Old Rag Mountain Steward

2011 Recap

2012-01-17T07:20:00.000-08:00

For those of you who follow such accounting... we have finally finished tallying up all of the pertinent "bean counter" data for the Old Rag Mountain Stewards for 2011.... and I have to say, that for a volunteer organization, we nailed up some pretty impressive numbers. (as one of our members said "it proves the old adage: many hands make light work"

A brief summary of the year:

-ORMS donated 4338 hours of STEWARDSHIP SERVICE (of which 816 hours are travel)

- averaged 5.3 stewards on the mountain per weekend...

- We provided 880 sets of directions..

-We taught 90 lessons in outdoor skills to novice hikers/campers..

-We put out and disassembled 15 fires/rings!! (open fires are illegal on ORM!!!)

- taught 350 LNT /plant /resource lessons to visitors..

-.had 4 major incidents involving carryouts/medivac (plus we assisted with 1 on another mountain)...

-We re-connected 14 separated parties...

-We escorted and assisted 32 groups off the mountain due to low visibility and their lack of preparedness....

- We observed 44 dogs on the mountain, also illegal!

-We observed lots of folks camping illegally,

- and of all things, we had 5 incidents of having to clear the trails because folks had brushed them in!!?

Beyond service on the mountain, the volunteers of ORMS also completed... 2,110 hours of focused hard skill training training.... from first aid and rescue to climbing and plant identification.

THOSE are impressive numbers in anyone's book ...and we are all looking forward to 2012!.

The last weekend on the mountain for 2011...

2011-11-15T05:39:00.000-08:00

The Old Rag Mountain Stewards wrapped up another very successful year on the mountain on Sunday, November 13.. (a complete wrap up report will be available by mid-December..)

This is the conclusion of the fourth year of the ORMS program! How the time has flown and how things have changed!!!

It's hard to say just what impact our volunteers have had on the visitor experience to Old Rag. With exponential increases in the levels of visitorship over the past several years, the negative impact to the trails, plants and rocks themselves is very noticeable.. despite volunteer efforts!

Beyond the ecological and educational focus, the part of the program visitors are more likely to receive favorably... is the "enhanced" first response capability that the ORMS program brings to Shenandoah National Park.....

Operating much as the National Ski Patrol does at snowsports areas, ORMS volunteers are always training for emergency situations which are specific to Old Rag.

The final weekend involved a lot of visitor outreach, an amazing amount of high level technical training and the construction of a "highline" for load transfer and difficult rescue scenarios.. definitely memorable training for all participants and spectators alike!!

This is also the time of year when receive a lot of inquiries about "how to become and Mountain Steward".

The first step is to contact us... express your interest and tell us a bit about yourself...
The second step is , after you have been vetted, is to join us for a few days of "hike along" training on the mountain.. Following a successful "hike along season" , you will then be invited to join the Stewards for their formal training programs... and that is when it really gets going!

(all imagery courtesy ORMS Anne R.)

For November 5 and 6...

2011-11-03T17:12:00.000-07:00

(as posted on Hiking Upward)
For all of you researching this site in preparation for a hike this weekend, Nov 5-6. The trails in the shadows and on the NW side of the mountain are very treacherous with packed snow and ice. While the daytime temperatures have been rising above freezing, the longer nights are well below 32.
The result is midwinter trail conditions.... with the very high visitation that always occurs in Fall. Old Rag has been and will be colder than wherever you are coming from.

As you are aware, or should be if you are not, a slip and fall in the scramble can have very significant consequences. Ice and snow exacerbate those slippery conditions. .. and a fall can result not only in a physical injury but a long cold wait for help.. Remember those who respond to accidents also have to deal with the ice and snow.

Please, if you are planning a circuit hike of Old Rag this weekend, bring along traction devices for your feet.. NOT crampons.. but something along the way of Kahtoola Micro-spikes... Dress in layers, bring water and a high energy snack, and as always, use your best judgment.. give yourself permission to have a really nice day.. If you are not 100% comfortable when you begin moving past the first false summit to start the scramble.. then by all means enjoy the first false summit and head back down the Ridge Trail...

We hope you have a memorable and safe hiking day on Old Rag!

FALL.. (finally!)

2011-09-02T05:57:00.000-07:00

..and the orange shirts are back on Old Rag!
Historically, our very busiest time of year..the mountain is full of folks taking advantage of cooler temperatures to come see the changing colors of the leaves! A spectacular experience indeed!
In the interest of making your trip more enjoyable and memorable (because of a good experience) please remember a couple of things:

- With the cooler days and changing seasons, it also means that the days are shorter.. and while 8.00pm was still light a month ago, now, it's anything but. Remember to start your hike a bit earlier than you would in the summer, and also, BRING A LIGHT SOURCE. The trails are well marked, so it needn't be huge or heavy, usually just a lightweight LED/flashlight is adequate.. but a headlamp is best.

- Even though it's cooler and you may not FEEL like you are perspiring as much, your body will still lose a fair amount of fluid while hiking (this holds true throughout the winter as well). we have more dehydrated folks in Fall than any other time! Continue to bring 2-3 liters of water per person while hiking Old Rag.

-For those of you hiking in large groups, especially with children, use the buddy system, and have designated meet up points about every mile or so. This will help avoid the issues, worries and stress of separated parties.. those are no fun for anyone

-with the changing seasons comes changing weather.. be ready for it. This usually is experienced in two ways:
THUNDERSTORMS.. while it may be memorable, Old Rag summit is NOT the place to be during a lightening event!
and COOLER , BREEZIER conditions on the summit.. usually 10-15 degrees cooler than where you came from.. DRESS IN LAYERS, and bring layers..

-and lastly, if this is your first hike on Old Rag. don't feel sheepish about asking either the Park Service staff at the contact station or any of the Mountain Stewards you may encounter for information or advice.. it is always easier to prevent issues than solve them.

GIVE YOURSELF PERMISSION TO HAVE A REALLY NICE DAY ON OLD RAG!

If you are really tired by the time you reach the first "summit", consider just enjoying the day there and heading down the same way you came up... (at that point you are only about 25% of the way thru the hike)

We look forward to seeing you on the mountain!

Show and Tell..

2011-06-26T18:51:00.000-07:00

Today, Lead Stewards Chad and Andy (both natives of Rappahannock County) did the first public presentation about the Old Rag Mountain Steward program to the Rappahannock County Historical Society.. Program background, program successes, pictures and more pictures.. all about Old Rag..and the Stewards. a GREAT program with GREAT results. .. ended with a quick demo of how basic mechanical advantages expedite technical rescue.

If you or a group you are a part of would like to schedule a presentation, choose a few dates, and drop us a line.. We'll try to get you on the schedule.. I'm sure it'll be a hot ticket!

Mid-Season,Peak Spring Season

2011-06-07T12:07:00.000-07:00

train, plan, rehearse, execute, debrief.... train, plan, rehearse, execute, debrief..

Well, that time of year has arrived! The mountain is full of life! flowers, plants, animals, visitors.. We shall never tire of hearing a first-time hiker's exclamations when arriving at the summit! And for the Stewards, it's ALWAYS a thrill to be there! (every time I reach the summit, usually more than 30 times per year, I still feel that very same way... WOW!)

