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Post by livinzlife on Jul 19, 2016 18:50:34 GMT -8
Going on a 5-7 day trip out west in mid-late 2017 with a few friends. We're having a hard time deciding where we'll go. Here's the list, where would YOU go?
1) Sawtooth mountains. Pettit to Baron to Sawtooth to Redfish lakes. About 10-12 miles per day.
2) Beartooth mountains. Undecided route.
3) Olympic National Park. Along Hoh river, north to Bogachiel peak, up around Misery peak, down to Bogachiel River.
4) Bridge Creek to Stehekin. Lake Chelan National Rec Area in Northern Washington.
5) Wind River Range. Undecided route.
We're looking for the right balance of extraordinary views and isolation (not big on excessively popular areas).
So which one do you all pick? We're having a tough time picking between us.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Jul 20, 2016 3:33:09 GMT -8
At first glance, I'd pick 3 but the word 'isolation' prompts me to pick 1. You will find that you might meet a few backpackers along the way and definatly will run into a 'crowd' at Redfish Lake (people can drive there) you will also find the isolation aspect. The Redfish Lake link has a webcam view. |
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Post by absarokanaut on Jul 20, 2016 14:45:04 GMT -8
You know "crowds" generally thin out pretty close to trailheads, even in National Parks.
If you want stunning scenery and the most sensational solitude in the 48 why isn't my Absaroka on your list? Ralph Maughn's "Hiking the Teton And Washakie Wildernesses" has some awesome loops in it. The 4 Pass Loop [not to be confused with Colorado's] is something to behold to put it lightly.
Across the valley from the Washakie is the Wind River Range's Fitzpatrick Wilderness. The East side of the Winds sees a lot fewer people. Quite spectacular too.
One of the best scenery-solitude equations in the country is the Teton Range NORTH of Mt. Moran.
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beef
Trail Ready!
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Post by beef on Jul 21, 2016 11:29:35 GMT -8
I've done the Olympic hike you described, but in the opposite direction. It's quite possibly my favorite hike. On the Bogachiel side of it, you won't have anything like a crowd. I suppose I'd rather have my car at the Hoh visitor center than at a remote gravel lot, but there's no other real reason to do it in the direction I did. absarokanaut knows the Winds as well as anyone you'll likely find - I went up in Fitzpatrick and saw nobody at all, and it is as he says.
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Post by oldbill on Aug 5, 2016 11:07:52 GMT -8
Saw it's "mid-late 2017" so assuming before the snows hit. Like absarokanaut said, the Fitz is far better for less people than the west side as long as it's after the mid-summer Glacier Trail climbing "crowd" for Gannett. Horse Ridge and Dry Creek are on my list. Be prepared for some heavy climbing the first day. Even less people that time of year and different character is the N/S Absarokas. Wiggins Fork at Double Cabin is spectacular. Sunlight Basin in N Absarokas is amazing. But, those are high-density griz territories.
Not to take anything away from the other choices. Once I found Dubois/Lander/Pinedale I found my playground.
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Post by absarokanaut on Aug 7, 2016 9:13:48 GMT -8
Bill,
Let me know if you ever want to hike my favorite place on earth, the true headwaters area of the Wind River in the SW Absaroka. I usually just dayhike one of my favorite 11,000'+ summits.
Wiggins is amazing. Burwell will blow you away.
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