"Hazelnut Cornmeal Pancakes," "Mediterranean Stuffed Trout" "Barley Corned Beef Soup with Dill..."
The authors of these and similar so-called "backcountry" recipes claim that they were field tested at a 12,000' camp (on an exposed ridge,) after a 14 mile day. I don't believe it for a second. As for the trout recipe, I'm sure that if I'm lucky enough to catch one, I'll dine on it "a la Gollum;" raw, while crouched at the side of the river...
In short, planning my meals and stocking my pantry for this trip is proving to be quite the undertaking. The challenge is to provide your body with the carbohydrates you need to fuel your hike, the complete protein it needs to rebuild the muscle you break down (and provide the raw material to build new muscle,) as well as essential fats, which serve a number of functions. Since your body can convert all of the above into energy, foods from these 3 groups will provide almost all of your calories, or fuel.
In addition, your menu must also provide the vitamins and electrolytes you require on a daily basis and should include antioxidant rich foods to help your body repair and protect against the free radical damage that results from exertion, as well as from the increased UV dosage at elevation.
And I need to accomplish all in about 15 lbs for each trip. Not a problem in Canyonlands, a 5 day trip, but quite a challenge for 10 days in Idaho, as it is tough to cram enough calories (and nutrition) into 1.5 lbs of food a day. So I know that on the longer trips, it will be necessary to carry dehydrated foods. Plenty of prepared, dehydrated/freeze dried meals are available, but these tend to run on the expensive side, and I need over 60 dinners. Plus, few are designed for one, and the flavor leaves a little something to be desired in most cases.
Lucky for me, the "Dean of Dehydration," Frankie 'Two Thumbs' DiCerbo is my ally in this endeavour. Many have been fortunate enough to sample his world renowned beef jerky and sundried tomatoes. In fact, one esteemed chef claimed that his faith in the sundried tomato had been restored after sampling Two Thums' delicacies...
I'll start by going into a little detail for each of those requirements I mentioned above, starting with--
Complete Protein: As I write, Two Thumbs is likely laboring at the dehydrator, or perhaps putting some more steak into his succulent marinade. The resulting beef jerky will provide a very valuable source of complete protein for me on the trail. Dried meat of any sort (beef, turkey, chicken, venison, etc) is an exceptionally valuable food to have with you; only meat offers all 7 of the amino acids (building blocks of protein) that the body is unable to synthesize for itself, therefore making it a “complete” protein.
However, almost all foods contain some amino acids, and if you know how to combine them, you can create a complete protein at a meal. This is easier than it may appear at first-- all types of Dairy foods (milk, cheese, etc) contain the same amino acids. The same is true for all types of Grains (wheat, oats, etc) as well as Legumes (beans, peas, lentils) and Seeds (and nuts.)
To create a complete protein, remember the following mnemonic device that I learned from a vegetarian friend-- Dont Get Left Standing. Any to items from sequential groups served together makes a complete protein. For example an item from the Grains group with an item from the Legumes group, such as rice and beans, or wheat and lentils. Powered milk from Dairy with granola from Grains would also work, as D and G are sequential in the little saying. There are scores of combinations...
Depending on body weight and exertion level, protein requirements will range from 35-75g a day. Vegetarians and those who just don't relish the idea of eating dried meat every day can certainly attain these protein requirements without meat. However, just 3-4oz of jerky a day would easily meet even the highest protein requirements, giving it an exceptionally good nutritive value/weight ratio. Additionally, getting your complete protein in one place means one less thing to consider while planning meals. Protein should make up about 20-30% of total daily calories.
Carbohydrates:
These will make up 50-65% of your total calories. Carbohydrates may be grouped into 2 categories; simple and complex. Complex carbs are whole grains, such as wheat and oats, whereas simple carbs are sugars, such as in fruit, jelly and candy. Because complex carbs take longer to be digested and absorbed, they provide sustained energy--think oatmeal at breakfast. Simple carbs are converted into blood sugar quickly, providing a concentrated, but brief, burst of energy--think a few handfuls of dried fruit and chocolate trail mix before the final hour of tough climbing to a summit.
