Fresh as Spring Chickens

Yes, this is what it feels like to hike in Shenandoah! Yes, we will make special accommodations for your family if you want to get the little guy started young.

Nice hikes and fantastic training are getting us into the full swing of the season. Last weekends Old Rag Mountain Steward (ORMS) training was awesome. The training was a full weekend of first aid, LNT training - and hilarity, good food, great times, and a real rescue we got the opportunity to help the park service out with!


Ferns showing a Dr. Seuss like sign of the season.


A cloud masked sunrise as seen from the top of Hawksbill peak Saturday morning before the ORMS training weekend began. Old Rag is in the lower right hand corner.

Spring Fling

Everyone loves to shed some down in the spring and this has been just the weather for it. This down might have come from a goose, or a buzzard, a hawk, an eagle, falcon, teradactyl? Oh well, your guess is as good as mine.


Trying not to fling off the rock on the proj (one I haven't climbed on lead yet), but I got it on top-rope! Come climbing, We will show you how.

How's the Weather?

The forecast for last week was sunny and 75. Next week the forecast is sunny and 75. My job here is done, I'll see ya out there!



P.S. The flowers are out and the Redbud trees are blooming.



A beautiful bicolored Birdsfoot Violet



Redbud overlooking Passage creek.

Easter Egg Hikes

Perfect Easter moss on the mountain.


Wandering through these woods we see bright yellow, red, neon green, purple, orange, pink, blue. The cold vestiges of white are nearly melted with a welcoming warm breeze. We've been riding that breeze up the rock climbs, watching falcons on Old Rag, buzzards at Senaca, staring off into the distance, feeling the sunshine and noticing colors ascend the foothills.



A small snowfield lingers on Old Rag (4/1/10).



Once planted Daffodils bloom long after the pre-park house is gone.



A skinny blacksnake emerges from a log after the long winter.



Ants bring the bacon back home.



A hungry turkey vulture was hoping he would fall, but he let the bird down.



Cruising the Plesant Overhangs of Senaca Rocks.



Jump on Report to Sickbay at Old Rag and you may need to employ the seldom seen double knee-bar palm press to make it up.



Another great day in the mountains.