAL SITE:


 
 


















VINTAGE PICTURES FALL 2010

One of Old Rag's beautiful fall sunsets.  Fall 2010

ORMS (Old Rag Mountain Stewards) AND NPS PSAR packaging a patient using the Shenandoah Tie-In Fall 2010


Fall 2010 patient being extracted using Billy Pugh Net  (NPS and ORMS)






BECAUSE STUFF HAPPENS

In addition to ORMS providing backcountry stewardship/outreach on Old Rag Flora, Fauna, History, Outdoor Skills, Outdoor Safety, Outdoor Ethics, SNP Information, Trail Information, Truthful Tales and Yattered Yarns.....

ORMS volunteers train, prepare, plan ahead for mountain first response

Prepared, Proficient, Effective, Competent, Good Will, Good Folks, Good Works.

See the ORMS website for more information about this great program:

http://oldragmountainsteward.blogspot.com/

Monday, July 14, 2014

Saturday July 12, 2014 Bear & Supermoon & Ghost Plant

Saturday July 12, Bear & Supermoon & Ghost Plant



Bear behind Byrd's Nest Shelter 




Monotropa uniflora



myco-heterotrophic plants, mycoparasitic plants, or epiparasitic plants


Indian Pipe AKA Corpse Plant or Ghost Plant


NOT to  be confused with Corpse Flower


Amorphophallus titanium
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amorphophallus_titanium

Involved in a three way relationship.  This plant does not photosynthesize but rather gets its energy from a fungus which in turn gets its energy  from another plant.   A sort of ménage a trois.  For more detail check out the botit.botany.wisc.edu link above.




About 5 groups and twenty folks had gathered to take in the sunset and rise of a Super-moon.
Supermoon from Old Rag Summit


Tuesday, June 24, 2014

SUNDAY JUNE 22, 2014

 
PICTURES AND SOME TEXT FOR NOW
JUNE 22, 2014
 
 
 

LOOKING DOWN RIDGE

 


LILY


COLUMBINE


ROSE


MT LAUREL


HIKER ON SUMMIT

NOT FROM THIS WEEKEND
 
A VINTAGE PHOTO OF SOME OLD RAG MOUNTAIN STEWARDS(ORMS) TRAINING SEVERAL YEARS AGO.
 
INTERESTED IN POSSIBLY VOLUNTEERING? SEE THE ORMS WEBSITE.   A LINK TO THE ORMS WEBSITE CAN BE FOUND IN THE RIGHT HAND CHANNEL OF THIS BLOG