Saturday, August 15, 2015 Ankles and Snakes

 

 

 

EARLY AUGUST ON OLD RAG

SATURDAY AUGUST 15, 2015

 

Flowers along the roads.

 

 

 

 

 

PREVENT SEARCH AND RESCUE

 

An ankle injury is loaded into the ambulance for transport.     Old Rag has many ankle injuries across the spectrum of severity.   After you leave the summit it is not unusual to relax.   The challenge is over.   It is time to think and talk about what fun stops you might make on the way home.   This is also a good time to remind yourself you still have a long hike out.  A good time to remind yourself that your body is tired and that you are apt to be less focused on the task at hand.  Climbing up meant gravity kept your speed and momentum more controlled while heading down means the opposite.   This is why the percentage of ankle strains and sprains is MUCH! higher for hikers going down the mountain than for hikers going up the mountain.    Reminding yourself of these thoughts before leaving the summit might be a good preventive measure.   The

best recues are the ones that never need to happen.

SNAKES MOVING AT NIGHT

The following two shots of Copperheads crossing the fire road were taken  forty minutes and two miles apart.   The first one was taken during fairly bright dusk conditions near PO Junction and the second was taken in night conditions about a half mile from the upper parking lot.    I had been looking off through the woods at a campsite and did not notice the first one until my lead footfall was about four feet from him.   The end of my next pace had a likelihood  of landing my foot on this fellow.  From his coloration it looks like he may be getting ready to shed.   Snakes can be a little bit grumpier when they are in this condition.     It is not a good idea to be walking around at night without some type of light when SNP snakes are active.   Make sure you are watching were you put your feet, hands, or other body parts when in the SNP backcountry.

 

MARCH 30, 2014 SUNDAY EVENING

THE LAST WEEKEND IN MARCH

AFTER SATURDAY'S and SUNDAY'S

RAIN AND SNOW A WONDERFUL WINDY SUNSET

 

 

 

 

 

After all the rain there was about an hour of intense snow before the weather cleared.

 

 

ANOTHER GREAT SUNSET!

.  

VERY HIGH WINDS ON SUMMIT!

NEVER BELOW 40 MPH gusts over 60 MPH.   HARD FOR ME TO JUDGE BUT MAY HAVE   BEEN PERIODICALLY 80-100 MPH FOR TEN SECONDS AT TIMES.   HIGHEST OLD RAG WINDS I HAVE EVER ENCOUNTERED BY A FACTOR OF TWO TO FIVE TIMES.  KEPT MY FEET BUT  I WAS BLOWN EIGHT FEET ACROSS AN OPEN SLAB OF ROCK AT ONE POINT.     

 

MY PACK WAS PULLED AWAY FROM  MY BACK AT TIMES.   BASED ON THE PULL ON THE STRAPS IF I HAD NOT BEEN STRAPPED INTO IT THEN IT WOULD HAVE BLOWN AWAY.  A HIKING POLL LEANED UP AGAINST A BOULDER WAS PICKED UP AND BLOWN 20 FEET AWAY INTO A BUSH!  I  HAD TO DROP TO MY KNEES AT ONE POINT FOR FEAR OF BEING LIFTED OFF MY FEET.    I WAS NEARLY KNOCKED OFF MY FEET SEVERAL TIMES.

 

I FEEL REALLY BAD ABOUT THE FOLLOWING:   

I NEVER SUSPECTED IT MIGHT HAPPEN UNTIL IT DID.    A RESCUE BLANKET TUCKED DEEP DOWN AN OUTER SLEEVE OF MY PACKK BUT WITH ABOUT TWO FEET STICKING UP ABOVE THE SLEEVE WAS SUCKED OUT OF THE SLEEVE AND OFF MY PACK.   WITHIN A SECOND IT WAS PULLED OVER A HUNDRED FEET UP INTO THE AIR ABOVE THE SUMMIT AND THEN BLOWN AT 50-60 MPH TOWARDS ETLAN.  

