I've been preparing for my section hike (from Fontana to Springer later this week) since Thanksgiving. Originally, it was to be me & my cousin's wife, then the husbands decided to join us for three days. Now, my fourteen year old son and his girlfriend will be going with us for three days.
It's the girlfriend who I am so proud of. My son has been backpacking since he was two - this is nothing new to him. His girlfriend is from a non-outdoorsy family, but she has been on several hikes with us in the last six months (most recently, Springer to Hightower). She is so excited about this upcoming hike that she had her grandmother take her to rei to get a new osprey pack for her birthday - which she is having the lid monogrammed. Today, she is practicing hanging her hammock so that she doesn't have to ask for help. When we did our last hike, it rained 85% of the time... and she kept smiling.
I love when girls this age are excited about outdoor pursuits rather than shopping & texting!!!