I thought I was going to DIE part 3

One thing I learned from all of the Youtube videos is that there are false summits on Old Rag Mountain.  Being in the exhausted state I was in.  I honestly never stopped to think about being at the summit, my mind was honestly focused on getting back to the car, where I would have some water and I would have AC. 

Luckily the girls still seemed to be full of energy, and they would enlighten me each time we go to the summit.  Or at least each time they thought we were at the summit.  Mind you they would usually make it there a few minutes before I would as I had to stop and take breaks.  By this time along the Journey my legs would shake if I stopped for any amount of time.  And I would literally have to stop, catch my breath, and think about what I was going to do, especially if the climb involved me lifting my legs higher than a normal walk. 

The second time we reached the "summit"  I could not have been more excited.  I saw a guy sitting up on top of  this giant round rock.  I also found a small tree that was providing some shade to a section of rock that was anything but flat, but looked ohh so comfortable for me to lay down and close my eyes.  I unloaded the backpack off of my back laid down on this rock.  Well I laid down as well as one could on a 45degree angle.  I took my boots and socks off and put my pack towel over my head to block the sun, and just let my body relax. 

I have no idea how long we spent here, but as tired as I was I could have just spent the night right there and I would have been content.  But none the less the time came for us to pack up from the "summit"  and start heading back down. 

Well heading back down would have been nice.  In my excitement about finally starting to head back towards the car, I looked at my GPS and came to a startling realization.  We had not yet reached the summit.  We were still about 200 ft short of the summit, which meant, that although we were going downhill at the moment, we were about to be going uphill.  Sure enough, about 200 yards up trail it was time to climb rocks again.

Luckily it was about 6:00 at this time and the temps were starting to cool down.  I had also had the chance to rest all of my muscles.  In addition, Rebekah was kind enough to give me some water from her nalgene.  I mentally prepared myself for the last climb.

By the time we got to the summit I was so drained and knew that if I stopped I may never be able to get my body moving again.  While normally one that has hiked the arduous journey to get to the summit would stop to take it all in, I was afraid to stop walking.  I briefly stopped for a moment to read that sign that informed me that I would be back at the parking lot if I will only walk the 5.2 miles to get back there. 

I have no idea which "summit" this was, but this is my summit photo.  Although I look happy, it was about all the strength I had to get my arms in the air.

I had moments of strengh and weakness on my way up, but the journey down was almost as tough.  The trip down was not as steep, but it had lots of stair steps down.  By this time my legs are like jello and the thought of all of my weight on one leg in order to lower the next foot down a step, sounded like a recipe for disaster.  I could feel my legs shaking on every step. 

Somewhere down the trail, we came to the old rag shelter, which offerd a port a privy.  For the first time during the day I felt like going to the bathroom.  As I stood there, I could not control the shaking in my legs.  I also have never seen urine so dark in all my life.  It was the deepest amber color I have ever seen.  I tell you this to say this is when I finally put it all together. 

I started this 8.8 (by their record, my GPS said it was closer to 10) mile hike with only two cups of coffee and a poptart.  The night before I had a coke zero at the airport, and two glasses of olive garden peach tea at dinner.  Along the trail I had about three liters of water, but it was over 100 degrees outside so every drop I drank was basically lost back out to sweat.  So pretty much I think I was dehydrated, on top of some mild heat exhaustion. 

Outside ye ole port a privvy Rebekah gave me the last thid of a bottle of gatorade.  I guzzled that, and set forth for the remaining 3 plus miles to the car.  Luckily the temps had gone way down as now it was a little after 7:00.  Did I mention we were supposed to meet my buddy David back at the campsite around 6:30. It was after 7:00 and we still had at least an hour of hiking and an hour drive back to the campsite.  The remaining mileage was pretty much a fire road so it was fairly level, wide, and shaded. 

After this most epic hike, we had decided we would explain to David how miserable hiking in 100+ degree weather was and we would then pack up the tents and go back to my house.  The only problem with shis theory was that we needed gas in the Versa.  With my luck the Gas station outside the campground was closed.  This meant we got the pleasure of camping out. 

