Michael Seth:
The first day of spring was celebrated with what is possibly the best known hike in Virginia- Old Rag. This was a joint hike with the Shenandoah Valley Chapter. We had a great view of Old Rag from the road on the way there and could see there was snow on the mountain. It was decided to divide the hike into two groups: one led by Eric Bredo visiting from Toronto who went up the shorter, 3 mile to the top, but more difficult (and more crowded) Ridge Trail and the other group led by Michael Seth went up the longer 4.5 mile to the top but easier (and less crowded) Weakley Hollow fire road and then the northern side of the Ridge Trail. Chad Churchman, Mary Huffer, Bob Eggleston, from the Valley and Susanna Keller, Lindsay Brown, Susanna Williams, John Brandt, John Shannon, Jackie Bradley, Leon Gorman, Kelly O’Rourke and Jeanne Densmore from C’ville met at the trailhead. Tim Hupp from the Valley joined Eric Bredo’s group. It was a near perfect day- clear skies, low sixties. There were more people hiking this mountain than the Michael Seth remembered seeing since he hiked Mount Fuji on a Japanese holiday. However, since about 98 percent were hiking up the Ridge Trail, the people doing the Weakley Hollow road did not actually see many folks until we got near the top and the first human wave of hikers began descending. Most of the way was quite nice with great views although the Ridge Trail was slippery in spots. The crowds of hikers gave way to hordes as we reached the top. Nonetheless, we found a relatively quiet spot for lunch. We long way hikers kept wondering where the shorter hard way group was. After a while they came straggling up. Apparently it was so crowded that at one point they had to wait thirty minutes to get through a narrow passage through the rocks. All of us in the long way group felt relieved we had taken the way up we did. Eventually everyone had time to eat and we headed down. As we got half way it occurred to Michael and some others that no one had seen Mary who made it to the top but did not join the others for lunch and no one had seen Tim. Eric and Susanna K went back up to look for them while Michael, John Brandt and John Shannon waited. Others left. After an hour Tim and Mary materialized in fine shape and the day ended successfully.
The first day of spring was celebrated with what is possibly the best known hike in Virginia- Old Rag. This was a joint hike with the Shenandoah Valley Chapter. We had a great view of Old Rag from the road on the way there and could see there was snow on the mountain. It was decided to divide the hike into two groups: one led by Eric Bredo visiting from Toronto who went up the shorter, 3 mile to the top, but more difficult (and more crowded) Ridge Trail and the other group led by Michael Seth went up the longer 4.5 mile to the top but easier (and less crowded) Weakley Hollow fire road and then the northern side of the Ridge Trail. Chad Churchman, Mary Huffer, Bob Eggleston, from the Valley and Susanna Keller, Lindsay Brown, Susanna Williams, John Brandt, John Shannon, Jackie Bradley, Leon Gorman, Kelly O’Rourke and Jeanne Densmore from C’ville met at the trailhead. Tim Hupp from the Valley joined Eric Bredo’s group. It was a near perfect day- clear skies, low sixties. There were more people hiking this mountain than the Michael Seth remembered seeing since he hiked Mount Fuji on a Japanese holiday. However, since about 98 percent were hiking up the Ridge Trail, the people doing the Weakley Hollow road did not actually see many folks until we got near the top and the first human wave of hikers began descending. Most of the way was quite nice with great views although the Ridge Trail was slippery in spots. The crowds of hikers gave way to hordes as we reached the top. Nonetheless, we found a relatively quiet spot for lunch. We long way hikers kept wondering where the shorter hard way group was. After a while they came straggling up. Apparently it was so crowded that at one point they had to wait thirty minutes to get through a narrow passage through the rocks. All of us in the long way group felt relieved we had taken the way up we did. Eventually everyone had time to eat and we headed down. As we got half way it occurred to Michael and some others that no one had seen Mary who made it to the top but did not join the others for lunch and no one had seen Tim. Eric and Susanna K went back up to look for them while Michael, John Brandt and John Shannon waited. Others left. After an hour Tim and Mary materialized in fine shape and the day ended successfully.
Eric Bredo:
17 stalwart hikers made the hike, including a fair clutch of old time PATCers like John Shannon, Marian Styles, Leon Gorman, Lindsay Brown, Michael, and yours truly, proving that we can all still get up a hill. We decided to "take" the mountain with a pincers movement, on the north, which was not only rocky, a bit wet and snowy, but full of Boy Scouts and others trying it for the first time. We ended up backed up quite a lot at the drip-down crevice but managed to get around them at the muscle-up ledge, while Michael's group cooled their heels waiting for us. Despite the crowds, the somewhat overcast day, and Michael's best effort to get his car deeply stuck in the mud, Old Rag performed it usual magic making us feel terrific and delighted with ourselves as well as with one another. We hope those who just joined us will be coming back for more PATC adventures in the future.
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