Sat.,Sun,&Mon June 23-25, No Old Rag Friends and Relatives

No Old Rag this weekend pictures for now text later.

 

 

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Louise Casey Clukey Louise Casey-Clukey Louise Casey   

Louise Casey Clukey Louise Casey-Clukey Louise Casey   

Sunday After Thanksgiving

Sunday November 29, 2009

Warm clear weather changing to slight overcast with very light sprinkles.

I did not get back from my trip to my parents for Thanksgiving dinner with the extended family until a little after midnight on Saturday. I got a slow start Sunday morning and then I found that I had a flat from a nail induced slow leak. By the time I got the tire repaired it was around 1PM. My oldest daughter Sarah and I were still able to fit in an abbreviated Old Rag trip. We arrived at Old Rag around 3PM so we only hiked to the first false summit where we watched the sun set and then returned under headlamps. Even though not the whole circuit it was still a great trip.

As we were about to start our hike we met a multi-generational (4) family of about 40 folks who said it was their families 43rd annual Thanksgiving weekend family hike of Old Rag. Pretty impressive tradition which started around 1966 when Lyndon Johnson was president.

The moon was bright enough that you could actually walk slowly and carefully without your headlamp. Of course having the leaves off the trees helps a lot with the moonlight.





Sarah checking out one of the remaining charred trees from the forest fire.
A picture of me at the break spot just before the No Camping Beyond This Point sign.

Sarah enjoying the sunset from the first views of the eastern valley. (Double click then click once on the picture for highest resolution.)

A very late dusk picture looking up the Ridge Trail from the first false summit.

Sarah and I on the first false summit just before we started back to the car.

Robert Britland Taylor, Jr. 11-21-1931 08-14-2009

In memorium and celebration of the life of my uncle Robert Britland Taylor, Jr. November 21, 1931 - August 14, 2009.

Drove to Milford Massachusetts for my uncle's funeral. Robert Britland Taylor, Jr. was a my mother's oldest brother. He grew up in a modest home in Milford Massachusetts with his parents and eight brothers and sisters. He lived his whole life near his home and Trinity Epsicopal Church was the site of his baptism, confirmation, marriage and funeral. He enjoyed and was very good at singing, cooking and loved entertaining his friends and family. He was one of those individuals with huge hearts hidden behind a serious demeanor. He was a man of tremendous strength who demanded responsibility and participation of himself and those around him. While on the surface he was all business once you got to know him you realized he had a heart as big as all outdoors and that despite his discipline he liked to enjoy life. He fought for his country, was a retired Chief of Police of Hopdale Massachusetts, owned operated or helped with a couple of restaurants, and even in retirement worked as a truck driver. Thursday and Friday consisted of driving to Milford Massachuesetts, calling hours, visiting with relatives, funeral, reception, and driving back to Woodbridge Virginia.

Saturday April 11, 2009 Easter With Relatives

THE SATURDAY BEFORE EASTER, APRIL 11, 2009
Easter is usually the first Sunday after the first full moon
(Paschal Moon or Ecclesiastical Full Moon) after the Spring(Vernal) Equinox
If theological history interests you look up Computus


IN THE LOT AT THE FEE STATION THE CLIMBING ADVENTURE BEGINS

Had a wonderful time with my sister Holly and two of her three kids my nephew Colin and niece Whitney. We left the parking lot around 2 in the afternoon. The top of Old Rag was still in the clouds but as we journeyed up the switchbacks the clouds lifted. The rain had limited the number of visitors but by the time we reached the first false summits the views were wonderful. It was their first time up Old Rag and so a very special circuit for me. Other than giving advice to a pair of backpackers, a pair of rockclimbers, a large backpacking group, and picking up a little bit of litter the patrol duties were light.





The Skunk Cabbage At Bartenders Spring Has Burst Out Of The Ground Since Last Weekend





GROUP SHOTS AT FIRST VIEWS






JUST BEFORE THE FIRST FALSE SUMMIT




FIRST FALSE SUMMIT AND START OF THE ROCK SCRAMBLE




THE STAIRCASE BELOW THE CHOCKSTONE

AT ATLAS ROCK IN THE MIDDLE OF ROCK SCRAMBLE THE CRUX IS COMING UP

THE FOURTH FALSE SUMMIT AFTER THE CRUX BUT BEFORE THE LEAP OF FAITH

WHITNEY AND COLIN LOOKING OUT ON THE HOLLOWS AFTER THE LEAP OF FAITH AND JUST BEFORE THE SUMMIT

THE LONG AND WINDING TRAIL

SUNSET WALL AT SUNSET

LOOKING OUT AT SKYLINE DRIVE AT TWILIGHT

A COMPOSITE OF AROUND FIVE SHOTS