Yea the hike has no shade anywhere really, just get beat on by the sun. I enjoy watching the fishermen come in hot with their boats and beach them onto shore.
The company who made the hat I like no longer makes this particular hat. I like the soft, pliable brim. Any recs? I have several breathable hiking hats with a hard brim, but want something like I’ve linked below. https://poshmark.com/listing/Banner-and-Oak-Scrambler-Black-Hat-NWOT-5f5fab3c6f6c91beb8f3d08b
Big Senchi drop today. Not sure what's left but they started with a good bit. https://senchidesigns.com/
Random thought on the topic of gear I’m still pissed at Prana for changing their zion pant material with the Zion2 Had a great backcountry pant and really botched it. Hopefully they revert back cause they’ve gotten a lot of flack in reviews.
Bamanug, Im visiting Seattle for the first time over Memorial Day weekend. I know Seattles got some great hikes within an hour or 2, what are some of your favorite?
Are you going to have a car? Looking for just dayhikes or overnighters? Level of fitness? Are you ok with 8-12 miles and 2-3k of vert? Or a little more chill? Memorial day is pretty early for some super high stuff, but still plenty of options depending on your answers.
I will have a car Probably day hikes given the time frame I’m working with, but if you have a sick single overnighter let me know and I’ll see if it works. I can do that level of fitness and most of my group should be able too as well. thanks
did Wilson Mtn in Sedona for the first time since we got dumped on in late January. A few feet of snow on the north side up around 7K feet. But nice and dry at the TH and as you work your way up along the south been riding quite a high since the November election results mostly came through our way. My bet on Northern Arizona has really paid off. Got a $69 half ounce of Marshmallow OG this week Spoiler
an REI store just opened up locally, so I ended up getting a life time membership. When my dad tried to use his they couldn't look it up.
what a weekend saw Nico Young run a 3:59 altitude-adjusted mile Friday night, watched NAU WBB keep themselves in contention for the Big Sky title Saturday and then did Bear Mtn in Sedona this morning. This has been my go-to hike for a few months now it was snowing when I left Flagstaff and 30 minutes and -2,500 feet later I was in shorts and t-shirt Spoiler
My bad, never saw your response. So there will still be a shitload of snow above 5,000 ft for Memorial Day, I advise looking at trip reports on WTA or AllTrails and seeing what's available. But, it's still really early to get into the really good stuff. Day hikes with the most bang for your buck within 2 hours Seattle, in order of recommendation: Gothic Basin: https://www.wta.org/go-hiking/hikes/gothic-basin - this is probably going to have way too much snow, but if not, would be my top rec Melakwa Lake: https://www.wta.org/go-hiking/hikes/melakwa-lake - on the I-90 corridor, supper accessible and very pretty. If you're feeling froggy you can try and summit Kaleetan Peak, but probably too much snow. The lake may be accessible, tho. Look at trip reports. Rampart Lakes: https://www.wta.org/go-hiking/hikes/rampart-ridge-1 - this is pretty low elevation, so may be possible in late May/early June Oyster Dome: https://www.wta.org/go-hiking/hikes/oyster-dome - this probably has the highest chance of no snow, but look at the forecast. If it's at all cloudy, you can't see shit. If it's a clear day, then you have amazing views over the San Juan islands. Also the easiest, but your options are a bit limited this time of year Blanca Lake: https://www.wta.org/go-hiking/hikes/blanca-lake - this will most likely have too much snow, but on the off-chance it's available, it's one of my favorites. It's a burner but also one of the most beautiful in the state. The glacier that feeds the lake runs through a bunch of mineral deposits which make the lake a beautiful turquoise green. You will probably hear a lot of people recommend Rattlesnake Ledge - fuck all that. It's overcrowded, way too easy, and really subpar views. The only benefit is that it's like 30 minutes from downtown Seattle, but I strongly advise against it. I can recommend some overnighters if you want, but because of how early it is I'm not sure if that'd be the best use of your time. You won't be able to get super high and I doubt you want to be sleeping on snow without proper gear, or with gear you need to rent. Happy to help with any follow-up stuff!
