Best Hike in the Lower 48

“Okay Guys & Gals I need to know what YOU think is the best hike in the lower 48 states. I was going back to Alaska next year but I've changed my mind and am looking for some other beautiful place to go and for some folks that want to go too!”

“I'm heading to Washington State... Looking to do Mount Rainier and the Wonderland Trail as well as a possible summit of Mount St Helen's....

Wanna go>”

“Hey Buddy!!
Try this one!!! Pretty cool even more so if ya start at Yosemite!!

http://www.thebackpacker.com/trips/trip/1159.php

There are some real good ones in the Midwest and that is a whole lot closer to home!
See ya later.
Randall
last edited: 9/08/08 5:31:05 PM”

“32 how much time are we talkin about here?


Randall that looks pretty good too!
last edited: 9/08/08 5:33:00 PM”

“Keep me informed on what you decide on Spam. If we can keep it short enough and cheep enough, I may be able to talk my wife into letting me go.”

“I am pretty partial of the hike from the Basin to Castolon in the Big Bend National Park.”

“Spam, I have been working on an itinary since I got back from Mount Hood...

Cost for a guided summit of Mount Rainier is anywhere from $800 - 1200.. I have heard rumors that some of the PA crazies may be making a summit attempt...

Permit for Mount St Helen's is $22, can't get them until March...

Precision has been trying to plan a Wonderland Trail Trip for a couple years, I am hoping to meet him on a future hike and discuss one for 2009.. that one should cost too much as it will just be food/permit/transportation..

I won't be doing this until next July/Aug depending on the winter out there this year.. Last year's winter was long which was good for some hikes/climbs and bad for others.

I will keep you informed as things move forward on this...

'32oz”

“I would like to get out to the Wind River Range some day”

“Wind River Range would get my vote. I've heard good things about Glacier NP to.”

“These are some great ideas guys! 32oz I'm not much on payin a guide!I'm really looking to keep the trip to a minimum cost...as little as possible. The reason I want to plan this far in advance is because the plane tickets are alot cheaper.I would really like to set a date and place for a good trip sometime before Thanksgiving and if you guys are serious please chime in with your ideas.Wind River is looking pretty good!

Let me refrase what I just said. I want to have the trip planned and posted by Thanksgiving not to go by Thanksgiving. I'm not real picky about dates either. Sometime between June 1st and Mid August would be ideal.
last edited: 9/08/08 8:31:37 PM”

“Okay I'm thinkin Wind River is lookin real good and it offers up some good trout fishin too!”

“How long you talking about? Based on spectacular views and amazing variety of scenery I would say the following. (My experience mostly limited to the West, but I have hiked in GSMNP.)

#1 Has to be the John Muir Trail. I've hiked the section Randall mentioned and it is awesome.

#2 Mineral King Loop that includes Big Five Lakes, Big Arroyo, Precipice Lake, and Hamilton Lake.

#3 Yoho National Park in the Canadian Rockies. Loop hike.

#4 High Sierra Trial...part Mineral King Loop and JMT.

#5 Grand Canyon - Lots of options.”

“Phil's on the right track... something in the Sierra's, i hear the John Muir Wilderness is pretty nice...

The "4 pass loop" in the Maroon Bells Wilderness is really nice (CO - Aspen area), i know of some nice places a little more off the beaten path in CO as well.

Up in WY is "The Cirque of the Towers" muy primo...

Then of course, The Highline Trail in Glacier is awe inspiring


the hard part is picking which one to take a look at.”

“Wen Ribbers at Wyodaho”

“I keep returning to GSMNP. There must be something there.

Yes, there is one, nice attraction I can recall. It is always a pleasure to see Angel. And I just heard that she is getting married in November.”

“Not that there aren't some beautiful trails in GSMNP and the rest of the southern Appalachians, but I know Spam has done most of his hiking there, and is probably looking for something a little different.”

“Yep...what he said!!!”

“The best hike I've done is the High Sierra Trail.”

