Old Rag Sunrise Foot Shredding [Hike]: Turn Up or Transfer

OVERVIEW

What’s up you beautiful band of dirtbags?

THE FOLIAGE IN SHENANDOAH IS AT ITS PEAK. LET’S GO ON AN ADVENTURE!

I’ve done Old Rag a few times, and if there’s one thing I can guarantee you it’s that the hike is absolutely beautiful. From everything I’ve read, doing it sunrise style is the only way to get the best view and avoid a tremendously crowded trail.

The trail is a fairly strenuous 9 miles. It features a rock scramble on the approach to the summit that is super fun! We will be doing this with head lamps in the early, early morning.

WHAT WE WILL BE DOING:

Leave Charlottesville at 2:00am. We’ll drive out to the Old Rag trail head near Sperrysville, and hopefully be there around 3:45am. I aim to be on the trail by 4:00am. Everyone will need to bring a head lamp. The gear room has some head lamps, but a lot of them are checked out right now. If there aren’t enough I’ll corral some.

We’ll get to the summit, eat some snacks/cook some oatmeal (I’m thinking we’ll bring a whisperlite stove) and wait for the majestic sunrise. After our retinas are beautiful-view’d out we’ll make a quick descent down the 5-mile fire access road and then drive back to Cville. I’m aiming to be back by 11:30am or noon so that you can nap or rally for a full Saturday.

I don’t have a car, so everyone is wait listed until I get some drivers. Drivers have priority and gas is reimbursed plus a 30% tip up to $10. I may give priority to people with park passes too since that will save us all ca$h.

WHAT TO BRING:

2-3 L of water (seriously, bring water, just because it’ll be chilly doesn’t mean you don’t need to hydrate)
Warm Layers (it’ll be nippy on the way up, but you might break a sweat once the sun is up)
Food/snacks (it’s a weird time, but your body will for sure need fuel)
Head lamp
Hiking boots or sturdy shoes with good grip

Yours in shredding,

Jeremy “Let’s Get Ready to RUMBLE” Kemp