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Hey TL!
Out of my three favorite outdoor activities (running, golfing, hiking) hiking is by far the most adventurous/cheapest and also can be the most challenging depending on the hike. I live near Washington D.C in Virginia (stupid busy metropolis area) but I'm lucky that I'm only an hour and a half drive to some super kickass places. The Shenandoah Valley in Virginia (massive cliff/valley area splitting Virginia/West Virginia) is one of them.
Hiking is an awesome way to get out and explore places you would NEVER otherwise see or experience. The experience is even better when you can do a little research on some wildlife in the area and know what to look for and their names. And when you have some amazing friends you can go with.
Today I was able to hike up one of the better rated hikes (FINALLY) in Virginia, Old Rag mountain in the Shenandoah Valley in central/western Virginia.
+ Show Spoiler +u mean we're going up there? rofl.
Nearly 9 miles of hiking goodness, some rock scramble crazy shit that requires jumping, leaping and even some minor rock climbing. Lots of inclined trail as you head up to the 3,300 foot summit. Views are insane, you can see literally 30 miles in every direction at the top from 3,300 feet. Soooo amazing! It's the only mountaintop in Virginia that has a rocky top so you actually leave the tree lines and can look out with perfect unobstructed views...
+ Show Spoiler +This is only the first overlook which isn't even nearly at the top.
+ Show Spoiler +![[image loading]](http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash1/hs511.ash1/30166_1230898467254_1672910804_450824_6159918_n.jpg) Rocks rocks and more rocks...don't slip.
+ Show Spoiler +![[image loading]](http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash1/hs511.ash1/30166_1230899067269_1672910804_450839_7967607_n.jpg) This was taken from the summit.
At the summit you can actually see hawks, turkey vultures, golden eagles all flying BELOW you. Pretty sick. Oh and did I mention like a panoramic view 25 miles in every direction?
+ Show Spoiler +![[image loading]](http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash1/hs511.ash1/30166_1230899107270_1672910804_450840_6581752_n.jpg) Another view from the summit from the other side.
After the nearly 4 mile hike up the mountain involving some rather difficult jumps/climbs you get a fun 5 mile trail back down which isn't as difficult but still involves some effort considering u just owned urself getting up this steep 3,300 foot mountain.
+ Show Spoiler +
Anyway I highly encourage TL to get out and get active it's not only really healthy it's super fun and you get to see/enjoy things that you absolutely never see in your daily life. look up places around you and GO! I typically don't blog about personal things on TL but I figured hopefully 1 or 2 people might find this at least halfway interesting and it's something I am interested in. I'll continue to blog about places I visit and share pictures I take if people find it interesting enough.
-LF
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Wtf, why u never call us for a DC hiking LAN >_<
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if enough TL'ers are interested I would love to organize stuff like this with u guys sometime. =p
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United States24803 Posts
I enjoy 2/3 of the same outdoor activities as you (screw running lol).
I did a fair amount of hiking and backpacking in high school but for college and beyond I haven't done much. An example of a fun day hike is climbing Bear Mountain north of New York City. Another memorable trip was a ~20 trek north from the George Washing Bridge along the Hudson River which finished with a ~300 foot climb up the cliffs of the palisades.... it was a fairly steep group of switchbacks but no actual rock climbing which I suck at :p
BTW speaking of golf... I just went to the range today (Friday) after not hitting balls since Sunday and I was struggling like hell unexpectedly... I didn't have time to go Mon-Thur and apparently I can't manage to go 5 days without hitting or I become completely unable to hit the ball. After using a lot of the drills I've learned for correcting problems I found myself in a situation where I was literally alternating between beautiful perfect 7 iron shots off the mat and complete mishits... I mean how the hell/fuck do you get to a point where you are alternating between beautiful and terrible shots?
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First off, I'd like to say fantastic 2500th post!
And also, those pictures were very pretty. I envy where you live  Up here in MA it's a little more rocky and less green than in VA. I still do love hiking though.