the highlight of my hiatus was probably Kofa National Wildlife Refuge, place is sooo sweet Cormac McCarthy published The Passenger in late October and I didn't want to touch it till winter break when I could read it down in Yuma so read the first half on a bench at the Territorial Prison State Park along the Colorado River, which is where some of the final scenes in Blood Meridian occurred. Then finished it in the bed of my truck in a sea of saguaros at Kofa Wildlife Refuge while the rest of the country was seeing temperatures way below average. Glorious Spoiler
Always make the effort to hike where there are public toilets. When camping camp at a camping ground that has showers and toilets you can use. Because if you get caught peeing and shitting in public the cops won't like your conduct.
No worries man, I appreciate you even taking the time to write that out, much appreciated. With the snow it sounds like it will give me an excuse to come back again sometime later in the summer.
The hiking window in Seattle is really only like 3 months long, and once September hits you're dealing with forest fires. The 5-6 week window from mid-July to late August is where it's at. Labor Day is a good excuse.
Went to New Zealand for a couple weeks, did a couple hikes. Got a pack raft and decided to bring it with me this trip. View from camp Got a water taxi ride in about half way in Abel Tasman national park, camped for a night and hiked the 7 miles out in the morning.
Couple of extra photos Not photo'd got absolutely destroyed by sand flies lol, also New Zealand is a funny place didn't have to deal with your typical bear or racoon coming by camp but they have these flightless birds called Wekas that took their place and would try and steal anything they could.
This hike was in Mt Aspiring national park up to Rob Roy Glacier roughly 7ish miles. To get to the trailhead you have to drive about an hour down a gravel round past Mt. Aspiring Station where we had a sheep traffic jam. Had to herd them off the road for miles, most sheep I've ever seen in my life. This is a photo towards the end after getting past all their other buddies. I have alot more videos than I do still images, but once you past the station (which is almost like kiwi for ranch) you open up into an incredible valley with waterfalls everywhere, had to do 5 or 6 water crossings in the Toyota Prado Land Cruiser we had as a rental. Was a fun drive.
Alright last one so I quit spaming the thread. This one wasn't a hard hike at all maybe 4 miles fairly flat it was just to get enough distance for a float. I more was stoked on this since it was the first time I got to throw my pack raft in a river.
the Coconino National Forest website says the Blodgett Basin Trail in Camp Verde is open but got there a little after sunrise and both trailheads were closed off due to high water levels in West Clear Creek. Ended up just running on Forest Road 618, which was still pretty sweet since it's a classic high desert environment and was way warmer since it's only about 3,500 feet this was my first weekend doing physical activity after rolling an ankle playing hoops in late February. Officially retiring from basketball Spoiler
Oak Creek looks like a river. Hwy 89 between Flagstaff and Sedona was closed for a bit this past week due to rock slides. We've had one of the ten snowiest winters on record. And we set a record for consecutive days with at least 10 inches of snow on the ground at 59 I meant to mention earlier: if people want to visit Northern Arizona give me a heads up with some possible dates and I'll check with my apartment complex about the availability of their guest suites. Would be like $75/night for a really nice spot, which you can't beat any time of year but especially in the summer
Tried to do the Elden Lookout Trail this morning and got about a half mile from the top before the trail completely disappeared. There is so much snow up above 8K feet, it's glorious Got back to my place and smoked a joint on top of the parking garage, nice start to the day Spoiler
Did the O'Leary Peak Trail this morning. Blue skies for most of the 10-mile haul. Tons of snow the last few miles. Outside winter this is probably one of best surfaces to run on, would be perfect for someone with a dog I love the lava flow area down near the beginning Spoiler
Just booked accommodation in Squamish, BC -- halfway between Vancouver and Whistler -- from late July until early October, about 2.5 months. Cannot freaking wait to explore this summer.
