Shenandoah National Park Trail Run

Last weekend I ran the scenic rout in Shenandoah. I started at Hawksbill upper parking and ran down the Old Rag Fire Road. I then ran over Old Rag, with lots of breaks to wait for people to get through the rock scramble at the top. Then I ran to the White Oak Canyon Parking. White Oak Run was really low and I was planning on filling up from there. The Ranger working the contact station let me fill my bladder from her water cooler - saving the day and my run! I then attacked White Oak Canyon and the White Oak Canyon fire road, climbing over 2500 feet on these 2 trails alone. Finally I ran south on Skyline Drive to my car. 25+ and almost 7000 feet of elevation change on the day. The thing that hit me most about this day was how busy Shenandoah is during the fall weekends. I did choose to run two of the most popular trails. I was also shocked at how unprepared some people were, especially the ones climbing Old Rag. It was a cool day (50s) with a constant threat of hard rain and most people were hiking up in blue jeans and t shirts with no water or rain gear. A downpour could have given a bunch of cotton wearing tourists a quick meeting with hypothermia. The Ranger who gave me water said they are constantly giving people water on Old Rag. This does not surprise me.

This video is from on top Hawksbill right after the sunrise. I explain where I will be running that day:

This video is from on top Old Rag, tons of people and a stiff 60+ mph wind. It was hard to stand up straight:

I cam across this copperhead on the Saddle Trail coming off of Old Rag. A group of guys had stopped to move him off the trail and alerted me to his presence. If not I may have run right over him or on him:

Pics from the day: