I usually take friends who are newbies on the slow trips. It's a pleasant way to spend the time, if they don't suffer too much! In this case I had a half and half group, two friends and two I had never met before.

The young newbie is already getting friends together to go to Zion - she may have been less prepared, but she has the resilience of the 20-something in her favor! My restarters departed with voiced intent to get back with me to talk about new packs and new clothes. And the ultralighter is signing on for a winter overnight in Yosemite, so we must have been tolerable company - this was his first trip with the hiking group.

I may end up taking the backpacking class back for a revisit in spring, if anyone signs up. (It's not really the season people think about backpacking... but I did say "no snow.")