Personally I find fast cross country trips to be more impressive than on fast on trail trips.
If you want to challenge yourself this winter, try going up to the window (in Big Sur) and back in one day. You would need to start real early. It starts in Botchers Gap, goes up the little sur and then up jackson creek. The terrain is nothing like the sierras, but more difficult and it would help you practice your route finding skills for next summer. Lots of deadfall to scramble over and waterfalls to get around. And some nice scenery.
http://www.snwburd.com/bob/trip_reports/kandlbinder_1.html
