Trip Plans A, B, C, D – suggestions for D?

[AK Granola]

I’m working on my big summer hike, minimum 10 days and up to 20, July or August. That’s about as much as I can get away from work without my boss (who is wonderful) wondering if I still want the job (I do, and I’m grateful but it’s a hard balance sometimes).

Plan A was sections I and J of the California PCT, from Echo Lake to Tuolumne, which is now under more snow than I care to think about. I get enough snow, summer is supposed to be sunny and warm and no snow (or almost none). So that is off the table for this year. Too bad – I had it all figured out! Wrong year.

Plan B is the Wonderland Trail. I’ll find out Tuesday if I have a chance at permits. Not optimistic but thought I’d give it a go.

Plan C is the northernmost section of the CDT, probably starting at Benchmark TH and heading north. I’m still working on those logistics; suggestions are welcome. Thinking flying into Great Falls, and out of Kalispell as the most logical entry/exit towns. I don’t think anything would really derail this plan, except wildfires.

Plan D is only needed if B and C end up off the table for some reason. One thought is the 100 mile wilderness in Maine and on up through Mt Katahdin. Any suggestions on a Plan D?

I love the planning stage, but I am so ready for some sun and some warm weather.

(No snow trip suggestions; please don’t try to convince me how lovely snow is. I’ve posted a photo both for fun and so that you can see I get enough snow. This is my existence for 7 months a year. I don’t mind crossing a high elevation snowfield here or there, but prefer not to wallow in the stuff for two weeks of summer.)

[jscott]

Glacier Peak Wilderness in Wa. state. Easier to get a permit than Rainier and arguably as spectacular. But…the PNW is having a big snow year, I would think…maybe not?

[Philip Tschersich]

I’ll admit that I’m a bit of a scenery snob. One of the few trip reports that totally blew my socks off the last couple of years was Dan Durston’s Great Divide Trail video series. What absolutely eye-wateringly beautiful country. Just wow.

Great Divide Yo-yo

[jscott]

Oh lordy Phillip…there’s a lot of snow and wet in those reports. take my word for it…Granola doesn’t want snow. For good reason. I’m still a bit bruised in that regard…

[DWR D]

I would think much of the Sierra will be good hiking by mid-August… high passes will have snow all year, but boot-tracked… but hard to know for sure… watch the park service trail reports thru July into August…

[Philip Tschersich]

Oh lordy Philip…there’s a lot of snow and wet in those reports.

Yes, I’m aware. But I believe those videos are from June and the OP stated their timeline as being July or August. Living in coastal AK I know there is a huge difference in alpine snowpack between those months. Like Hoth vs Tatooine (wink).

[Matthew / BPL]

+1 for the Star Wars reference

[Jerry Adams]

The other factor affecting plans is wildfire smoke.  It can vary even day to day so having several plans is useful.

I usually do a Three Sisters trip but last year it was always smoky.

I’ve only done bits of the Wonderland Trail but it’s so busy.  If you’re lucky you can get a trip reserved, but you have to specify particular camps each night.  If you’re more or less tired on a particular day you can’t modify your plan.

There are good 10 or 20 day trips in Olympic National Park, the Wallowas, and in Idaho across the Snake River.

[Ken Larson]

Have you given any thought of doing some adventuring in the Mid West or East in the Lower 48?

[AK Granola]

We are committing to Plan C! Going to Montana soon, gonna be a dental floss tycoon.

Seriously, it looks like a go. The Sierra look beautiful but awful for this year, and the Wonderland lottery is like Powerball, a waste of time and money; didn’t get it. For Plan C – the CDT in Montana, I have to redo the miles and make sure my estimates are on target and not 50 miles short or over, and we’ll make a plan. Logistics are the hardest with Plan C, getting to and from trailheads but we’re working that out.

It’s nice to have something in place. I wish I had more time…

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