 

LESSON

IF YOU THINK YOUR GOING TO BE IN 50 MPH OR HIGHER WINDS EVERTHING NEEDS TO BE INSIDE THE PACK.   IF THE WIND GETS STRONG ENOUGH THINGS MAY NEED TO BE TETHERED TIGHTLY TO SOMETHING.   LOSE YOUR GRIP ON A GLOVE, HAT, OR GLASSES AND THEY WILL BE GONE.   IF YOU COUPLE THE WINDS WITH RAIN, SLEET, HAIL, OR SNOW YOU ARE GOING TO WANT GOGGLES MAYBE EVEN A HELMET.

LESSON

HIGH WINDS ARE A LOT OF FUN UP TO A POINT.  ONCE THEY ARE HIGH ENOUGH THEY ARE VERY HUMBLING, SCARY, LIFE THREATENING.   THINK OF LARGE HEAVY OBJECTS YOU NEVER THOUGHT COULD BECOME AIRBOURNE FLYING AROUND AT 50-60 MPH.

 LESSON

WHILE HIKING IN HIGH WINDS BE VERY VIGILENT OF POSSIBLE FALLING TREES AND BRANCHES.   ON MY WAY DOWN THERE WERE THREE TREES,  MANY LARGE STICKS, AND MAMY BRANCHES IN OR ACROSS THE TRAIL THAT WERE NOT THERE ON MY WAY UP.    THERE HAD TO HAVE AT LEAST 20-30 PIECES OF TREES 3-6 INCHES IN DIAMETER AND 1.5 to THREE FEET LONG AND A POUND OR TWO IN WEIGHT SITTTING ON THE TRAIL THAT WERE FRESH. 

 

THE FOLLOWING VIDEOS WERE ADDED  MOSTLY TO ATTEMPT TO SHOW THE WINDS.   THEY DO NOT COME CLOSE TO REPRESENTING HOW HIGH THE SUMMIT WINDS WERE AT TIMES.  INTERNET EXPLORER SEEMS TO HAVE MORE TROUBLE THAN MOZILLA OR FIREFOX PLAYING THESE VIDEOS.

 

 

 

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



First 2013 Hike One-On-One Training

My First PATC Trail Patrol 2013

WINTER ADVICE

OLD RAG IS WILDERNESS BACK COUNTRY
PLEASE PLAN,  PREPARE, AND BEHAVE ACCORDINGLY!

ICY CONDITIONS
Folks its winter time on Old Rag.   Expect  icy conditions.   Keep in mind that Old Rag will typically have temperatures around 10 degrees lower than  the surrounding  lowlands.  Even if there is no snow at the Old  Rag parking lot you should consider whether you might need to at least carry some type of micro traction devices for your feet.    The coldest average temperatures occur around a month after the Winter Solstice or around January 21st.  Of course that is just  the average.   We can have mid-sixty degree weather in January just as we can have snow in April.    You can obtain the weather forecast for above 2,000 feet from the SNP website.   

FEWER HIKERS AND SNP STAFF AVAILABLE IN WINTER
While there may still be hikers on Old Rag in the  winter their numbers are generally greatly reduced.   There will  be greatly reduced odds that a passing good Samaritan will stop and help.         SNP has substantially reduced staffing levels during the winter months.   

RESPONSE TIMES
Rescue teams are not going to respond until conditions are safe for them  to do so.   Do not expect them to risk the roads or trails in the middle of an all out blizzard.  Winter weather conditions means there will be far fewer days on which a non-ambulatory injury can be extracted by helicopter. Non-ambulatory injuries will need to be carried out by humans if the helicopter can not be used.  Even in good weather, injuries reported late in the day will often need to shelter in place until the next morning.   Are you and your party prepared to shelter in place for the evening?    This is back country not a city park.    Plan with the thought  that you may need  to self-rescue.  If you and your group can get youself out in less than eight hours there is agood chance it will be your fastest way home.   That said, there are park, volunteer, and good Samaritan resources that will respond when they feel it is safe for them to do  so.    Good rules of thumb for response times during good conditions are, 4-12 hours for first responders  to arrive at a non-ambulatory patient's location and 6-24 hours until the patient  is loaded into a vehicle for transport to a front country medical facility.

SHORT DAYS
The days are getting longer but they are still fairly short.   If you are not prepared and comfortable hiking under a headlamp than pay close attention to your turnaround times relative to when it is going to be dark.   You should always have a flashlight or headlamp even when you are not planning on needing  them.

