input please...a whole month...where do I go?

“ok ok this is my deal...I have the month of september off this year and am planning on using it wisely for backpacking...my prob???well where to go...been tossing up a few...Wind Rivers in Wy...been there but gotta say it is my favorite in cont. us.. and thinking of Frank Church Wilderness...and a variety trip of canyoneering in Dirty Devil Canyon In Utah...been there as well...but then spending the other half backpacking in henry mountains...but there is so many other places!!!!ughhhh what do I do???any other ideas...i'm east coast and can drive anywhere in cont. us in ok time without cutting into hiking time....ideas??? much appreciated”

“Sounds like you have the perfect trip planned already. Frank Church then Winds, stop by the Uintas for a few days then on to the Henery's. Ya got a whole month!”

“Late Sept. in the Sierras or Colorado Plateau for watching the aspens turn to gold.”

“GO where the wildfires won't be!!!! Have a number of other alternatives just for the sake of it.”

“And don't forget that many hunting seasons are open in September. Don't want to interrupt someone's hunt...and get shot.”

“Airfare to Europe is so cheap right now they're practically paying people to go over there, specifically British Airways, and USAir, but others are pretty good right now too. Especially from the East Coast.

Double check, though, since some of those flights must be taken by August. But if I had a month, that's sure as hell where I'd go.”

“ok tommy are ya tryin' to make my life even more difficult????sheeeks!!!sure does sound nice idea though...ireland,,,been there and it is wonderful...”

“in late winter a few years back, i was managing a gas station. the epa had mandated we install new double walled, seismic rated, underground storage tanks and newfangled vapor sucking, reverse osmosis, kryptonite-lined, double seal, anti-hydrocarbon emitting gas pumps. knowing this would keep me out of work for at least 30 days - 30 days with no income - my only option was?road trip!

i'd dreamed of doing a tour in yellowstone national park since i'd first traced its route on a map a few years previously. the plan was to start at the south entrance, i'd then make my way north along the lewis river to lewis lake. from there, i'd strike out east to heart lake, and then contour around the slopes of mt. sheridan, over a small pass, and into the snake river drainage. a gentle ski down the snake river valley past snake hot springs would bring me to a point near the confluence of the snake and the lewis rivers. here i'd have a choice: cross the lewis and join the park road on the west side of the river, or climb a few hundred feet and traverse along the east side of the lewis river. either way, i'd be able to follow the river to flagg ranch and the south entrance to the park.

the drive to wyoming was uneventful, and, upon arrival at flagg ranch, i arranged a snow coach ride to lewis lake. i had to pay full fare for my short ride, but it was well worth it. the other option would have been skiing the road, sharing it, i noticed, with the large herd of stinking, exhaust fuming, two-stroke smoking, obnoxiously loud snowmobiles. (oddly enough, when i spoke with a couple of them, they told me they liked to snowmobile to experience "fresh air and the quiet peacefulness" of nature. okay...)

at the south entrance i was grilled by the rangers to determine my competence as a wilderness traveler. they questioned my time table and were skeptical that i could keep my four day schedule (for the record, i finished the tour a day early!) but they were finally persuaded, so, backcountry permit in hand, i climbed back into the snow coach for the ride to lewis lake. when i got out, all the round-trip tourist types were aghast: "you're going alone?" "aren't you afraid of animals?" "won't you get cold?" "you're goin' where?" poor souls, they missed out!

from lewis lake i skied east and down to the witches cauldron, which is just short of heart lake. the witches cauldron is especially enchanting in the winter. i felt like i was walking through a surrealistic sea of vapors, with blorping mud pots and steam vents hissing like snakes, i felt like i'd entered some misty dream state. someone with an especially vivid imagination could end up in quite a state of mind! not me, of course, although, to this day, i'm certain a number of dragons reside within the cauldron.

witches cauldron is also known by its less evocative name, heart lake geyser basin, and as i skied through its environs i was quite aware of the stories i had heard of people breaking through thin ice crust near hot springs. thanks to my caution, i successfully avoided death by boiling - not to mention at the claws of dragons or fangs of hissing snakes - and reached heart lake just as night was settling around me. i made camp and cooked a superb meal in a bag (best darn grub from a bag i've ever had), hung my food away from camp and sunk into a deep, tranquil sleep.