Mid-season, we are always busy training and talking with visitors, and sharing cool info about both Old Rag and our program.... and of course when our assistance is needed by a visitor, we are happy to be there and are ready to serve. From learning about the plants native to the thin soils of Old Rag to being able to use a map and compass with significant accuracy, from basic knot tying to sophisticated techniques of ascending and descending with rope.. it's all for a higher level of professionalism..

To work on Old Rag as a Steward means to be able to act and react as needed. It may be a rare flower being crushed by off trail hiking... and then it may also be a matter of life or death.

"I wanted to thank everyone involved for the fantastic job they did in getting Dave stabilized and up to the helicopter. Everyone was incredibly collected, professional, and thinking ahead at every single step as a team on how best to help Dave. I want to particularly thank the first responders, Jeremy and his partner, who got Dave stabilized and followed through until he was off the ground.
..he had surgery on his ankle last night, which appears to have gone well, and his is undergoing surgery this morning for a fractured pelvis. He also has a fractured elbow. I don't know of any other injuries beyond those - -Thanks again for a job well done."

"Dear Old Rag Mountain Stewards (Jeremy and the Gang of Orange Shirts),

I just wanted to write and tell you how much we appreciated your help yesterday. You got there so quick and did such a good job of helping to take care of Dave and helicopter him to safety. It is hard for me to believe how quickly you got there and how much help you were once you arrived. We could not have gotten him to safety with out you folks, the NPS rangers, and the very helpful set of hikers from DC whose help was so important.

Dave is doing well. He has a compound left ankle fracture, a broken pelvis and a elbow fracture, but no other injuries that we are aware off. He was in surgery last night at Fairfax for the ankle and this morning for the pelvis.

Thanks again for all of your help."

"It was indeed remarkable how quickly Jeremy and his partner arrived, and as you say it couldn't have happened if they had not already been on the mountain and with pre-positioned equipment. I don't know if this was standard procedure or just lucky timing, but in either regard I'm thankful.
I've never participated in a rescue before, but I can imagine how much training it must take for different possible scenarios. .. I can't think of anything that could have been done better.

With deep gratitude,"

photo courtesy of ORMS Anne R.

(So please don't use the green box as a potty..it's not. It holds our gear!!)

train, plan, rehearse, execute, debrief.... train, plan, rehearse, execute, debrief..

A National Treasure??

2011-05-11T07:49:00.000-07:00

If this is such a special place, special enough to often have more than 2,000 hikers per day...

Why do we find this stuff all over the place???

Out of sight???.. only for the user of this bottle.
Come on folks.. once it's empty, it's light to carry out!

YES... that is a pile of used toilet paper about 2 ft off the trail near the summit!

One persons Narnia sign is another's graffiti... You gotta ask yourself are more signs really needed or wanted? or are they just fun for YOU?

Ahhh.... food and water how considerate! and lovely, too!NOT!
(A fed bear is a dead bear! who do you think eats these scraps???)

Trail mix. (see comment above)

Not to mention stripped saplings, hacked up trees, new, unauthorized trails that are eroding the mountainside like crazy. Come on folks! We can do better!!!

TREASURE OLD RAG!

Raining and Training...

2011-04-25T18:35:00.000-07:00

I guess I need to look more on the sunny side of life..
But unfortunately, I read and watch and listen to the weather forecast... especially before heading to the mountains for a day on Old Rag... you can too! right here! So when we received more than 6 inches of rain in an afternoon, and had active tornado warnings in place (not watches), and the high temperature for the day was only in the 40s... how suprised do you think the Stewards were when folks came off the summit dressed in shorts, short sleeved shirts and borderline hypothermic?
Shocked and speechless were close.... another group from VA Tech was "camping" near the summit... though their gear was virtually destroyed by the weather, wind and rain... They were not having fun.
Here are two pictures... the first one is of the small waterfall below the old upper parking lot at normal spring levels...

...the second is from Saturday afternoon.. In addition to cold temperatures and high winds, and a flooded access road... Not an ideal day to introduce someone to the joys of hiking Old Rag..

I forgot to mention, there were no views beyond treetop level in the parking lot..

The next time this is the forecast, I'm sure we'll see someone in a kayak or C1 looking for a first descent from PO Junction...

That is assuming ANYONE bothers to check the forecast..

This past week found nine of the Stewards in NE Alabama training with the National Park Service's Eastern High Angle Rescue Course. Five Stewards were instructors and four were first-time students...
continuing to advance the reputation of unsurpassed professionalism of Stewards on the
mountain

New Stewards in action at Little River Canyon AL...

2011 .. First Weekend.. Capital Hiking Club...shame!!

2011-04-03T19:04:00.000-07:00

It's so good to get back out on the mountain!
This year we're a month earlier than our historical start.. primarily due to the change in heavy visitation weekends... it keeps getting earlier and earlier!
We've been chomping at the bit to get going... and finally, the weekend arrived.
So this year we started... in the snow! And despite the slippery conditions, there were still plenty of visitors...
You know with a mountain as popular (in other words..crowded) as Old Rag, you see a lot of interesting things (read: destructive resource abuse) from visitors. Pooping and peeing right on the trail, breaking and pulling up plants, short-cutting switchbacks... vandalism of all types..lack of preparedness..... and basically non compliance with all of the principles of Leave No Trace (LNT) and in general most Park Service regulations that pertain to Old Rag Mountain.

Rarely, however, do the folks who are making the most impact leave their calling card.... until this weekend.

The good folks at the CAPITAL HIKING CLUB, I guess didn't get the word about all those pesky guidelines and regulations.. Showing up in several large buses... hiking in multiple LARGE groups, substituting (several) graffitti signs for adequate trip leadership..... I would expect much better from a prominant(?) hiking club.

I guess the blue blazes, the deeply rutted trail, and copious signage just aren't enough...

Spring Training

2011-03-29T09:21:00.000-07:00

With our "official" season beginning next weekend, the Stewards trained this past weekend to prepare for all sorts of possibilities.. This year's training focus was on providing first response care.
Trust me... these are the guys you want to find on Old Rag if you need help!

.. and to enhance the reality of our training, we even had really cold temperatures (in the teens), and snow... BOTH of which are possibilities in the mountains thru May! BE PREPARED!

Our instructor for the course was Marco Yuracheck from SOLO in NH. The training he provided was OUTSTANDING.. since he was able to offer it from the perspective as both the care giver and the victim..

(He suffered a major(near fatal) climbing accident locally, and he was able to provide some very unique insights to the effect of quality of care and rescuer actions on the patient... Helping us to again, and as always, provide the highest level of training and readiness possible for our Stewards.)

A very bad day rock climbing .. for both the climber, and the belayer!

In a couple of weeks, 8 of the Stewards will be training in Alabama for High Angle Technical rescues.. another level of training indeed!

2011 Spring Training weekend

2011-02-03T18:47:00.000-08:00

Our annual training weekend will soon be upon us and the start of the 2011 season is not far behind!
Now is the time for all of you who have expressed an interest in the program to get in touch with me so I can get the latest information on the training weekend..

Join us!

Make a difference in the Old Rag visitor experience... all the while enhancing your own!!

