Epic Backpacking Trip Ideas

I'm pretty sure you can link together some great stuff in Big Bend too, although you honestly will have a hard time beating southern Utah that time of year. I would hit Death Valley second if southern Utah doesn't float your boat. You could also link trails in the Grand Canyon - I've done that over about 10 different spring breaks (I'm a prof).

I've hiked in South America, in Peru near Sabancaya volcano, but the altitude and complete lack of water makes it really difficult. Lots of banditos on the Inca trail - some love it, some find it a pain in the ass.

I would stick to the US if you only have a week. If you fly to SA, you could sit in Lima or something for 2 days waiting for you bags if something gets screwed up. I always have at least 2.5 weeks set aside for central or SA.

If money isn't an issue, fly into Queenstown New Zealand and hike Milford Sound, or Abel Tasman, or one of the other tramps. If you love to hike and backpack, there is no finer place on the planet than New Zealand.

Appalachain Trail? Smoky Mountains?

how about the northville-lake placid trail? it is about 120 miles i think. definately do-able in 7-10 days.

weather man wrote:

A friend mentioned hiking the Inca Trail to Machu Pichu. This sounded interesting; funny....I envision riding into the ancient city in the clouds on a llama while snorting glorious raw cocaine and having wild rainforest animals follow me.

from what i understand, you will much more likely be accompanied by lage groups of tourists with traveler's diarrhea. but hey, that could be fun too.

Angeles Crest in Los Angeles

Depends on how remote you want to be. The Wind River Range in Wyoming is probably as scenic a spot as you'll find in the Rockies. But for scenery AND remoteness, try the Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness in southern Montana. If you want even MORE remoteness but not quite as much scenery, try the Bob Marshall Wilderness in Montana or the Shoshone National Forest in Wyoming.

http://gorp.away.com/gorp/resource/us_wilderness_area/mt_bob_m.htm

http://gorp.away.com/gorp/resource/us_national_forest/wy_shosh.htm

I agree on the Big Bend thing. March is THE time to go there, too.

thanks for the responses everyone.

Remember, I want this to be a relatively warm affair. So that crosses off the northeast and wyoming.

the LA Crest trail seems cool. whats it like, and is it passable in March(snow?)?

It should be passable. Only a few of the peaks have snow that late. Also, thinking in terms of airfare, fly into Ontario; it's close to both ends of the trail. It would probably be about 30 minute drive to the Wrightwood side.

I've never run the whole trail, but have been on a few different parts of it. We're having a really cold couple of days, but luckily no rain, so the likelihood of snow on mountains is there, but remote. And I'm not sure of your familiarity of California skiing, but even in the higher altitude areas a lot of skiers where short-sleeved shirts in the Spring, so hiking with a T-Shirt, or at worst, a long-sleeved T-Shirt, is really possible.

Another possibility is San Gorgonio-San Jacinto mountains near Palm Springs/Joshua Tree. Almost certain to have snow on San G, though.

Everglades

my best recommendation is probably the canyon lands in Utah, I lived in Zion this summer, and that is an amazing place too, but i can't think of any 70 mile treks, that you could do there because the park just isn't that big. you should come up and do some hiking in NH in march it's still pretty cold there though, you might need a bit more than a t-shirt in the day time. i know it'd be pretty easy to link together 70 miles in the mountains in NH. in the canyonlands though there is the maze and i don't know much about it but i know that area is very infamous for robbers and bandits hiding out in the maze and not being found because it's such a confusing place back there. look into it a bit more, my best recommendations are the canyonlands or hiking in the whites up in NH, if you come up to NH I'll go up and hike through the presidentials with you too! good luck, sounds like a great trip at any rate

PALN is right. So far, there isn't much snow this year in the San Gabriels (but that could easily change by March). The high point on the AC100 is Baden-Powell (9,399'). It doesn't go over Baldy (10,065').

SanG looks to have a good amount of snow on it, but it's higher (11,500'). You can check out recent trip reports on summitpost.org.

If you had a bit more time, the John Muir Trail is a classic. It's the 212-mile stretch of the PCT from Yosemite to Whitney. Now that would be cold in March.

I'm not sure how long it is, but I've wanted to hike across Zion NP. Canyon country (southern UT and northern AZ) would be great in March.

Smokies wrote:

Appalachain Trail? Smoky Mountains?

In March???