HIKE LEADERS   
If you are a leader responsible for a hiking group please make sure you have a system to keep track of your party members.    Old Rag has far too many separated/lost party incidents.    Often times the members of these groups are not experienced outdoors persons.   They are relying on the safety, knowledge, equipment and skills of your group.   Once they become separated, there is a risk that they will not have the knowledge, skill, temperament or equipment needed to stay safe.      This will be especially true if  the weather changes to a cold rain or wet snow and they need to spend the night outdoors.

EMERGENCY PHONES
Cell phones do not  generally work at low elevations in SNP.    There are Emergency Phones on the outside of the SNP Contact Stations located in the Old Rag and White Oak Canyon parking lots.    If you send a runner out to the phone than it is a good idea to make sure they have as much information about the injured person(s) condition(s), emergency contacts, location as is practical.  It is an even better idea to write it all down for them to refer to when they get to the emergency phone.  

I provided Bill W. with PATC Trail Patrol "One-On-One" training this weekend.    It was a great time!

Another very pretty Old Rag Sunset

Saturday July 7, 2012 Very Hot 104 Degrees

Saturday July 7, 2012  Very Hot

HEAT RISKS!

Heat emergencies that would be quickly and easily rectified in the front country may result in permanent injury or death in the back country

At 13:45 it was around 104 degrees at the contact station.

HYDRATION!
It would not be unusual for an adult doing this hike in these high temperatures to require 120 ounces or more of water

With very hot weather upon us remember that this hike requires lots of exertion and you will have no sources of water on the mountain. Once you are back in the hollows many springs and small water courses will be dry. When you can find open water keep in mind it should be filtered, treated or boiled if you are going to consume it. With the amount of sweating you will be doing pay attention to your electrolyte replacement as well.

PLEASE BE RESPONSIBLE FOR YOURSELF AND MEMBERS OF YOUR PARTY

While this hike is within easy driving distance of modern front country conditions it is BACK COUNTRY. Assume your cell phone will either not work or only work high on the mountain which means you will need to walk hours just to get to a phone to report any emergency. Once reported an emergency response will take additional hours. A heat emergency that would be quickly and easily responded to with lots of water, perhaps even ice, or an air conditioned environment in the front country will not have these resources available on Old Rag. Dealing with extreme heat can present a much greater challenge than dealing with cold. With the cold you can add extra layers (assuming you brought them) but with temperatures in the 90's and above you probably do not have any layers to shed. Heat emergencies that would be quickly and easily rectified in the front country may result in permanent injury or death in the back country.

Individuals who are impaired in their ability to self regulate in hot temperatures will be at extreme risk on this hike when the temperatures go above 90 especially so when temperatures approach or exceed six figures. Taking an infant on this hike in hot temperatures may be just as irresponsible as leaving them in a locked car in the sun. Encouraging someone you know to use this hike to burn some extra calories or get in better shape may be a great idea at 75 degrees but result in a medical emergency at hotter temperatures.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

The next link is specific to hot weather hiking in Grand Canyon but much of its advice is applicable to any hot weather hike:
http://www.nps.gov/grca/planyourvisit/hike-smart.htm

http://www.bt.cdc.gov/disasters/extremeheat/heat_guide.asp

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heat_illness

The next link is specific to hot weather hiking with infants and todlers in Grand Canyon but much of its advice is applicable to any hot weather hike with young children:
http://www.nps.gov/grca/photosmultimedia/hike_smart-05.htm



A hazy view west from just above the CCC stairs on the Saddle Trail.

A view of Old Rag near Byrds Nest shelter.

I almost never see snakes on the trails during the day but often see them on or near the trails and roads at night.   You should have a good light and be paying attention.

WATCH WHERE YOU PUT YOUR HANDS AND FEET!

The following picture is of a black phase Timber Rattler sliding down onto an Old Rag trail.   Please do not harm any of the snakes in the park.   They keep the rodent population down which in turns limits the number of infected ticks.

A picture of the same Timber Rattle snake a few seconds later.

A Copperhead seen on the Weakly Hollow Fire Road.

