The 4:30 alarm woke me from a deep sleep and I reluctantly rolled out of the warm bed. I forced myself outside in the dark cold 39o for my daily 5.1 mile run through Columbia's Oakland Mills neighborhood.
Back in the warm house I prepared home made bread toasted with butter and raspberry jam, hot oatmeal, orange juice, banana and milk for breakfast. After a quick change into hiking clothes I was ready to go so I departed at 6:30.
I drove north on US-29 to west on I-70 to US-340 west in Frederick to US-522 in Front Royal to VA-231 near Sperryville to VA-707 to VA-600 to the trailhead at 9:30 140.5 miles from my house in Columbia. The hike leader Jack Bateman and Stew Weyforth were waiting in the parking area. Soon Dick Whiteford, Ron and Sylvia Cully arrived followed by Pete and Sylvia Flaton. Others arriving for the hike were Ron Mayer, Nora Scanlon, Chet and Alice Miller, Bob, Jane from Frederick, another Jane, Kazue Wickens and Don Brown. Sylvia Flaton and Sylvia Cully were not hiking with us.
We circled up and counted off. About 10:30 twelve of us started up the switchbacked wooded Old Rag Ridge
Trail in the cool morning at about 1100'.
Chet and Alice Miller and the other Jane went the backway
up the fire road avoiding the strenuous rocky route. We hiked up through forest for 2.2 miles before
emerging onto the rocky ridge. We were spread out at this point so we stopped to regroup and take in the
beautiful views in the clear morning sunshine. The weather is perfect so everyone is enjoying just being there.
We continued up the rocky ridge over the large rocks. We
climbed over, under and around huge boulders, down into and up through and over
crevices and through a tunnel. We stayed fairly close together helping each other up the ridgeline.
I was last helping Jane from Frederick up the last part of the ridge
reached the 3291 foot summit after 3.3 miles of hiking at 12:50 for lunch. Again the 360o
views were outstanding and the temperature quite pleasant.
Fifteen of us reluctantly started down the backside of Old Rag on the Saddle Trail
hating to leave the great scenes and perfect temperatures on top. We
descended the trail through the trees past the stone Byrd's Nest Shelter. We
continued past the Old Rag Shelter to the Weakley Hollow Fire Road 2 miles from
the summit. We followed this road down much of which is along a stream for 2.4
miles to the parking lot at 3:20. We hiked 7.7 miles climbing and descending
2300 feet in 5:00 hours.
Pete Flaton rode with me retracing our route back to Sperryville turning left on US-211 up the
mountain to Thornton Gap where we got on Skyline south to milepost 51 and Big
Meadows Lodge. I checked into Hawksbill room 65 in the Big
Meadows Lodge which was Gary and Sandy Cox's
room for $105.99. I had to wait for
Dick Whiteford to arrive in Don Brown's car because he didn't know what room we were in.
I quickly showered and I walked to Hawksbill 60-62 with my Rioja wine for a wine and hors d'ourves party already in progress. We were greeted by Bill and Dawn Moog, Pat and Carol Mooney, Joe and Mary Lou Flynn, Frank and Carol Heber, Gary and Sandy Cox and Marty and Sandy Kappert, Gary and Leigh Gray, Bill and Jane Sneeringer plus some of our fellow hikers today. With the wine, crab and shrimp dips, cheeses, etc. I was soon relaxed and comfortable.
At 7:40 we walked back to the lodge's restaurant for supper with Pete and Sylvia Flaton. I enjoyed a salad, trout, rice and ice tea for $30.75 including tip. Returned to the room for bed a good tired at 10:00 and found Dick already asleep.
October 20, 2004 Thursday Hike AT, Wildcat Ridge & Riprap Trails
I was up in the dark at 6:00 running back out to Skyline Drive crossing it.
I continued on a fireroad along Big Meadows and into the woods for a mile or so as the numerous deer
ignored me. Dick was gone so I walked to breakfast in the lodge about 7:00. I had a western omelet with cheese, onion,
mushroom, sausage and tomato with a biscuit, large glasses of orange juice and
milk for $17.49 including tip.
Most people were going to hike to Hoover's Camp. We had agreed to meet Stew Weyforth and hike Riprap.
I drove Pete Flaton about 40 miles south on Skyline Drive to Wildcat Ridge parking area just past milepost 92.
Don Brown followed with Jack Bateman, Ron Cully and Dick Whiteford.
Ron Mayer and Nora Scanlon, Jane from Frederick, and the Millers followed in their cars
because they were going home from the hike. Stew was waiting for us.
