HAPPY NEW YEAR

WINTER ADVICE

Note: Double click pictures for higher resolutions.

The solstice, Christmas and New Years are all behind us.    While it was not packed full to overflowing the Old Rag parking lot still had around 100 cars in it.    The days are gradually getting longer but average high temperatures will continue to decrease until later this month before they begin to warm.    Of course those are average temperatures.   You could have an anomalous 70 degree day in January and a 20 degree day in March.  

The park has a web page that provides the weather in the park above 2,000 feet and is a good resource it can be found by following these links

1. On the main page click on "Plan Your Visit"

1. On the next page click on "Things To Know Before You Come"

1. On the next page click on "Weather"

1. On the next page click on "Park Weather Forecast above 2,000 ft (NOAA)"

Alternatively just click on this shortcut:

http://www.srh.noaa.gov/data/LWX/RECLWX

When I clicked  on this link today it produced the following:

207
SXUS41 KLWX 072031
RECLWX
VAZ025-026-029-030-036>040-080000-

FORECAST FOR SHENANDOAH NATIONAL PARK ABOVE 2000 FEET
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BALTIMORE MD/WASHINGTON DC
331 PM EST TUE JAN 7 2014

...WIND CHILL ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL MIDNIGHT EST TONIGHT...

.REST OF THIS AFTERNOON...MUCH COLDER. SUNNY. HIGHS 6 TO 12 ABOVE.
TEMPERATURES STEADY OR SLOWLY FALLING THROUGH LATE AFTERNOON. WIND
CHILL VALUES AS LOW AS 14 BELOW.
.TONIGHT...COLD...CLEAR. LOWS AROUND 1 BELOW. WIND CHILL VALUES AS
LOW AS 14 BELOW.
.WEDNESDAY...NOT AS COOL. SUNNY IN THE MORNING...THEN BECOMING
PARTLY SUNNY. HIGHS IN THE UPPER 20S. WIND CHILL VALUES AS LOW AS
13 BELOW IN THE MORNING.
.WEDNESDAY NIGHT...NOT AS COOL. MOSTLY CLOUDY. LOWS IN THE MID 20S.
.THURSDAY...MOSTLY CLOUDY. HIGHS IN THE MID 30S.
.FRIDAY...CLOUDY. A CHANCE OF FREEZING RAIN OR SNOW THROUGH THE DAY.
LOWS IN THE MID 20S. HIGHS IN THE LOWER 40S.
.SATURDAY...CLOUDY. SHOWERS LIKELY. LOWS IN THE MID 30S. HIGHS IN
THE LOWER 50S.

$$

Expect Old Rag's Summit to have wind speeds  10-20 mph greater than down on the Piedmont. 

Especially in winter you want to "Plan Ahead and Prepare"  (a Leave No Trace  principal.)

EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS

I have found numerous spots between the first false summit  and Byrds Nest Shelter where I can get cell-phone reception.    I usually keep my cell-phone in airport-mode and then turn it on when I want to try and make a call.   When I first turn off airport-mode it is not unusual for me to have no bars for 3-5 minutes and then suddenly get three bars.   

If you take one of the SNP's white trail maps the Park's emergency number is listed on it.   It is not a bad idea for you to have punched it into your phone under SNP Emergency.   The number is 800-732-0911.  

If you can not get a cell phone to work there is a box with an emergency phone in it on the outside of the Contact Station (park visitor's left side same as the interpretive roofed sign).

RESPONSE TIMES

If you have a non-ambulatory party member high on the mountain expect that your party will need to keep them warm for at least 2-4 hours (6-12 would be safer) before responders arrive on-scene.   Once the responders arrive plan on them needing 10-plus hours to get the injured party transferred into a rescue vehicle.   Of course there are no set rules and many factors play a part in what the response time will be...   time of day, location of the injured party, weather conditions, and many others.   

Times mentioned above assume the weather and conditions are such that park vehicles/staff can drive on both the regular roads and the park's fire roads.  Anything that keeps park vehicles from driving up to Old Rag Shelter will cause additional response delays.  The fire roads are not plowed or treated.    After a heavy wind, ice, snow, or rain storm large trees blown across fire roads may not be removed for several days. 

GOOD SAMARITANS

In my opinion all parties that might have contact with a non-ambulatory injured party when winter temps are in the teens should assume that hypothermia is an extreme risk unless it is clear that the injured person's party is well equipped to keep them warm and dry.  

POOR PLANNING

I often come across hikers high on the mountain late on cold windy winter days described by one or all of the following conditions:

• Fairly light clothes on their body with either no pack on at all or an extremely small day pack on that suggests they do not have a lot of available extra warm stuff to wrap up a non-ambulatory member of their party and or keep themselves warm if they have to stand around waiting for hours.
• Light approach shoes with no micro-traction assists.   Mid-Atlantic trails with even just a 1-3 inch base of packed snow/ice can get incredibly slippery.   Note: front country level side walks and parking lots routinely have icy slip and falls that lead to serious injuries.  Old Rag trails are not usually level and often have sharp rocks sticking up to bang heads or break bones on.
• They tell me they have no lights except their flashlight app on their phone.
• Their entire party is doing Old Rag for the first time.
• They ask me how long to the summit or too get back to their car and have no map. 
• No concept of the ten essential systems for hiking in the backcountry: 

1. Navigation (map and compass)
2. Sun protection (sunglasses and sunscreen)
3. Insulation (extra clothing)
4. Illumination (headlamp/flashlight)
5. First-aid supplies
6. Fire (waterproof matches/lighter/candles)
7. Repair kit and tools
8. Nutrition (extra food)
9. Hydration (extra water)
10. Emergency shelter (tarp, bivy bag, space blanket)

I have nick-named the first trail-side large spheroidal boulder going up the Ridge Trail the Dumb-As-A-Box-Of-Rocks-Memorial-Boulder aka Dumb-As -Rocks-Memorial-Boulder. (see blog label list for a picture)  I have had my share of dumb moments and I am glad this rock can stand in testament to my less than intelligent prior actions.   I am not so glad but bemused, that many of Old Rag's visitors seem to be on a pilgrimage in honor of this proud specimen of granite's tribute to human foibles.

Days are still short and the sun never gets very high in the sky.   At this time of year it only is about 30 degrees off the horizon at high noon.

There are many types of micro traction devices for your feet this time of year.    I happen to like Kahtoola Micro Spikes but there are plenty of other products that will serve.   Below is a picture of my Kahtoola Micro Spikes and a link to REI's catalog page :

http://www.rei.com/product/856702/kahtoola-microspikes-traction-system,-red,-medium?preferredSku=8567020002&cm_mmc=cse_PLA-_-pla-_-product-_-8567020002&mr:trackingCode=A2BEC384-81FC-E211-A755-BC305BF82162&mr:referralID=NA&mr:device=c&mr:adType=pla&mr:ad=20834004520&mr:keyword=&mr:match=&mr:filter=35747117716&msid=Ij2HpLgB_dc|pcrid|20834004520|&{copy:s_kwcid}

Happy hikers on Old Rag's Ridge Trail:



The following two pictures of blow downs across the trail are here is support for the PATC or SNP trail maintainers they are located just a short ways down from R7(the current wet spot) or several hundred feet after the first set of two sharp switchback turns:

Views from the first false summit just before R20 and the beginning of the rock scramble at R22.   This can be a great turn around spot.    If it was the actual summit and there was no more it would still probably be one of the favorite hikes in the park.   That said, there is plenty more interesting hiking between here and the Old Rag's actual summit.

BE SAFE

GIVE YOURSELF PERMISSION TO HAVE A GOOD TIME