Old Rag Mountain 2024

Cody and I went to Old Rag this weekend along with some friends (M and D). We were excited to go on one of our favorite hikes, with people who never experienced it before. We left on Friday afternoon and arrived at Spacious Skies campground in Luray, VA around 6pm. We got dinner started on the campfire, which were mountain pies (cheese, pepperoni, tomato sauce, and pesto sauce in between two slices of bread toasted on the fire). Cody had also bought some kielbasa. We finished off our gourmet camp meal with s’mores. We went to sleep, hoping for an early start to our hike on Saturday.

On Saturday morning, we headed off to the trailhead, which was about 45 minutes away. We got there just before 8am, and the primary parking lot was already almost full. The weather was a bit warm at the lower elevations, however, the skies were clear, and we were shaded by the trees. As we ascended, it became cooler and windy. It was a fun challenge to navigate the rock scrambles. Towards the end of the trail, there is a monotonous fire road. My legs were feeling tired with all the walking, but I was able to jog a little down this path with Cody, and it actually helped relieve some of my discomfort. I think I have gotten a little bit stronger since last year when we did this trail. I would not have had any remaining energy to jog then!  

We went to a nearby winery (Blue Quartz Winery) to relax after our hike. I had a cider and sat outside at the picnic tables, enjoying the peaceful views of the mountains in the distance. Back at the campsite, we made Frito pies, mountain pies and more s’mores before going off to sleep.  

The next morning, M’s car didn’t start. Luckily, he got a jump from our neighbors at the campsite. We stopped at Broad Porch Coffee and Café to give us extra energy for the drive home.  I am grateful to have friends to enjoy these outdoor experiences with.