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Backpacking - where do you recommend?
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austin79
Aug 13, 08 9:57
Post #1 of 38 (495 views)
Backpacking - where do you recommend?
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So, I have about 7 days of vacay I want to use in late Sept or early October. Right now, I don't have the money for a super cool overseas vacation, so I'm thinking another backpacking trip would be best.
Where is your fav place to backpack?
I've already done most of West Texas included Big Bend NP and Guadalupe Mtns NP, as well as Carlsbad. I'd like to go somewhere that is warm, not overrun with tourists, and scenic with a few other things to do in the area.
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MattinSF
Aug 13, 08 9:59
Post #2 of 38 (493 views)
Re: Backpacking - where do you recommend? [austin79]
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Tahoe Rim trail. Pacific Crest trail, Yosemite High Country, Kings Canyon NP
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lunchbox
Aug 13, 08 10:04
Post #3 of 38 (485 views)
Re: Backpacking - where do you recommend? [austin79]
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It's a bit of a drive, but try the Appalachian Trail in north Georgia. Very scenic. I was in the area a long time ago in the winter (froze my ass off), but understand it's quite nice in the fall. Also, Chattanooga, TN is close by- neat town. NW Arkansas is supposed to be nice (never been there), and SW Missouri is rugged (drove through years ago)- maybe Mark Twain Nat'l forest? I see lots of cheap airfare from Southwest from Austin to Santa Fe as well; heard Santa Fe is cool. We may try to check it out at christmas, but the wife will be 7.5 months along then, so maybe no trips...
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David in FL
Aug 13, 08 10:04
Post #4 of 38 (485 views)
Re: Backpacking - where do you recommend? [austin79]
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Appalachian Trail. I'm jealous. Great way to spend a week!
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"Far better it is to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs, even though checkered by failure than to rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy much nor suffer much, because they live in a grey twilight that knows not victory nor defeat."
Theodore Roosevelt
Crikey
Aug 13, 08 10:08
Post #5 of 38 (479 views)
Re: Backpacking - where do you recommend? [austin79]
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Depends on how remote you want to go. South Bass trail in the Grand Canyon is a incredible hike. You will pretty much have ti to yourself the whole time also. (better have some repalling skills though)
Also try Paria Canyon on the Utah/AZ border. great 4 day hike in the longest known canyon in the world. Better have like fifty cameras available as one will just not have the capacity to hold all the pictures you'll want to take.
"I have no fear of losing my life - if I have to save a koala or a crocodile or a kangaroo or a snake, mate, I will save it. "
Steve Irwin
AlanShearer
Aug 13, 08 10:10
Post #6 of 38 (478 views)
Re: Backpacking - where do you recommend? [austin79]
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Eastside Sierras. Anything outside of Bishop. North Lake-South Lake loop is good. So are the Minarets.
Another one is the Mountaineers Route on Whitney. Total choss fest, but still a non-technical route that is much more satisfying that the trail. Plus, you can do the East Ridge of Mt. Russell in the same trip. That's an amazing class 3 scramble up a razor edge ridge.
CaptainCanada
Aug 13, 08 10:12
Post #7 of 38 (477 views)
Re: Backpacking - where do you recommend? [austin79]
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I thruhiked the Appalachian Trail in 94 and the Pacific Creat Trail in 96. The southern parts of the AT are awesome but more crowded and much steeper. The grades are kneekillers.
The PCT is much less used and less well marked, but in my opinion much more scenic. The Kennedy Meadows to Tahoe section is my favourite, although in September and October you will get cold weather.
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2009 Race Schedule:
Wine Country Oly, IM Lanzarote, Wasa Lake Oly, Rhode Island 70.3, Ultraman Canada Relay, Apple Oly, IMC, Grand Columbian Half
slowbern
Aug 13, 08 10:26
Post #8 of 38 (467 views)
Re: Backpacking - where do you recommend? [austin79]
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Where is your fav place to backpack?
The 2 best places I have backpacked were in Michigan's Upper Pennisula. The first is Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. My wife and I backpacked up there twice (both times in late September). Breathtaking. The second is also in the Upper. There is a State Park on the far west (borders Wisconsin) called Porcupine Mountains. It is the oldest mountain range in the U.S. It is a fantastic place to backpack if you love rugged terrain, wildlife, and seclusion. Early autumn is a great time to go to the Upper Peninsula. There aren't many bugs at that time of year.
One place I haven't been, but is on my list is Isle Royale. I have some friends who backpack up there every year for the last 15 years and they still aren't bored with it.
Bernie
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hblake
Aug 13, 08 11:00
Post #9 of 38 (449 views)
Re: Backpacking - where do you recommend? [austin79]
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We recently purchased a cabin in Ruidoso, New Mexico about a ten hour drive from Houston. We have been spending some of our time there camping in the Lincoln National Forest Wilderness area. Moderate altitude ~6500 ft to over 11,000 ft, good hiking trails, springs to top up you H20 bottles, a few bears and mountain lions though.
