WILD PONIES!!!!!!!!!?????? GRAYSON HIGHLANDS BACKPACKING

OVERVIEW

Picture yourself moseying along a trail in the Virginia mountains at sunset. You’re surrounded by spring flowers and balmy air and oh also WILD PONIES. (and cows too.) this magical dream landscape is none other than GRAYSON HIGHLANDS and this is where you could be next weekend!!!! nathaniel & i plan to do a beginner loop at a slowish pace to leave much time for frolicking with the ponies. (side note is apparently you should not pet them so we will frolic at at distance.) but come join us if you are a beginner or intermediate or absolute pro backpacker and want a weekend away in the magical highlands!!!
PLAN:
FRIDAY
NOON meet at echols
drive 3.5 hours (eat lunch beforehand or in car)
3:30 arrive
hike 4-5 miles to campsite
bask in sunset and ponies
eat dinner
sleep!
SATURDAY
wake up
eat brek
hike 4ish miles to next campsite
day hike around wherever we feel
frolic / lunch / frolic more
COMMUNAL DINNER: best part of backpacking. but also optional participation. (details in question below!)
sleep
SUNDAY:
wake up again
eat brek
hike 4-5 miles to car 🙁
say goodbye to ponies
drive 3.5 hours back to cville!
eat lunch in car (and/or stop somewhere for food)
anytime probably before 4pm: return!!

YOU BRING:
-good vibes!
-backpacking backpack
-shoes (optional)
– sleeping bag + sleeping pad
– trash bag to rainproof clothes and gear
– tent or friend with tent (if it’s beautiful out we can cowboy camp!!)
– lots of water (recommend around 6 liters) we will also have opportunities to refill water on trail
– food! we’ll do communal dinner Saturday night – otherwise food-wise: 1 dinner for Friday, 1 breakfast + 1 lunch for Saturday, 1 breakfast + 1 lunch Sunday. we will have camp stoves so you can bring things that need cooking for breakfasts & dinners. (we’ll be on trail for lunches.)
– bowl and utensils
– layers (weather looks gorgeous with highs ~70 and lows ~50)
– rain jacket/poncho (might rain Sunday afternoon)
– headlamp
– moleskin + bandaids (optional- no need to bring if you don’t injure yourself)
– hand sanitizer
-tp
– instruments (optional) (kazoos encouraged)
-camera!

that is all- if you have any questions text us!! see you on the trail 🙂