Get Out of the House: Beginner Backpacking at House Mountain

OVERVIEW

Feeling like an indoor kid lately? Growing tired of falling asleep to the artificial darkness in the rigid boxes we like to call homes and waking to the same canned fluorescent light day after day? Join Madeline and me for some beautiful, unadulterated viewing of the magnificent orb that graces our sky. She sets in the West over Big House Mountain and rises in the East over Little House Mountain. We will make our camp between the two and venture out in the evening and morning to bear witness to the sunrise and sunset and their glorious ethereal artistry.

Here’s the plan:
Saturday
meets at Echols 2:00pm
arrive at trailhead 3:30pm
hike about 3 mi, arrive at camp 5:00 pm
set up camp
leave for sunset on Big House Mountain (1 mi) 6:30pm
sunset 7:30 pm

Sunday
wake up 6:15 am
start walking (1.7 mi) 6:30am
sunrise at Little House Mountain 7:13am
return to camp, breakfast
hike out
drive back
on grounds around 1pm

What to bring:
-backpacking backpack
-sleeping bag and sleeping pad
-sturdy shoes to hike in
-clothes to stay warm in overnight
-rain jacket (just in case)
-toiletries
-working headlamp( important for post-sunset and pre-sunrise)
-water (2+ liters for hike, seasonal water source at saddle)

food
– snacks
-dinner – something you don’t have to cook unless you choose to bring your own stove
-breakfast

**You can get most of this stuff from the gear room if you need it! (with the exception of food)
remaining gear rooms this week:
Weds: 4:30 pm —> Sophia Benmhend (202) 644-0304
Thurs: 4:00 pm —> Shay Utzinger (540) 750-5431
Fri: 11:00 am —> Burke Haywood (540) 817-4002

What I’ll bring
-a couple tents from the gear room

DRIVERS NEEDED!
-Drivers get priority off the waitlist. The club reimburses for gas +50% tip!
-Drivers need to show up to Echols with a full tank of gas!

More information:
https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/virginia/house-mountain-trail
https://www.hikingupward.com/OVH/HouseMountain/
This hike has been rated as pretty difficult, but we’ll take our time and I think most ability levels should be able to do the hike without too much strife. There is a shelter and a privy in the saddle where we’ll camp, I’ll bring some extra TP.
Feel free to reach out with any questions. My number is 434-326-8868.