Old Rag Mountain
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Old Rag Mountain | |
|---|---|
| Elevation | 3,291 feet (1,003 metres) |
| Location | Virginia, USA |
| Range | Appalachian Mountains, Blue Ridge Mountains |
| Coordinates | |
| Topo map | USGS Old Rag Mountain |
| Type | granite |
| Age of rock | Precambrian |
| Easiest route | hike |
Old Rag Mountain, or simply Old Rag, is a mountain in Madison County, Virginia. A popular hiking destination; it is located in Shenandoah National Park, and is considered unusual in that unlike most mountains of the Blue Ridge, it has an exposed (rocky) top.
It is also located near the Washington, DC area which adds to its popularity and traffic - especially during the first weekend of spring, and the peak leaf season in the fall. Foliage aside, however, the seven-mile loop hike is considered a rite of passage for mid-Atlantic hikers.
The summit mile of the hike consists of a fun and strenuous rock scramble.
Old Rag is also a unique destination for rock climbing in the mid-Atlantic region. Its large granite exposures offer rock climbers an experience similar to that provided by the granite rocks of the Sierra Nevada Mountains, Yosemite, North Carolina, and New Hampshire - it boasts splitter cracks, dihedrals, and crystal pinching slabs.
The climbs are between 50 and 100 feet in length; and range in difficulty from beginner to expert (5.4- to 5.12+ on the Yosemite Decimal System).
[edit] References
[edit] External links
- Shenandoah National Park
- Old Rag on LocalHikes.com
- Nordic Walking US
- Maps and aerial photos
- WikiSatellite view at WikiMapia
- Topographic map from TopoZone
- Aerial image from TerraServer-USA
- Surrounding area map from Google Maps
- Location in the United States from the Census Bureau
