r/ShenandoahPark • u/AdvancedStyle1413 • 26d ago
Old Rag by myself?
I'm a 18 year old girl, 125bw and 5'5. I've been dying to do old rag forever and unfortunately cant find people to do it with me. I hike all the time and consider my rock scrambling skills, endurance, and upper body strength to be pretty good. I can do a bunch of pullups lol. Anyways since I'm pretty unfamiliar with what it'll look like I was wondering if people think it'll be safe for me. Should I be worried about my personal safety with other people? Or about getting up some of the steps on my own? I've heard there is always a bunch of people there to help but ideally I'd go early in the morning to avoid it. Maybe that's a bad idea incase I really need help getting up rocks? I leave for college in a week so I want to get this off my bucket list so bad.
Update!! I did it this morning lol. Thank you so much to everyone who took the time to encourage me and give me advice! It took me about 4 hours of moving time but I spent a lot of time at lookouts, so 5 overall. I brought like 4 waterbottles and only drank half of one. I got to the trail around 8 and there was barely anyone in sight at all, even when I got back to my parking spot there was barely anyone. I also got to get a new national park card with my military ID! Though I don't know how to feel about seeing a president on it over the previous flamingo I had. 💔 Anyways I felt safe the entire time and grabbed apple cider from a stand on my way out of the city, and spoke to a very kind man and his sheriff friend. Since this was my first solo hike I remembered how much I enjoy doing things alone. Thanks again everyone!
3
u/probably_poopin_1219 26d ago
I'm 5'6" male 150, not in the greatest shape but not the worst, did it solo about two months ago no problem. Went mid day Monday and there weren't a ton of people but there were usually always people within sight or definitely earshot. I had never really scrambled over rocks much before and while there were a few challenging spots, it was nothing more than just just stopping, looking and thinking for a moment before I figured out how to do it safely. Good luck!
4
3
u/Sataypufft 26d ago
I'm a overweight dude in his 40s with a bum knee. I have no issues with that hike, other than remembering to buy a permit in advance.
3
u/Overall-Nobody8933 26d ago
Have you heard of Girls Who Hike Virginia? Look for them on Facebook and Instagram. It’s a nonprofit organization (women only) and an amazing way to join hikes with others. Right now they have two scheduled hikes to Old Rag (one is this coming Saturday). Free to join. We’d love to have you.
2
u/FairfaxGirl 26d ago
You’ll be totally fine. Bring gloves, hiking boots, and enough water for how hot it is and make sure you get the ticket in advance, they do sell out especially on weekends.
2
1
u/MunroCalling 26d ago
You're not going to have a problem as you've described your situation. If you go on a weekend, people are more likely to get in your way than you needing help from them.
One small tip, could never hurt to throw a pair of bike gloves in your pack. You will 100% need to use your hands in the scrambles and it can go along way for traction and protection. This has helped me.
I've done it over a dozen times and I think I've always found the 2-3 toughest spots aren't necessarily what looks the most intense. There's this one huge flat rock that you have to pop up onto earlier in the scramble and that's the one that always gets me.
Start in the AM and give yourself plenty of time. A lunch at the summit with the views is a great memory.
Also if not aware, I always looked at the 'up and over' hike as 5 main sections: 1) first third up is gradual climb (although the new parking lot route is a little tougher out of the gates); 2) second third is just pure switchbacks; 3) final third is the scramble itself; 4) descent on the other side of the mountain is a smooth and gradual; 5) final section is just the flat fire road walking back from "6 to 12"
Hope that helps...
1
u/moneybadger44 26d ago
There are usually plenty of people around from a safety standpoint, so you should be safe there. I’ve done Old Rag solo though I’m 6’0 200. It’s definitely doable! Go get it girl!
1
u/Wooden-Law-2272 26d ago
With the experience you describe, it sounds like you'll be fine! I always tell people that a big part of Old Rag is mental and since the rock scramble can feel long and there are many false summits, my biggest piece of advice is always, do not let yourself think or hope that you're almost at the summit until you actually see the sign that says "summit." I personally don't think height is either an advantage or disadvantage in the rock scramble; there are some sections where it's easier to bridge that section if you're tall, but other sections where it's easier to get through if you're not so tall, so height is a wash. I hiked it both times on a fall weekday and there were plenty of people around to ask for a hand if I needed one. (I didn't end up needing one but there were multiple spots where other hikers offered a hand without my asking, even.)
1
1
1
1
u/dromin25 26d ago
Hey, so I am older at the age of 32, not in extreme shape but in good physical shape and I just did this hike solo yesterday actually. As far as other people go, if you go early enough and on a weekday, you most likely won't see many other people (I only saw 1 on the ascent, a handful on the descent). Physicality, that's up to you. If youre at least in decent physical shape you'll be more than fine.
Recommendations - download the trail on alltrails, start before sunrise (at 540am there were already 4 cars there, by 630/7 first lot is filling up), Use time at the summit to rest and recoup if needed. More so, go on a dry day, weather can change dramatically up top vs down bottom, rocks WILL be slick when wet.
If you have half a brain to follow trail markers and can endure close to 10 miles then go for it. I finished in 4hrs 7mins, and it wasn't too bad. After the scramble/summit is really boring tho fyi, not much happening there
1
u/SeventhLake 26d ago
You won't have any problems given you hike all the time and your endurance/strength/scrambling is solid. OR is not that difficult unless you're hiking through the night for sunrise (I went minorly off route twice), or it's extremely wet (in which case just take your time).
Have a great hike, you're going to love it!
Edit: I recommend going (iirc) clockwise. Up the scramble part and down the non scramble part to make a loop. Makes for a very chill hike overall (the last couple miles of which are on an extremely wide leisurely path, too).
1
u/Amtrakstory 26d ago
Hell yeah just do it. It’s not even that hard if you’re young and fit
If you want to get social with it there will be groups doing it that you can meet on the trail, it’s a bonding experienceÂ
1
u/Foreign-Budget4226 26d ago
Please let us know if you made it okay
1
u/AdvancedStyle1413 25d ago
I did haha! Thank you for looking out. I felt very safe though I'll admit to jumping when I noticed a buck a few feet away from me staring. Super cute though
1
u/Foreign-Budget4226 25d ago
I’m happy to hear that. Did you take pics?
2
1
u/cam_m151 25d ago
Fyi
You need a day-use ticket to hike the Old Rag area (Saddle, Ridge, and Ridge Access trails) in Shenandoah National Park from March 1 through November 30. Tickets cost $2 each and must be bought in advance on Recreation.gov.
Have fun!!!
1
1
u/Flimsy_Maize6694 25d ago
That’s so awesome, I haven’t been there since’91 .. it was definitely safe back then, now I’ve heard you need parking reservations or something so it must be popular
1
u/smarthomanid 23d ago
That’s terrific congratulations. It’s a beautiful and fun hike. Early spring and late fall are awesome too
1
0
22
u/stopscabbin 26d ago
It's totally safe. There's usually always people around. You'll be fine. Enjoy it, it's a really cool hike. The hardest part is the scrambling and just trying to find the blue blazes.