About 25 years ago my brother and I took off from Roanoke VA to the peaks of Otter on the blue ridge parkway. We were under full pack, tent, sleeping bags, etc. The bike's were loaded down. He smoked, I didn't. He was in much better shape then I though. He climbed the hills puffing, I climbed them huffing. We made it up that day - spent the night and came back the next day. He still smokes. He will probably die young. I am trying to get him back on the bike and off the smokes.