Western US - Let's go Backpacking!

“So... work has me down. WAAAYYY more travel than I signed on for, WAAAYYY more headaches, WAAAYYY less weekend time for me to go hiking, etc.

SO... my original response to all that was negative... poor me, I don't have the time to particpate in my favorite activity. Waah, waah crybaby response.

BUT, I finally got my act together & now have come up with a solution: If I plan it correctly, I get to go backpacking all over the Western U.S. (which I cover for work), take advantage of free travel, visit sites I would never have visited, hike trails I never would have hiked, all on my company's nickle if I do it right! YAAAY for me!

So... here's what I'm asking...

Any TTr's in the following areas who can point me in the right direction, suggest trails, take me with them if they're going, etc., I will be eternally grateful!

Here's where I will be / am able to go backpacking so far:

March 25-29 Northern California, Lost Coast, Trinity Alps, whatever

April 22-25 Oregon, I will be at Seaside for a conference, can get anywhere in OR from there. Coast trails or mountains are equally attractive!

May 5-10, Utah, will go anywhere, I'll be in Salt Lake City but can rent a car to get wherever.

June 24, Denver. Would love to get into GSMNP, hiked a lot out East, a lot out West, but never here!

So, take poor Wanderer hiking with you.. there's a free Mountain-House dinner for anyone who drags me with them!
last edited: 3/16/05 7:45:37 PM”

“What an offer! ;-)”

“SS, I had to put SOMETHING in there that would get y'all excited & want to help me map out a trail! What better than one of those crappy dnners?!”

“June 24, Denver. Would love to get into GSMNP, hiked a lot out East, a lot out West, but never here! - wanderer


Great Smoky Mountains National Park in TN??????
They are very nice but the Rocky Mountains National Park is LOTS closer to Denver. ;-)”

“I read that and I was wondering...

I don't live out there, so I can't help you out very much, but the free dinner is tempting.”

“OK, enough of me being a smarta$$.
I'm not in those areas either, but if ya ever get to the MS Gulf Coast, I'll be happy to buy you diner.”

“Sorry SS, obviously I meant RMNP, NOT GSMNP, typo / brain-fart on my end.”

“It's old age, wanderer, I get those too. ;-)”

“When in SLC, get a car and head east. You're about 4 hours or so from Big Sandy TH. Oops, come to think, May will be a little early. I suspect there will still be snow, how much?????
Can you access the Wind River TH's?? Go south to Canyonlands/Rainbow Bridge/etc”

“Hey Wanderer - I'm right off the edge of RMNP (in Loveland, just North of Denver).

Shoot me an email as June gets closer and lets get something put together!”

“Bless you Roam Around, you have a deal!! The June trip is for-sure, but there are always others. If I can pull off a weekend outing before then I'll most definitely get in touch!”

“wanderer;
If you find yourself in/around Vegas for work (conference, etc), shoot me an e-mail and I can give you lots of hiking suggestions.”

“wanderer - I want to do a long weekend soon, maybe up to Snow Mountain?? Songbyrd had some great photos from a trip there last spring.”

“Getagrip, Thanks for the offer, I get down to Vegas kinda often, you'll hear from me!

Pepper, I'm trying to do something next weekend, 3/25-27 time frame. Nothing definite yet, just need to get out for a couple days - shoot me an email if you wanna come along! (The Lost Coast trail is calling to me, I think!)”

“Hey Wanderer, if you ever come up Seattle way, I'm nearer Olympia. Also Portland is close enough for me to get down there. I'll keep you posted and maybe I can escape.”

“I am so jazzed... I have contacts now in so many areas that I can see my mad plan to BP all over the Western US actually working out!!

THANKS Foggy, you will definitely hear from me - I head up to the Pacific NorthWest more than anywhere else...

WOW, what great responses from TT'ers... you guys should see my email in-box... it would really make you feel great about this place!”