i awoke to a spectacular day: minus 15° f, fresh snow, and glowing with sunshine. i started my traverse around, feeling as though no human could ever find me if i desired such. another creature did observe my progress, though. as i began to flank mt. sheridan i was eyeing some nice ski descents - all too dangerous to ski alone owing to the avalanche-inducing combo of steep slopes, fresh snow, and powerful sun - i noticed a black rock poking out of the north east slope. it struck me as oddly uncharacteristic of the terrain - and then it started moving - fast! startled, i noticed its canine silhouette and thought "coyote," but it was far larger than any coyote i'd seen. no, this was a wolf! our routes paralleled each other around mt sheridan and into the snake valley. i watched my companion traverse steep and deep snow slopes for about half an hour, and the wolf watched me, too. probably wondering what a human was doing out in his backyard this time of year.”

“Good grief, Lumper--write a book, why don't ya'??”

“there's a lot of sh!t to do in a whole month. that's only part one.”

“Go to the Yosemite backcountry.
Go to the Eastern Sierra.
John Muir and Ansel Adams were right.”

“If I had a month to go play where ever I wanted I'd go to the Black Hills for 2 weeks and then go back south and spend the rest of my time on the AT.”

“i'd go to jamaica
plant my ass on the sand
with a bottle of myers
in each of my hands”

“hmmm lots of ideas here...Sierra's are high on my list...have yet to do much of anything in Cali...Black hills are amazing..for backpacking and climbing...Looking for something a little less "populated" than the AT though..and I guess east coast is for shorter trips in my mind right now...Lumpy...your description was great of Yellowstone...such an amazing place..a month is a long time...and I want to spend more time on trail than on road....so much beautiful country out there huh???”

“Ohhhhhhhhh.. the Dirty Devil River and the Henrys, that's where I'd go. Was in the vicinity in October for the first time and would like to see more. HECK...we couldn't even SEE the Henrys!!! There was uncharacteristic RAIN FOR THREE DAYS!! As we drove south from Hanksville I looked at the Gazatteer and thought, the Henrys should be here to our right. CLOUDS!! That's all I saw! I mean, they are at least 11,000 ft mts.!!! SHEESH!!! I had read up on them and thought they would be a cool, out-of-the-norm place to hang out. Also, we were restricted from all the backroads in that area due to the rain on the bad clay roads.

I just entered that OTHER Backpacking site's contest on where you'd go for a dream trip (between April and early June). After much thought, I realized I was waaaaay intrigued by the White Canyon in that area (home of the nasty Blackbox slot) -- and anything UPcanyon from it. There are lots of ruins in that area. So that's what I put down. After we crossed the Colorado River bridge on the east end of Lake Powell, I kept seeing this canyon to our left and finally had to stop to look at it. I LIKED it!! lol... Little did I know till later it was the infamous White Canyon!!

If you like red rocks and ruins, you could LOVE a month there.

BTW, if you are going in the fall, I'm sure the aspen turn in Sept., as stated above. If you are at lower elevations, there's a lot of cottonwoods on the streams. We were at the Escalante River probably around Oct. 20-22 and the cottonwoods were glorious yellow then (almost made me forget how much I LOVE aspens!!)


Lumpy....very nice, both the trip and the telling of it.

DUDE!! Have you ever thought of doing the whole Centennial Trail in the Black Hills? I think that would be great. Gosh, could do that one way (Sturgis and that state park where it starts, going south to Wind Cave near Hot Springs ), then make the short trek over (on the southern end) to Edgemont, I think it is, and either bike or hike back (to Lead or Deadwood) on the Mickelson Trail.

(Course you're a climber, aren't you? You probably just wanna head to the Sylvan Lake vicinity. HEY, to to Devil's Tower. We stopped there. Beware that there are certain times climbing is NOT suggested, due to holy times for area Indians.)

AND you need to get into the Badlands!! And maybe off into Indian lands. I know there would be great, remote stuff there that you'd need permission to hike... (and would it be safe?? It's Pine Ridge Reservation, and it seems a little unstable...OK, go to Rose Bud instead. lol. But Pine Ridge has the site of the Ghost Dance from late 1800s or early 1900s. It's in the boonies, I guess). It would be GREAT if it could be done.”

