upping the ante - 6 week backpack!

[renshiwo]

Inspired by mg's 100 miler below, my husband and I are looking for a good 6 week trip. The catch - has to be in January and February. The budget - $1000 or so for all costs excluding gear. I'm stumped. I'd guess we are looking for a 500 mile plus route. Some snow camping is ok, but certainly not preferred by me! I'd be happy for route suggestions in other countries as well, but fear our budget won't allow any plane travel.
Rebecca

[te_wa]

drive to San Diego and hike north on the Pacific Crest Trail until you get to the Sierra. that has to be at least 500 miles.

[Al_HikesAZ]

Closer to home, you've got the Arizona Trail. It's 800 miles from the Utah Border to the Mexico Border. Depending on this winter, start at Flagstaff and hike south. Or start at the south & hike north. And you are never so far from home that you can't get someone to come and bail you out if you need help - even if just for a night or two. Lots of partial info here on HAZ but you can also look at http://www.aztrail.org/

[renshiwo]

Thanks for the replies. We had tossed about the idea of the Arizona Trail, but were concerned about how much high elevation stuff there is down south as well as up north. I guess I would have the same concern about the PCT through the Southern California - I know it goes into some desert mountain areas, but I'm not sure if they get reliably nasty weather that time of year or if they would just be cold, but not snowy. I'll start looking into these and would be happy to hear more suggestions!

[hikeaz]

Thanks for the replies. I'll start looking into these and would be happy to hear more suggestions!

http://www.simblissity.net/grand_enchantment.shtml

[renshiwo]

I actually stumbled on to the GET website this weekend and loved what I saw. It looks like there would be significant mountain travel though - not sure how well it would work in late winter, but depending on the weather if we start in Albuquerque and head toward Phoenix, we may be able to miss most of the snows. Do you know anyone who has done this?

I've been hesitant about the AZT and PCT stretches because I'm just not that interested in setting up a bunch of water caches, especially since my busy season at work runs through November, and with the holidays we'll have a short time frame to get everything sorted out to start in early January. But then I saw the GET and thought - a trail after my own heart! I'd love to hear some personal stories though and get an idea of how much the water crossings and mountains would make us suffer in Jan/Feb.

[PaleoRob]

Wow, that GET looks really cool to me as well. I'd be interested in hearing more from people who have done it as well!

[hikeaz]

I've done a few of the sections (as you can read, it is made up mostly of existing tread and some roads).
The Safford-Morenci section was remote & fun.(One creek crossing @ Bonita - no biggie) I have also hiked the Glenwood (Alma) to Gila Cliff Dwellings section - that is, again, remote, wild country - really pretty and seldom visited! (many creek crossings of varying degrees - lower section can become swift at times - recommend at least considering the "low" route that circumvents the highest mountains just east of G-wood)) Although I have not hiked it, I would hypothisize that the section from Morenci to Glenwood would be remote and beautiful as well (San Francisco & Blue rivers are in this section - I have no current beta)
Conversely, the Sups section is anything but remote, and as you would suspect - no river, with the possible exception of Queen Creek after a rain.

[Davis2001r6]

If I had 6 weeks off in winter I would probably head for the canyon. You could practically hike all the loops on the S. Rim in the time period. Sure it's cold up top and maybe as low as the teens even camping along the river, but daytime hiking temps are about perfect. I don't know if my body could have 6 weeks of canyon hiking, but logistically it would be a piece of cake.

You'll have some snow/ice on the top sections of a few trails but nothing that has stopped me before. I've done 4 or 5 winter trips down there and they are typically my favorite.

Tanner - Beamer - Little Colorado and back

New Hance - Escalante - Tanner

New Hance - Tonto - Grandview

Grandview - Tonto - Kaibab/B.A

Hermit - Tonto - Bright Angel

Boucher -Tonto - Hemit

S. Bass (Need GOOD 4x4 to get there) - Tonto (the gems) - Boucher

The Royal Arch Loop (Leaves from Bass TH as well-4x4)

You could really do all of that in 6 weeks, like I said I don't know who's body could handle all of that though. After every loop you hike out, resupply, get cleaned up and head back in. It won't add up to 500 miles, but I sure think it would be harder than a 500 mile thru hike.

-TIM-

[azbackpackr]

Yeah, or you could do the Tonto. It wouldn't take 6 weeks to hike the 90 to 100 miles, but it would take awhile.

I have hiked most of PCT in San Diego County. Jan. and Feb. very iffy as to weather. They get a lot of rain and, in higher elevations, slushy snow, some years during those months. Most of the time the area is hikeable in winter, though. However, once you leave SD County and get further north in the San Bernardino Mtns. you get into some significant elevation. You may need snowshoes for that portion. In fact, I have done several snowshoe backpacks in those mtns.

