ALEXANDRIA, VA—For some Alexandria teenagers, their first hike was no gentle walk through the woods. It was Old Rag Mountain: 9.4 miles of climbing, wet rock, cold wind, and the famous boulder scramble near the summit.
Ten Alexandria City High School students made the early-October trip with Wilderness Kids Alexandria, a local nonprofit that helps teenagers from under-resourced families experience hiking, paddling, climbing, camping and other outdoor activities.
The forecast called for persistent rain, wind, and temperatures in the low 50s. The group went anyway…