“You could just move to the mid-west and bale hay for a month.

Hey just kidding. Head north. Go to Canada, Jasper, Willmore. Spend a week or two, then head south to the Winds. A whole month, damn, just too many possiblities to consider really.”

“September is a nice time to vacation. Kids go back to school, and RVs go home. There are less bugs. The temps are nice for outdoor activities.

My suggestion would be Washington State for great hiking, and views, even on the hwy. from your car.”

“Lizs
All that in the Black Hills could EASILY be done in a month. And yes, I do plan to hike the Centennial Trail. Bear Butte State Park is the northern end of the trail.
As far as Devils Tower, Yes I've climbed it. It's not really that great. Rock climbing is much better in the Black Hills.
As far as the Badlands, It's a nice place to visit for a max of about 3 days then you need a break from it.”

“Try the PCT N. from Tahoe. Go as far as you can (I guess you'd need coupla weeks more to make Crater Lake).”

“Weminuche Wilderness, Colorado.

I can't believe nobody else has said that!”

“See the country...
three niter here, four niter there.
Put 10,000 miles on yer rig, and 200 miles on yer boots.”

“thanks all
walkindude, I have to agree with you ,Devil's tower is much more interesting from the ground..I climbed there in '92 for a week and a half..and didn't find the climbing as great as it was cracked up to be,on the other hand...climbing in the black hills is amazing..spent two weeks there about the same time as devil's...Sylvan Lakes was great but the needles were,and are my favorite place i've climbed...those multi-pitch routes up the spires are like nothing I've ever climbed..though I do not climb rock much these days...'cept alpine..snow and ice now...as far as Pine Ridge Res. it is a pretty sticky situation..it helps if you have contacts with the reservation via the Bureau Of Indian Affairs...and even at that you need to gain trust..My mother has been with the Bearue for almost ten years and has visited the reservation for the past 3 falls and she is still an outsider to them..on the other hand her friend...who runs a student exchange and food drive with yhtem has signifigant pull and has their trust...after about 20 years...as far as looking into their culture...good luck...it is very hush hush to them...until again you gain their trust...it is beautiful country..as far as pictures I have seen,as varied as the great state of South Dakota is..The Centennial Tr. sounds interesting...been through alot of the area...quite a bit of grasslands...(bison) an amazing site to witness,,,a couple nites when we were camped in Custer state forest on the south end near Wind Cave,we would awaken to the sound of thunder,only to find that is was a herd of 30 to 50 bison...truely amazing..if you are a climber or not...That area is a definate must see....
Lizs...you have me thinking it is time to back to the four corners...I haven't been canyoneering in about 5 years....I have been along the Dirty Devil in the past..as well as some of it's tributaries,and just found the place so quiet and surreal...as far as solitude...I was out for 17 days and saw 3 people besides my travel companions,,,BLM land still doesn't get alot of rec use I guess...That area is a bit crazy with hte locals I found...Near hanksville in particular...there is alot of land use issues going on out there...mostly grazing...and alot of the locals are not so fond of backpackers...a friend of a friend supposedly got a gun pulled on him over a dispute...but I am not sure of the truth of that...but it is an amazing area none the less...hmmmm....still need to decide here...I have time though”

“Thanks for YOUR interesting information, moutain_zen. You have affirmed that with all that Pine Ridge has been through, that trust will be hard to win -- which is too bad.

My first trip out there was alone last March. I debated going through Pine Ridge, but wondered about being by myself. Then I heard on TV news at Hot Springs that some dumb sheriff had shot a buffalo on a road -- which had been a WHITE BUFFALO as a calf. That ended ANY thoughts of going there then!

Did go through there around Memorial Day. I've discovered I like that rolling prairie grassland, with a few pines here and there -- and even buttes as you get toward Nebraska and their Pine Ridge recreation/forest area (Fort Robinson and Chadron St. parks etc.). Love it around Wind Cave. Did my first overnight near the beginning of Centennial Trail there last year during March (OK, so I didn't pack in very far.....lol) It is so cool to be out potentially near the bison -- although I did not hear any herds thundering by. I took a morning hike and made sure I steered clear of two near the trail's path.

