Old Rag Sunset (Rating: A or B)

Please read the full description, as this will be a little more complicated than most NVHC hikes. This will be 7.5 miles & 2,400 ft for the "A" hikers, and 5.5 miles and 1,800 ft for the "B" hikes.

You must read the following NVHC Sign-in Sheet Statement/Liability Disclaimer, https://nvhc.com/signin.pdf and then answer the question that you will see when you RSVP with "I accept" to be permitted on the hike.

All times here are tentative, and will be updated after another NVHC Old Rag hike on the 24th, so please check back the week of the hike for final times.

Everyone must obtain their own ticket for Old Rag. The cost is $2 so you can afford it. go to recreation.gov and search for Old Rag Day-Use, the shutdown should be sorted by then, so they will be checking for tickets. 368 were available as of the 17th.

This is where the logistics start to get even more complicated. We will meet at the Park & Ride lot across from the Sheets at 7267 New Stable Way, Gainesville, VA 20109 (38.80158,-77.58969). We will consolidate to as few cars as possible, with the "B" hikers driving. Please arrive a little early so we can depart the P&R promptly at 12:30.

We will drive to the Old Rag Parking lot to drop off the "A" hikers who will begin their ascent up Old Rag along the traditional rock-scramble route. The carpool drivers will then drive around the mountain, passing by the normal White Oak Canyon parking lot, and proceeding up to the end of Weakley Hollow Rd to the Berry Hollow trailhead (38.54877,-78.33873) where the "B" hike will proceed up the back side of Old Rag, where we will unite at the summit to take in the sunset. Sunset will be at 6:16pm so the target is to have everyone at the summit by 5:45.

Since the "B" hikers will not be doing rock scrambles, we will encumber them with the supplies for our charcuterie boards (so that we can properly enjoy the setting sun), so "B" hikers should have packs with some room to spare (if bringing fermented grape juice please transfer it to a non-glass bottle, no need to telegraph our bending of the rules).

After the sun has set, (everyone should have a headlamp) we will descend back down the back side of the mountain, and when we get to the 4-way intersection of the fire roads, we will ALL turn left for the .8 mile trip down to the cars at Berry Hollow Trailhead. THERE SHOULD BE NO CARS AT THE OLD RAG PARKING LOT, so it will be a strait shot back to the Gainesville P&R.

Please message me if you plan to take the "A" or "B" option, and if you are going to be a "B" let me know how many seats you will have available. Hopefully we don't have to ask anyone to opt for the "B" side to balance transportation. "B" hikers may also want to pack a book as you have the shorter hike and may have to wait for the "A" hikers to finish their joyful ascent.

The Berry Hollow Trailhead lot is small but should have cleared out by 2:30pm, if not, David T., who has volunteered to lead the "B" hike will have to coordinate shuttling cars down to the White Oak Canyon parking area.

Everyone should have plenty of water, and snacks appropriate to watching a sunset. An extra layer or two may also be prudent if we have a wait at the top, where it is likely to be windy, and we will have worked up a sweat on the ascent.

Dogs are not permitted on this hike as they are barred from Old Rag.

Leader: Dale Johnson 540-454-5592