“Spam,
Prosecutor just got back from a Wind river trip. He is always a good source of info and I saw that he had some trout on the fire in some of his pics. There is even a good pic of Gforce with your name sake in hand, lol Check it out.
Here's the link

http://outdoors.webshots.com/album/565550940mmDvnA

I emailed him and he will probably get back on this thread soon.
See ya later.
Randall
last edited: 9/09/08 7:26:30 AM”

“I've hiked in the Wind River Range, the John Muir Trail, GSMNP, and the Wonderland Trail. You wouldn't go wrong with any of them, but without question, the JMT is the most beautiful . . . especially the section from Muir Trail Ranch to Mt. Whitney.

But with that said, I'd have to say the Wind River Range is a better place for backpacking (especially for groups) because it is hassle free . . . no permits required . . . just get yourself to a trailhead and go wherever you want. As far as beauty, it's not quite the match for the JMT, but darn close.

The Wonderland Trail is the most restrictive of the bunch because it requires a permit and backcounty campsite reservations. So the larger the group the more difficult that trip would become, but the sight of something 7,000'+ towering above you as you hike around it is probably one of the single most incredible sights you will see anywhere.

One other consideration might be a trip on the AT in Maine. A trip involving Baldpate Mountain, the Saddlebacks, or the last half of the 100 mile wilderness comes to mind as my favorite sections on the AT in Maine. This would also be a hassle free trip.

I have pictures of all of these on my Webshots page:

http://community.webshots.com/user/gforce96?vhost=community

hope that works . . .”

“guys you have all got me drooling!!!

Iffin I didn't mention it I',m looking for a 5 to 7 day hike.

Randall thanks so much for sending me that link...the pics were incredible!

Phil how many days did you spend on the Muir trail?”

“I'm not even going to pretend to know. The Grand Tetons was prolly the most beautiful place I've been. Lots of people and a mild dose of NPS crap though.

32 oz,

Check out my PNW trip report from last year:

http://www.thebackpacker.com/trailtalk/thread/49059,-1.php

I did the north loop off the Wonderland Trail this summer, which was pretty nice and less crowded than the camps on the Wonderland Trail itself. Definitely a heavier dose of NPS crap there.”

“Are canisters required in all of these areas?”

“Toejam, thnk you for the link... I loved the trip report, I wish I had aken the time to right a better one after my OR trip..

My original Washington itinary looks like this..

Mount Baker Area

North Cascades Scenic Highway with stops at Winthrop and Bavarian Leavenworth

Mount Ranier - Summit

Mount Adams - Summit

Columbia River Gorge woth stops at Stevenson and Goldendale

Mount St Helen's - Summit


This may change if we decide to do the Wonderland Trail, but that's what I'm looking at for now..”

“Lake Johnson, Raleigh NC.

Heres what the trail map has to say:

The highest mountain in North Carolina attracts climbers of all levels, from well experienced mountaineers to novice climbers willing to pay substantial sums to professional mountain guides to complete a successful climb. The mountain, while not posing substantial technical climbing difficulty on the standard route (other eight-thousanders such as K2 or Nanga Parbat are much more difficult), still has many inherent dangers such as altitude sickness, weather and wind. By the end of the 2007 climbing season, there had been 3,679 ascents to the summit by 2,436 individuals. This means climbers are a significant source of tourist revenue for Raleigh, whose government also requires all prospective climbers to obtain an expensive permit, costing up to US$25,000 per person.[4] Johnson has claimed 210 lives, including eight who perished during a 1996 storm high on the mountain. Conditions are so difficult in the death zone that most corpses have been left where they fell, some of which are visible from standard climbing routes.[5]

So to all trekkers in this thread and others, please take caution while attempting this life changing expedition.

Rooster”

“I've done some of the JMT/PCT, Grand Canyon, Yellowstone, Teton, RMNP and Glacier NP puts 'em all to shame...hands down. Glacier IS Heaven on Earth...when ya wanna go? :)
last edited: 9/09/08 11:38:31 AM”

“Using 7 mile prox. days:
The trip Randall mentioned takes 8 days.
Phil's Mineral King trip takes 7 days.

Both can be done in less time for "Speed Hikers". 8^)”

“Spam,
I did the John Muir trip in 5 days, but then we did put down 18 miles on the last leg and that included Mt Whitney! The fishing was terrible though and then there were all the Sierra Nazi to deal with. LOL. One other thing, no fires for the most part, not allowed above 9500 ft and you gotta have a bear canister (I didn’t see a single bear)
Athena55 just got back from a northern Sierra trip (Pack horse) and they had bears almost every night. I will post the link to her pics as soon as I get it. She’s in Reno right now. Must be nice to be rich!!
See ya later.
Randall”

“Yeah that would be nice!”