That is crazy about the Henrys! I keep reading that grazing is a big, hot issue. Although I didn't see the Henrys, I got a very few neat photos looking north beyond the Dirty Devil bridge (from the Lake Powell overlook) -- all mysterious and enshrouded in fog at that time, with the famous Western landscape of buttes sticking out in layers. Very different from most hot, sunny days, I'm sure!! lol

Yeah, I think that Cedar Mesa area would be great to see, and Canyon Rims, and Dark Canyon, and all the dang canyons (lol) that go off Highway 95 heading to Blanding. Too many canyons, too little time!!”

“Canyons are moving up the list!!!I was talking to my friend in Boulder last night and we are planning a trip to the Winds this spring...so I won't go there in Sept I guess...
Lizs...the buffalo calf is a real interesting story...have you heard anything about the whole story???the prophecy that surrounds it???I won't get into it here unless anyone wants ta hear about it....but by the way....more trip input info all!!! thank you all!!!”

“Sierra's. Fly to either Reno or Sacramento, start at Tahoe Rim Trail, spend a couple days in Desolation Wilderness, head south on the Pacific Crest Trail as far as you want. At least hit Yosemite & northern section of John Muir Trail.”

“Yeah, Mt. Zen, do tell. I've heard some about it. One was born a few years ago, I think in eastern Wisconsin somewhere (semi near me, so I heard about it). At first I thought it was bogus that a white calf could turn normal color, but it does seem to happen. I don't know what happened to that Wisconsin bison calf. Maybe it was the one at Pine Ridge.”

“Ok...White Buffalo Calf Woman...a prophecy many years old that comes in phazes..kind of like biblical apocalypse...it bases around the changes of the earth and it's unrest....floods,earthquakes ect...there are many many things tied intyo it...but as I hear the storyit is most eisily equated to the coming of the virgin mary to compare...as white buffalo calf woman is kind of "mother earth" ok now the buffalo...the prophecy stated that a white buffalo calf would be born to mark the beginning of the "end"
this calf wwould be born white...then bare a thick brown coat...in time it would turn a golden yellow...and finally...it would grow red with age...now to understand this there is alot to do with tradition...and what the tribe believed to be the four colors of the earth and it's people...colors are related to direction...ect...anyways this was well on it's way to happening...and it was predicted that the buffalo would die an untimely death..as it did...but to the tribe's belief...this was the beggining of the new rise of the "american indian" a time when the ways of the world would return to it's roots...as the "end" would bring us through turmoil...only to find in the end the 'peace" that once existed...the white buffalo calf woman would sacrifice her own life for the good of the tribe..."which to them at this point was world unity of the 4 colors" sort of Jesus dying for our sins...so from this great pain would come the peace and freedom they seek....but from what I gather...the story is kind of lost and the buffalo died at the hand of a white man..as we all know there is already a bit of hostility there to begin with...it goes much deeper than that though...the whole story I mean...it is really interesting though....sort of like nostradamus...a whole lot of prophecy coming true everyday”

“here is a link that tells part of the story...better than I can!!!http://www.thepeoplespaths.net/articles/mirup.htm#Update

best I could find right now”

“Mountain Zen
By any chance did you climb any near Mt Rushmore? There is a Spire out there that has 2 pitches to get to the top called "WAVES". If you ever get out there to climb again someday, That is a must do! Out of all the routes we did, That one was my favorite!
We did a 2 week tour out there my second trip to the area. That's when we did Devils Tower. Lots of good stuff in the Black Hills!”

“Walkindude.... now me, I just headed to old forest lookout towers. Harney and one near Deerfield Lake -- maybe Flag Mt.?? OHHH... and another I believe on Cement Ridge, near Spearfish and Wyoming state line. I must like high places...... no rock climbing, please, however. :-)

Are the Needles on the highway where you go through the tunnels? (OK, I know it's called Needles Highway, duh) Did see some people climbing right by one tunnel. Looked crazy. And I tried to capture a golden sunset on those spires, which turned out nothing like I thought it would!

I did a little mt. biking at Iron Mt. trails.

I may have to go back to take the beautiful shot I DIDN'T... iced-over Sylvan Lake in fairly early morning light, around end of March. Too pooped after hike to Harney Peak.

