ATTENTION: TRAIL RUNNERS, LARGE GROUPS AND FIRST-TIME HIKERS!

 (Is the group in front of you too slow on the steps? This is what happens if you just go around them)

Leave No Trace.. more than just an idea and good sounding words. The program was designed to provide some guidelines for land use and recreation, particularly for WILDERNESS areas (like Old Rag), in the absence of laws and burdensome regulations. 
For public lands that are extremely heavily used the guidelines are critically important if the nature of the resource is to be preserved.

1. Plan ahead and prepare... Take a moment to think about water, bathroom, snacks, fitness of your group, and the time and weather. Prepare yourself mentally and physically for the day on the mountain BEFORE you leave home.

2. Travel on durable surfaces.. (most of Old Rag is closed to camping now, so I left that part out) The trails on Old Rag are "hardened", defined, somewhat maintained surfaces... but the trails are not 10 feet wide! or wider. And while you may know a "better, more direct way" that is not a regularly maintained trail, with a few hundred or thousand people traveling on your "secret path" ..it will soon become a rut, an unsightly scar on the mountainside, prone to erosion. Stay on the trail.... not on the margin.

3. Dispose of waste properly. Yes, Shenandoah is a PARK. No, it does not have a grounds crew that picks up your trash. It's as simple as if you bring it in, you carry it out. And yes, many people believe that if it's organic, it's OK to leave... Yes, apple trees grow throughout the region untended by the hand of man... and apples readily decompose. When is the last time you saw a banana tree? or an orange tree? or a "plastic water bottle tree" growing along Skyline Drive? An orange peel will take YEARS to decompose as will toilet paper.... plastic and cigarette butts last forever. When you leave it, throw it, "hide" it... its there for a long time. Don't do it.

4. Leave what you find. (unless you are carrying out trash you find) Flowers and pine cones are reproductive organs of the plants on the mountain. ... you don't want someone picking your reproductive organs do you? Enough said.

5.Minimize campfire impacts... this is an easy one, since no fires are allowed at all!

6. Respect wildlife. This goes along with not leaving waste, food or trash. Animals are opportunistic eaters, and human food is not what they need. The animals on Old Rag are at home there, and do quite nicely without human intervention (or taunting or prodding or teasing) give them wide berth.

7. Be considerate of other visitors. Visitors go to the mountains for a wide variety of reasons. For the quiet, the solitude, the challenge, the chance to reflect on creation. And each person has the right to that experience... Having said that, no one has the right to step on another person's experience. If you need music, wear headphones. If you are with a large group, spread into smaller groups. This is not supposed to be a "Kings Dominion" experience... "take a number, wait in line for your turn at a thrill". If you think someone needs directions, then spend a moment teaching them, don't mark the trail with paint or chalk ( the way the Capitol Hiking Club does).

The damage and impact to Old Rag Mountain is easily seen, not just by the ORMS (who are arguably there more than any other group) but also by the National Park Service staff and even the average visitor. 
A study, by the NPS, to determine exactly who makes the most impacts costs a lot of money and tends to pit user groups against user groups. Regardless of the guilty party, the result would be to restrict usage for all... or heavy-handed usage regulations.... for ALL.
 No one really wants that.

Over the past several years, the ORMS has been very quietly making observations of the users of Old Rag Mountain. Not just one or two, but thousands of users on weekend days for 25 weekends per year. The results? 
Like it or not, there is no debate or arguing....

Trail runners.
Large groups.
First-time hikers. 

The reality is this:  Those three groups are making a huge impact on Old Rag... and not a good one.

Trail runners. Who doesn't love trail running? Many of our Stewards are fanatical about trail running. and of all the places on the planet, Old Rag is one of the best! But midday, on a weekend? with 1300 other people on the trail? Really?
Trail running at these times leads to passing hiking groups often by running on the margins of the trail, or off the trail altogether! It sounds unbelievable, but there are places on the Saddle Trail where the trail has been trampled and widened to a width of almost twenty feet! 
It also leads to a frustrating run... who wants to have a stop and go experience while waiting behind crowds? There are hundreds of miles of little-used trails in Shenandoah begging to be run... Try those on weekends... a much greater experience (disclaimer... I LOVE trail running... but not on Old Rag ... on weekends! for ideas, call us!)

Large groups. Large groups contribute to trail widening much like the trail runners.  Walking four-abreast, while talking, necessitates others passing you by stepping on the margins of the trail or off the trail entirely. In general, trails are designed to be traveled on single file with room for passing others. That is not to say that two- abreast can't be done at times, but it's awkward. The "group mentality" of large groups (think busloads of people) is in no way conducive to a wilderness experience for anyone... either in the group or outside of the group. 

If you are coming in a large group, consider breaking yourselves into smaller parties of no more than 10, and traveling at staggered times.

If you need to hike in a large group... join the Army.

First -time hikers. Learn before you go... as much as you can!. Go with someone who knows good outdoor practices and ethics. Prepare yourselves mentally and physically. Carryout your trash... all of it. Don't bite off more than you can chew.   Don't cut across switchbacks in the trail... Be ready for an AWESOME mountaintop experience!

Please, The ORMS is on Old Rag to enhance the visitor experience for ALL. We do this thru education. Please help us spread the word about how we can ALL get more out of our mountaintop experience... LEAVE NO TRACE! for everyone.. for all of us! 

Help Wanted!

It's hard to believe that it has been an entire year since this blog has been updated! Sometimes we get so caught up in our regular lives that we don't make time for some of the more mundane actions.. like blogging.