If you are interested in "stewarding" please drop me a line, even if you have already done so..

mtnjedi@gmail.com

Looking Back..

2010-12-09T06:18:00.000-08:00

It was a busy year on Old Rag for the Old Rag Mountain Stewards..
This week, we wrapped up our year-end reports .. and some of the results were very impressive! Most impressive was the fact that Stewards spent more than 2000 hours on Old Rag this year providing visitor assistance and educational enrichment..
Part of those 2000 hours were some very significant assistance and rescues of injured visitors in which Stewards played a very key role.

Additionally, more than 800 hours were spent simply in the professional development of the stewards.
The average visitor to Old Rag Mountain may not know this, but the folks you see in the orange shirts, the ORMS, learn a tremendous amount about:
- wilderness first aid, first response and medicine,
-rock climbing and rappelling,
-land navigation, and
-the basics of high angle technical rescue.

On top of that, they are all certified as Leave No Trace (LNT) Trainers .. and they know Old Rag pretty much like the back of their hand...

To give you an idea of just how busy we were, this is taken from the year end situation report (SITREP):

VISITOR ASSISTANCE DATA (SUMMARY) - 2010 / 2009 / change

WATER ASSIST - 53 / 48 / +5

MINOR FIRST AID ASSISTS - 24 / 13 / +11

EMERGENCY REQUIRING EVAC/ESCORT - 8 / 8 / NC

SEPARATED PARTIES - 25 / 27 / -2

FIRES EXTINGUISHED - 5 / 3 / +3

LOW VISIBILITY / NIGHT ESCORTS (NO LIGHTS ) - 8 / 16 / -8

DIRECTIONS PROVIDED - 516 / 438 / +78

LNT INSTRUCTION - 147 / 91 / +58

BASIC OUTDOOR SKILL INSTRUCTION - 29 / 25 / +4

NATURAL/CULTURAL INTERPRETATION - 146 / 29 / +11

As you can see from the data, there is always something happening on Old Rag Mountain! If you need more proof, scroll down thru this blog...

This marks the end of the third year of the Old Rag Mountain Stewards...something that began as an experiment or pilot project has turned into a mega success!

Along with success goes the requests to do more... more days on the mountain, more places to be served by a program like this,

..more opportunities to get some really hi-speed training.. for free.

But to do that, we need more folks who are interested in participating.. people, who, physically, can easily hike Old Rag , who get along well with others, who may or may not have training in first aid, LNT, rock climbing... people who are willing to LEARN (and in-turn, SERVE)... in exchange for 2-4 days per year spent in an amazing environment with great people who love the mountains.

If this is you, email us!

Our spring training begins in March... with a training weekend that will be AMAZING!

I hope you can join us!

Stewards

Season's End

2010-11-18T20:43:00.000-08:00

ORMS season 2010 is now wrapped up and in the history books.. he third season of our presence on the mountain, and increasingly a critical first response asset. Once all the numbers and end of day reports have been sifted , sorted and deciphered, I'll have a more detailed report.. For now, we'll just look at our last day of the season... a professional "fun day".

Part of the job of the ORMS is to know Old Rag mountain extremely well and to be able to provide first response services as needed. Every week during the season there is training specifically geared to prepare stewards for both of those goals.

The last day of the year, started with the "lead stewards" giving a technical and safety brief for the days evolution.

The evolution for the day was to ascend the mountain via the western slabs utilizing fixed ropes.. a stumble or slip, unroped, would result in a terrible tumbling fall of more than 500 feet .

Midday found the team still well below the summit.... basking in the mid November sun.

The climb finished with the team topping out right at sunset.. packing up gear and breaking out headlamps for the hike down the mountain and waiting pizza!

Old Rag Mountain Stewards 2010

Photos courtesy of Ben Minehart and Karen Toth

"There was no way I was making it down on my own."

2010-11-09T07:24:00.000-08:00

"I'm the big blue burrito they helped down the mountain and thank God they did. There was no way I was making it down on my own. .. I have plenty of time now to reflect upon the events yesterday and I am so grateful to the wonderful people that helped me out. (ORM Steward )Bob, was first on the scene, was honest and thorough telling me exactly what to expect. I am so inspired by the generosity and good nature of these volunteers. Everyone who helped was fabulous and I'm eternally grateful."
This was received from a person who experienced a very difficult time and accident during the ascent of Old Rag on 7 November.. A more complete accounting of the weekend can be found on Bob's blog.
This year, from May thru November, the ORMS program has made a big difference on Old Rag Mountain both in terms of the visitor experience and the resource protection. Our last official weekend on the mountain is November 13, 14. Then, we'll be gone until next Spring. If you or anyone you know is (very) fit, interested in mountain skills, helping others, educating people about this magnificent natural resource (Stewarding!) and would like to join this select group, please contact us!

Blowin' in the Wind...

2010-10-28T19:04:00.000-07:00

A nice thing for some of the ORM Stewards is that some of them/us are able to make our living in the mountains as outdoor educators and guides... meaning we get to see the mountains on days other than the crazy busy and crowded weekends... and visit many of the other fantastic mountains in the area... (contrary to commonly held beliefs, (apparently) Old Rag is NOT the only great mountain with a great mountain hike!)
Last weekend saw more than 3000 (!) hikers and visitors to Old Rag Mountain on Saturday... Can anyone picture a granite Kings Dominion??
Sunday the place was "relatively desolate".. only 1000 (!) people on the mountain.. with more than 100 on the summit area at any given time thru 6.00pm.

If it were not for our days away from Old Rag, I think the crowds would be a bit discouraging for someone who wants to really have a "mountaintop experience" . But I guess if you live in the city, it'll do....I mean it IS nature, sort of..
Although with 3000 visitors, I suspect even Nature stays away or wants to stay away (for a very good reason!)

And now for the bad news:
Having spent the midweek this week in Shenandoah, I am sad to report that the wind has stripped a large amount of the Fall color from the trees, and most of the mountain summits and ridges above 1500 ft (most of them, in other words) are looking pretty much like winter...But you don't have to take my word for it...The picture (above) was taken today (Thursday, October 28) at about 5.00pm looking toward Old Rag from the Skyline Drive..

Stewards.

When the rubber meets the road..

2010-10-19T08:56:00.000-07:00

While the primary raison d'etre for the Old Rag Mountain Steward program is to provide "mountain stewardship", promoting sound outdoor practices and ethics (like Leave No Trace) and trying to provide mountain education and safety awareness (our orange tee-shirts are an effort to make us very visible to hikers who may have a question or need assistance)...

..more often than not, our presence on Old Rag is most often realized in the event of an emergency: hiker illness or injury or separated parties.

Every weekend we have training on a very wide range of topics (see the previous post) so that regardless of the situation, be it a first time hiker's bear encounter or a traumatic injury we are prepared to respond appropriately.

This past weekend was no exception, except this was not training. A hiker experienced a severe lower leg injury (from short-cutting a trail, I might add. ..something that we actively discourage in our LNT role) and required a helicopter medevac.

As always.. training pays off! The joint NPS-ORMS team was able to effect a very smooth and rapid rescue from a very remote and inaccessible part of the mountain....

..now if they had just stayed on the trail in the first place...