We made it back to the campsite around 9:30.  Honestly I remember having about three bites of beef jerkey, grabbing my sleeping bag, air mat and clothes bag and heading for my tent.  I normally do 130 pumps into the air mat this time I stopped at around 70 tossed my sleeping bag on and laid down.  I never got back off of that air mat until the morning. 



I thought I was going to DIE part 2

So we are ready to begin the hike. This lovely parking area is .8 miles from the trailhead up a paved blacktop road.  Yep, hiking on a blacktop road in the beating sun in 100+ degree weather makes for the best hiking experience possible.  I would also like to add that we all started with the legs attached to our convertible pants, however it was not long into the hike, Id say a good 30 minutes that the legs were off of our convertible pants. 

.8 miles up the blacktop road and we reach the trail head.  The trailhead advises that the roundtrip hike is about 7.4 miles from that spot, and roughly 3.2 miles to the summit.  Mind you im only .8 miles into this ordeal, and im sucking wind like i just saw a bear and had to run for my life, and Im soaking wet already from the gallons of sweat that poured out in just the hike from the car. 

Every notice I read suggested you bring about 2 liters of water on this hike.  I thought I would be on the safe side and fill up my 2L hydration bladder and then take a 32 oz Nalgene along for good measure. 

Off we go past the trailhead sign to the immediate ascent up this mountain.  The summit is between 3200-3300 ft so the first 2 miles of this hike are all uphill.  And by uphill just think of like a two mile staircase cause that would have been about as easy.

For the life of me, Im about a mile into this hike and im exhausted I cant seem to catch my breath.  Im stopping like every 200yds to catch my breath and my heart is beating out of my chest.  My heart is beating so hard I can feel the blood surging around my brain making my head throb.  For the life of me I cannot figure out why I am so worn out only a mile into this hike.  I mean I havent even gotten to the fun part, so far this trail is like every other wooded hilly trail Ive ever been on and im ready to turn my butt around and go home. 

Well later I think to myself, let me remind you, my brain is not fully functioning, remember the part where the head is throbbing..........I think to myself, I just need some water and some sugar and ill be good to go.  So I take a good drink of water, and pop an air head in my mouth.  Well not only is my brain not working, my mouth isnt working either, and I about choke on the air head, so I have to cough this up.  for the record....Orange flavored Air Heads burn the throat when you choke on them and have to cough them up. 

Luckily, the girls had decided it was time to stop and eat lunch.  As if I was going to complain about stopping I had been stopping every two hundred yards this whole time, I was excited about the thought of them taking a break to eat, while I took off my backpack and just sat there for 20 minutes and caught my breath. 

As we sat there I nibbled on some fruit and nut trail mix, but honestly I didnt want to eat all I wanted to do was drink some water, and get my butt off the mountain and into the AC.  What the heck was I thinking doing this hike. 

Well after about 20 minutes the girls were full of energy, and I had finally caught my breath so it was time to load up and head out.  I dont know about you, but I have never really enjoyed that cold feeling when you put on a wet shirt, or your shirt is wet and youve been sitting and the wetness touches your skin.  Well that is all I felt as I strapped that backpack on. 

It couldnt have been too long after lunch when we finally found ourselves at the beginning of the rock scramble.  For days I had looked forward to this part of the Journey.  I had watched every youtube video made of this, and now that I was here, I felt so crappy I just wanted to turn my butt around, and find the fastest way back to the car which had 6 gallons of water, and AC. 

Now, dont get me wrong, the rock scramble was amazing, and would have been totally awesome had I of felt better, but I was so exhausted by this point I couldnt really enjoy all that I was getting to see and do. 

This is pretty much what it looked liked everytime I found a place to plant my butt. 



About two thirds of the way up to the summit I had a startling realization.  Nothing fantastic, I just realized I was already out of water.  Yes thats right, the full two liters of water in my hydration bladder and all 32oz in my nalgene is gone.  I might should also mention that the hike to the summit is roughly 3.2 miles, and its still another 5+ miles back to the car. We havent even made it to the summit yet and I am out of water.  I am exhausted, I have no energy, and I still need to climb about another 800ft in elevation to reach the summit and then I have a 5 mile hike back to the car.  Ohh and its still over 100 degrees out here. 