We twelve started along the Appalachian Trail about 10:00. We did some climbing but
nothing difficult before reaching the junction with the Wildcat Trail. Turning left we followed the Wildcat Trail
mostly down to the Riprap Trail. We climbed to the narrow rocky ridge and followed it
with great views to each side. The leaves are not great but have a lot more color than
further north around Old Rag Mountain. We descended off the ridge into a small rocky canyon
with water falls, deep pools, rock cliffs and very good scenery. We emerged from the
canyon and started a long gradual climb up to the parking lot at 3:00. We hiked 9.5
miles in 5:00 hours including a lunch stop climbing and descending 2275' in two climbs.
We drive back to the Big Meadows Lodge. Pete, Dick, Ron, Don and I I go to the downstairs bar for some locally handcrafted beer and homemade potato chips for $13.59.
After a shower I return to the wine and cheese party with a bottle of my Australian Shiraz. We all walked to the lodge for supper which I enjoyed shrimp pasta with Gary and Leigh Gray for $32.57 including tip. Dessert was black berry cobbler ala mode.
October 21, 2005 Friday Steam Train Cumberland to Frostburg
It rained during the night and turned colder. Dick and I are up 6:00. I got dressed
loaded my car and drove off at 6:30.
I drive back to Skyline Drive turn left and head north to Thornton Gap in fog and light rain.
I exit Shenandoah National Park on US-211 west down the switchbacked mountain road through
Luray across the valley to I-81. It continues to rain but the fog is gone as I turn north to I-70 west
to I-68 west to exit 46 and the Inn at Folck's Mill at 9:30. The rain has more or less stopped
but it is chilly and damp.
I meet Lew and Kathleen Frain as well as Carol and Barry Nelson who drove Anne up. We meet the Frains neighbors ? (86) and ? (83) ?. We drive about 5 miles to the old train station in Cumberland. Lew gets tickets $20 each for everyone. We have a long wait for the steam train to leave at 10:30. The 13 car train finally arrives and 800 - 900 of us crowd aboard.
The train rolls slowly through Cumberland and The Narrow gap by Wills Mountain along Wills Creek on it's 16 mile journey to Frostburg 1300' higher than Cumberland. We snake around Georges Creek curve climbing past the historic town of Savage Mountain. We stop for 20 minutes before the tunnel to build up steam for the final climb up to Frostburg. We pass through the tunnel steadily climbing as the the train lurches and jerks many times. We stop again for about 45 minutes. We find out later that the train was slipping on the wet tracks and leaves and they had to bring a diesel from Cumberland to push us up the hill. We finally arrive in Frostburg at 1:00 instead of 12:00.
We have about an hour for lunch so we decide on a box lunch at the station instead of going in town to a restaurant. I have a sandwich, chips, cookie and a Ginger Ale in the very crowded station. Barry and I walked up into the town before hustling back onto the train before it departed.
The ride back to Cumberland was uneventful as Anne and I rode with the Frain's neighbors. It was 4:00 and we drove back to the motel arriving about 4:30. We checked into Folck's Mill Motel room 6 and it smelled like cigarette smoke. The Frain's neighbors decided to leave so we took their room #3 which was okay. We went to The Brew Haus in the basement of the 200 year old inn by our motel. I had two pints of Scottish Ale brewed on the premises and a brick oven pizza with mushrooms and sausage which came to $40 with Anne's meal, tax and tip. It had been a long day so we went to bed early.
October 22, 2005 Saturday Tour Cumberland and Frostburg
Got up about 7:00 and it is rainy and chilly. We rode with the Frain's to Flintstone and Edie's Country Kitchen for breakfast. I had a western omelet with everything in it, home fries, toast, orange juice and milk for $15.36 including Anne's breakfast, taxes and tip.
We drove north on Black Valley Road which changed to PA-326 for about 3 miles to a Mennonite man who made furniture. We met his wife and three small children. Barry and I toured his quite impressive shop while Carol ordered a modification to their entertainment center. Lew also talked to him about a computer desk to fit in their new home.
We returned to the motel where I checked out. We got in my car and the Nelsons rode with the Frains. We drove through Cumberland to Frostburg via MD-36 to check out a pub. It turned out to be a college town dive that was crowded just before homecoming day football game. We left and walked around town to The Tombstone Cafe. It is new and very nice so we stayed for lunch. I had a cup of shrimp bisque, a huge chicken sandwich, fries and ice tea for $30.99 including Anne's lunch, taxes and tip.
We returned to Cumberland via US-40 and walked around the restored downtown. There is a small art festival where you can meet the local artists. We stopped for an Italian gelato cone.
It is after 3:00 so everyone decided to pack it in. Anne and I drove home arriving about 6:00.
Last Updated November 10, 2005