(All images courtesy of Silver Spring Wanderer... one of our key ORMS members.)

Training, training, training...

2010-10-12T07:11:00.000-07:00

Even on the busiest of days, the Old Rag mountain stewards are always training during their time spent on the mountain: technical mountain skills, wilderness first aid, Leave No Trace, flora and fauna... the scope of their training is wide and inclusive.

And in between we help find "lost" hikers, offer backpacking and hiking tips and assist folks who may have become injured... sometimes all three of those in the span of an hour!

Of Mice and .... HIKERS

2010-10-07T17:55:00.000-07:00

This little one lives in the Byrds Nest near the summit of Old Rag Mountain..
About the size of a nickel, it has a furry coat, a protected shelter from winter's howling winds, plus plenty of food and drink...
In most ways, this mouse is much more prepared for a day on Old Rag than are many of the hikers, especially during this busiest of seasons.. fall.

And while hikers don't have to worry about predatory birds and snakes, they should take steps to prepare for all of the other eventualities that the mouse has to worry about...

Warmth, water, food, protection from the elements.

Regardless of the Indian Summer warmth in the valley, the summit of Old Rag is prime hypothermia terrain this time of year.

Pack plenty of water... and don't forget a few extra layers. We have already had several hikers who wished they had come so prepared. Of course, by the time we connect with them, it's usually on the too late side of comfort.

mouse and dime

"Thanks to the Volunteers on Saturday October 2nd

Hi,

My name is --- and I was assisted by 3 Volunteers this past Sat. afternoon. I was leading a group of 7 people and we lost 1 person in our party. I sent everyone else down to the car and climbed back up to the summit ,alone, to get help. 3 of the volunteers moved into action and started a search for my friend. 2 of the volunteers, I didn't get their names, descended via the ridge trail, and (ORMS X)and I descended via the saddle trail looking for my friend, XXX. Thankfully, XXX had returned to the car at the Old Rag Parking area.

I am very grateful for your willingness to help me look for XXX. Your help on the Mountain is something I will always remember. Keep up the good work!!
Thanks again,
---"

You are most welcome!
ORMS

Fall 2010

2010-09-20T06:50:00.000-07:00

The Fall half of the 2010 season has begun in earnest.. Crowds are thronging to Old Rag, literally by the thousands..
..and with good reason: there are few places in the world more spectacular than the Blue Ridge Mountains in Autumn.

The ORMS staff is constantly amazed at the behavior exhibited on the mountain, however. It is almost as if upon deciding to hike Old Rag and rushing out the door, that common sense gets left behind.
Please remember:
-Old Rag is a remote mountain peak. If you get hurt, whether by carelessness on your part or by accident, it will be HOURS before you will get to a medical facility.
- There are port-a-johns at the base of the mountain and a moldering privy at the Old Rag Shelter. Please try to plan your pooping and peeing accordingly. (This applies to your children as well) Nothing is more disgusting and distasteful than stumbling upon a pile of used TP on a beautiful afternoon hike.
- Even though it is Fall, you still need water. You may not noticeably perspire as much.. but you are still losing fluids... Take 2-3 liters per person!
- Dress for the weather... which means 15 windy degrees cooler than where you live!
-If you hike on the weekends... expect crowds and long waits at the tight spots. Have patience.
- Believe it or not, a large portion of Old Rag is designated as wilderness.. please respect it as such! Leave No Trace guidelines apply!!

An all new season..

2010-05-04T19:43:00.000-07:00

After months spent training and preparing, the 2010 season is off and running! Weekend one was hot and relatively quiet. With the upper parking lot now closed it's hoped that more visitors will heed the rangers' advice about water (take plenty, like 3 liters per person on hot days) and the presence of the mouldering privy a little more than 1/2 way thru the hike, near the Old Rag shelter (... Yes! that means you don't HAVE to poop all over the mountain on and off the trail as many folks seem to feel compelled to do)
As hot as it was, we even had someone who had hiked Old Rag previously, suffering from significant dehydration ... He didn't "want to have to be bothered with the weight of the water" Come on folks, give yourselves permission to enjoy this hike!

We are always looking for new stewards... come join us! Learn all the "secrets" of Old Rag, climb! rappell! learn about the flora (thanks to Emily!) and fauna! and so much more!!!

This baby blacksnake was newly hatched and had just finished a nice beetle dinner!
(see the bulge) This "coil" is about 3" long.

Welcome to the 2010 ORMS season!

2010-03-30T06:52:00.000-07:00

After a VERY long winter, (from which patches of snow will linger on the mountain into April..) we're just about ready to kick off our third season!

On April 17-18, the mountain Stewards will be holding our annual skills refresher training weekend. Beyond the always enjoyable time, we'll be learning about the latest and greatest protocols, from first aid and patient assessment skills to Leave No Trace, from park rules and regulations to what to do for a "lost person".. and so much more.

If you've ever had the desire to spend your weekend in the great outdoors (in a spectacular setting!) and provide a meaningful service to others.. consider joining us!

Flowers persisting at an Old Rag home site.. so many years later

End of season.. "Off season"

2009-12-08T18:20:00.000-08:00

It is hard to believe... the season is over! If you've noticed, that's the way things are..the busier you are, the faster the time passes. That was definitely the case for the Old Rag Mountain Steward program this year...All the planning, all the training, all the preparation came into sharp focus this fall as almost every weekend we were confronted by a situation that posed significant challenge(s).

While there is never really an off season on Old Rag, we consider the six months of the year when there is no official presence of the Mountain stewards to be the off season. It's a time for us to reflect on the year's accomplishments and to prepare and plan for the upcoming 2010 season.

2009 Season Wrap-up:
(excerpted from the 2009 Summary sitrep... for a complete copy email mtnjedi@gmail.com)

"The 2009 season can be judged an unqualified success. regardless of whether the Stewards were called upon to perform as first responders, on-scene technical rescue leaders or simply assisting novice hikers and backpackers to hike and camp responsibly, their performance was top level. The ORMS presence continues to be an accepted, recognized and fully integrated outreach program on ORM, and the interest level and ORMS morale remains high."

Particularly:
"- ORMS provided more than 25 first aid assists, 8 of which required evacuation or further treatment at a medical facility.
- more than 438 interactions with hikers involved providing directional assistance.
- 16 groups and individuals, without lights, were assisted off the mountain after dark.
- 27 "separated parties" were located and reunited."

.. and about the ORMS volunteers:
"- a total of 189 days of service was provided to the public by ORMS volunteers.
- 2323 hours of service were donated by ORMS volunteers
- "top stewards" averaged 34 ascents )each) of ORM during the year."

There were at least 2 newspaper articles written about the ORMS, and we received numerous notes of thanks from various visitors to the mountain...
and, (hallelujah!) Shenandoah National Park completed a MOULDERING PRIVY and placed it near the Old Rag Shelter.. hopefully folks will now be able to "hold it" just a bit longer and refrain from using this amazing wilderness as an open potty.

Planning for 2010 includes:
- Wilderness / Mountain First aid and refresher training (for ORMS) weekend on 27-28 March
- a consolidated and published annual training plan for ORMS weekends
-sometime this Spring, the upper parking lot for Old Rag will be permanently closed
- April will begin the ORMS spring season.