In short, I usually plan for a mix of simple and complex carbs in the am and aim for complex carbs at dinner to replenish depleted muscles.
Essential Fats:
Will provide 20-30% of your total calories. Good sources are nuts, seeds, olive oil, cheese, and fish. These fats are not only a concentrated source of energy (9 cal/gr for fats, only 4 cal/gr for carbs and protein,) but provide fatty acids that repair damage, are essential for proper neural function and fight inflammation. I plan to eat a lot of nuts and seeds, use olive oil for all cooking, and hopefully catch some fish! It is also possible to carry hard cheeses such as pecorino romano or parmesan for a few days without spoilage. Softer cheeses don't fare as well... Although heavy, the flavor and nutrient boost provided by 6 oz of good Italian hard cheese makes it worth carrying.
Vitamins, Electrolytes, and Antioxidants:
Fresh fruit and vegetables are excellent sources for all of the above, but are very heavy. As a good alternative, I carry dried fruits and vegetables. Apricots, bananas, and plums are all excellent sources of potassium, a electrolyte that you'll sweat out and need to replenish. The other electrolyte you sweat is sodium, which is easily replaced by enjoying a packaged soup (ramen, knorr) a few times a week.
Two Thumbs' dried tomatoes will be an excellent source of vitamins A and C, and I'll also be sure to include dried asparagus, spinach and the like, all of which are vitamin rich. I'm also a big fan of dried berries (cran, blue. etc) as they are loaded with antioxidants and vitamins, and add great flavor to everything from breakfast to trail mix to dinner.
So that's all the nutrition one needs to cram into 1.5-3 lbs a day. There will be more on the specific meals that we're planning after I get a chance to pow-wow with my advisor this weekend. At that point I'll also get into daily caloric requirements and why hiking is the only guaranteed weight loss plan ever!!!!
Monday, April 28, 2008
Monday, April 14, 2008
"The Pugilist," --how i'm getting into 'trail shape.'
As I was sitting on my couch watching the yanks , stretching my sore muscles, it occurred to me that I hadn't posted anything about the physical training I'm doing to prepare for this hike. Being in good physical shape for the challenges I'll likely encounter will be a large factor in how successful/enjoyable/safe this trip will be. Almost as important as good beta, gear and skills in my opinion. And, as we know, I have the luxury of spending 2-3 hrs a day at the gym, so... In past years, I've followed a general conditioning plan that I usually start in early March, which has always served to get me into acceptable trail shape for late April/May. That routine consisted of 3-5 days/wk of cardio (40-60min), and some basic core work. This always sufficed for my 3 day hikes in the spring, and by my annual July week-long backpack, I was in fine shape. Obviously, for this trip, I knew I couldn't follow this plan, then hit the trail head in Colorado and expect to climb 14,400' Long's Peak 5 days into the trip. So I began gathering information; researching training programs designed for hiking/mountaineering as well as general fitness plans. Once again, Backpacker magazine was a great resource; usually once or twice a year they run a good feature with advice/exercises/programs from a trainer who teaches hiking fitness. The May '08 and Oct '05 issues in particular had excellent articles.
In very broad terms, a good training program will incorporate each of the following; cardio, balance/joint strengthening, core exercise, and strength training. The exact composition of a good, personalized program will be determined by a few factors. These factors can be grouped into the following; your base level of fitness and expected backcountry conditions.
I'll go over what I considered in developing my program to illustrate.
Base Level of Fitness
Cardio--I had done a couple of winter hikes in Jan and Feb, and had been getting about 90 min of cardio a week. Typical winter... Not couch potato, but nowhere near peak.
Strength--I rarely do any upper body strength training. For my lower body, i rely on resistance while I do my cardio. My body type puts on and retains muscle easily, so I'm fortunate in that regard. Years of football, rugby, and hiking build my legs well, and I've got average upper body strength.
Balance/Joint--This is an area that I knew would require special attention. In addition to just being plain clumsy and off-balance, I'm prone to low ankle sprains, and I've had 4 knee surgeries. So yeah, I wanted to work on balance, coordination, and joint strengthening in a big way...