[Grasshopper]

If I had 6 weeks off in winter I would probably head for the canyon. You could practically hike all the loops on the S. Rim in the time period. Sure it's cold up top and maybe as low as the teens even camping along the river, but daytime hiking temps are about perfect. I don't know if my body could have 6 weeks of canyon hiking, but logistically it would be a piece of cake...You could really do all of that in 6 weeks, like I said I don't know who's body could handle all of that though. After every loop you hike out, resupply, get cleaned up and head back in. It won't add up to 500 miles, but I sure think it would be harder than a 500 mile thru hike.
-TIM-

I do believe that IF I was backpacking again and wanted to spend 6 weeks somewhere that would be a sure winner and I only had a $1k budget, that I would move this option (TIM's GC trip suggestions) to the top of my list! This option is local too (in AZ) and TIM has even given you guys a proven itinerary of great backpacking trips..and..for part of your $1k. budget you could probably afford to stay in the better S.Rim hotels to regroup and etc before your next trip in. Also, another plus here as TIM implies/states- logistics , as I am sure you guys are aware, is a BIG DEAL for planning extended backpack trips, and with this option, "logistics is a piece of cake"...

Just my 2 cents worth...from a HAZ senior citizen

[renshiwo]

Thanks for the info on the PCT stretch in winter. We do own snowshoes, so maybe we'll just increase the adventure factor.

As for the Grand Canyon, since we live so close I'd rather go farther afield. I'm also more interested in the idea of a sustained long distance trip, since I've never done one before.

[te_wa]

keep in mind that most sections of the PCT especially the overwhelmingly gorgee-us John Muir trail had very minimal snowfall this past year, so the trend may develop into a light winter again for '08. The beauty of this is that the rivers are easy to cross, and there are millions LESS mosquitos. The bears may be more hungry, however. Still think the PCT is a winner, and hey, you get to hang out in San Diego! (aint nothing bad about that)

[Davis2001r6]

Even with the light snow year I don't think the JMT is feasible for a winter crossing. Unless your a skilled climber(ice axe/crampons) and/or skier. Those passes are just two high, I'm not saying it hasn't been done or can't be done, but I definitely would not recommend it for the average person. Crossing Army Pass (near Whitney) mid-July last year was enough to scare the heck out of me.

http://students.washington.edu/jlutz/in ... s/JMT1.htm

I understand you wanting to get further away, if the canyon was only an hours drive for me I would be squeezing in all of those hikes whenever I could.

[te_wa]

yeah Tim you're totally right, but Im just making a point, they should hike until the start of the Sierra, that would be at least 500 miles. Re-supplies and mailing your unneeded things back home would be a reality. No reason to carry snowshoes the entire route, that is.

[azbackpackr]

They should also be aware that, like the southern end of the Arizona Trail, the PCT near the Mexican border is used a great deal by illegal border crossers. Can be very dangerous if they are smuggling something like a big lot of drugs. They do carry guns, they shoot at Border Patrol officers all the time. They might mess with you,too. Just not fun. Most PCT thru-hikers start hiking at the border in good-sized groups.

[renshiwo]

I'm not the kind of person who needs to "start at the start and end at the end" - although my husband is! At any rate, what I'm trying to say is that, any particular stretch of trail would be fine with me, and choosing the most scenic, yet still passable, section of the PCT or GET would be my goal. No need to dodge drug runners.

[Lizard]

The PCT is going to be full on winter hiking near Mt San Jacinto and Mt. Baden-Powell. The elevations for the PCT in those areas is 8-9k. I ran into significant amounts of snow in late April and early May. In January or February it'll be rough going and the section along Fuller Ridge may be downright impassable.

You've got a similar problem w/ the AZT. Although it is more specifically a desert trail, it still spends much of its time in the sky island ranges at reasonably high elevations. You may not run into much snow, or you may run into lots.

The suggestion of the GET is a good one. It spends more time at lower elevations, particularly in Arizona. Two other possible hikes:

The Florida trail will be clear during winter. A number of Appalachian trail thru-hikers do it during the winter as a prologue to their AT thruhike.

The Hayduke trail should be passable in winter. There may be snow (amend that to "definitely" for the Henry Mountains section), but it shouldn't accumulate to the same depths as in the high mountains on other trails. Additionally, the snow may actually solve some of the water problems that come w/ hiking the Hayduke trail in other seasons.

[renshiwo]

Just wanted to get back to everyone with an update, although the update is..... We're lame!!!

Well, not lame, but we decided we could afford an international trip and ended up volunteering in Patagonia for a month. Did a little bit of traveling, but no long-distance backpacking. Thanks for all the great suggestions though. One of these years we'll get the time off during the right time of year. The GET is at the top of my list.