2009 so far

There's a spot that burned some years ago, it's like a bald now.

we got a movie for this one too.
http://www.youtube.com/user/cheehytrailhead#play/uploads/3/2Cnmse2cflo

Tis was the big one so far. 64 miles in five days, big elevation changes. It rocked. Nasty thunderstorms, wild boars, wild boyscouts, bears, bees, dogs and cats, living together, Mass Hysteria! I finally got down the official under 10 lb base weight, the mrs. was at 8lb's.

Big trees!

Our tarptent.

Inside the tent

In case you're wondering…
GG mariposa plus
Tarp tent rainshadow
Jrb No sniv with hood
neo air
GG thin lght
Jason Klass style gravity filter
couple of plattys
driducks xl jacket, fits over my pack, or worn like a parka or cape (frodo style)
photon light with velcro
basic first aid
titanium flask of bushmill's
pattagucci cap base layer and bpl pants
Comfort, style, under 10 lbs.

Trail!

More trail

http://www.youtube.com/user/cheehytrailhead#play/uploads/7/KQhcSaEZVgs
Here's he movie, we got another one coming.

You're on a neoair and she's on a t-rest prolite? How's a guy go about getting a gig like that? he-he

ha, it's my old prolite too! Once she sees this I guess I'll be calling Gossamer Gear and gettin' a neo for her. Anybody need a prolite3?

And after this last trip (Overall Run falls in SNP) my wife is gonna get a neo air. We did a big gear overhaul. I got a Gossamer Gear sil-murmur, and we got a Spinn Twinn and a caldera keg gvp. (Full disclosure We're becoming trail ambassadors for gossamer gear, so we have a bias. But we're not employee's. and we're doing this out of love for the brand) That being said I love my new sil-murmur. It's a very smart, light and comfortable pack. I see it as my weekender and not my weeklonger, but If I keep shedding weight??? Ok here's some pics.
That's my I wish i were Ansel Adams shot!
Here comes the fall, best season for trekking in VA

My wife, Stephanie and her sil-murmur.
Trees!

Me and the Mrs. lent out tarptent to my lil sis Liz and her man Tim.
Here's three of us, Tim's in my GG mariposa plus. We all went pretty light. My pack and my wife's were 8lbs-ish, we didnt weight Liz and Tim's but they had to be around 10.

Liz's probably less, she was in an REI day pack, nice pack, but it weighs more than our murmurs.

Side view

Rick,

Not only great pics – I love your attitude towards it all!

Thanks to your pics & your wife's pack weight, I may get my wife out more often! Keeping my fingers crossed.

Oh, and BIG congrats for getting your packweights down so low!!!!

Todd

Thanks, Todd. Man get her over the little stuff and get her out there! If you hike along the AT there's privvys so if she has to….
I think you can see me and my tough lady easing into the Light in this thread. We want people to know how much more fun this is with a light pack and how comfy it still is. Preaching to the choir on this thread I know, but she's doing backpacker.com as lady-ultralight, and I'm gonna start a , gulp, twitter and fliker about the backcountry, ultralight backpacking, and getting started UL.
Thanks again.

Hey Rick –
I live in VA and was going to try and do a 1-2 night backpacking trip in Shenandoah National Park soon. Got any suggestions for a good, scenic trip in the Shenandoah backcountry? Haven't done any serious backpacking for a while so I probably wouldn't want to do more than 6-10 miles per day. Any good loop hikes you'd recommend where I can park my car and get back to it without too much out and back?
Thanks,
Paul

Paul, One of the nicer trips in the Shenandoah (6-10 miles/day) is White oak canyon, Old Rag Mountain, and Cedar Run.

Park at White Oak Canyon and hike down to valley and camp near junction with Cedar run. Next day hike the Berry Hollow Fire Road the the Saddle Trail to the summit of Old Rag. Enjoy lunch on top. Then Continue on Saddle trail down the spine of the Mountain. There is a little climbing involved, but its a blast. The trail will end at Weakly Hollow Fire Road. Take this back to Berry Hollow and back to Whiteoak Canyon trail. Continue on whiteoak trail short distance to Cedar run. Camp along cedar run. Its a bit difficult to find spots but about half way up if memory serves me you can cross the stream and flat ground can be found along the slight ridge. Wake up to the rushing water and continue on cedar run to the AT. Take the AT north to White Oak parking.

There is some incline for Old Rag and going back up Cedar Run. I'll guess about 2000 feet each, but it is worth it.

If you want to see a bunch of trips go to the Park Service web site for SNP. Search around the backcountry/backbacking areas. You should find one of the best set of trips I've seen on a park service web site. It lists easy, moderate, and difficult trips with options from 1 night to over a week. It spells out where to camp each night.

Good luck, Jamie

Paul, It was a bit difficult to find so here is a link.

SNP Backpacking Trips

White oak, and Old Rag are classics. If you're gonna be in the park on the weekend in the fall they'll be packed. Jeremy's run/knob mountain is up north and a little more secluded. You'll see folks along the run but you'll have knob all to yourself.

Overall run falls is another good trail in that area. If it's been raining the falls are awesome. If not, skip this one.
Overall Run: Tallest waterfall and awesome swimming pools/dinner spot: Over all run trail and loop with Beacher Ridge or Hieskell Hollow. Camp near intersection with Overall Run and Beacher Ridge overall connecting trail. Thats were the pools an a couple of established spots are.

Nicholson Hollow: Lot of old homesites and a PATC cabin. Multiple route possibilities. Established site where Nicholson Hollow meets Hot Short Mtn Trail. Love that spot.
South River Falls/Pocosin Hollow: Tall waterfall, old mission, old oak tree, cemetery..
If you find any on the site, chances are we've taken it. If you need more particulars, let me know.
Happy Trails.

What BC campsite did you use at Assateague?