As always, we look forward to seeing you out on the mountain, and better yet, JOINING US!

Stewarding..

2009-10-27T13:16:00.001-07:00

A large part of the Old Rag Mountain Steward program is interacting with people.. from aiding those in need, to helping hikers and climbers understand how fragile the mountain's flora can be (especially when tromping around off-trail), offering wilderness living tips to those who are venturing out overnight for the first time, and being a resource of advanced skills for anyone interested. The result is the same.. a more informed enthusiast for this amazing resource.

This past weekend, with a Sunday visitation approaching 2,000 it was good to see our friend and neighbor David C. on one of his frequent trips up the mountain.. And it was also a pleasure to meet a follower of this blog from Richmond VA... and she had a great question... "How do you go about contacting one of the stewards ("the orange shirts") on the mountain if you need them?"

This is how...
On any given weekend on Old Rag during the "busy season" there are usually 4-8 stewards "orange shirts" on the mountain...usually traveling in 2-3 groups. Accompanying each group is an NPS radio, on which all Shenandoah National Park communications traffic is monitored.
If you find yourself in need of assistance, head either up or down the mountain, keep your eyes open and ask others where the nearest Old Rag Mountain Steward is... If you are near the bottom, go to the Fee station at either White Oak Canyon or Old Rag (Nethers) and we can be contacted via park communications... Normally, a group of stewards can be readily located between the summit and the Byrds Nest, where we keep our gear.

*** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** ***
When stewards are not on the mountain, (December- April, August) and an accident requiring medical assistance occurs, it can often require up to 18 hours or more (and the help of 25 rescuers) to receive definitive care in a controlled environment.. With the stewards on the mountain, that time can be slashed to 9 hours (which is still a long time... but it beats 18..)

Due to the rugged, and fairly unforgiving nature of Old Rag, ( when something happens, it's too late to learn what to do) a large portion of each weekend's time is spend refreshing basic rescue and first aid skills. You will find even the most experienced stewards participating in this training.

The goal is that when the NPS rescue team arrives the ORMS mesh seemlessly with the NPS professionals... a goal we are meeting nicely.

"Thank you (Rangers Scully and Martinelli)again for all you did to get me safely off the mountain on Sunday. I am still astonished at the Herculean efforts you and all the others so calmly put forth to rescue me. I can only wonder what would have happened if you had not responded and I had tried in my shock and daze to climb back out. I will be grateful forever.
Fortunately, the damage to my head will heal and no harm occurred to myskeleton. The hospital staff cleared me on Sunday night, I rested, and today I went to work and am almost feeling like normal again...
(stewards)Chad and Matt were terrific. I have to say it took a real leap of faith to allow strangers to tote and sometimes haul me by ropes over a rocky mountain on a litter, but my husband and I felt totally reassured by their professional demeanor. Chad was calm, kind, and knowledgeable, and took extra care at the outset of the hauling maneuvers and throughout the journey off the mountain to ensure that everyone understood each step of the drill and didn't rush. His behavior kept me calm and allayed my greatest fear -- that someone else would get hurt in trying to help me. In addition to everything else, Matt made at least two trips that I remember up and down the mountain to locate necessary items. I just can't thank them enough. The Old Rag Mountain Stewards is an incredible program. "

Early October.. Back on the Mountain

2009-10-08T18:14:00.000-07:00

The low Autumn sun provides a great profile view of Old Rag across Virginia's Piedmont.
(photo by steward Ben M.)

To the Mountain Stewards:

2009-09-08T06:57:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, the Old Rag Mountain Stewards helped my daughter out in a big way. I want to thank them again for all their help in getting her down from the summit of Old Rag Mountain. We made it up through the rock scramble early yesterday morning with XXXX leading the way. We decided to return from the summit through the rock scramble and she took an unfortunate fall. We were immediately assisted by fellow hikers. Our cell phones were getting no signal. A couple of other female hikers did very well in keeping her calm. Within 40 minutes of her fall, Jeremy and Ben, Old Rag Mountain Stewards, were on the scene to help. In all 5 Stewards and many park rangers helped her off the mountain.

Throughout the ordeal XXXX was a trooper. Thanks to many she remained calm. As it turns out she broke her leg in two places. She has a break through her lower fibula and another through her ankle. Other than the disappointment that she will miss her entire soccer season, she is doing fine. I don't recall everyone's names yesterday that assisted her; however, I want to thank all of you again. You are true professionals and provide a great service. Job well done yesterday!

Joe

From the mountain..

2009-07-15T08:34:00.000-07:00

Training..
orange shirts on the mountain
Making a difference.

.. and still more training for the eventual call.

P-SAR..

2009-07-01T07:02:00.000-07:00

As the spring half of the ORMS season draws to a close in the next two weeks, it's nice to have the opportunity to look back on an extremely successful season... so far.

First, thanks to the folks at Sport Science, all the mountain stewards are wearing the distinctive orange tee shirts with the ORMS logo.. Thank you Sport Science!!!!

The stewards have all spent a lot of really special time on the mountain this spring and have continued to learn a lot about the "specialness" of the place.. Old Rag Mountain.
From watching soaring peregrines to training for the (eventual) medical emergency, from learning about the history of "PO Junction" to developing effective techniques of Preventative Search and Rescue (P-SAR).

P-SAR is a fascinating concept... and one that is growing in focus across the spectrum of outdoor adventure pursuits, worldwide. Instead of focusing on the reactionary... "OK here is the situation, now what?" P-SAR, instead, encourages folks to look at the environment they are entering and asks them to do a critical evaluation of their mental, physical and material readiness... BEFORE they become over committed to a situation that may be beyond a their abilities or their companion's abilities.
(This is not new... it's something instinctively practised by experienced outdoors enthusiasts, outdoor professionals, rangers and guides.. however with sites such as Old Rag, where a lot, as in thousands, of people have their first outdoor, mountain adventures... instincts like this are definitely not commonplace.)

All P-SAR really is, is good old fashioned situational awareness and planning... aka "common sense"
- Starting at dusk for a 7 hour hike? "take a headlight/flashlight or two"
- Thunderstorms in the forecast? "take rain gear and don't have your heart set on the summit"
- The weather at 3,200' in Western VA is not the same as it is an hour to the east. Consult a local forecast or better, Shenandoah National Parks website, and plan accordingly.
- Hiking in a group of all different ages and fitness levels? Plan on multiple rally points throughout the hike to make sure you have everyone.
- Hiking in new shoes? plan for blisters.
- Need to go to the bathroom at the start of the hike? How are you going to feel 4 hours from now? prepare!
- Go to the bathroom in the woods?! how about on exposed granite!! (ask a ranger or ORMS how to best prepare for this eventuality)
- Just had knee surgery? back surgery? consider choosing a more forgiving hike...
- Is this your first mountain hike ever?? maybe consider working up to this hike..
- It's a hot, humid day, with a strenuous climb.. "if you think you have enough water, then you don't."

If more people listened to that one point alone, a lot fewer people would come down the mountain desperate for a drink!

Oh! the mysteries...

