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Favorite route in the west


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  • #1227297
    john griffith
    BPL Member

    @jgriffith-2

    Locale: Southeast U.S.

    I'm planning a trip out West with some friends (I'm in Atlanta) and am looking for a 40-70 mile loop in mountains. I would love to hear what everyone's favorites are.

    #1421005
    Kyle Berkompas
    Member

    @vantoast

    Locale: West

    All I have to say is….

    Alpine Lakes Wilderness

    #1421014
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    Rae Lakes Loop, Kings Canyon, CA.

    Rae Lakes

    #1421026
    Tom Clark
    BPL Member

    @tomclark

    Locale: East Coast

    WOW…That's magical!

    #1421032
    Doug Johnson
    BPL Member

    @sponge

    Locale: PNW

    High Sierra Trail – 71 miles

    #1421035
    Andrew Richard
    Member

    @fairweather8588

    Locale: The Desert

    Tonto Trail, GCtonto trail

    #1421061
    Mark Verber
    BPL Member

    @verber

    Locale: San Francisco Bay Area

    Hmm… loop cuts a number of good options out. While not quite a loop, I would suggest South Lake to North Lake in on the eastern side of the sierras. It's not a classic "loop" going in and out the same trail head, but the trail heads weren't that far apart… something like 5 miles apart. When I did it some nice day hikers gave me a lift so I didn't end up hoofing it between the trailheads. This hike goes from South Lake through Bishop pass, down to JMT, Over Muir Pass, through Evolution, Over P? Pass, and out to South Lake. There are a number of variations, especially if you do a bit of cross country. Alas, don't have good picture, camera died the last time I did this trip.

    –Mark

    #1421142
    Sam Haraldson
    BPL Member

    @sharalds

    Locale: Gallatin Range

    My favorite hike in the Northern Rockies fitting the mileage description you requested would be in Glacier National Park. Bowman Lake trailhead to Brown Pass to Hole-in-the-Wall to Boulder Pass, finishing at Kintla Lake trailhead.

    Glacier National Park view of Bowman Lake

    Glacier National Park, Upper Kintla Lake

    #1421145
    Jonathan Ryan
    BPL Member

    @jkrew81

    Locale: White Mtns

    the Tonto trail at sunrise blew me away

    colorado at sunrise

    #1422802
    Ross Bleakney
    BPL Member

    @rossbleakney

    Locale: Cascades

    My favorite area in Washington State is the Glacier Peak area (and we have a lot of great areas). I haven't done the hike, but I can tell that a loop which included going over Spider Gap and Buck Creek Pass would be fantastic (everyone who has done it has said so). This would include Image Lake (one of the more photographed spots on the planet). Since the big storms have damaged a lot of the trails, this is the easiest way into the lake.

    There is a lot of up and down (the Sierras are much kinder on your knees). Unlike a lot of areas, you don't need to worry about reserving campsites. I would recommend late July to early August. By then the snow will have mostly melted and the flowers should be in full bloom.

    If you get on http://www.nwhikers.net, you can find plenty of people who rave about the hike and offer advice and tips (I'm sure some of the folks on this forum can do the same). Allow time to explore little peaks and side trails as well.

    To give you an idea of the area, I googled for pictures and came up with this: http://bobrat.weblogger.com/stories/storyReader$1434 (I don't know the people). They went in late August, so they didn't have to worry about snow or bugs too much. If you go in early August, you'll have plenty of bugs, but wildflowers that will be superb.

    #1422961
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    I'll bet you came out over Paiute Pass, Mark. Very nice route you picked, BTW.

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