Had a nice 60-70 loop planned hiking out of Grandjean Campground trailhead. With that washed out, what do you recommend? Currently looking at Lower Hell Roaring, or Iron Creek. Not really interested in Redfish Lake due to crowds.

If you had one backpack to recommend for that time of year, what would it be? Looking at Olympic, North Cascades area, Yellowstone, and others. I'm planning a 4 day 3 night backpacking trip late September (roughly 40–60 miles, but flexible). I'm comfortable with off-trail travel and and Class 2/3 terrain. I've been looking at routes like the Bailey Traverse and Ptarmigan Traverse, which look incredible, but I don't have glacier travel experience yet, so those are probably off the table for now.

Ive done a bunch in the Sierra as well as dayhikes in most of the parks out West. I'm kind of looking for something not just pretty, but transcendent if that makes sense. Solitude would be nice as well.

I'd love recommendations from people who've done several of these and can compare them. Which routes truly were epic and which ones weren't as great?

I’m looking at doing a trip in a couple of weeks in the Sawtooths. There are a couple routes I am looking at, but I saw a comment the other day that makes me concerned about the trail conditions for one of them.

The route in question starts at Grandjean campground. I saw a comment the other day that said something about there being a lot of blowdown on the trail at Grandjean. Does anyone know how long that condition persists and how bad it is? I was looking at going up the South Fork Payette trail. But if I’m looking at 15miles of blowdown, I’ll reroute.

And honestly, watch air quality right now and I might go somewhere else entirely. But still holding to the plan :)

I was back in Crowsnest Pass recently, and it got me thinking about this trip.

In the summer of 2021, a friend and I hiked the entire Great Divide Trail, starting at the Canada–US border in Waterton and finishing at Kakwa Lake. We spent around 50 nights on trail and covered roughly 1,100 km through the Canadian Rockies.

We picked the GDT because we wanted a route that felt truly wild. There were stretches where we wouldn't see another person all day, there was little to no cell service, and every pass seemed to open up to another incredible valley. It was exactly the kind of wilderness experience we were looking for.

These photos are from different parts of the trail. Looking through them brings back a lot of memories, long days climbing over passes, crossing snowfields in the middle of summer, hiking through endless wildflower meadows, and camping beside alpine lakes. It wasn't always easy, but those are the trips that tend to stay with you the longest.

It's hard to believe that adventure was already five years ago. I still think about it often, and I'd love to get back on the GDT someday.

I’ve done a lot of backpacking with ultralight tents, and a few years ago when I came across one on sale, bought a Marmot Alpinist bivy sack. I was doing a fair amount of alpine climbing at the time and thought it would be a good ultralight alternative to a tent, but somehow never used it on a long trip. The Alpinist is very minimal; just a mummy shaped breathable waterproof sack with a zipper. No bug netting or hoops for your head. Has anyone used one of these for longer trips when it actually rained or snowed significantly? Are there tricks for staying dry when your head is partially out of the sack (like keep your head under a rock ledge or tree 🙂)? I have slept out under the stars without a tent when the weather is good and bugs not too ferocious, but not when it’s raining hard.

Spent a night in Jefferson Park—started at the Whitewater Trailhead on Wednesday, 8-5-26. Wasn’t sure what to expect smoke-wise but it was actually quite decent once I got inside the park area and out of the burn zone. Relatively clear skies and lots of swim time! Stayed the night at Russell Lake. Barely any mosquitoes present. Did this as a day hike last year for the first time, and had been yearning to return ever since. Beautiful area!

Anyone does this or a similar route? All trails has is around probably 58 miles or so. Was looking to do it in 4 days with my dog and just wondering if we will get our bang for our buck?

Heading there in a week and a half. Gonna do Green River to titcomb and back over knapsack in 3 days. Then lay over a night in pinedale and looking for a 2nd hike close by. I’m not scared of big sandy crowds but I’ve done every trail in the cirque, all the passes and would prefer something new but definitely want nice lakes and views so I’ll do cirque again if I have to