Old Rag Mountain

We tried to go rock climbing at Old Rag last weekend. Really, we did.

There are somethings you should know about Old Rag before you try to go rock climbing there.

The first thing to know is that dogs are not allowed on the trails leading to the cliffs. The reason for this is that the up the South East side of the mountain is quite dangerous (Class 4+ scramble) and not suitable for four legged oafs. It is quite possible for a dog to make it to the cliffs, however, they are effectively forbidden.

Which brings us to the second point, Old Rag mountain is an extremely popular hike. On a nice day, you will likely encounter hundreds of people hiking on Old Rag. In spite of the scenic, lonely drive to the parking lot, expect it to be jammed with busses and cars, and the trail a solid line of people. With respect to your dog, it will greatly delay your accent to have to introduce and protect your dog from the human onslaught. Carrying 40+ lbs of climbing gear will mean that you are taking the easy trail up, while everyone is taking it down.

Give your self plenty of time to explore the cliffs to find the climbing areas, as they are not well marked or easy to identify from the trail or the guidebook. Access to the bottom of the cliffs is via bushwhack and scrambles along faint trails and cairns.

On the bright side, we did have a nice, scenic hike. The Volvo 740 wagon proved it's metal, as we were able to haul four adults, climbing gear, and a dog in relative comfort to the trail head. The approach was clearly pushing the limits of what one can expect from a 100 hp/120 ft-lb 4 cylinder engine, however, with it seriously laboring up the steep hills in second gear.

It is always nice to be somewhere other than this city.