Part three arriving soon.

I thought I was going to DIE

So just over a week agao I tested just how far I could actually push myself and still survive.  Okay maybe it wasnt that dramatic, but seriously there were times I wanted to lay over and just die rather than climb another inch of the mountain. 

Let me tell you how this story begins.  My two friends Jessi and Rebekah came for a visit and we were going to go out to Shenandoah National Park and go hiking and camping.  We spent an evening on skype planning out which trails we would do.  Well if you know anything about Shenandoah National Park, you will know the most popular hiking trail in Shenandoah is Old Rag Mountain.  I watched youtube video after youtube video to prepare myself for what lay ahead.

The day before we are set to go hiking I drive up to Baltimore Airport to pick up my guests.  They were supposed to land at 10:30, which wouldnt have been too bad, home by midnight, get in bed and ready for the hike ahead.  Of course their flight was delayed so they didnt land until about 11:00.  Still not awful its only an hour home, in bed my midnight, up ready to conquor the day by 7:00.

Well me and Baltimore Airport have a love hate relationship.  I love that I can fly direct to Houston, I hate how they cant seem to get baggage here.  When mom came to visit her bag didnt show up.  While Jessi and Rebekah came to visit, they just couldnt seem to get the baggage off the plane and onto the baggage claim.  So around midnight we finally get the baggage and head back towards Vienna. 

Now everything I have read about Old Rag suggests you get there early as the parking lot will fill up.  So for the drive home, im thinking if we get in bed as soon as we get home we can sleep for 6 hours before we need to get up and leave.  This was a perfect plan, except Jessi and Rebekah had never seen my house so I had to give a tour,  and they needed to pack their packs since they traveled with regular luggage.  And honestly I was still a bit excited that people from Texas were with me, so I wasnt at all ready to go to sleep.  Around 2:00 we finally decide to call it a night, and decided we would get up so we could leave around 7:00 in order to be at Old Rag around 8:30.

Needless to say we were moving pretty slow the next morning,  four hours of sleep has never really left me feeling refreshed and ready to conquor the day.  But knowing what awaits I was excited to get out there. 

Between you and me we didnt actually leave by 7:00.  It might have taken a little longer to get our stuff together and in the car than originally planned.  We got on the road about 7:30 and headed to the local Safeway to do some grocery shopping.  At Safeway we picked up 6 gallons of drinking water,some baby carrots, easy cheese, and pop tarts.  So far all I had for breakfast up to this point was two cups of coffee.  Add to my two cups of coffe a delicious cinnamon and brown sugar pop tart and I was ready. 

Part of our plan was to camp for the night at Shenandoah so we could get up and hike a different trail on Saturday.  Well by the time I was ready to book a campsite it was only first come first serve available.  So this meant before we could get to Old Rag we had to be one of the first to come so we could be the first to get served and reserve a campsite.  We roll up to the thornton Gap entrance of Shenandoah National Park.  As a side note, did I mention I rented the sweetest nissan versa for this trip.  nothing says tough and manly like a nissan versa.  Anyway thats a story for another day.  AT the Thornton Gap entrance we meet a lovely lady whom I purchase an annual pass from and who gives us directions of which campsite to drive to based on our hiking plans.  I told her we wanted to go to Old Rag Mountain and WhiteOak Canyon.  She advised the Big Meadows campground would be between the two so we should go left on Skyline Drive. 

I've never driven skyline drive before, but I have read about it, and the speed limit is 35 MPH.  well unknown to me, the campsite we were going to drive to is 20 miles from the entrance.  So 45 minutes later we get to this campsite and reserve a spot.  For those keeping track, the time is now after 10:00.  Remember earlier when I said all the reviews recommend you get there early as the parking lot fills up?

I ask the ranger how to get to Old Rag mountain, and he politely directs me back to Thornton Gap, where I came in, back through Sperryville and then to Old Rag Mountain.   You have to be kidding me, Its an hour away by car, but probably only like a mile and a half by flight.  Well this is what we came to do, so this is where we were going.  So an hour later, we finally make it to the Old Rag parking lot.  To my surprise "they" were wrong.  The parking lot was not full.  Nope, plenty of room to park my huge Nissan Versa.  How could they have been so wrong, it was a Friday during summer vacation.  OHHHHH thats right, it was over 100 degrees outside and it was just about noon. 

