Crack Climbing at Old Rag in Virginia

[@catfur9215]

Thanks for sharing, seeing the routes in video feels like a good supplement to the guide for route finding 🙏

[@jeffa7235]

Aiding Strawberry Fields has got to be the most disrespectful thing I've ever seen

[@you2tooyou2too]

Approach to the top is the steeper ridge trail or longer fire-road. It is easy to bushwhack from the bottom of the climbs to the parking area, but there are ground nesting hornets where your feet will sink in a few inches, so tuck your cuffs (if you have them) & watch your step. The stream has become intermittent, but there are a couple of shallow pools you can cool your feet or even wallow in.

[@BenFrankAdventures]

Sounds treacherous- in your approach description you mentioned :steep ridge, long fire road, ground nesting hornets, feet sinking in! At least the splitter climbing makes up for it!

[@andrewp.9541]

Dang I've been there several times and now that I'm into crack climbing I can't go back lol life's crazy

[@petegatenby8089]

Looks nice out there Ben. Is the camping good? Swimming spots?

[@BenFrankAdventures]

Hi Pete Backcountry camping is only permitted in areas below 2,800 feet elevation which means your not allowed to camp around the climbing areas. You have to hike down the hill a bit. The vegetation is pretty thick in the summer months. So you need to search around for a good spot. There are some nice swimming holes in the Shenandoah National Park however we did not visit any on this trip.

[@wyominggundogs9289]

That was allot of work just getting to the climb. The granite there looks smooth, but still grainy? Hope to see you climb in Cody Wy, sometime. There is plenty of granite here.

[@BenFrankAdventures]

Hi Dave, yes it was a long approach through some pretty heavily vegetated terrain. If this was an easy approach near a populated area it would be packed, but we didn't see any other climbers. The granite was pretty grainy, glad I had my crack gloves on. Never been to Cody but my wife is desperate to visit Yellowstone! My next vacation is in October and I'm going to climb El Cap, perhaps the vacation after that I'll head over.

[@joshdale4338]

great video! I'm looking at coming from Norfolk. how are the anchors at the top attached? just gear or is there anything permanent?

[@BenFrankAdventures]

Josh Dale, Beginner crack required a gear anchor, you actually approach from the top and walk down the small trail to the bottom. Report to Sickbay and Strawberry fields have good bolted anchors and Bushwack crack had a couple of nuts fixed in place for an anchor.