Was on the AB Young Trail in Sedona by 6:45 this morning, got to the East Pocket Fire Lookout Tower by 8:30 and was reading elite fiction poolside by 11. Incredible day Start at 5200 ft and go up 2.4 miles to 7200 ft at the fire lookout This, Bear Mtn and Wilson Mtn are the best trails you can access in Sedona without a big ass jeep iyam Spoiler
Got on the Bear Mtn Trail at 5:15 this morning, was at the top by 7 and home by 10. Pretty perfect morning Was hoping to go to Tucson this weekend but pushed it back so I'll be able to explore down there over a 4-day weekend Spoiler
https://slickdeals.net/f/16671926-a...e&prop=rcmid-4f2c761f8a7d16486c6cc59abdeeed82 1/2 off all trails yearly membership
anyone have anything like this? Are you a fan? looking for something to keep water flowing for my dog on hikes without bringing additional water with me https://www.rei.com/product/150116/...-_-133155-_-160935-_-NA&avad=160935_a30c12cc9
Yes, I've had one for a while (my friend's dad was actually one of the inventors, :lookatme:) They're cool, but too tedious for hiking IMO. A lot of work for only a little bit of water. I think they're better for travel and getting potable water from questionable faucets -- I've used it in Asia and am using in Mexico regularly. They're also very big and bulky, don't pack well. Better off just bringing an extra liter.
was at Saguaro National Park just west of Tucson at sunrise this morning took the Sendero Esperanza Trail up to a ridgeline where I hopped on the Hugh Norris Trail and took that to the top of Wasson Peak, which is the high point in the western section of the park place is absolutely stunning. Didn't see any snakes which was a bummer, but was really cool being in an environment that features so prominently in Blood Meridian Spoiler
did the Mt Lemmon Trail in Coronado National Forest this morning. You take the Catalina Hwy from Tucson up to the Mt Lemmon Ski Valley at 9100 ft and then wind down nearly 6 miles through the forest to a boulder field around 7500 ft super cool going from a sea of saguaros up to a dense forest of Aspen and pine trees. That Hwy is one of the most fun drives I've done, 29 absolutely gorgeous miles with wonderful views. But get up there early because lots of people seem to go up there to escape the heat looking forward to relaxing by the pool all day tomorrow Spoiler
wouldn't be a weekend without a sunrise hike. Wilson Mtn again Anyone familiar with San Juan National Forest? Wanna make a trip through Monument Valley and hit up Durango over the Juneteenth weekend coming up and looking for a good hike there Spoiler
Was at lake Pend Oreille in northern Idaho yesterday. Such a beautiful uninhabited area. If only those that did inhabit it weren’t offspring of supremest cults. Was able to get to a beach for the dog without anyone there. Motherfucker tripped me though, and I sprained my ankle which led to a very fun 2.5 mile limp back. Spoiler [/spoiler]
July 4 is usually the start date for PNW for the good stuff. Been a really hot spring so should be full go soon. Yo vuelvo viente tres Junio But BC has already had a shitload of wildfires.
All these require 4wd but you don't need anything huge. Didn't catch the Juneteenth part. No way these will be passable then. Highland Mary Lake Trail on AllTrails https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/colorado/highland-mary-lake-trail?sh=7rm5t8 Handies Peak on AllTrails https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/colorado/handies-peak?sh=7rm5t8 https://hikingwalking.com/index.php/destinations/co/co_sw/lake_city/cooper_lake Highland Mary Lakes is gorgeous. Hike is pretty start to finish and it's diverse(below tree line to above) Handies bags you a 14er and American Basin is beautiful. Cooper is a hidden gem. Not quite as aesthetically pleasing in the normal sense of the term but it's remote. It's a fucking moonscape up there. Truly feels alien.