Mt. Zen... I left my camera on top of my Jeep after hiking to top of Harney in cold, very windy weather on an icy, snowy trail. My own Black Hills miracle. It was still there the FOLLOWING MORNING, weathering the overnight from Sylvan, through Custer St. Park, through Wind Cave N'tl Park to my stay-over at Hot Springs. I think both the Thule and Jeep roof racks managed to help it stay there. And I had driven pretty slow on a few backroads... then again, I was on highway too. Also, it didn't rain or snow, and the way the Jeep was parked, the camera sat away from view of the street. EEK!! and alternately WHEW!!!

Thanks for the link on the White Buffalo. I wonder if that calf had been taken to Pine Ridge or if that was a different calf shot last year. I never knew what happened to it, if it was still on WIS farm or where. Boy, 94??! Doesn't seem that long ago that it was born. I think that is when I first heard of the Indian legend.

BTW, I see I had the website in my bookmarks, although for a gambling page. (Have thought of approaching a story on the Santee Sioux in Nebraska and their never-ending quest to keep their small casino going, which the Nebraska gov. won't even look it... won't bring it out of committee. Jerks! I filled out a survey for their tourism dept, sent to me, And I railed on them for their hard-assed-ness on that issue under "other comments" ...lol... they deserve it!!

I had read about the four colors and the White Buffalo Calf Woman, maybe on that website. Also, last year did the Crazy Horse Monument volksmarch and spent a lot of time after its completion looking through the visitor center there. Much to be learned. Also visited Wounded Knee and a new cultural center (in an old round tribal house built a few years ago and vandalized). It's being supported by AIM. Very interesting to hear them talk about how the US Gov actually wanted to get that land into the park system.

Also had lunch in a "restaurant" --- amounted to waiting in a woman's living room while she made the food in her own kitchen, hoping to soon actually open a restaurant. A neat experience. We sat there with everyone else, chit chatting and awaiting our food.

Mt. Zen, are you originally from the Midwest? How did your mother end up working at Pine Ridge? We drove past the old school there (literally in Pine Ridge, the town), and also to White Clay, Neb., to see where the Indians walk across the state line to get liquor. And a man pretty much jumped in my face at a gas station selling trinkets. (In the boonies I had seen the same type thing with a solo young male European traveler.) A strange and yet wonderful place.”

“Lizs
I haven't been to Deerfield Lake yet or much north of CSP. I do plan to hike the Centennial Trail within the next 5 years. Matter of fact I'll prolly post my trip plans on TT. It won't be for about 3 years though. It'll prolly be a 2 week BPing trip with lots of side trips to different places.
I think the climb your takling about next to the tunnel is either Bloody Spire or it could be Needles Eye. Needles Eye is the one with the hole in the spire. The best stuff on Needles Hwy is the area just before you get to Cathedral Spires parking lot.”

“I love talking about the Black Hills!!!”

“"ect"
~ mountain zen

mountain zen's an East Coast Trekker wannabe!
LOL!


I forget.../o:
Do the Blax "rock"?
Or ARE they "rock"?

Oh yeah - they're rock.
AND they rock!
Stopped in for a one-niter enroute to the Rox in '99. Slept in a grotto to dodge the most spectacular hail-pounding thunderstorm I've ever experienced.

Two nites later I pitched the tent in Cascade Canyon, Teets. Don't EVEN get me started on that trip!

God Bless America!”

“Thanks for the relay of the story, MtnZ. I remember reading about "miracle" (what they named the buffalo calf in Wisconsin) when it happened. It is supposedly so rare that people came from all over the world to see him...
Anyway, the symbol of faith and hope, of finding the right path, is what buffalo medicine is said to be about.

Hey, speaking of the black hills...anybody know whether early June is a good time to visit? I'm thinking of some road trippin' too.
:o)”

“walkindude...I never made it over that far....near Rushmore...But I agree that the area by CAthedral is great climbing...many multi pitch routes...and the view from the tops are amazing....over by Needles Eye and the Nails are also great...though not as high...I too love talking about the Black Hills

Lizs...that is crazy about your camera...there is alot of windy roads out there...I can't believe it held on...Isn't any fun to lose a camera....Oh...I am not from the Mid-west...was raised east coast...in NJ...but lived many other places all over....My mother got involved with the reservation through her friend,she doesn't work there,just visits and volunteers each fall..

hmmm an "East Coast Trekker wanna be" huh?
please enlighten me on the label you have so chosen for thee”

“Amy G..... you're going all over the place and more power to ya!