Core--I despise sit-ups, crunches, etc. Anyone who claims to enjoy core work is lying or a masochist. So I knew that i needed some work here.
Expected Backcountry Conditions
Cardio--Steep elevation gain/loss, rigorous planned daily mileage, and substantial overall trip length. Plus the added demands of altitude; 4 of my hikes go to peaks above 10,000' and in Colorado, I've planned four summits above 14,000'. So I knew I needed to be in incredible condition to haul my sea level self up to elevation and perform there with up to 33% less than my customary level of oxygen.
Strength--Bouldering, scrambling, and expected use of ice axe make upper body strength training a concern.
Balance/Joint--Above-treeline boulder and talus fields require demands on balance that I'm unaccustomed to, though in my experience on-trail travel out West is less demanding on the ankles and knees than the root and blue slate strewn trails of the Catskills.
Core--Again, boulder and talus fields make extraordinary demands on the stabilizing muscles of the core, with trying to keep a 50-60 lb pack centered while scrambling.
My Plan
Cardio--Based on the information above, I want to be in the best cardio shape possible when i hit the trail. Nothing beats just plain hiking to get into trail shape. However, there's not much elevation gain in Prospect Park, so I look to gym exercises that replicate the hiking motion. Treadmill--ok for getting the heart rate into the training zone, but not much in the way of incline, which you'll need to train the "climbing muscles." Ellipticals--very good, especially those that offer a steep incline and/or engage the arms (to train the muscles that make hiking poles effective.)
Stairmaster--very good, to train the "climbing muscles" in particular. If you have one at your gym, nothing beats the Summit Trainer by LifeCycle. Hard to describe, other than as a cross between a Stairmaster and an Elliptical w/arms. It's the only machine that comes close a working the same muscles that hiking and gaining elevation does.
Every 10 days I try to do the following:
3--hour long "hikes" on the Summit Trainer, on which I go all out. I try to "hike" 6 miles and "gain" 6,000,' increasing resistance as soon as I'm able to do that. Compressing this workout into a short time is one way to prepare your body for the number of steps in a hiking day. I'll soon be pushing this up to 75, then 90, minutes.
2--45 min varied inclination courses on the elliptical. The varied inclination is a good cross-train. I'll be looking to increase to 60, then 75, min.
2--45 min interval courses on the stairmaster. Again, looking to increase to 60, then 75, min. Adding the interval courses to my workouts has really helped build stamina. The research backs it up, too; by exerting 100% effort for an interval of a minute or so, followed by an equal interval of recovery before repeating, you boost your cardiovascular capacity. What it translates to on the trail is the ability to catch your breath after cresting a steep climb without stopping; as soon as your exertion drops, so does your heart rate, enabling you to keep going and recover simultaneously.
If you're curious about a good way to measure conditioning, I have one, but it involves calculations and such. I'd be happy to provide details to any interested party.
Strength--Because of the specific conditions i expect (e.g. bouldering,) as well as the desire to get my upper body to share more of the burden via my hiking poles, I've begun doing chin-ups, pull-ups, dips, shoulder raises, and chest dips once every 3-4 days. These are all done using, at the most, one's own body weight. For chin-ups, pull-ups, and dips, some gyms have machines that assist, as few (save pro athletes and military personnel) can do more than 12-15 reps of these exercises. I don't really believe in weight training for hiking. For the most part, weight training is designed to isolate muscles in a controlled, specific motion. Whereas the exercises described above engage lots of secondary, stabilizing muscles as an added benefit. I also believe that using your own body as resistance improves coordination and improves awareness of your body in space. It is important to maintain proper form when doing these exercises. If you can't maintain form, take a break, and continue. Soon, you'll be able to maintain form for more and more reps.
Balance/Joint--To meet the demands of the trail and to lessen the chances of ankle/knee problems, I've begun a program that incorporates a medicine ball on balance boards as well as a range of exercises that I culled from different sources, but again, I would highly recommend Backpacker issues mentioned above. Descriptions of these would be way too much here, but if anyone wants more info, please leave a post.