A good website to start with is:
http://www.fs.fed.us/r3/lincoln/
Ruidoso is nice town, reminds me of Lake Placid....
Hugh Blake
lunchbox
Aug 13, 08 11:04
Post #10 of 38 (446 views)
Re: Backpacking - where do you recommend? [hblake]
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I thought it took longer to cross TX than that?
Looking for some short trips to the area this winter (from San Antonio) if the wife can handle the car trip. Are there some good sight-seeing places nearby? She won't be doing much walking, but we might as well do something cool while we're down here.
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bluemonkeytri
Aug 13, 08 11:05
Post #11 of 38 (444 views)
Re: Backpacking - where do you recommend? [austin79]
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If you want to make sure it's warm, then Moab area or even some of the Coconino Nat'l forest outside Sedona. If in Moab, you have easy access to the 4 corners and Flagstaff and Durango, although they are higher in altitude and may be cooler that time of year.
www.momslasagna.org, because Every Bite Saves a Life.
hblake
Aug 13, 08 11:12
Post #12 of 38 (439 views)
Re: Backpacking - where do you recommend? [lunchbox]
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Lots to do there from shopping, wine tasting, site seeing (try the solar observatory near Cloudcroft (elevation 9,000+ ft), Billt the Kid Historical Site, Roswell is an hour away so you can look for aliens... White Sands Missle range and the Trinity Site are little ways away but not too far. Also there is Ski Apache if your into sking.
Once you past Kerrville the speed limit goes up to eighty mph, so you are flying. we set the cruise control at 85 and go... at Fort Stockton turn North on 385 and go to Roswell then west on 78? for an hour into Ruidoso Downs and Ruidoso. Ten hours is about right if you limit you stops on the highway.
Hugh Blake
Polar bears do not shit in the woods.
parkito
Aug 13, 08 11:22
Post #13 of 38 (430 views)
Re: Backpacking - where do you recommend? [bluemonkeytri]
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I wouldn't hit Moab until late September or October unless you really like heat.
Behold the turtle! He makes progess only when he sticks his neck out. (
James Bryant Conant
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GET OFF THE F*%KING WALL!!!!!!! (
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Brevity is the soul of wit. (
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bluemonkeytri
Aug 13, 08 11:28
Post #14 of 38 (422 views)
Re: Backpacking - where do you recommend? [parkito]
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I think that when she said she wanted to go. My first MB experience was Slick Rock in July, and one of our group had the bright idea to ride up there from the bike shop and not take the shuttle. It was 110, and a couple guys we saw from Indiana were really having problems, so much so we had to hurry out and get help. I drank 4 gatorades at that little store/mobile home halfway down the road back into town.
www.momslasagna.org, because Every Bite Saves a Life.
parkito
Aug 13, 08 11:35
Post #15 of 38 (415 views)
Re: Backpacking - where do you recommend? [austin79]
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For California, I'd recommend Sequoia National Park over the Sierras. The Sierras get you up into high altitudes really fast.
In either case, late September is pushing it as you can get hit with some pretty good snow.
If you're really serious, though, I'd highly recommend a trip out of Crescent Meadows to Hamilton Lakes via Bear Paw Meadow. It's about 16 miles in. Starts out at 6,600' and ends up at 8,200'. If you like, you can then climb out over Kaweah Gap (10,200') and take in the Big Arroyo. It's quite the site, and usually quite deserted.
Camping at Hamilton Lakes is limited to two consecutive nights as it is pretty popular. But, you can hit it both ways, spending a day and a half in the Big Arroyo (Nine Lakes Basin area), for a nice 6-7 day trip.
Couple that with flying into San Fransisco and maybe meeting up with a couple of ST gals before or after. Or, my youngest brother who lives in SF might be available as an excellent tour guide. ;-)
Map of Sequoia (the Crescent Meadow Trail Head starts at the end of the road just below "Village"):
http://www.lib.utexas.edu/...sequoia_king_map.jpg
Behold the turtle! He makes progess only when he sticks his neck out. (
James Bryant Conant
)
GET OFF THE F*%KING WALL!!!!!!! (
Doug Stern
)
Brevity is the soul of wit. (
William Shakespeare
)
Martin C
Aug 13, 08 11:36
Post #16 of 38 (414 views)
Re: Backpacking - where do you recommend? [austin79]
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I was, in a previous life, once so addicted to my backpacking habit (AT trail) that I quit my job and went backpacking in different National Parks all throughout the country. Took me around five months. Buddy and myself lived out of a pickup, between week-long hikes in too many National Parks to remember.
So it was through this experience that I would say to you.....
North Cascades National Park.
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"It sucks for
everyone
after 150 miles."
