ideas needed for my 60th birthday trip!

[Mike M]

My birthday isn’t until December, but would like to start planning now.  I would like to find a hike in the 60-ish mile range to be covered in 2-3 days; I considered a 3 day snowshoe/ski trip here (Montana), but would rather do it in a more “exotic” location (exotic for me)- read warmer clime :)

The Southwest is what I’m kind of thinking, but in December it also rules out a lot of the higher country as I would be right back to a snowshoe/ski trip, which I can get plenty of here.

Thanks in advance!

Mike

[Link .]

60!! I thought you were much younger from your photos you have posted in trip reports. Now back to the suggestions I am sure many will come up with :)

[Mike M]

well thank you much for the compliment! :)

[Lester Moore]

How about something in Canyonlands, maybe a figure 8 linkup through the Chesler Park area to make up 60 miles. Or a section of the Tonto Trail in Grand Canyon. Both would be reasonably dry (no prolonged hiking in water). Not sure about access in winter to either, so you’d have to check. For December in UT/AZ take your microspikes and a 0F bag – it went subzero at night over Christmas on a trip several years ago in Arches.

[David Thomas]

Well, damn.  Given that you’re in so much better shape, hike further, and run faster than I do (at least for R2R2R), I figured you to be my junior, not 4 years older.  All that exercise done you good!

Southernmost portion of the PCT – some 60-mile segment of it – somewhere between Mexico and Tehachapi?

Nick and others are big into Anza Boreggo and Joshua Tree – there must be a number of 100k options there.

R2R2R2R would be 63 miles (102km), but would involve crampons at the North Rim, crossing the Colorado 3 times, rather a lot of vertical, and an impossible car shuttle on one end, so maybe not, huh?

[Mike M]

both good ideas (well except that R2R2R2R thing David :))!

 

I really liked Joshua Tree when we did the traverse (I think right at 40 miles), I’ll have to look at loop options there- so very, very different than what I’m used to, but I found myself enamored there

[John Smith]

Why not a rim to rim to rim in the grand canyon. Easily create a 60 mile trip there.

[Mike M]

^ with a few side trips that would probably be doable- my guess is there would be a high probability of pretty significant snow on the SK and NK- heck there was pretty good snow when we did it in March :)

[BlackHatGuy]

It’s a milestone birthday, you need a milestone trip. It’s summer in New Zealand in December. Just sayin’…

[Link .]

Good idea Doug, I did some wonderful hikes in New Zealand and Australia.

[John S.]

The easiest to come up with might be a section hike of the southern portion of a long trail, PCT, Arizona Trail or CDT, as David mentions.

[Mike M]

NZ is just a wee bit too “exotic” :) – a southern stretch of CDT or PCT might do just fine; AZT might fit the bill nicely too- thanks

[Jon Fong / Flat Cat Gear]

Too bad that this is so close to you, but Cross Country skiing in Yellowstone in the winter is a lot of fun.  Skiing through all of the geothermals is spectacular.  If you go in later winter, there will be tons of animals around the features as well.

For exotic, you might consider the Kalalua Trail in Kauai.  In December, the trails may be wet and there are a few sections that could be slippery.  A great hike and BTW, pretty good snorkeling right at the trailhead.

 

Enjoy your birthday!

[Mike M]

Hawaii would be nice, but don’t have the time this year sadly

[Cameron M]

60 is the new 50.

How about even more exotic, but not so far? The Waitukubuli National Trail (WNT) in Domenica looks potentially interesting, and very un-Montana like.

Waitukubuli National Trail (WNT)

Fondly known as the WNT, the trail covers 114 miles, spanning and twisting the length of Dominica. From Scotts Head in the south to Capuchin in the north, the trail winds from one end of Dominica to the other. Along the way it will take you through coastal villages, up woodland hills, into lush rainforest, past waterfalls, down to rivers, back up to the mountains and then down again to the sea. Dominica’s unique and varied terrain will reveal her age-old secrets to you as you enjoy her natural beauty and vibrant, fresh air. You will also learn about Dominica’s history as you trek across the National Trail. The WNT passes through traditional Kalinago (Carib) villages, ruins of 18th Century French settlements, the renovated Fort Shirley at The Cabrits, the secret ‘Maroon’ passages where runaway slaves escaped and many more interesting historical and natural sites.

 

[Art …]

Hi Mike

you could take a tip from Catra and up the ante a bit, making it 60 non stop hours rather than 60 miles.

and then guess what, there’s a perfect little project in Colorado called Nolan’s 14 with a 60 hour time limit. of course no one typically attempts it in the dead of winter.

[Jeffs Eleven]

Just go to Whitefish and hit up a casino with all the other blue hairs.

Congrats, Mike!… Beast!

[Mike M]

WNT looks cool, but looking for stateside for this one :)

Nolan’s is on my bucket list, but not December- 60 miles in 60 hours right? ;)

I used to work on Whitefish many moons ago (but not in the casinos!)

How about a 60-ish mile loop in Joshua Tree?  Would have to be a good chunk of off trail, but every since we did our traverse, the place intrigues me

[Art …]

Nolan’s is more like 104 miles, with 14 peaks over 14,000 ft.

Joshua Tree can be nice in December, or cold, depending. but its probably a better bet than many places in December.

[Edward John M]

I also think New Zealand is too exotic and you should travel to Australia and do something easy here.

I’ll even give you a bed for a few nites here in Geelong

[Mike M]

^ :) thanks

[nunatak]

For a hardy Montanan there’s plenty of adventurous routes to be done in the frigid canyons around here. Snow is unlikely, and if it falls it’s mere inches.

The whole greater Canyonlands/Bear’s Ears area is mostly without trails and progress is challenged by vertical cliffs with just a few known or unknown routes up and down.

On my list of ambitious outings are several in the 60 mile range, going thru areas nobody on BPL talks about.

[Mike M]

^ check your email :)

[Paul McLaughlin]

a chunk of this route?

https://backpackinglight.com/forums/topic/across-utah-colorado-to-nevada-in-35-days/

lost coast in CA ( might get rain but no snow)

Southernmost reaches of the SIerra – like a ways south of Whitney – you have a pretty good chance of doing something in Mid-December, but you can never be sure. Could be really cool but you have to have a plan B in case there’s a dump before your B-day.

in or around Death Valley?

[Mammoth Codger]

Trans-Catalina Trail…46 miles or so. Semi-exotic…on an island off the California coast & accessed by ferry. I seem to recall someone posting a trip report about it on BPL…I think!

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