Best Hike in the Lower 48

“I'm in.. I will be at Boy Scout Camp until July 4 (I could probably get out a couple days earlier if you wanted to start the trip July 4th weekend)..

'32oz”

“closer to the end of july would give you better weather.”

“Late July works for me, that way I can still get over to Washington on the same trip...

'32oz”

“I wouldn't go any earlier than late July or you'll have issues with snow on trails and in campsites - which will impact the issueance of your permits.”

“My pics are closer to Phils, but with a 5-6 day trip in mind, I'll make some changes to his list.

#1 John Muir Trail, the best backpacking that I have ever seen. But to hike a shorter portion of it, hike from Onion Valley to Mt. Whitney. Or from North Lake, through Lamark Col, through the Evolution Valley to the Palisades or Onion Valley. However, you have to deal with permits, bear canisters, maybe crowds, car shuttle.

#2 Mineral King Loop that includes Big Five Lakes, Big Arroyo, Precipice Lake, and Hamilton Lake. This is an excellent hike, and I have an itinerary from a trip I did there if you need it.

#3 Sawtooths of Idaho: no crowds, no permits, not bears, no bear canisters. No bugs after mid August, excellent fishing. As scenic as the Sierra. Loop trip possible.

#4 Whiteclouds of Idaho: ditto the above.

#5 Wind Rivers, Cirque of Towers.”

“Yep, they didn't open the Going to the Sun Road this year until July 2nd. I wouldn't plan anything until at least mid-July and even then you might have to cross a snow field here or there...”

“I don't have a problem with that!!”

“Even if for some reason I cant make this trip next year, this has been a great thread. I am now dying to go to so many places.

Too many places to backpack, too little time and money to do it.”

“Mocs iffin I had your money...I would burn mine!!!”

“i hear ya mocs - my dam job keeps gettin in the way of my life too.”

“Keep me in the loop on this one. Sounds like a great trip. Any major airports in the area. Spam still doing the dayhike this weekend.
last edited: 9/10/08 3:58:15 PM”

“Yes are you interested EagleJ?? We will leave from Rutherfordton at 7 am if you want you can meet me at my house at 6:30
last edited: 9/10/08 4:47:16 PM”

“Right now I can fly out of Charlotte rountrip to Kalispell,MT on the 24th of July and return on the 2nd fo August for 627.50 on Delta thru Expedia.Can any of you tell me of a better place to look for airline tickets?”

“Gotta work Sat. sorry hate to miss it”

“Allegent Air used to fly from Chattanooga to Las Vegas (for the JMT) for $100 round trip, but I just noticed they no longer offer any flights from the east to anywhere other than Florida. (We flew from Chattanooga to Orlando last year for $80 round trip!)”

“cheaptickets.com is a good place to look”

“It may be cheaper to fly into a bigger hub and rent a vehicle to get there... if we get enough people fly ing to a certain hub, we can split the rental....

'32oz”

“spam
i got $343 into seattle wash on delta from richmond.. from there it is an 8-9 hour drive to GNP... worth the savings to me.... besides i can climb ranier when we are done..

'32oz
last edited: 9/10/08 7:45:29 PM”

“I think the problem is that any flight I look at ends up at Salt Lake City and I think that means a very small plane from there. I can fly to Portland OR and back right now for 285 bucks...I don't get it!”

“For you guys who have been there, do you have a recommendation on a map set for the GNP.

I found these so far...http://www.nps.gov/archive/glac/maps.htm”

“Crash, less competition at the smaller hubs...

Depending how many people we have going, it will be cheaper to fly into Portland or Seattle, rent a car and drive... especially those who are not pressed for time...

'32oz”

“I'd recommend the National Geographic Trails Illustrated map: http://www.natgeomaps.com/ti_215”

“I would agree with Toph.. Generally the NG maps are awesome... I have the Grayson Highlands/Mount Rogers one and have seen/used the Mount Hood, Mount Rainier, and Three Sisters Wilderness Maps, and they are all awesome...

'32oz
last edited: 9/11/08 7:43:04 AM”

“I can fly into Sal lake for 388.00 round trip!Now how far ofr a drive will I have after that???”

“I ordered the NG map. Thanks for the feedback. I luuuuuuuuuv maps!”

“I'm showing right around 10 hours, but I guess it depends on where in GNP we are hiking..