Core--Saving the best for last, of course. In a nutshell; crunches, bicycle and regular, 3 sets of 30 each, hanging leg raises, 3 sets of 30, oblique and back work on the roman chair, 3 sets of 30 to each oblique and the back, and work with a 6kg medicine ball on my back, replicating a crunch motion. As in the above strength exercises, good form is crucial. If you can't maintain form, take a break, and continue.
I've never worked my core like this before, and I have to say, I hiked last weekend, and the difference in my hips and posture was noticeable.
Some other things to consider:
Stretching--I have a 10 minute stretch routine that I do every day. Again, not something I can get into here, but there's plenty of good info out there. 2 good rules; don't bounce in your stretching, and don't over-stretch. Just to the point of initial discomfort, not past. If you gain no flexibility in a week, go a little further. During an impromptu split on a talus field, good flexibility can mean the difference between a graceful recovery and a pulled (or worse) groin.
Cross-training & Active Rest--Now that the weather is a little nicer, I get out up to CT when possible to canoe, and failing that, I may take a 3-4 mi walk around Brooklyn when I need a day of active rest. Because, really, it's all about getting out there.
And of course, hike whenever possible; just a little 13 mile jaunt this weekend, and I already saw an improvement at the gym today. Nothing like getting out there with the pack on...
In very broad terms, a good training program will incorporate each of the following; cardio, balance/joint strengthening, core exercise, and strength training. The exact composition of a good, personalized program will be determined by a few factors. These factors can be grouped into the following; your base level of fitness and expected backcountry conditions.
I'll go over what I considered in developing my program to illustrate.
Base Level of Fitness
Cardio--I had done a couple of winter hikes in Jan and Feb, and had been getting about 90 min of cardio a week. Typical winter... Not couch potato, but nowhere near peak.
Strength--I rarely do any upper body strength training. For my lower body, i rely on resistance while I do my cardio. My body type puts on and retains muscle easily, so I'm fortunate in that regard. Years of football, rugby, and hiking build my legs well, and I've got average upper body strength.
Balance/Joint--This is an area that I knew would require special attention. In addition to just being plain clumsy and off-balance, I'm prone to low ankle sprains, and I've had 4 knee surgeries. So yeah, I wanted to work on balance, coordination, and joint strengthening in a big way...
Core--I despise sit-ups, crunches, etc. Anyone who claims to enjoy core work is lying or a masochist. So I knew that i needed some work here.
Expected Backcountry Conditions
Cardio--Steep elevation gain/loss, rigorous planned daily mileage, and substantial overall trip length. Plus the added demands of altitude; 4 of my hikes go to peaks above 10,000' and in Colorado, I've planned four summits above 14,000'. So I knew I needed to be in incredible condition to haul my sea level self up to elevation and perform there with up to 33% less than my customary level of oxygen.
Strength--Bouldering, scrambling, and expected use of ice axe make upper body strength training a concern.
Balance/Joint--Above-treeline boulder and talus fields require demands on balance that I'm unaccustomed to, though in my experience on-trail travel out West is less demanding on the ankles and knees than the root and blue slate strewn trails of the Catskills.
Core--Again, boulder and talus fields make extraordinary demands on the stabilizing muscles of the core, with trying to keep a 50-60 lb pack centered while scrambling.
My Plan
Cardio--Based on the information above, I want to be in the best cardio shape possible when i hit the trail. Nothing beats just plain hiking to get into trail shape. However, there's not much elevation gain in Prospect Park, so I look to gym exercises that replicate the hiking motion. Treadmill--ok for getting the heart rate into the training zone, but not much in the way of incline, which you'll need to train the "climbing muscles." Ellipticals--very good, especially those that offer a steep incline and/or engage the arms (to train the muscles that make hiking poles effective.)
Stairmaster--very good, to train the "climbing muscles" in particular. If you have one at your gym, nothing beats the Summit Trainer by LifeCycle. Hard to describe, other than as a cross between a Stairmaster and an Elliptical w/arms. It's the only machine that comes close a working the same muscles that hiking and gaining elevation does.