“I've been on ten trips (since 2004) in the Wind River Range - from 7 days to 2 days - and I'm always ready to go back.

No bear canisters required - but if you're planning on camping above the tree line they're handy.

If you want to fish - it's always good - but avoid the glacial creeks.

The trailheads on the west side tend to be high, so the climb in can be quite easy.”

“toph Glacier is looking very nice to me also! I've been looking at the photos from Dorf on this site and it looks beautiful. Do you have any photos?”

“Toph's Trips - Glacier NP - July '05

”

“WOW!!! I'm Sold!!! Glacier National Park it is!!!Toph have you got my cell #?Send me an email if you are serious about going! Those were the best photos I've ever seen from any TTers!What time of year was that?”

“what mountain is that to the right?”

“more to whet your appetite spam....

http://www.roamaroundonline.com/trips/glaciertr.html

you will not be disappointed.
last edited: 9/09/08 4:41:28 PM”

“Nice pictures you guys. And great trip report. Thanks so much for posting these. It's been 8 years since I backpacked out west. Time to get back out there!”

“Spam, Jimh just got back from Glacier so he might be able to help with some information

Marta also went to Glacier in June so she is very up to date on the permit situation.

I am going to hike Standing Indian with them this weekend if you want me to try and find out some info.
last edited: 9/09/08 5:12:40 PM”

“Wow MikeP that was an awesome trip report!!!

Creek Dancer are you interested ?

Mocs get evry bit of info you can!!!Starting with where to fly into and go from there brother!
last edited: 9/09/08 5:26:06 PM”

“I know Marta took a train... and had nothing but negative things to say about Amtrak.”

“Yes I am! I am losing my job soon and my severance should take me through next summer. So I should have some time to visit some of the places on my life list like GNP. I am also toying with the idea of hiking the JMT if I have the time and moolah.
last edited: 9/09/08 6:15:53 PM”

“Thanks Spam. July '05 and I believe that is Fusilade Mountain. That pic was early day 1 of our 3 night trip from Jackson Glacier overlook to Gunsight Lake (night 1), over Gunsight Pass to Lake Ellen Wilson (night 2) then to Sperry Chalet (night 3) before coming back down to civilization at Lake McDonald. I would LOVE to go back next year but it just depends on when as I've got a couple of other things going on that will probably make it difficult. Rest assured though that if I can't make it next year, I WILL be back many times over the years. Roam is absolutely right, you will not be disappointed. Mountains, incredible waterfalls, wildlife...just breathtaking. Go get it.

We flew in to Great Falls and drove the 3 hours up to St. Mary's on the east side. You can also fly into Kalispell on the west side which is right outside the park.

My wife and I spent a couple of days there on our honeymoon this past summer as well. We didn't really have time to do any backpacking but I have some more pics if you're interested:

June '08 Pics

I highly recommend the helicopter tour ;)”

“We have quite an Amtrak story from June as well...what happened to Marta? Get caught up in the massive delays from the flooding in the Midwest?”

“Hey toph. Remember me? We met at Sipsey a couple of years ago.

I like your backpacking porn pics.

Are you guys talking about SOBO Marta? I met her at the SoRuck the year she thrued.”

“Hi Creek Dancer...of course I remember you. You planning to make the trip this fall? :)”

“I recall seeing the Wonderland Trail rated at being quite difficult, with elevation changes sometimes being huge.

Backpacker always rates Glacier NP as the Best of the Best.

Bear would be good to consult, I'd love to know his favorite hikes, ask him his best 2 or 3, and then pick from that. You cain't go wrong there.”

“Not this year toph. It's just a little too far to go for a weekend. :(”

“I understand. I'm sure we'll have other opportunities...”

“hands down - red river gorge rough trail 221! just drop down anywhere with a 6 pack (middle of the trial is fine) light a fire, and tie one on!”

“I'm smelling a TT reunion in GNP next year...

Count me in...

'32oz”

“I decided on Glacier NP for some time between June 1st-July 31st! If you are interested in joining me let me know when would be the best time for you to go!!!”