Sat&Sun Feb. 11&12 Cold, Clear, Windy, Snow

Saturday & Sunday February 11&12,   2012

There was snow during the 36 hours preceding Saturday afternoon which was cold clear and very windy above 2,500 feet.

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Looking towards Etlan and Culpepper from the first false summit R20.

The next two videos provide a little insight on the wind conditions.     Down in the hollows the air was still but up on the ridgeline the winds never dropped below about 20 miles per hour and were gusting to 50 miles per hour at times.   These winds and temperatures in the low twenties created a different weather reality.   Winter's cold kisses, hugs and chilly embrace.   While refreshing,  potentially deadly dangerous.  No problem if you can keep moving, have the right clothing layers or knowledge of how to improvise in the backcountry.  

With the very rare exception of those that came here from planet Krypton we are all still human. 

Stuff happens!!!

If you find yourself;  lightly clothed, ill equipped for hunkering down, not having a mentality for improvisation and sustaining an injury like a (broken hip, leg or ankle) then.... Death may have finally figured out how to sell you that ticket for your last adventure on earth. 

If it is COLD AND WINDY pay close attention to Death's tells.  He is probably not bluffing.    If you are at the table and you do not know who the sucker is.....its probably you!

I say, Plan Ahead and Be Prepared!   

Make Death wait and work hard for his winnings.   I do not normally advocate cheating but in this case I say, cheat Death if you have to!   Choose Life!   If I am at the table I will help... go all in with the smile of the Cheshire Cat.  It will be fun!    If despite all Team Life's best efforts .....stuff happens.... then we will get up from the table and dance that last dance with grace, style and class and hope we see ya all again.   "I will never know by living only my dying will tell"  Blood Sweat and Tears'  And When I Die

It was mesmerizing beautiful watching the high winds carry a whirling kaleidoscope of spin drift up over Skyline Wall.  

Despite all the talk about DEATH the real reason to hike Old Rag is to celebrate LIFE!   Check out this upbeat song by Givers called:

UP UP UP 

You have got to watch it!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A0vzHSPmTfE

A new generation of human optimism proves you can not keep a good species down! 
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GO Human DNA GO!



Down in Weakley Hollow there was no snow on the ground.

Just a quarter mile up the road.   SNOW!

Another half mile and it was a Winter Wonderland.

This picture does not due it justice but the sparkling lights of Culpepper were wondrous.

Because of the high winds there were,
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LOTS OF BLOWDOWNS!

The following two pictures are for the hard working trail maintenance folks.    The first picture was taken about a quarter mile up the trail from Old Rag Shelter and the last picture was from about 100 yards up from the gate at Berryhollow Parking Lot.

Sunday 1/29/2012 Wonderful Day On The Mountain

Wonderful Day On The Mountain

Public Service Warning:   The portable outhouses that used to be located in the upper lot were not there this weekend.   The ones in the parking lot where you park your car are still there.

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If  you .are careful and choose wisely there are days in winter when the sky is blue, the air is crisp, and the trails are mostly clear of ice and snow.    Sunday 1/29/2012 was one of days.  It seemed to put everyone I met in a great mood.

I had several long and very connected conversations.   

Sometimes those I encounter are deeply experienced worldly mountaineers who love to use Old Rag in preparation for Rainer, Denali, Matterhorn, Grand Teton......   At other times it might be an older couple in their 70's who are enjoying the enchantment of an elderly mountain which has existed through thousands of human lifetimes.    At other times I might encounter a happy family visiting Old Rag for their first time.   

There are times when I am a little disappointed with the visitors I meet on the mountain. One of the special rewards of my winter hikes is that I am seldom disappointed with the visitors I meet. Winter and harsh conditions seem to bring out the gems of the hiking community.

Old Rag from Revercombs Junction

Lumbering on Old Rag's border.  

With the exception of small patches of ice at R29, on the parts of the chute, and about a tenth of a mile below Byrds Nest Shelter on the Saddle Trail the trails were dry and clear of any ice or snow.    Any ice on the mountain was easy to avoid.     That said, always keep in mind that conditions can change radically in just a few hours time during the winter.

Looking towards Culpepper from the first false summit.   R20

Looking east from the slab just above the chute.

Sunset from the summit.

A quick video from the top of Skyline aka PATC Wall. 

A quick video from the  summit.

Sunday 1/22/2012 Old Rag Conditions

Seneca Rocks and Blackwater Falls WV

Old Rag Under Moonlight

Sorry folks I have not had time to get my blog post writings done.   Hopefully next week...

In the meantime someone posted a comment asking for conditions.    I usually will say something about conditions in my writing especially when there are winter conditions.  

Always keep in mind that in the winter conditions can radically change in just a few hours.   You can go from bare dry rock to  everything being coated in a quarter inch of ice in just a few hours.

Last weekend there was almost no ice or snow on Old Rag.   I always carry my micro-spikes at least in the car and often on my pack just in case.    Just because the ground is devoid of any snow down in the parking lot does not mean there will not be significant ice up on the mountain.

Bearsfence and Old Rag

Hawksbill and Stoneyman