Because Once Just Wasn't Enough - Old Rag

 

I just recently did a post about Old Rag, so I won't go into much detail....other than it really has become my numero uno hike in the local area....!!  I just love it there....awesome trail with some awesome scrambling!!   

The leaves are just starting to change....I would give it another couple of weeks before things really start to take off!!

 

The weather couldn't have been any better....Amazing views of the valley below. 

Kira and I had fun messing around with the new panorama feature on the iPhone! It only took us about 10 shots to get it right!!

 

And perhaps my most favorite part of the day -- FOOD!  Kira had not been to Griffin's since she returned from Africa, so of course we filled our belly's with burgers after our trot!  

Old Rag - The Best of the Best

Old Rag is my favorite hike in the Shenandoah valley.  Its got everything....great elevation gain, on a great trail, followed by about a mile of awesome rock scrambling to the peak, and an awesome easily trot-able trail down the back side!

I do get bummed out that this trail, to me, is the best of the best here on the East Coast, the trail is often super packed with people, and the two-plus hour drive doesn't win it any points......BITTER PARTY OF ONE......But I'm trying to stay focused on the positives -- at least I have access, and now have a schedule that allows me to get out more often.....(just had to vent, because sometimes venting makes a person feel a little better!).

Andrew had never done this one before, and he certainly had a great time!! Bummer for us when we reached the top, the clouds rolled in, so we didn't get the fabulous views of the Shenandoah Valley below.  Regardless it was an amazing day, and I was super excited to busting out the Houdini!!! Fall is in the air -- enjoy everyone!!

The Day I Almost Ate Kira - Piney Branch to Jeremy's Run SNP

Link-Up's I love them, but you never really know what your getting yourself into until you are in the middle of it!! In short, we linked up the Piney Branch Trail (which you can access inside or outside of SNP) with Jeremy's run (access inside the park only, I think).  For actual route info, distance, etc check out the GPS data at the bottom of this post!

It was a BEAUTIFUL February spring day, and if I could have run naked I probably would have!  Just kidding, but we did take off layers within the first 10 minutes and for the first time this year I was wishing for my running skirt!

Jeremey's Run was awesome, and I would highly recommend it for a day hike!  You follow the river for miles and cross it multiple times.  The shot above was the best shot of the day!  Crossing the river slowed us down a bit, but it made the trip even more exciting! (ok, maybe its all my photographing that slows us down.....hmmmm.)

Linking the two routes/trails (24 miles-ish) made it a great day for elevation gain.  My GPS says 4,380 ft (impressive for an east coast day), but Kira needs to double check me on that one.  It was a day in which I felt like we were always going up.....When the sun began to set (photo above), and my stomach was growling, I was ready to be back at the car!!

Kira, as always, finished strong! It is always fun to come out in the dark and have a car beer nicely chilled in the river waiting for you....and cheese of course, lots of it!  Without those things, it was a possibility that I would have eaten Kira!  We stopped at a local spot for one of the best burgers I have had in awhile - the Griffin Tavern in Flint Hill, VA....highly recommend it!

If your checking out the Garmin info below, zoom and look at the split times....It must have turned on after I stopped it, but all the info you need is there!  See you on the trails!

Mt. Marshall Take Two, And New Lesson's Learned!

First of all, driving approximately two hours to do a "trot" is a very new concept to me...and one, yes, I have certainly struggled and fought tooth and nail with!  Ok, I know I'm not perfect!  Regardless, getting out is what keeps me going, smiling, and centered and therefore I do it!  But when you drive two hours and find the road is closed, well, its a little upsetting!!

Lesson Number One:  Call the number above before you head out Shenandoah National Park!

But luckily I choose my partners VERY wisely!  So as we talked with the ranger trying to figure out our options, Kira said lets do the run you (VLP) suggested that starts outside the park!!  My response, "What??"  Sure enough, there was a side trail that takes you right to the Mount Marshall loop trail! It worked out perfectly.  We were looking to do 20 miles, and the little extra distance pushed the loop up to 17 miles....so only a couple of miles on the road.

Lesson Number Two (Relearned):  Choose your partners wisely.

It was a beautiful run in the woods, and perhaps the most snow I had seen all season, except in Alaska of course!  There was a good three inches on the ground up high, and more coming down!  I thought boot packing only happened up north!

Lesson Number Three:  

Believe the ranger when they say there are good reasons to close the road!

Our first longer run - check, check!  Both of us finishing strong and ready for a car beer, and a massage!
Happy trotting!

Appalachian Trail: Chester Gap to Harper's Ferry

If you are reading this post, then you most likely know me well enough to know I love endurance activities!  I love long days out, I love pushing myself, and love, love, love being exhausted at the end of the day....And it makes the beer taste even better!  So, when Kira said she wanted to do a 50 I said sure!

And for some reason I never get tired of this view....keeping pace, following steps, just moving.....it some how simplifies things and lets your mind wander!

We had a BEAUTIFUL day out....cooler temps with snow flurries all day.  There was this crazy "snow/ice" build up on the trees....like little hairs or some sort of strange horfrost....delicate and beautiful.  The trail was snow packed and awesome for running.  We didn't make it the 54 miles to Harper's Ferry, but  did do an out and back.

I only hope Kira doesn't get tired of all the photos I take during our outside adventures!!  And, Kira, thanks for the motivation, conversation, and commitment!!!  More details on the trail below!

Mount Marshall - Shenandoah National Park

As per usual, I've been super itchy to get out!  And with having such a warm winter its been a perfect time to hit the trails!  Bennett had the day off and was game, so off we went! From Washington, DC, it is about an hour and fifteen minute drive to Front Royal, Virginia which is located at the entrance to Shenandoah National Park.  There is a small parking lot at milepost 15.9 on Skyline Drive....pretty easy to find.

Within the first 10 minutes of the hike we ran into this huge doe!  As we got closer she ran into the woods, but we could see she was not alone.

The temps were in the low thirty's and the sun was shining....Perfect weather for a day out.  This hike was a loop in which you hit two summits, North & South Marshall.  Once you reach the top of North Marshall you walk along a ridge with amazing views of the valley below.  There are also great camping spots along the way if you were looking to do an overnight!  You might want to bring bear spray as we did see some bear scat....It wasn't steaming, so I think we were in the clear!

I love these shots....Bennett during the day, and Bennett at night!  I need to work on my math skills, as I underestimated the length of the hike by about a mile.  We made it back to the car before we needed headlamps, but it was getting close!

See below for more route data!  Thanks again Bennett for coming along (and for going back for the guidebook!!).  Hope to do it again soon!