Pyramid in Shenandoah NP

Do you mind there being a pole between you and your bride?

The shelters have tenting spots around them. Something only have 3or 4 spots, others have room for 10 or so. There are some stealth spots between shelters. I am up there a lot. Get a Backcountry pass when you enter, it’s free. Another good spot to go, is about 12 or 15 south of the the Rockfish gap entrance on the Blue Ridge parkway. Park at Reed’s gap and hike 1.6 miles south to Maupin Field shelter. Nor a field any more but it probably has 50 large tent sites, three bear poles , privy, and soring right behind the shelter. Couple of good views on the way there. A lot of people take two or three days and connect the AT with the Mau Har Trail (right behind the shelter) to do the Three Ridges Loop. Devil’s Backbone brewery is six miles down the mountain on the Wintergreen side and is hiker friendly.

<p style=”padding-left: 30px;”>Spring behind shelter</p>

Thanks for the comments. No I guess I don’t mind the pole, but come to think of it…I hadn’t really thought of it. I just imagine myself trying to get the tent up in a downpour and a mid seems simple, fast, light, and roomy.

We could tent near the shelters, but not sure we’ll want to be that sociable.

@ Tom

In reference to the MLD DuoMid. I own one and it is a wonderful shelter for one-person backpacking. I have used it even for winter snow camping below treeline. I think it is possible to fit two people into it but it would be a tight squeeze.

Also, when you open the door, rain would fall into the part of the mid where the outer person has his/ her gear. So I think you are right to lean toward the MLD SuperMid. Perhaps the DuoMid XL would work.

I’m a mid fanboi- I think they are the Nearly Perfect Shelter System For Almost Any Conditions (TM), but then I’m never in established campsites.  I’d also say that the people who harp about the large footprint have never actually tried to use one- I have never had issues finding sites, anywhere.  The footprint looks large in square feet, but that’s because it’s in square feet- you’re measuring area, which rapidly gets to large numbers with relatively small increases in dimension.  9’x9′ is not some sort of monstrously large shelter, and especially if you’re in established campsites they tend to be very spacious.  I’d be more worried about the quality of the surface (mud, puddles, etc.) in an established site in a floorless shelter.  Highly-used tent sites tend to eventually wear down into low spots that fill with water when it rains.  (One reason I avoid them.)

I’ll totally agree with Bruce- get a SuperMid.  A 2P mid is a palace for one, but like every other 2P tent it’s actually annoying for two.  Perfectly doable, mind you, but you’ll be happier in a SuperMid.

Dean, you may have just talked me into a Supermid. Might get the floor too. Thanks!

I’ve used mids for years, in all weather

Try to avoid low spots to camp on, I occasionally screw up and find a small pond surrounding me, it’s tough to have a waterproof enough floor.  As long as the pond is less than 1 inch deep I’m okay because my air mat is 1 inch thick : )

On nice thing about floorless mids is that the site doesn’t have to be perfect. Low spots/puddles can be more of an issue but roots, rocks and even a bit of shrub that would defeat a floored shelter can be set up over, as long as the sleeping space is there.

I can think of one trip where it rained all day and night.  I noticed streams of water coming my way and I was able to make a channel for the water to go around.  While I was laying down.  You can’t do that with a floored tent

Hopefully your mid in Shenandoah will have an inner. The ticks will be very excited that you and your bride will be joining them for dinner!

Ticks…yeah I know. We don’t have to be too far in to spring for them to appear do we? We’re not summer campers – too hot – but I may grab the permethrin and spray the snot out of our clothes and gear. Was also thinking of getting the perimeter netting too.

Tom,

I was being flippant with my ticks comment, but in all seriousness, I have been camping and backpacking in SNP for years and years and I seen lots of ticks (numbers increasing overall the last few years) all year round.

If I were you, I would consider a full “inner” either for your pyramid or under a tarp (tarp giving more options perhaps though I am a mid guy as well). I permethrin my stuff as well, but I don’t think I would gamble with less than full protection while sleeping. Just my $.02!

Logan

The MLD mids can be set up with too poles inside at front and rear. Thus no center pole. This will require 2 pole jacks 10″ for the Duo.