WEATHER ARTIC BLAST

WEATHER HEADS UP

AND

OLD RAG SAFETY VIDEO
AND
FALL COLORS REPORT

UNLIKELY BUT MAY FLURRY SATURDAY NIGHT!

Hey folks it is always good to check the weather for SNP above 2,000 if planning on hiking Old Rag.    Below is the link for the SNP page with this information.

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

You can always find the link by going to the SNP website and followng the link to Plan Your Visit then follow the link Things To Know Before You Come then follow the link for Weather than click on the link for Park Weather Forecast, above 2000 ft (NOAA)

LOTS OF GOOD INFORMATION ON SNP WEBSITE FOR OLD RAG VISITORS TO KNOW ABOUT.

 LIKE THIS GREAT OLD RAG SAFETY VIDEO:

http://www.nps.gov/shen/planyourvisit/old_rag.htm

SNP'S FALL COLORS REPORT
PAGE USUALLY UPDATED WEEKLY:

http://www.nps.gov/shen/planyourvisit/fall-color.htm

SNP's Fall Folliage Report via Phone
540-999-3500 option 6? (options change sometimes)

THE VIRIGINIA DEPARTMENT OF FORESTRY'S
FALL COLOR PAGE:


http://www.dof.virginia.gov/fall/index.htm




.

Hot, Bear, and Raccon2 Sat&Sun July 30&31, 2011



SATURDAY AND SUNDAY JULY 30 and 31, 2011

Still very hot and no significant rain for quite a long time!  

WATER

The spring at Old Rag Shelter was only trickling at about a quart per minute.

It would be good to take  100 to 128 ounces of water per person when the weather is hot!!

That means at least three litres or quarts per person!

The following juvenile bear cub was hanging out near the junction of Old Rag, Berryhollow and Weakley Hollow fire roads.

BEAR BAGS NEEDED



WARNING

RACCOON ENCOUNTER TWO

I have a strong suspicion that the raccoon in the next pictures is the same one I saw on the first false summit the week before.   This time I encountered it on Old Rag's summit.     I had taken my pack off and left it on top of a boulder on the summit and then walked away from it briefly in order to visit with a group of three hikers.   When I came back the little rascal was ripping into my pack.   Before I could chase it away it was able to grab an energy bar and run under a nearby boulder to eat.     

BAD FOR THE RACCOON

While this incident was inadvertent it may have contributed to this animals eventual death.    If a wild animal becomes a nuisance animal there is a good chance it will be put down.    I will be keeping my pack close to me from now on!   I  will also make a point of hazing this animal if I see it being too familiar. 

THE ENCOUNTER

At the time of this incident there were only 4 people on the summit and we were all initially about 150 feet from my pack.    Returning to the area were I had left my pack I realized a raccoon was frantically ripping into it.   I got within about three feet and actually on top of the boulder before the bandit would run away.   She was able to score an energy bar before she ran under a boulder about ten feet away.     After she finished her stolen snack she had the gall to come back to the boulder.   I was standing directly over my pack on top of the boulder and the little gal came right up to the edge of the boulder and stood on her hind legs with her front feet grabbing holds on the side of the boulder just inches away from my toes.   She was looking straight at me with a cute, quizzical, deploring, gotta luv and feed me expression.      Despite how adorable she looked I yelled at her and stomped my foot at which point she decided to retreat not just from the boulder but totally off the summit.     She did not seem crazed or mean but I suggest you keep a very tight watch on your equipment.

STERILE FIELD WARNING 

Besides keeping a tight watch on your equipment do not do what I did just after chasing the raccoon away from my pack.   I reached down to examine the hole the raccoon had just made in my pack and realized the fingers on my right hand were slimy with the raccoon's saliva.    Bad move.   While I did not have any visible cuts on my hand and the raccoon did not seem outwardly sick (just very bold) I will be discussing with my GP whether the smart thing to do is go through a series of rabies shots.  The good news is I did not have any cuts or sores.    The saliva was hardly visibly but being able to feel its wetness on my fingertips and knowing it was fresh from the raccoon's mouth caused me to go on alert and disinfect my fingers.   The good news is rabies virus is very short lived outside of its host (not sure if this means seconds, minutes, or tens of minutes).     While doing a little on-line research I found out that dead bodies can continue to harbor live virus for awhile.    Surprisingly  the cold weather can actually keep rabies virus viable in a dead host's body longer than it will remain viable in warm weather.    The bottom line is that you should be very careful how you handle wild animals or any vectors/fomites that come in contact with them.   

