JulySuggestions

“It's July, it's 105 degrees outside, or at least it seems so with heavy humidity, and the skeeters/chiggers/ticks/flies are driving ya crazy.. Where do you go for relief?

(Me? I go get in the pool... but if I /wanted/ to hike somewhere.. any suggestions?)”

“Or is this just when you plan those canoeing and tubing trips?”

“I was in the Boone, NC area last July on vacation. We were able to do the tourist thing in the middle of the day and not get drenched. I don't recall even sweating. One day we drove up to Roan and were actually cold. I took a day hike at Julian Price state park and had a great time. Northern North Carolina for me, thank you very much. PS. We also had a blast at Linville Gorge.”

“In July the snow is melted enough that we are just finally able to get over the high passes. We do have lower elevations to play in during spring.

Get out of Dodge and head for the high country. Thanks for reminding me why I love Idaho.”

“You know, when I go to a trailhead, I always wonder what the locals think when they see the city folk "roughing it" with all the state-of-the-art clothing and equipment money can buy. Hell, Sherpas are climbing Everest with nothing on their feet but Wonder Bread bags, and their gods forbid the use of twist ties. And how about when these hikers pull out their ultra-expensive, calorically calibrated protein-packed energy bars, while in Africa, a tribesman, who is naked except for the animal horn on his pecker just digs into a pile of elephant dung and pulls out an undigested peanut, and calls it macaroni.

I view professional extreme risk-takers with, at worst, mild puzzlement and, at best, genuine respect. But what pisses me off are the weekend warriors, who don't just risk their own lives -- they make some park ranger or search and rescue person risk his life to save them. Every time I see someone who ends up having to put his neck on the line, rappelling off a helicopter to save some pasty, middle-aged hero-wannabe jagoff who hiked 20 miles off the clearly marked trail just so he can have a better pickup line than, "Hey, baby, your place or my moms?", I can't help but hope that just this one time, the guy from search and rescue is going to change his mind and fly away to get a well-deserved beer, but not before getting just close enough to shout, "Hey, as$hole, Charles Darwin says hi!"”

“All valid points militiaboy, but what does that have to do with where we might want to hike come July?”

“DawgBone”

“July,,,,,,,Montanapalooza!!!!!”

“heh.. I wish.. no money to pull that off.”

“Death Valley, no crowds at that time of year.

In July you'll find me in the high mountains of N. Nevada or the deep canyons of Zion where the water is just getting warm enough to swim in.”

“Hmmm....

I dunno. I try to go north. Don't care where, just north.

Last July I did Gregory Bald in the Smokies and all I heard were folks carping about the humidity and bugs. Being from Florida and living less than 500 yards from a salt marsh I though it was quite pleasant.”

“ya.. you are prolly right.. ANY place north would most likely be a welcome relief.. but I tend NOT to hike in July.. but I guess if you got north enough and high enough.. it could be bearable.”

“If anyone is interested..I was hoping to have a get together at my house for BBQ and then onto VA for backpacking trip..

Sort of a birthday party/hike for myself..I turn 35 this July and I feel the need to do something special for myself..I was hoping to be on Macafee Knob..

Would love for anyone to join me.”

“Hey EG, What day in July is your b=day? mine is also in July I'd be up for that I think”

“July 11th...Hey I thought you were coming my way..You had better call or email me or Im going to come hunt you down..lol”

“TD, I'll backup what dayhiker posted. I spent a week near Boone, NC last August and no air conditioning was needed. Great weather and very low humidity. I'm planning on taking the family there next summer.”

“Montanapalooza!!!”

“(a) swimming pools are for sissies...Montanapalooza!

(b) LOL @ militiaboy

(c) evergreen, there's a town named after you in upstate PA, but...where's the party?”

“(d) TownDawg, actually it is January.”

“i STILL can't believe that you folks have a non-hiking season!

i still hike in florida, in summer!”