Yep, thats right folks, once we got our backpacks ready and strapped on, it was about 12:00 and we were going to complete a 9 mile hike in over 100 degree weather. 

There we are on the way up the mountain. 

Stay tuned for part 2 of this incredible adventure.

Religous Dungeon

So I have heard of the National Cathedral and watched politicians make speeches here on TV.  Even so, I have no idea it was an Epispocal Church,  I always thought it was a catholic church.

While Dad and Kay visited we took a drive up to the National Cathedral.  Its is definately an amazing structure inside and out.  Deep down however, i didnt feel like I was in a church.  Now let me clarify I grew up in a Baptist Church and so this is what I know.  We tend to celebrate the life of Jesus and you feel as if your in a church when you are inside the sanctuary. 

Inside the National Cathedral I felt as if I was in a shrine, but not so much in a good way.  It just felt werid to me.  Then we went down into the basement which felt like a dungeon.  I didnt feel unsafe or anything, it just had a very old world castle and dungeon feel to me moreso than a house of worship.  its not everyday I see a church with gargoyles on the side.  It even has a darth vader gargoyle im told somwhere on one of the upper levels.   I am not used to so many alters, or having people buried inside the church either.   That said, if you come to DC you should definately make time to see the National Cathedral.  Not suggesting you go there to worship, but architecturally it is a very interesting.  I do like how when the sun shines through the stained glass windows all of the colors light up on the walls. 

Below are some shots of the Cathedral, and as always you can find the full set on my flickr page.  National Cathedral

Front of the National Cathedral

The netting was added after the earthquake I believe, but this photo gives you an idea how the stained glass reflects the colors onto the interior of the building. 

I loved the architecture of the building.

UP UP and AWAY

This was my second visit to the Air and Space museum over by Dulles airport, however it was the first with my camera.  This museum is amazing if you like air/spacecraft, or if you need a giant place to spend a day in the AC.  They told me it only gets really hot for like a week or two during August up here, well "they" lied!   Its been hot all summer so every time someone comes to visit we go out here so we can spend the day in the AC. 

If you visit DC you should take the trip out to the Udvar Hazy Air and Space museum.  While the museum is free, the parking is $15.00.  my first visit was just a few days after the space shuttle was delivered.  The shuttle is huge, and you can stand right up next to it. 

In my opinion, there are almost too many planes jam packed in the museum,  some tend to get lost, as they may be tucked under a bigger plane, or hanging from the ceiling behind another plane hanging from the ceiling.   Luckily there are huge skywalks that you can walk from one end of the building to another close to the ceiling so you can look out over the planes. 

If you saw transformers where they were in the Air and Space Museum, this is it.  You can even watch a video clip of how they edited around the other planes etc in the museum.  You can also take a trip up the elevator to the observation tower and listen to the air traffic controllers guide planes into Dulles International Airport.  Depending on the day they planes may fly to the right and left of you as you look out towards the airport. 

As always here are a few of the photos I took during the trip, and the full set is available on my flickr page at Air and Space Museum (Dulles)

SR-71 Blackbird

This photo gives you an idea as to how big this museum.  The plane in the lower right is a Condord Jet.

Space Shuttle Discovery

Celebrity Run Ins

So the title is not as exciting as real life.  While Mom was up for a visit we opted to check out the Madame Tussauds Wax museum.  I have been to a wax museum before but it was years ago and honestly I dont remember much about it. (it was that good!)

Well I had just bought a new lens for my camera a 50mm 1.4 prime lens.  Its pretty much a portrait lens and where better to practice taking portraits than a wax museum where the subjects can hold a pose all day and not get tired.  They also dont talk back.  They also dont care if you take 100 pictures of them. 

Overall I enjoyed the wax museum, and the interaction they allow you to have with the figures.  Technically you are not supposed to touch, but obviously no one follows directions. I liked how they had scenes you could put yourself in or you could have your picture taken with your favorite celebrity (provided your favorite celebrity has a wax figure there). 