Not the best picture but you can see how close the raccoon (who is at the bottom left of my pack) was getting to humans in quest for food.



Double click picture for better view.

The raccoon is ravenously eating her energy bar in this picture.    While she was clearly very hungry and willing to get very close to humans she never seemed crazed or angry.   

I had a friend who raised and released a rescued/orphaned baby raccoon when I was in high school.  For those who think this might be fun be aware you need to be trained and licensed to do this both legally and in order to make sure you are doing what is best for the animal.

(See the following link about 11 year old fined $500 dolllars for saving woodpecker.)
http://wusa9.com/news/article/161065/158/Woodpecker-Saving-Daughter-Costs-Mom-500
While wild animal rescue can be rewarding it requires a very significant round the clock seven day a week level of commitment.   

One of the funny games my friend would play with his juvenile raccoon was to give it a sugar cube and a bowl of water.   The youngster would instinctively wash the sugar cube which would promptly dissolve/disappear after which the coon would spend many funny antic filled minutes looking for it.   My friend would have liked to have kept his young raccoon but had to naturalize and release it before it became sexually mature.   Like humans, once raccoons become adults they can be very MOODY!

GOTTA LUV ME

OLD RAG NIGHT LIFE
I love Old Rag sunsets, dusk and twilight.     Make sure you have lights and backup lights if your going to enjoy these times of day on Old Rag.

NIGHT TIME CAUTIONS
During warm weather I almost never see Copperheads during the day but see one on the trail in the evening about every third trip.     Very pretty, fun to see, and not a worry unless you are trying to walk out without a light.   Of course it is always good advice to never place any part of your body (usually feet or hands) where you can not see.    I heard of one person who while hiking up Old Rag grabbed around a small tree trunk only to jump back because he had inadvertently grabbed a black snake climbing up on the back side of the tree trunk.  Towards the end of the summer I have sometimes seen some humongous Wolf Spiders on tree trunks.   I had a friend who reached up on a high shelf in his backyard storage shed and was bitten by a Wolf Spider.  Not life threatening but his arm swelled up and he felt really sick for awhile.    While under headlamp on really buggy nights it is good to keep your mouth shut or wear some kind of shield to prevent bugs from getting sucked down into you lungs.     I once ran into what are called European Hornets.   They look like super giant yellow jackets, are nocturnal and will attack lights.    It took me a few seconds to realize they were after my headlamp and that I needed to turn it off until I had walked past the area near their nest.  

NIGHT TIME FUN
Fireflies, spider and animal eyes reflecting back at your headlamp light, bats flying almost right up to your face while chasing bugs attracted to your headlamp.  The wonders of shooting stars, moonlight, twinkling star fields, constellations, planets.   The beauty  of distant city lights, cars, and planes.    Becoming much more aware of your senses of sound and smell.

 

I added the next short video clip more for the sound of the tree frogs.   The audio in the clip does not do them justice.    Between the tree frogs, cicadas and a nearby screech owl it was a marvelous symphony.

Sat. And Sun. March 5&6, 2011

Saturday March 5, 2011

PATC TRAIL PATROL

One-On-One Training

Sunday 

Bearfence Hike

and Skyline Drive

The Forsythia along the road up to the trail head was just starting to bloom.

When we arrived at the parking lot it was lightly raining and the cloud deck was really low.    As the day progressed the rain stopped and the cloud deck went from about 200 feet off the ground to about five thousand feet off the ground.

Alex F. and Ray J.  my One-On-One students.   Great additions to the PATC Trail Patrol roster.

ADVICE

Hire A Guide

(A very inexpensive TIME expander.)

