If you’re looking for a two-day, one night backpacking trip – this is the perfect option. But be warned…day one is 6.5 miles and climbs 1945 feet of total elevation.
If you’re looking for a companion, this is the perfect candidate. He is an experienced packer, in great physical shape, makes good decisions, and is terrific fun to hang out with.
This is the perfect reaction when you reach the Matthews Arm trail and you realize it’s all downhill from there.
This is the perfect spot to refill your water. (Note: don’t listen to your dad when he says you can do better. You’ll end up doing an extra 2 miles that day just to come back to this spot.)
This is the perfect spot to overlook the Shenandoah Valley.
This is the perfect camp site. Note the view. Also note that when it gets dark, you can see a sky stuffed with stars above and a dark valley stuffed with blinking fireflies below.
This is the perfect meal after you’ve packed 8.4 miles/2465 feet of elevation in a single day.
This is the perfect tent. The top half is open screen, so you see the sky and shapes of trees above you. You hear owls hooting. You feel the breeze. You can lay there with your son and sort all your friends and family into Harry Potter houses.
This is the perfect place to stop for a break at the end of your second day.
This is the perfect place to stop for victory burgers, which should absolutely be your tradition after you come out of the woods after a packing trip. (Horseshoe Curve Restaurant, Bluemont, VA)
This is the perfect mix for your ride home. Alex put it together. Two notes about your ride home.
- I would recommend taking the route that avoids Washington DC. It’s an extra half hour, but it takes you on windy roads through the mountains of Virginia.
- Be cautious listening to this mix on those roads with that boy after doing this packing trip. The joy you feel will be overwhelming. It will be so thick inside you that it creates a physical pressure pushing at the top of your chest.
OK…here’s the official Harry Potter sorting.
Our immediate family
| Mike | Gryffindor |
| Alex | Ravenclaw |
| Shani | Ravenclaw |
| Jack | Gryffindor |
| Pop-pop | Ravenclaw |
| Grandma | Gryffindor |
| Grampa Harry | Ravenclaw |
| Grandma Mary | Hufflepuff |
| Uncle Chris | Slytherin |
| Aunt Annie | Ravenclaw |
| Tucker | Hufflepuff |
| Brinda | Ravenclaw |
| Neave | Slytherin |
| Uncle Bob | Ravenclaw |
| Aunt Joan | Ravenclaw |
| Uncle Coddy | Hufflepuff |
| Aunt Mary | Ravenclaw |
| Max | Hufflepuff |
| Sam | Ravenclaw |
| My mom | Gryffindor |
Ramblers
| Chief | Hufflepuff |
| Hal | Hufflepuff |
| Dave | Slytherin |
| Ben | Gryffindor |
| Skinny | Hufflepuff |
| Spider | Ravenclaw |
West Coast Friends
| Reef | Ravenclaw |
| Corbin | Hufflepuff |
| Wade | Slytherin |
| Frank | Gryffindor |
| Budzik | Hufflepuff |
Cast of Friends
| Rachel | Slytherin |
| Ross | Ravenclaw |
| Monica | Gryffindor |
| Chandler | Slytherin |
| Joey | Gryffindor |
| Phoebe | Hufflepuff |
Avengers
| Captain America | Gryffindor (textbook) |
| Iron Man | Slytherin |
| Black Widow | Slytherin |
| Hawkeye | Slytherin |
| Thor | Gryffindor |
| Hulk | Ravenclaw |
| Vision | Ravenclaw |
| Falcon | Gryffindor |
| Scarlet Witch | Slytherin |
| Quicksilver | Hufflepuff |
| Spiderman | Gryffindor |
Simpsons
| Bart | Slytherin |
| Marge | Gryffindor |
| Lisa | Ravenclaw |
| Maggie | Hufflepuff |
| Homer | Squib |
NuckolBall 
I shall, at some point, do this hike and camp. Looks wonderful.
You, in turn, might consider trekking with your boys in Nepal. It will change all of your lives!
Cheers, Chris
This is the best packing trip I’ve ever done. I’ll give you all the details. Maybe join you! Who knows. Have done Annapurna trek and it was one of the highlights of my life. Often fantasize about bringing boys
Wait. Mike. You’ve been to Nepal?? And done the Annapurna trek?! Did I know this?
My wife and I spent a year traveling the world after we got married. Nepal was on the route.
I did not know this. (Maybe I did?) The fact that you guys stayed together after a year traveling is great testament to the power of your guys’ relationship. Cheers!!