'32oz”

“http://hubcap.clemson.edu/~pjf/ptarmigan.html

http://besthike.com/northamerica/rockies/north_circle.html”

“Hey all!!
I copied this from the above link:

The biggest hassle with this hike is getting a Wilderness Permit for the campgrounds you want on the days you want. You can reserve starting April 1st.

The critical webpage for making an application for a Wilderness Permit is:

http://nps.gov/glac/pdf/2005bc-app.pdf

See ya later.
Randall
last edited: 9/11/08 11:17:17 AM”

“great fishing, no licence required in the Park

convenient hiker’s shuttle bus

Taken from this link:

http://besthike.com/blog/2006/12/20/6-best-hike-in-the-world-is/

Can't beat that!!
See ya later.
Randall
last edited: 9/11/08 11:23:19 AM”

“You can't really go wrong with the Eastern Sierra. It can be crowded in the Summer. Late Spring is great time to go if you don't mind snowfield traverses. No bugs and everything is really fresh.

I've never been to Glacier but am dying to go. Same with the Winds. Lookng into getting a Vanagon and starting some road trips.”

“Spam check out flying into Spokane WA. or Great Falls MT. Spokane WA. is 6hrs. to eastside of Park, Great Falls MT. about 2hrs.”

“I tried Great Falls and it was within 20 bucks of the others in MT! Thanks for that info Randall!”

“while we are out west....

http://www.summitpost.org/mountain/rock/150190/borah-peak.html”

“All right 32 you're killing me man!!! My heads already spinning with places I want to go!”

“sorry, SPAM, I don't know what I was thinking... We will be in Montana not Idaho... How bout this? LOL

http://www.summitpost.org/mountain/rock/150239/granite-peak.html”

“on sedond thought that may be a tad too technical for me at this point... How about this instead?

http://www.summitpost.org/mountain/rock/150362/gannett-peak.html”

“Yeah Granites not Doable for me either but Gannet looks good!”

“And Gannet is part of the Wind River Range... Hmmmmmmm

LOL”

“Been to Mineral King, Five Lakes, High Sierra Trail. But GNP took the cake, did an out and back from Many Glacier to Standing Indian solo.

I agree with everyone else about timing. I left on July 4th and trails were closed that prevented me from making a loop.”

“Okay I have decided that Glacier is where I'm headed and that I will most likely fly into Portland ,OR and drive to the park because this for some reason is by far the cheapest flight for me from Charlotte,NC. The dates that I'm looking at are as follows:

July 24: Arrive Portland,OR
July 25: Drive to Glacier National Park
July 26-31: On the trail
Aug 1: travel back to Portland
Aug 2: Fly home

If you are interested please let me know right away. We'll make any adjustment that are needed and then I'll post the trip!”

“I am trying to work this out with the wife/and work. Keep me informed on this trip.”

“Spam I shore have hiking envy!

Hey, whut tarp would you suggest with that ENO Double Nest? Thank I'm 'bout to buy one for me and the kids.”

“I've been to GNP, but never hiked there. Definitely spectacular from the highways.

Good luck! Should be a beautiful trip.”

“Thanks Phil...why don't you join us???

Naked Ape I'm looking at the Mac Cat Tarp,right now I have and ENO and a Speer.Hey "The Fruegal Backpacker" in Arden has a bunch of single nest on sale for like 35 bucks...mostly girl colors tho!”

“Have you checked out flying into Sopkane?”

“In case there was any doubt, I'm in...

Those dates are fine, although I may have a problem with the 'fly home' date.. It's a few days too early.. LOL
last edited: 9/12/08 4:31:38 AM”

“I've done Gannett Peak twice - once from the eastern approach and once from the western approach. It's an epic hike.

I have a few pics of the eastern approach in my tt photo albums.

You could actually do one way hike from Elkhart Park TH on the west side to Torry Creek TH on the East.”

“naked ape - I would look at the OES MacCat Deluxe tarp for your ENO. Jacks R Better and Speer also make good tarps.

Here is the link to the MacCat:

http://www.outdoorequipmentsupplier.com/maccattarps.htm”

“Thanx Mocs, I like the looks of those.

Spam which one looks similar to the one you had in Deep Gap, inchwise? I thank I'm looking at buying the Standard MacCat, you thankin' bout that one, or going even bigger to the Deluxe one??????

I might hafta make a trip to Arden and check them tarps out.”

“Thanks for the invitation. It looks great but I would not know if I could go for a while. I may be planning two Sierra trips this summmer instead of my usual one.

I love Glacier NP. Spectacular vistas.”