The museum has all of the presidents as well as national figures of the time.  It then goes into some Hollywood Celebrities, and then some athletes. 

Here are a few of the photos I took while there,  the full set it available on my flickr page. Madame Tussauds Wax Museum 

Discussing early nation building with John Adams

J LO was nice enough to pose with me for a moment

Taking in a show with Abe. 

I thought the Tom Cruise figure looked pretty lifelike. 

Luray Caverns

So not long after I got here I had decided I wanted to visit the spy museum as well as the Museum of Crime and Punishment.  I had planned to visit them on Saturday,  that is until I was watching TV Friday night and saw Luray Caverns on a TV show.  While watching the TV show, I looked it up and realized it was just over an hour from the house.  So I still have not been to the Spy Museum or the Crime and Punishment museum,  but I have been to Luray Caverns. 

The photos below were from my second visit to the Caverns.  I originally went and did not take my camera.  When mom came up to visit we went back and this time I took my camera.  It helped that i had just purchased a few new lenses that I wanted to try out. 

I have visited a few caverns in my time, and have always liked them. Some are obviously better than others depending on what the owners have done inside to show off the formations and how well lit they are.  I have now decided though, that once you have seen one set of caverns you have really seen all caverns.  The fun part of caverns is the formations.  If the tour guides dont point out the formations, then they all pretty much look the same. 

There were a couple of things I liked about Luray Caverns.  One they have an organ in the caverns that plays music using the stalactites in the caverns.  Each key is attached to a selenoid that will tap the stalactite with a rubber ball.  In addition, the caverns have a pool close to the end of the caverns whereby visitors can toss in some money.  The money is collected once a year and donated to a charity.  The plaque hanging above shows they have donated over $800,000.00 to charity since they started. 

Below are some photos from the Caverns, if you wish to see the whole album you can visit:Luray Caverns

The first time I was in this room, the guide said it was the fish market.  I thought he was referring to these two holes, the left sort of looks like a dolphin nose, and the right reminds me of a shark.  Come to find out he wasnt talking about that at all, he was referencing some other formation. 

This is actually a mirror reflection of the ceiling from the lake below. 

Waterfall

I thought this looked like some towels hanging out to dry. 

The Stalactite Organ

Arlington Cemetery

Arlington National Cemetery is a must visit when you come to DC.  I had no idea how impressed I would be with the Cemetery.  It is a very solemn place.  To look out in any direction and see nothing but white headstones is quite impressive.  To stop and realize that each of those headstones represents an individual who at some point in their life fought for this country, and the freedoms we have, is overwhelming. 

Arlington National Cemetery is the final resting place for both President John F Kennedy and William H Taft.  A short walk from the Kennedy gravesite is the Civil War tomb of the unknowns along with an arbor of sorts.  The home you see on top of the hill when walking towards the cemetery is the Custis Lee house.  Home of Robert E. Lee.  The house is open for tours, however when I was there there was really nothing in the home as the signs indicate it is under repair. 

A fairly good hike over from the Custis-Lee house is the Tomb of the Unknowns.  On my first trip to the Cemetery I came up at the end of the changing of the guard.  Its my understanding the guard changes every 30 minutes.  it is very ceremonial and worth checking out.  If you go at the right time of day you can also watch the soldiers take down the flag for the day at the flagpole on the East (i think) of the ampitheatre at the tomb of the unknowns. 

I first visited Arlington National Cemetery on the day before the Memorial Day Holiday.  As such each headstone had a small American Flag in front.  Im told you can go around Christmas and there will be a wreath on each headstone.  I'll try to go back and get some photos of that as well. 

I would strong encourage anyone visiting the Washington DC area to take time to visit the Arlington National Cemetery.  Nearby the cemetery is also the Iwo Jima Memorial, as well as the Pentagon. 
I posted a few photos of my hike through Arlington, hope you enjoy them.  For all of my photos from the day you can visit Arlington National Cemetery  (link should open in a new page)

John F. Kennedy Gravesite

A flag for every soldier

This was beside the Civil War tomb of the unknowns.

The Tomb of the Unknown

Soldiers taking down the flag for the day