Anybody know where I can go to check out whether or not there are any raptor closures on Old Rag yet? I tried the Access Fund site and there's no update. Does that mean everything is good to go? I'd hate to disturb some peregrines.

I'm fairly sure that Old Rag doesn't have any closures. I sure as hell hope not. I'll be there this weekend. I can't recall ever hearing of either the Ridge Trail or the Saddle Trail being closed or detoured for bird nesting. I could be wrong though. It happens from time to time.

Edit: From Apr 2010 on rc.com
"The National Park Service has temporarily closed the Sunset Wall area to climbing because of Peregrine Falcon activity in the area. The Park Service is trying to encourage the raptors to return to their natural habitats, moving them out of urban and suburban environments. It is unclear if the birds are actually nesting in the area or just using Sunset as a roost. If no nesting activity is found the area could be reopened in the next few weeks, however if nests are located the area will remain closed until mid to late June. Please be respectful of the closure so that we can maintain our close relationship with the Park Service and their opinion of us as an asset."

I've been up there about four times over the last year and a half in every season but summer and haven't seen or heard anything about bird closures. Even if Sunset Walls are closed, no biggie. It's not that big of an area, and you still have Summit, PATC, God's, Reflector, etc. with plenty of quality granite.

Velociraptors?

Man, I was there this last weekend. I still haven't been able to find the approach to Lower Sunset. I know it's supposed to be (coming up from the Berry Hollow side) right at the first set of stone steps and the last hard right switchback before the Byrd's Nest Shelter, but I'll be damned if I can locate it. I hit the other crags, Summit, Skyline, R.O. Didn't see any signs either, at least not at any of the areas I went to.

Sunset is left at the first set of stone stairs. Contour around to the left and uphill a little bit. At the first broken cliffs about 150 meters from the trail, you can either go uphill just before the short broken cliffs and through a notch on the left or just pass them without going uphill. Either way, just head left and uphill a little from the main trail and you'll run into it in maybe 15 minutes or so.