2009-05-25T17:50:00.000-07:00

There are many mysteries about and on Old Rag Mountain... some are definitely local legends and lore, some are hearsay... and then there are some that are known to the Old Rag Mountain Stewards that simply defy explanation..
Valid? fish tales? you be the judge. The bottom line is: These mysteries are real.

Mystery 1 - "The Old Rag Summit Bunny."..
Long thought to be from the Washington metropolitan region.. perhaps an enthusiastic newcomer to ORM hiking... this past weekend the Stewards got a pretty good glimpse of the real deal... urban legend? We don't think so.. you be the judge.. this shot is directly behind the summit sign..

Mystery 2. The "Christmas in Summer" decorations on Old Rag.
This one had us stumped for a very long time.. Of course we've all seen the fallen decorations on the ground, but it wasn't until the festivities associated with Memorial Day, and no less than 400 collective lifetime ascents of the mountain that we got to see these storied decorations face to face.. judging from the general conditions on the mountain, Santa's elves have been busy..
It's not everyday (thankfully), you get to see bushes and trees decorated with used toilet paper and "wet wipes".. I guess we just got lucky..

(hmm. I wonder if Santa's elves also brought in the Easter Bunny...)

Mystery 3. "The Self-Cutting Rope"
On the Ridge Trail of ORM is a spot that tends to be a bit of a challenge to some visitors.. it is the crux move required for a successful ascent of the mountain. Known to most as "The Chute" this spot has been known to create backups and waits that exceed an hour on busy days. In order to alleviate the backup on busy days, the Mountain Stewards install a fixed rope to facilitate a more speedy ascent by those not prepared for such a vertical challenge. This weekend, before 3 hours worth of hikers had passed the spot... the rope, perhaps possessed of some evil spirit.. cut itself. Not into two pieces mind you, but more like 3/4 of the way thru.. now serving as a ticking bomb, waiting to fail when loaded .. instead of as an aid to ascent... Mountain gremlin?? evil spirits? bored Boy Scout with a knife? who knows?

Mystery 4. "The Phantom Trail Pooper of Old Rag Mountain"
YES.. this one really exists, but is highly elusive.
Folks there is no other way to put it. This is really scary. To think this could happen right where I'm walking is disturbing. This weekend the phantom struck in FOUR different spots..(despite having almost 1,000 fellow hikers)all with the same effect. In every public place outside of Old Rag, people are supposed to pick up after their DOGS.. even former President Bush does this.. Why, if we pick up after our dogs, do at least four people feel it's ok to not pick up after themSELVES??!!
This was the result of a group, (probably Summit bunnies) and poor leadership and planning.. and we know who they were! Mystery partly solved...

Mystery 5 .. "The Old Rag Testosterone Vortex"
Naturally occurring, Testosterone Vortexes (T.V.s) are usually solid physical challenges that pose some level of risk to the "challenger".. Often viewed as a battle (complete with winners/victors) or some mythic pursuit that validates manhood..
When talking with people taking on the "challenge of Old Rag Mountain", you soon learn that testosterone trumps water as a needed survival tool. It also trumps a headlight, proper footwear, dressing in layers, food, a map, good judgment... you name it. When you are in such a T.V., testosterone is all you need... it's all your friends need, it's all your girlfriend needs, it's all your family needs. (They all just need to "man up"!!) It just doesn't matter if the temperature is pushing 90, or that you're going to be out for 7 hours, or that the rangers recommend at least 3 litres of water EACH.. YOU have testosterone, you are in a T.V.. and that is all that matters.. you don't NEED anything else!

(This may be the single biggest mystery on Old Rag.. and the cause of more discomfort, agony, distress, you name it.)
And, still, those hundreds per weekend, high on testosterone, bent on "conquering" the Old Rag T.V., really don't want to hear how many grandmothers when properly prepared, climb the mountain with relative ease, regularly.

Mystery 6. "The Vanishing Warrenton Barbell"
May 23, 2009, a group of 8 young people from Warrenton VA, including a "self proclaimed" Eagle Scout* and a newly hired nursing technician arrived on the summit bearing a 30 lb barbell, wrapped in foam...( the "why?" is a mystery in and of itself.. ) When they were leaving the summit, the bar just vanished.. only to be found hiding in/under a rock... bar recovered, the group continued to proceed down the Ridge Trail... The bar again, "just vanished".. not to be found. It is strongly suspected that the above- mentioned "TV" factor played a big role in the bar's appearance on the mountain, but no one can explain it's disappearance.. it just vanished.
fish tale? laziness? evil mountain spirits? trolls? magnetic anomaly? you be the judge.

* no Eagle Scout we know of would be caught in this sort of mystery

On Old Rag Mountain..

2009-05-18T12:21:00.000-07:00

The Pinxters and the oaks are just blooming on the summit while around along the fire road, the Fraser Magnolia are full on..
It's been a great start to the 2009 season, with Jane's article (below) and notes and words of appreciation keeping our spirits high..

We are always in the business of recruiting... and we'd love your have your help if you are so inclined.. Join us and learn more about this mountain and mountain skills than you ever imagined!

We received an e-mail this week from some recent hikers, entitled:

"Celebrating the Stewards"

"On Saturday, May 2, 2009, my husband and I climbed Old Rag. We had climbed the mountain about 10 years before. Now we are both in our mid 60s and we found that the climb was more challenging than we remembered. When we reached the rock scrambles, we encountered 3 stewards. They were most helpful, not only to us, but to many of the other visitors that day. They assisted each visitor with explanations of handholds, ways to navigate narrow cracks, and methods to successfully climb Old Rag. I can truly say that I would not have been able to reach the summit without their expertise and help. I saw that many other climbers had a more enjoyable and successful day of climbing as a result of the dedication, knowledge, and patience of the stewards. When we reached the summit, we met the other 3 stewards.

This program is truly to be commended. We are fortunate to have such generous, competent, and helpful people who volunteer to help others enjoy the park.

Please pass on my thanks to these wonderful volunteers."

You are more than welcome!

Some recent local press...

2009-05-18T11:29:00.000-07:00

oLD RAG STEWARDS KEEP WATCH ON MADISON COUNTY MOUNTAIN JEWEL

By Jane DeGeorge
Eagle Reporter
Published: May 13, 2009

In some areas of the country, the pink blossom of a lady’s slipper orchid is a rare sight.

“If you’re a local and just saw one on [Old Rag] Mountain, you would think they’re like dandelions,” said hiker Bob Look, 54. “In other parts of the country, people would go ‘gaga’ just to see one.”

The unusual orchid is one of many flowers and other plant species unique to the billion-year old granite mountain, located in the Madison County portion of Shenandoah National Park.

Mountains often “function like an island” in that their climates are unique and provide fragile environments to plants and animals uncommon to their surrounding areas.

“As you go up a mountain it gets colder, the soil changes…there are species there that exist nowhere else,” said Look, who does patrol hikes on the mountain as a volunteer with the Potomac Appalachian Trail Club and Old Rag Mountain Stewards.

Look – who lives and works in Northern Virginia – has spent at least one day hiking Old Rag every weekend for the past year and half. A former avid rock climber, Look first hiked Old Rag about 36 years ago to “scout out the rocks.” The abundance of open rock along the “Alpine-like” hike left a lasting impression on Look, who returned to hiking a couple years ago after taking a two decade-long break.

