Old Rag Mountain

This was one of the longest hikes we’ve ever completed as a family, topping out at over 11 miles from the parking lot to the summit and back. It also became the most vertical climbing we had ever done in one hike with about 3000 feet of vertical climb! There was no doubt that we had not trained for this event when we set out on this trail, because we were all feeling the burn. 5.5 miles of incline, straight into the clouds. We heard no end of whining from the kids until we got to the fun part of the trail. Near the top of Old Rag Mountain begins an adventurous series of rock scrambles, narrow tunnels, natural staircases, and maze-like rock formations that require teamwork, ingenuity, and patience to navigate. It wasn’t anything insurmountable, especially for this seasoned Heath hiking clan, but something that definitely distracted us from the pain of raw climbing and made this hike extremely fun as we collectively learned our way through this mountain summit. The mountain rewarded us with many beautiful vistas along the way, and of course we had fully prepared with plenty of water and food, so we had the chance to stop and take very welcome breaks along the way. There’s nothing like sitting on a rocky ledge overlooking a vast valley below while enjoying a sandwich and cold water. Few people put in the effort or take the risks to get themselves to these amazing high perches, so it’s fun to sit there and soak in a view that is hard earned and few will ever see. Yes, our feet, legs, knees, and bodies were all spent by the time we finished our nearly half marathon 3000ft trail hike, but this fun mountain top challenge made it all worthwhile. Such a fun hike! Something we’ll never forget!