Need ideas: Vegas Area Backpacking on a sorta tight schedule

[Brian Camprini]

I can leave early a.m. Fri 10/14 (possibly late Thurs) from Vegas, but need to catch a relatively early Sun 10/16 flight back to Atlanta. Any suggestions for a nice hike? I'll be pretty beat from doing the trade show thing all week so not looking for anything super ambitious. And I'm really busy these days so don't have time to plan lots of logistics. Something simple is in order. I'll be solo, unless someone wants to join me, so a loop trail would be nice…or else easy transportation back to where I started. Would be nice to clean up before hitting the airport heading home too, but not a must…any ideas about that?

I'd also appreciate some gear suggestions (i.e. how much insulation to carry, water carry requirements, wind issues, etc. this time of year).

Grand Canyon options are the obvious and are welcome. Alternatively, I've always wanted to see "The Wave", but not sure if it's worth going that far with the limited time I have? Input appreciated.

[Steven Paris]

The Grand Canyon and Paria/the Wave seem a little far from Vegas, especially since you aren't looking for anything too taxing. The drive to the main trailheads might eat into more of your time that you want.

What about Zion? It's a little closer and has the benefit of being mostly interstate driving.

[Alex H]

+1 on Zion as convenient with options. It is only a 3 hour drive from the Las Vegas airport and you have to remember the time change from Mountain time to Pacific. October is a great time weatherwise, not too cool. I would go to the North, Kolob Canyons, section of the park and do an in and out hike.

[Brian Camprini]

Thanks guys. I'll do a little reading and make a decision. Is Bryce Canyon much farther than Kolob Canyons?

So…should I bring a one pound 30 degree quilt or a two pound 10 degree bag (with an untested neoair all season)? Tiny tarp or duomid? I'm guessing a hammock ain't a wise call?

[Alex H]

Bryce is about an hour from Zion. You probably could get by with the 30 degree quilt but I have seen high teens at 9000' near Lava Point in October. Tiny tarp that you probably won't ever put up.

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