The frequent hiker insists there are many other Old Rag visitors who make their way up to the 3,291-foot summit much more often than he.

“There used to be a fellow who lived in a cabin right outside the upper lot who, for a couple years, did a circuit everyday…when he was even in his 70s he did a lot of circuits,” Look said.

“If I’ve done 50 circuits in the last year Chad and Andy have done a hundred times that amount,” Look said of Andy Nichols and Chad Heddleston – two Rappahannock County natives that also volunteer with the Old Rag Mountain Stewards group.

Look says he’s encountered an abundance of warmth from the mountain’s Madison County neighbors since he started his frequent visits to the area. While picking up some trash left on the side of Nethers Road (Route 600) near one of the trail’s entrances recently, a nearby resident who was driving by stopped to chat.

“She walked toward me and said, ‘I just wanted to say thank you. Bless you for picking up trash,’” Look recalled.

The woman told him a story about how a visitor to the area had once left a big pile of trash in her driveway and, unfortunately for them, there were some items included in the pile that had their address on it.

She boxed up all of the trash and then mailed it off with a note that said, “I think you forgot something,” Look said laughing.

“I thought, at least she has a sense of humor,” he said, adding that he understands the park’s neighbors’ frustration as he has sometimes become equally upset by the leftover trash and inappropriate parking by some of the area’s visitors.

In addition to the human hikers, Look often encounters animals that favor the trail, such as black bears – his record is spotting eight bears in one day – and local dogs, such as Junior, a Burmese shepherd who likes to hike sans owner.

Junior – whose owners gave him a special tag with a “I’m a local dog and I know my way home”-type of message – likes to latch on to some groups and hike alongside humans for a few hours before heading off on his own.

“He’s a little color on the mountain,” Look said.

But some local dog hikers have caused human visitors along the trail some grief, Look said. Junior likes to hike up the mountain and then take a snooze in the shade beneath some rocks. But he’s a sound sleeper and often doesn’t respond to calls while napping, which has caused some hikers to call in rangers for help suspecting the pup has passed away.

Even though Look sometimes spots these dogs, pets (even when on a leash) are prohibited on Old Rag Mountain.

With an average of 50,000 hikers heading up the mountain every year, the trail sometimes backs up.

“The longest we’ve seen was a little over an hour [wait]. The line was about 250 people,” he said of an area near the summit where hikers are required to boost themselves up between two boulders and scramble through rocks.

Although the mountain’s high number of visitors turns some people off, Look enjoys encountering fellow hikers and observing people experience their trip up Old Rag, he said.

“There’s certain places I’m comfortable with now, but I can kind of remember thinking, ‘Geez…if I have to do this, I wonder what’s around that next corner,’” he said. “It’s interesting to see people experience that for the first time…and you know it’s going to be something they’re going to remember.”

Look often suggests hikers avoid the big crowds by “time shifting” and visiting the mountain either later in the day or on weekdays when visitor numbers are down. Surprisingly though, there is typically always even a few people up on the mountain, Look says.

Moonlight hikers and adventure running clubs often do circuit hikes in the evening. Look has seen several head lamp-topped runners proceeding up the mountain at 9 p.m. since it’s the only time they can run along the trails with no one in their way.

“You would think there would never be anyone there at night but it’s not true,” he said.

The goals of the two organizations Look represents is to help protect the mountain’s resources as well as serve as an “ambassador” to hikers to make sure they enjoy their time and hike safely.

Look – as well as other Potomac Appalachian Trail Club and Old Rag Mountain Stewards volunteers – wears patches with the organizations’ names on the left side pocket area of his shirts and encourages anyone who spots him hiking to stop and chat.

Shenandoah National Park representatives initiated the creation of the Old Rag Mountain Stewards in an effort to lessen the impact of the abundance of hikers stomping on the mountain every year.

As the park worked to develop its “rock outcrop management plan,” one of the thoughts was to promote outreach and education of hikers as another avenue of lessening the impact of the use of the mountain rather than closing off even more areas of the park than are already restricted to the public.

First weekend of the 2009 season..

2009-05-04T15:20:00.000-07:00

..was foggy, wet and cool. We had very few visitors, so we were all able to brush up on our plant identification and general mountain knowledge...

I's truly amazing how how much trash and waste can be generated by a very few number of visitors.. like everything.. the smallest percentage has the biggest impact.. in this case a very negative impact.

It's been hard to identify this flower, as it's not in any of the books.. however it seems to be sprouting all over the mountainside...

As soft as the springtime soil is, I guess it was just too much effort to bury it.

(top photo courtesy of Ben Minehart)

Even more ready.

2009-04-27T19:09:00.000-07:00

While the first official ORMS weekend isn't until the first weekend in May (supposedly timed for the highest visitation weekends... ha!) our good friend and fellow ORM Steward Bob Look reports that the past few weekends have been crazy crowded.. all due to the beautiful, if hot, weather. While he's kept his circuits on the mountain, taking time to interact with the many visitors, other off duty stewards have had the opportunity to render some critical first aid while on Old Rag for recreation... and still some of the other stewards have been busy keeping their technical rescue skills sharp and helping folks from numerous federal agencies as well as NPS Search and Rescue teams on top of their rescue skills.

This past week Stewards Chad, Jeremy and Andy traveled to the North Carolina section of the Blue Ridge Parkway (Linville Gorge area) to help with the Eastern High Angle Rescue Training.. This year was the third year of their participation, but the first for them as instructors...

..all in the name of helping the ORMS be one of the most professional and fully prepared volunteer mountain safety organizations around..

See you this weekend!

According to ORM Steward, Liz...

2009-04-07T16:27:00.000-07:00

(from the Lynchburg News Advance.com)

Real Sense of Adventure
By Liz Barry on Apr. 01, 2009

Hiking 8 miles in flip-flops is a bad idea. Scrambling over car-sized boulders in high heels is downright absurd.
Believe it or not, those feats of stupidity, and others, have been attempted on Old Rag Mountain, a strenuous hiking hotspot in Shenandoah National Park that offers a challenging rock scramble and stellar views.
Each year, upwards of 50,000 people ascend Old Rag, making it one of the most popular hiking destinations in the mid-Atlantic region. Because of its proximity to Washington, D.C. and a number of smaller cities like Lynchburg, Old Rag, tends to attract city folk looking for adventure.
“It’s the closest big, wild experience to D.C. It gives everybody a real sense of adventure,” says Andy Nichols, coordinator of the Old Rag Mountain Stewards, a volunteer group that mans the mountain every weekend from May to November.
Over the years, the high volume of hikers has damaged Old Rag’s natural resources — including rare mosses and other vulnerable wildlife. Park officials have considered restricting access to the mountain.
That’s where the Old Rag Mountain Stewards (ORMS) come in. This motley crew of trained volunteers protects the mountain’s natural resources by educating hikers and keeping them safe. After last year, their first season on Old Rag, park rangers saw a significant decline in trash and injuries on the mountain.
The volunteers hope to continue that work next year. And for the foreseeable future, the mountain is open year round to the public without major restrictions.

For more of this GREAT article look here

Ready for the season ahead..