I went in April about 3 years ago. The temp. at night ranged between 5-12 degrees. It snowed so much one night that my tent was covered in snow. I only packed a 35 degree mummy thinking it would not get much colder. Over the course of 4 nights I slept a total of 12 hours....it was too cold to sleep.

I would not suggest this trip.

I would suggest something like Zion. It may get pretty cold there as well. And March may bring some rain--which is extremely dangerous in Zion with all of the slot canyons and such.

Also, in Zion there is an abundance of water crossings--many of which people use wet suits even during summer months. I would not want to be shoulder deep in water in the middle of March.

If you can hold off until early summer, I'd suggest you hit the Grand Tetons with Yellowstone nearby.

good lord you people need to get out morefyi: there are no 'real' mountains on the east coastthe wildnerness in the western half of the united states is far more interestingi grew up 2 miles from the appalachian trail - most of the east coast is re-planted forest land, lacking the original predators that used to inhabit the areawhile i consider myself a lover of all nature i can't help be saddened by what might have beenplus the guy said he wanted altitude and things such as that - i enjoyed joshua tree - not that mountaineous though or that remote as there is a lot of stuff not that far away - it's tough when you restrict yourself to a warm area. you're missing out on a whole lot of really cool remote areassome areas in nevada might be cool but then again you run into the cold problemaround mt. whitney area was nice - especially the inyo forest area

Smokies wrote:

Appalachain Trail? Smoky Mountains?

anEconomist wrote:

good lord you people need to get out more

fyi: there are no 'real' mountains on the east coast

Good Lord, you should learn to read. The kid is going in MARCH. Altitude+March=VERY COLD.

And just in comparison for your West VS. East debate. I've been to both...you're right...the West is much better...but, should easterners just quit because they can't always get out West?!?!

Yosemite was rated in Backpacker mag as a Top 3 backpacking destination in the USA. I've done the Top of the Falls hike as part of a 4 day trip there, which is considered one of the toughest hikes in the entire park...if not the toughest. It only totals out to be around 6500ft in elevation...

The highest point on the AT is somewhere around that number...maybe higher. I know that the highest point on the AT is Clingsman Dome in the SMNP and it's somewhere around 7-8k in elevation.

So, yes the West is the best...but, not always possible. And there are MANY great options on the East. (I.E. _ SMNP, Shenandoah, NE areas of the AT......and on and on...

a few of my friends and i went camping just north of tucson on spring break a couple of years ago. not sure about the 70+ mile thing but there were some great 15-20 mile day hikes we did around mount lemmon. the weather in the daytime was high 70's and beating sun but by night it was below freezing. really pretty desert scenery too..give it a look

before you say there are no real mountains on the East Coast, i just wanna know if you've ever hiked Mt. Washington in northern NH, granted it is less than 6500 feet tall, but the base starts at almost sea level, and it is more intense than any of the mountains i did out in montana or in Zion this summer. the whole presidential range in NH is a string of behemoth mountains and some of the roughest terrain in the country. not only is Mt. Washington the tallest mountain in the north east, but it is also the home to the worlds worst weather. 233 mph is the record for windspeeds recorded on land, and this was recorded on top of Mt. Washington. I've been up there the day after thanksgiving in 2 feet of snow and with winds i could barely stand up in. i don't think it's right to say that there are no real mountains in the East. and furthermore, the NH white mountains has an amazing trail circuit that is absolutely perfect for linking together long hikes. every trail in the white mountains connects one way or the other. all you have to do is look at an AMC map and you can plan out a route that is longer than anything you'll find in a national park. there are some amazing places out west, but you can't rule out hiking on the East Coast before you've been hiking in the mountains of NH

Has this become a my mountain is bigger than your mountain debate? Comparing east to west is like comparing apples to oranges. Both have their endearing qualities. And just for clarification, Mount Mitchell is the highest point east of the Mississippi at around 6600 feet. There are no 7-8K mountains in the East. Having said that, the AT is still a tremendous hiking destination and would be much more welcoming in March than most western locations. If you go anywhere in March above a few thousand feet, it's highly likely you're going to run into some winter weather.

Gila Wilderness, southwest New Mexico.

the dude asked for altitude and no cold - i agree tough to do but you can't really have both

no the easterners shouldn't quit - when you go somewhere for a hiking trip - go west and return... they have these amazing things called airplanes these days

and highest point on the entire appalachian trail is just below 6700 ft

and by the way maybe you should learn to read more... he wants remote... i wouldn't really call yosemite remote anymore, everytime i've been there i have loved it because of the amazing nature but it is very often packed with tourists

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