Backpacking in Shenandoah with Samantha. With the QOC event cancelled due to covid permit issues, we needed a plan-B adventure. She is not a huge fan of SNP (boring because not enough viewpoints or pine trees apparently) but it is convenient and she can't resist freeze-dried mac and cheese. My shoulder has been bothering me for unknown reasons, so that and a warm/dry forecast seemed like a good excuse to try packing lighter. Left most of the toys at home and got way down to about 34lbs. Samantha had 27 lbs.
Planned a relatively mellow 2-day loop around Mount Marshall. Caught some nice views along the AT and then dropped down the Bluffs Trail and hiked the last half in the dark with night-o headlamps, which I repeatedly assured her was a normal thing to do.