2009-03-31T19:52:00.000-07:00

We had a great training weekend over this past weekend. We took the opportunity to gather all of last years Stewards and the batch of prospective Stewards and conduct a serious amount of baseline medical training.
We were pleased to be able to host Bill Kane, from SOLO in NH, (one of the fathers of Wilderness Medicine) as our primary instructor. We focused on patient assessment, and first responder protocols for both single and team rescues.

Members of the Shenandoah National Park's emergency response team, rangers and medics, were also able to join us to assist our new members, and refresh the old members with the nuances and procedures for using some of the high speed gear including spine splints and wheeled litters.

To train with the gear that we will be using, in conditions similar to those that can be expected on the mountain... if that was our goal, then the weekend was a huge success!

Classes Saturday ran from 0700 thru 2100.. and Saturday night provided a good opportunity for all the Stewards to re-connect after the long winter...

Sunday, the weather broke and we were greeted with 60 degree temperatures, sunburns for winter-tender skin, and a chance to feel really ready for the challenges ahead!

By the end of the weekend, even the stewards who are the old grizzled pros, who are in the mountains all the time out of both love and vocation, felt like they had added some key tools to their tool kit for keeping Old Rag and its visitors, whole.

Off Season...

2008-12-10T19:57:00.001-08:00

The west side of Old Rag, as seen from Hawksbill... the quietest of times for hikers.
The summit area and rock scramble can be treacherous with ice this time of year... it's a long slippery drop with a very sudden stop. Be prepared for icy conditions with the appropriate footwear and protective gear (good advice for this time of year is to always pack as if you may wind up in an emergency overnight bivouac)...and as always, solid advice for going into the mountains, (and more importantly, coming back out of the mountains)... if in doubt, turn back.

The program administrators for the ORMS program have been working daily to prepare for the next season.. planning training and developing a compendium of lessons learned from a busy first year. Next year should prove to be amazing! Join us and be a part of it!

Done...

2008-11-20T09:13:00.000-08:00

It seems to have just begun...
In reality, though, the first season of the Old Rag Mountain Steward program started back in the icy winds of April.
As the season has progressed we've helped folks of all ages find the group they were hiking with, we've provided countless band aids and "blister training", we've helped people off the mountain who were unable to proceed on their own, we've brushed-in social trails whose continued use jeopardizes rare plant species... we've met with US Senators and church groups, scout troops and folks celebrating major life milestones..we've witnessed perhaps the busiest days in Old Rag's history.. we've seen hikers in heels (!) (?) ..and we've watched as the bears, who claim the summit as part of their territory, sweep down on the scraps of food left behind by the weekend hordes.

What an experience!

The first half of the season was staffed by the program's coordinators from Teamlink and Shenandoah Mountain Guides.. the second half of the season was staffed primarily by volunteers.. folks who were skilled outdoors enthusiasts.. who wanted to take their enthusiasm, knowledge and skills to a higher level.

So now, we begin our preparations for next year... though we have about 12 solid stewards, we, like the marines, are still looking for a few good people.. e-mail us!!

In March of '09, we have a big training weekend scheduled... all of the stewards will be learning and practicing our wilderness rescue and first aid skills.. then, starting again in May, we'll be back up on the mountain.. being good stewards of this billion year old gift...

Learning the finer points of setting anchors, rigging haul systems (for rescue), and the principles of mechanical advantage..

Here's a thought:
Do you realize that Old Rag was a mountain when life on the earth was limited to one-celled organisms??
What an amazing place.

25-26 October... a 50-50 proposition

2008-10-27T14:35:00.000-07:00

The weekend opened as much needed rain poured down on the mountain, two inches by the end of the day Saturday, which was more than enough to dampen the spirits of most visitors.. but not all.
The absence of hikers enabled the ORMS to do a lot of hands-on training under the guidance of Chad and Jeremy... a whole day of learning.. likened by some to taking a drink from a fully pressurized fire hose... a lot of info in a relatively short bit of time.

Sunday was a different story. Similar to the previous Saturday, the parking lot was approaching capacity by noon, and the lines of hikers at the summit choke points added a different dimension to the hiking challenge. (If you click on this picture, you can see the folks lined up on the far right side of the image, ORMS steward Bob L is in the right foreground, white shirt, helping folks up and over.)

We had four new stewards with us for the weekend, including former (and still part-time) SMG guide extraordinaire, PatMo.. great fun, great cameraderie... with a total of 10 different stewards over 2 days.
Besides the usual reconnecting misplaced hikers with their groups, we were able to assist new backpackers with their Leave No Trace skills and practices, and taught some strategies for positive human backpacker behavior in nuisance bear territory.

We're all marking our calendars for the last weekend in March, 2009,when we will be having our annual field training extravaganza... watch for details!

18-19 October

2008-10-21T08:39:00.001-07:00

When the summit looks like this...

.. and the trails are full of hikers.. and the wait times at the squeeze points are 90 minutes (and more!)..

It makes the few quiet moments at the Old Rag sweet spots all the sweeter for the ORMS staff. The late afternoon sun was just starting to bathe Madison County in shadows when we got our first chance to relax a bit and enjoy the views..

This Saturday was perhaps the busiest day of visitation in recent memory on Old Rag Mountain.

Even with the all the visitors and the assistance we provided, returning stewards Ben, Michael and Emily were able to get a full plate of training.

We visited some of the little known cultural sites in the Old Rag vicinity (Here, Michael is at an old home ruin, washtub still in place.)

To understand the full significance of Old Rag, past and present, cultural and natural, is an important goal for the stewards of this resource.

Emily took time out from training on first response situations (sprains, strains and fractures) to explain to (numerous) groups of visitors the importance of the rescue and life support gear that is kept in the "big green box" that we keep near the summit.... (NO! It's NOT a urinal!!!)

We also spent a portion of the day reviewing climbing and rescue knots and general ropecraft.

(While no steward is expected to be an expert with climbing gear and high angle rescue, it is important to have a general knowledge and understanding of basic climbing/rescue techniques on a mountain like Old Rag.)

At the end of the day, a day full of incredibly meaningful work, it's nice to reflect on the view from the "corner office".

Two Fall weekends down...

2008-10-15T17:15:00.000-07:00

The October weekend of 11,12 marked our second full blown ORMS weekend... staffed with 7 volunteers and one visiting land manager from Kent, England.
And while Old Rag experiences consistently high visitor usage on October weekends, the focus of these first fully staffed weekends is TRAINING.. the ORMS program requires a lot of knowledge, and we spend a considerable amount of time with on-the-job-training (OJT). Our presence on the mountain, even when training, is also a godsend to those who have misplaced themselves from the trail, or are experiencing other unforeseen difficulties.

Not only do we cover the background of the program, LNT, the culture and history of the region, first response /emergency procedures for mountain medical emergencies.. we also cover basic everyday skills like the use of the park's communication system. Before we even leave parking lot, we all conduct a series of solid radio checks, and practice established communications protocols. Here, Michael is tuning the "brick", Bob studies the new hi-speed (lo-drag) ORMS specials, and Matt (from SMG) supervises.

Here's the gang, minus Chad and Andy (from SMG) prior to Saturday's initial circuit of the mountain