Old Rag Mountain Stewards is a purely volunteer organization..We are volunteers from all walks of life and we drive as far as 4 hours (one way!)  to be on this mountain as a steward. In fact, besides the friendship and good times, the other thing we have in common is our love for Old Rag  and the outdoors.

And that, is exactly the point of this blog entry. ORMS has been around for almost 8 years now. the impact has been phenomenal for the overall health of the mountain and the visitor experience... and especially at the juncture where those two meet! (Just scroll down through the entries from past years... the impact is easily quantifiable)

For many years, we have had a core of Stewards who have worked tirelessly on Old Rag, often climbing the mountain as many as 70 times in a year! As life always is, people change jobs, move away, get married, have kids, get divorced,  etc... The result is that we wind up with fewer and fewer trained volunteers trying to do more than is possible... and this is where you come in!

We need a  few good people!
If you are an experienced outdoors person, you love to  hike Old Rag, you have good "people skills" and you would be able to be on Old Rag, four weekend days per year, let us hear from you!

E-mail a brief "outdoors resume" or CV, and a brief statement of why you are interested (besides wanting a  cool orange shirt!) to: mtnjedi@gmail.com.

We are looking forward to hearing from you!

.. and now..OPEN!!!

We look forward to everyone having a safe visit. Come prepared for large crowds, early darkness, and cold nighttime temperatures..Bring water, high energy snacks, an extra layer (of clothing) and a headlamp or flashlight.. and don't forget your camera! 

(Remember: If you find that you've bitten off more than you can chew, it's ok to turn around.. it's a beautiful hike regardless. Give yourself permission to have fun!)

Old Rag Mountain is Closed

During this, hopefully brief, period of time in which the government is closed for business, Shenandoah National Park, including Old Rag Mountain is closed to visitation.. Old Rag Mountain Stewards will not be on duty...nor will Shenandoah National Park rescue assets. Some sites on Facebook are encouraging visitation despite the closure (In particular, the Old Rag Mountain fan site).  We believe this is irresponsible for numerous reasons... with the primary concern being that of safety and accident response.

We encourage you to use good judgement and understand that you and you alone are fully responsible for your actions.

Hello 2013!

There is so much  going on..Following several well-deserved months off, the ORMS are chomping to get back on the mountain! 
The 2012 season ended with a bang, finding the stewards out almost all night with an assistance call for a sick and long overdue hiking group..( remember, especially in the "shoulder seasons" , when you come to hike Old Rag Mountain, come prepared for dramatic changes in the weather... Sunny and 70 in Fredericksburg may be windy, 34 with sleet on Old Rag... Don't just wear your flip-flops, tank-tops and cutoffs. And if you do, be prepared to turn back when the weather is not what you expected.)

In spite of the crowding that we all experience on weekends on Old Rag, it still remains one of the top-rated hikes in the Eastern US!

Havinng said that, with the looming budgetary constraints that the National Park Service is facing, the visitor assistance that the Mountain Stewards provide will be more important in 2013 than ever!
ORMS patrols will be starting in April... and going thru mid November. 

During 2012, we refrained from recruiting new volunteers. 2013 is a new ball game!
 If you have solid outdoor skills, are in good condition and have a basic knowledge of wilderness first aid, have a few weekend days to spend on the mountain,and would be interested in helping with this invaluable service, contact us!(mtnjedi@gmail.com) We'll connect with you to schedule some "hike along" days.

We are looking forward to the 2013 season with great anticipation. We hope you are as well!   


By the way, the ORMS was featured for their visitor assistance work in the "2012 Accidents in North American Mountaineering" compiled and published by the American Alpine Club. Check it out!

You can stop the "NO"

The genesis for the Old Rag Mountain Stewards was the proposed Rock Outcrop Management Plan drafted in 2008. Some of the more extreme recommendations were to restrict the public from access to some of the more popular rocky high points in Shenandoah, like Old Rag Mountain, Hawksbill, Little Stony Man and others. 
In response, the ORMS was formed to serve as "stewards" interacting with the public about the resources that need protection and why. 
In this, we have been highly successful, interacting with tens of thousands of visitors annually for the past five years.

Well, now it seems that regardless of the work of so many volunteers and the overwhelming positive response of the public, a few people in the National Park Service feel that it will be much more expedient to  simply restrict access for both hikers and climbers to these popular destinations.   

The goal is for the park to put these restrictions in place before February 2013.Comments are needed at your earliest opportunity and before 10 January 2013

What can you do???
open up the ROMP
Read it... decide if you like the proposed restrictions to your favorite rock outcrop... and then comment..

This is time urgent.
If you consider these mountains to be our shared resources, then you need to get involved and let your voice be heard.

Ready, Set.....

Returning to Old Rag!

After a much needed hiatus, the Stewards will be returning to weekend patrols on Old Rag over the next few weekends! Stay tuned!

It's been an honor and a privilege..

The past three years have been amazing!
as the 2011 results indicate.. and when combined with 2009 and 2010... well, there are very few organizations that come close, anywhere.

It's been a privilege to meet so many of you, to share some of the really fascinating information about Old Rag, its flora, fauna and history.

For a few of you who experienced a mishap or illness, we were glad to have been there to help improve the quality of your life.

For those of you who we taught lessons of backcountry travel and camping or LNT techniques or even just how to hang a bear bag... Don't forget! pass it on!



The "orange shirts" will be taking a break from the mountain for at least part of the 2012 season..

Thank you for your interest... we now have more than 60 really great volunteers from all walks of life.
.. and stay tuned... we may be back..

With best wishes and humble appreciation,

The ORMS "orange shirts"

2011 Recap

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...

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...

(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!)

..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..

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

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??

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...

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!!

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

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

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..

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