Early June is a great time to visit. Last year I was there over Memorial Day and into early June. At Custer State Park you'll see the bison and their new BABIES. (stay back!)

It's a good time for hiking and packing. However, I can't remember the fly situation then to give you specifics.

Also, I'd recommend the volksmarch at Crazy Horse Monument. Normally it's pretty expensive to go there (and I wouldn't have at the cost!) During the volksmarch, I think it was a buck apiece we paid to get a one-day membership to the national volksmarch assocation (whatever it's called). And that was it!

Then it was hiking a 6.2 mile trail up ONTO the monument itself -- nothing like standing by the nose of Crazy Horse that's about 30 feet high to make you feel really small! It's not all an easy hike, either. Where you climb up cross country to go UP the monument, it's called something like Goat Hill -- for good reason!

Also, people are not otherwise allowed ON the monument itself. So it's special in that way.

Last year was the first it was held on both a Saturday and a Sunday (had been a one-day event previously). We started as late as you could on Sunday. That was pretty good, cuz there were lots less people. And it's fun to meet the hikers from all over.

Also, allow time to spend at the visitor's center looking at the exhibits. And there are native art demonstrations by Indians. Ohhhhh... and get a load of the sundance exhibit. OUCHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!! I never understood a sundance till then (well, not that I "understand" it!), but now I have a better idea what happens. OUCHHHHHHHH!!!”

“I remember being at the Crazy Horse monument back in '79 when you had to use your imagination to see the final product in the mountain. It'll be pretty rad when or if they ever complete it!”

“I just checked and found out the dates for the 2001 event: June 2-3. And it's TWO BUCKS apiece (sooooo sorry for that earth-shattering mistake...heheheh)

Go to this page for more information. And the picture you see there of the record-setting attendance at the event in 96? Well, we had a lot of room up there withour late-in-the-day start (amounted to around 1:30, I think). I could scan a pic if you want to see.

http://www.crazyhorse.org/volks_99.htm

It is pretty humbling. I don't know about the monument itself, but the people who take the "march." I was asked to take a photo of an Indian couple that had come from New Mexico to attend and you could see just how much it meant to them. The man even had some kind of walking impediment, but he still made it up there. They had tears in their eyes standing in front of the face of Crazy Horse.

If you're in the Black Hills then, I'd definitely advise going. And beware, if you want to try the Indian fry taco, which I'm sure HAD to be good, do so early. We tried to do after finishing and they were all out, as was the bison stew. Dang!!”

“If it were me, I'd hike the Long Trail in Vermont.”

“Okay, I have to admit I haven't read any of this thread. However, if I had a month to burn, I'd be exploring Utah from the high alpine meadows to the south desert. There is so much to see and so many diverse landscapes to explore that a month is not enough.”

“I second the trip on the Long Trail. The fall colors will be peaking in late Sept. Not to mention the perfect weather, warm days, nights in the 30's and no bugs!”

“I say you stay at home and give me all the money that you where planing on spending.”

“BLACK HILLS
BLACK HILLS
BLACK HILLS
BLACK HILLS
BLACK HILLS
BLACK HILLS
BLACK HILLS”

“Lake District in England, or the Emerald isle.

Pretty cheap packages are available right now. If you've got the time and money. Head across the pond. Or even over to the Orient, Ive seen some 15 day trips through Tibet, India, ect. for right around $2500 including some air fare.

For packages and other info about hikes any where in the world go to
http://www.gorp.com/default.htm”

“Kluane Park in the Yukon is beautiful in September. Hike for several weeks and never see a person. Lots of animals to keep you company.”

“How about heading to Colorado and doing either the Colorado Trail (about 450 miles) or the southern part of the CDT in the state. You could start in Durango for the CT or at Cumbres Pass for the CDT and head north as far as you could go. Colo. in the autumn is beautiful, especially after it snows. (NB we got snowed on several times in Sep. and Oct when we went through the state on the CDT.) In Sept. there are few people and thunderstorm season eases up by the second week. Go for it.”