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Maybe I should look into hiking. I started running last year to get back in shape, but kept up with it only because I have a really nice hiking trail a few kilometers from my house. So nice to get out of the city and run through forests, along a beach and hanging wood bridges over miles of swampland. Earlier this week I had a loon chase me out of the woods, it was a male, had me wondering if it was mating season or if he was guarding a nest, I don't know anything about those ducks. I often stop just to watch the wildlife, especially if I see a beaver which are fairly common. I live in Ile Bizard Montreal if anyone is wondering how I have this stuff so close to home.
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cool hiking alright i prefure other things tho, great pics tho
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lots of great hiking near me. i'm in NC near pisgah and nantahala national parks. i think i have some pics in an old blog of mine...
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I love hiking as well, not just to see the views, but doing some climbing and scaling and stuff is always fun. The environment looks nice and green there too, beautiful =]
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sicksicksick looks amazing. im a leader for the hiking trip here so i'm going to take 2 weeklong trips every year that i'm here...will probably end up in shenandoah at some point =D
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Funny thing is that I'm at a college that comes right down to the river (western virginia area, as OP said). If anyone from this area wants to get together for a lan party, pm me
I'd go to the DC lan thing, but I'll be back at home then 
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United States24803 Posts
You guys can do a triathlon... hike, play sc at a lan center, and eat korean bbq.
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Baltimore, USA22261 Posts
TL hiking expedition, gogogogogo.
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there's actually some really good hiking kinda near the LAN center now that I think about it, Great Falls in Maryland... (like 15-20 minute drive from annandale) I know where to park for free too. Not nearly as long as this (3 miles or so) hmm maybe sometime if there's enough interest. =p
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Baltimore, USA22261 Posts
On May 08 2010 11:03 LuckyFool wrote:
there's actually some really good hiking kinda near the LAN center now that I think about it, Great Falls in Maryland... (like 15-20 minute drive from annandale) I know where to park for free too. Not nearly as long as this (3 miles or so) hmm maybe sometime if there's enough interest. =p
I'd totally be game for a group hike. Preferably something longer though, but is there a lot of vertical movement (ie, you get a work out) or is it more flat? Never been to great falls.
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if you do all 3 sections of trail its almost 5 miles. u get a workout especially along section A, section A is nearly 2 miles of rock scramble/hopping. It's really fun, I never feel like it's too short.
It's called the billy goat trail
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billy_Goat_Trail
if there's enough interest in this maybe I'll organize something! Haha that would be so awesome! (It's totally free btw u just park in some public lots right outside the park and walk in)
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United States24803 Posts
I like the idea of starting a trend for tler's to meet up and do some badass physical stuff :p
Who's up for a day of bowling/golf!?
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Baltimore, USA22261 Posts
On May 08 2010 13:54 micronesia wrote:
I like the idea of starting a trend for tler's to meet up and do some badass physical stuff :p
Who's up for a day of bowling/golf!?
I'm up for something that doesn't suck (unfortunately ruling out your two choices)
And LF, provided I have nothing else going on that day, I will 100% be there, possibly with the wife too.
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United States24803 Posts
On May 08 2010 14:53 EvilTeletubby wrote:Show nested quote +On May 08 2010 13:54 micronesia wrote:
I like the idea of starting a trend for tler's to meet up and do some badass physical stuff :p
Who's up for a day of bowling/golf!? I'm up for something that doesn't suck (unfortunately ruling out your two choices) And LF, provided I have nothing else going on that day, I will 100% be there, possibly with the wife too.
shut up they are badass!
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Wow, this is so nice. You know, if you guys keep this up, you'll all get your periods at the same time. You know, that can be kinda cool.
^^ 5/5
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EPT![[image loading]](http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-sjc1/hs551.snc3/30166_1230897547231_1672910804_450802_3895205_n.jpg)
![[image loading]](http://hphotos-sjc1.fbcdn.net/hs551.snc3/30166_1230898547256_1672910804_450826_6386507_n.jpg)
![[image loading]](http://hphotos-sjc1.fbcdn.net/hs531.snc3/30166_1230899347276_1672910804_450846_5649782_n.jpg)