A thought for all you busy professionals whose TIME out in nature is a more limited resource than the money you earn during your long hours of professional work.   Think about hiring a guide.   For a relatively small amount of money a good guide can make sure that your hours are optimized:

• If you are  a 5.8 lead climber on business travel and you can only fit in an extra day at your scenic destination which has a climbing area you have never been too, if you hire a guide they can make sure you squeeze in the best routes that your talents and time will allow before you have to jet back home.
• Maybe you can second 5.10 but are uncomfortable leading it at the moment.   Hire a guide and they can lead the classics that are within your seconding ability but beyond your leading comfort zone. 
• If you want to take relatives, friends or coworkers out for an outdoor experience but have never given any thought about how or where you could do this while making it fun and safe for all hire a guide.   Guides are all about being able to provide enjoyable safe outdoor experiences for clients with a very wide range of abilities.
• If you want to experience a hidden back country gem but wanted to avoid the chance of wasting your time bushwhacking to the wrong place hire a guide.

TIME IS A VERY LIMITED RESOURCE

I once estimated how many wonderful sunny 70 degree days I might have to spend in the outdoors over the remainder of my potential life.  I will not share the the results because they are depressing as in Just shoot me now!  

After doing this simple mathematical exercise I went from thinking "Why would I every hire a guide?" to thinking "Heck it might make sense to hire two on some days." or "Hiring one to spend an extra day prepping a route or caching supplies.".  

For those of you with a little economics ... rational humans should act as though TIME as a very inelastic resource but they do not.   Since most humans think of themselves as immortal they are terrible at making rational decisions about the value of TIME. 

For a primer on inelastic resources visit the following link and look for the section on elastic versus inelastic.

http://www.strom.clemson.edu/becker/prtm320/economics_primer.html#Elastic 

Think of Guides as a resource/tool that can expand your life-time-limit of great outdoor experiences.    If humans were rational about how they value time they would have bid the price for guide services way above the current market rate.    Since humans, even very smart humans like consultants, lawyers, doctors are terrible judges of the true value of time (Their intuitive assumption is that they are going to live forever and TIME is infinite therefore of very little value).     At the present moment, using a guide service at American or European prices is a scandalous bargain.     If you can afford the air fare some foreign destinations have guide prices that are a fraction of what the going rates are in America or Europe.

If you are looking for a local guide or an organization involved with outdoor experiential learning check out:

  http://www.teamlinkinc.com/

          

SUNDAY

If you double click than expand/enlarge the picture you should be able to read the text on this sign.

On Sunday it was raining pretty hard all day. Rather than spend the whole day out in the rain Anita and I explored Skyline Drive and took a short hike on Bearfence Mountain. This mountain has a great rock scramble on it and one of the few 360 degree views in SNP. Anita and I will be returning here for some trad climbing training and bouldering in the future.

It seems from the SNP Trail Head sign that in warmer weather this is rattlesnake country. Because of the rain I did not take my camera but Chad has a better post with pictures about Bearfence Mountain at:
http://shenandoahmountainguides.blogspot.com/2010_11_01_archive.html#8616677949392341506

Early Spring Fever

SATURDAY AND SUNDAY
FEBRUARY 19 and 20, 2011

With folks feeling early Spring Fever on Saturday the parking lot was three quarters full. I had a report of someone who had dislocated their shoulder but had been able to get it back in place. The same person was having a really bad day and was also suffering from a Charlie Horse. As is typical, I was heading up very late in the day and told folks that reported the person having trouble I would keep an eye out for the shoulder person. I never caught up to this group but a number of groups heading down the scramble were able to tell me that the individual seemed to be doing well.

ADVICE
ELECTROLYTES
As the weather gets warmer it is routine for hikers on Old Rag to get cramps. Make sure to load up with some electrolytes and perhaps even bring a few with your group.

TRICK SHOULDERS
If you have a shoulder that is prone to dislocating it seems the Chute presents conditions favorable to causing shoulders to dislocate. The Chute is the spot between R30 and R31. This is the place where you will sometimes see a fixed rope. If you have a trick shoulder be especially careful here.

PARKING
Please do not fill out the ends of any of the rows of cars in the parking lot. In other words leave space for cars, horse trailers, or large emergency vehicles to be able to drive to the back parts of the parking lot. It is useful if you do this on both ends of a row so that if someone forgets at least one end is open.