-Me-
parkito
Aug 13, 08 11:38
Post #17 of 38 (410 views)
Re: Backpacking - where do you recommend? [bluemonkeytri]
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Yeah, I didn't catch that until I read it the second time. My bad. ;-)
We've rescued people on the Slick Rock trail in October that hadn't packed enough water.
A favorite trip was to go down towards the end of October when there was a full moon, and ride at midnight out by the Monitor and Merimac buttes. It was still plenty warm that late.
Behold the turtle! He makes progess only when he sticks his neck out. (
James Bryant Conant
)
GET OFF THE F*%KING WALL!!!!!!! (
Doug Stern
)
Brevity is the soul of wit. (
William Shakespeare
)
Jim
Aug 13, 08 12:00
Post #18 of 38 (401 views)
Re: Backpacking - where do you recommend? [parkito]
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Nothing beats Isle Royale, kinda a PITA to get to, but that keeps the riff-raff and weekend beer packers out. Another nice choice is Great Smokey Mountains NP. either park can be as hard or as easy as you would like to make it.
Jim
Casual Triathlete
bluemonkeytri
Aug 13, 08 12:30
Post #19 of 38 (388 views)
Re: Backpacking - where do you recommend? [parkito]
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Speaking of moon, we did the hike into the Havasu Falls the night of an eclipse, the moon was blood red. A whole bunch of people were hiking. Bats kept whizzing by our heads. It was pretty cool. Until we stopped to eat and a pack of wild dogs tried to come at us across the creek. Then we missed a turn and ended up in the garbage area, I actually saw a burro eating a can.
www.momslasagna.org, because Every Bite Saves a Life.
Oleander
Aug 13, 08 17:41
Post #20 of 38 (350 views)
Re: Backpacking - where do you recommend? [austin79]
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Oh oh oh. I know. SOUTHERN UTAH!
Weather is perfect there in early October. Still "warm" but not so hot.
How adventurous are you? If you're newer to backpacking you might pick an area that is well-signed, such as Zion National Park. (3 hour drive from Vegas.) If you're more experienced with route-finding, don't mind walking in mud, etc., you can try the Escalante Canyon and/or, as someone mentioned, Paria/Buckskin. Or Grand Gulch, best 4-day hike in a canyon with ruins.
North Rim of the Grand Canyon? Permits are probably already snatched up, but if you have a week you CANNOT beat Grand Canyon.
As for the Sierra, I agree that the best area by far is the east side, particularly, the east of Kings Canyon National Park. (Someone mentioned the South Lake loop - OUTSTANDING - probably the best loop in the Sierra). However, it will get very, very chilly at night about that time, and, possibly, chilly during the day. You will be sleeping at 11,000 feet, average, each night. If you're there till ~October 7 you will likely get the first snow. I like it better there just after Labor Day, when the crowds are gone but it's not freezing cold yet. You could also go into Yosemite from the northeast side; you'll be sleeping at a slightly lower elevation (but still ~10,000 feet).
Let us know what you decide...
Matt Foley
Aug 13, 08 20:46
Post #21 of 38 (319 views)
Re: Backpacking - where do you recommend? [Oleander]
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I'll second Southern Utah... plus there is some world class slick rock mountain biking at Gooseberry Mesa right outside Zion Nat. Park.
Race Bannon
Aug 14, 08 8:32
Post #22 of 38 (289 views)
Re: Backpacking - where do you recommend? [Matt Foley]
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I'll third southern Utah. There is some great canyoneering to be done there as well. I look at my pictures and am still amazed by the beauty. Only bested by Montana where I'm headed Sat. for a ten day trip!!!!!!!!!! As much as I love Montana I wouldn't recomend back country in late Sept-Oct. too many grizzlies and some of them are loco. Have Fun!
chainring711
Aug 14, 08 8:36
Post #23 of 38 (285 views)
Re: Backpacking - where do you recommend? [austin79]
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Wind River Range, Wyoming. You can also do the Tetons in the same trip. If you like to fly-fish it is an awesome experience and that is a nice to of the year to go.
austin79
Aug 14, 08 12:00
Post #24 of 38 (254 views)
Re: Backpacking - where do you recommend? [hblake]
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What do you know about Santa Fe National Forest? I can't see to find a map online of how the trails interconnect...
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hblake
Aug 14, 08 12:35
Post #25 of 38 (245 views)
Re: Backpacking - where do you recommend? [austin79]
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Did I say Santa Fe National Forest? If I did sorry, my wrong. I meant the Lincoln National Forest at:
http://www.fs.fed.us/r3/lincoln/
A few areas about hiking the Natonal Forest on that website, plus the ranger stations in Cloudcroft and Ruidoso have hand out maps as well as maps that you can purchase. Falcon Press publishes paperback out door guides and has a few for New Mexico.
Another web site is:
http://www.explorenm.com/hikes/
and:
http://www.explorenm.com/camping/
Hugh Blake.
.
Polar bears do not shit in the woods.
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