The next picture is distorted because it is a 180 degree stitched shot of the parking lot from the bench in front of the Contact Station. There were about 120 cars in the lot when this picture was taken around 1PM.

If you look at last week's pictures you will see that there is a picture taken in the exact same spot as the next picture. In last week's picture there was lots of ice. It is amazing how much different the personality of the mountain can be on a day-to-day or week-to-week basis during the winter and the winter transition seasons. If you look at last years pictures from the same time you will find it was just after Snowmegeddon and deep snow conditions still existed on Old Rag.
The smoke that you can see in the next picture is from a forest fire in located in the North District of SNP. I met several hiking parties that had been redirected to Old Rag because Skyline Drive in the North District was closed due to the fire.


ADVICE
Be especially careful about fire during high wind conditions. Even with soil conditions being very moist last week there were numerous brush fires because of the high winds.


A summit shot about an hour before sunset. The winds across the summit were gusting to at least fifty miles per hour through the little gap in the summit boulders where this picture was taken.

The skies where crystal clear on Saturday so there were no clouds to turn pink or purple.

ADVICE

Old Rag has its most stellar sunsets when there are clouds on the Old Rag side of Skyline Drive but open skies on the western side of Skyline Drive. About ten or fifteen minutes after the sun goes below the horizon the clouds will usually light up with color.

SUNDAY

Sunday was a cloudy grey day. There were still quite a few folks on the mountain considering it was a February weekend but probably only half the number that were on the mountain on the Saturday. It was one of those quiet contemplative days.

SATURDAYS WIND

This short video will give you a little bit of a sense of the winds on Saturday.

Sunday November 21, 2010

The following is the shot from near the Sharp Rock Vineyard that I post for folks to get a sense of seasonal conditions on the mountain.
The next couple of pictures are of the first false summit in the sun.

Unlike Saturday there was not a huge crowd. The parking lot was only two thirds full and at 11AM more overnight camping groups from Saturday seemed to be spilling out of the backcountry then there were day hikers heading in.

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My extremely slow journey with lots of long breaks 4-5 hours from upper lot to summit had me looking down at the first half of the rock scramble from the top of the chute around 4PM. The chute was empty of upward bound hikers so I decided to amble to the summit to catch the sunset and moonrise.

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While on the summit a frantic hiker approached and said that while he and his girlfriend were hiking down the rock scramble she slipped and fell and they thought she may have broken her leg. Off we went to do an assessment. Upon examination, it was discovered that she could slightly weight her injury. With the help of a couple of hiking poles and bandage wrap she could slowly move on her own power. Our group decided not to go down through the rock scramble. We headed back up over the summit and out down the Saddle trail. It was determined that a Park Law Enforcement Ranger would be available to give her a ride from Old Rag Shelter back to her car. Folks do not assume this will be possible. If there is something more significant than your injury going on in the park you will need to either wait for resources to become available or get yourself out under your own power.

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It was interesting that as we were heading up towards the summit a group of around 40 headlamped hikers out for a moonlight stroll passed.

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No ice on the trail this weekend but you should plan on that starting to happen any day now. The chute is an interesting problem when it is wet and even more intereting when it is coated in ice.

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Another highlight of the day was coming across a bunch of my ORMS buddies who had been out doing some filming and climbing. I agreed I would look for them at Rudy's after I got the patient out.

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Upon getting the patient out I learned that their cars gas tank was on empty and they needed to know where the nearest open gas station was. Folks during the day the nearest gas station can be twenty miles away. If it is late at night it may be 30 miles away. I agreed to shadow their car to the nearest gas station in case they ran completely out before gettting there.

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After making sure they got gas I was able to join my friends at Rudy's for two slices and a beer before heading home.

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Advice

Think through your layered clothing system so that you can be in a short sleeves during the warm or heavy exertions parts of your day and all bundled up toasty warm on a cold windy summit. Keep in mind that an injury which prevents you from walking under your own power may mean that it will be hours before any help arrives. Are you and your party prepared to stay warm just sitting still on the trail possibly past dark while you wait for help?

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It is best to think of Old Rag as a self rescue zone because unless you are willing to wait the two to four hours it may take for significant help to arrive on scene self rescue will be your option.