Every 10 days I try to do the following:
3--hour long "hikes" on the Summit Trainer, on which I go all out. I try to "hike" 6 miles and "gain" 6,000,' increasing resistance as soon as I'm able to do that. Compressing this workout into a short time is one way to prepare your body for the number of steps in a hiking day. I'll soon be pushing this up to 75, then 90, minutes.
2--45 min varied inclination courses on the elliptical. The varied inclination is a good cross-train. I'll be looking to increase to 60, then 75, min.
2--45 min interval courses on the stairmaster. Again, looking to increase to 60, then 75, min. Adding the interval courses to my workouts has really helped build stamina. The research backs it up, too; by exerting 100% effort for an interval of a minute or so, followed by an equal interval of recovery before repeating, you boost your cardiovascular capacity. What it translates to on the trail is the ability to catch your breath after cresting a steep climb without stopping; as soon as your exertion drops, so does your heart rate, enabling you to keep going and recover simultaneously.
If you're curious about a good way to measure conditioning, I have one, but it involves calculations and such. I'd be happy to provide details to any interested party.
Strength--Because of the specific conditions i expect (e.g. bouldering,) as well as the desire to get my upper body to share more of the burden via my hiking poles, I've begun doing chin-ups, pull-ups, dips, shoulder raises, and chest dips once every 3-4 days. These are all done using, at the most, one's own body weight. For chin-ups, pull-ups, and dips, some gyms have machines that assist, as few (save pro athletes and military personnel) can do more than 12-15 reps of these exercises. I don't really believe in weight training for hiking. For the most part, weight training is designed to isolate muscles in a controlled, specific motion. Whereas the exercises described above engage lots of secondary, stabilizing muscles as an added benefit. I also believe that using your own body as resistance improves coordination and improves awareness of your body in space. It is important to maintain proper form when doing these exercises. If you can't maintain form, take a break, and continue. Soon, you'll be able to maintain form for more and more reps.
Balance/Joint--To meet the demands of the trail and to lessen the chances of ankle/knee problems, I've begun a program that incorporates a medicine ball on balance boards as well as a range of exercises that I culled from different sources, but again, I would highly recommend Backpacker issues mentioned above. Descriptions of these would be way too much here, but if anyone wants more info, please leave a post.
Core--Saving the best for last, of course. In a nutshell; crunches, bicycle and regular, 3 sets of 30 each, hanging leg raises, 3 sets of 30, oblique and back work on the roman chair, 3 sets of 30 to each oblique and the back, and work with a 6kg medicine ball on my back, replicating a crunch motion. As in the above strength exercises, good form is crucial. If you can't maintain form, take a break, and continue.
I've never worked my core like this before, and I have to say, I hiked last weekend, and the difference in my hips and posture was noticeable.
Some other things to consider:
Stretching--I have a 10 minute stretch routine that I do every day. Again, not something I can get into here, but there's plenty of good info out there. 2 good rules; don't bounce in your stretching, and don't over-stretch. Just to the point of initial discomfort, not past. If you gain no flexibility in a week, go a little further. During an impromptu split on a talus field, good flexibility can mean the difference between a graceful recovery and a pulled (or worse) groin.
Cross-training & Active Rest--Now that the weather is a little nicer, I get out up to CT when possible to canoe, and failing that, I may take a 3-4 mi walk around Brooklyn when I need a day of active rest. Because, really, it's all about getting out there.
And of course, hike whenever possible; just a little 13 mile jaunt this weekend, and I already saw an improvement at the gym today. Nothing like getting out there with the pack on...
Thursday, April 10, 2008
"Three is Company"
I'm very happy to share that I will have excellent company for both Olympic and Yellowstone National Parks. Joining the cast of imaginary characters that will accompany me from start to finish are Ritvik (Olympic) and Brita (Yellowstone.)
This is great in so many ways. Rit will join me for the final few days of the Olympic hike, then we will explore Seattle and relax for a few.
Brita will be with me from start to finish in Yellowstone, which is really good news. As you may know from Yogi and BooBoo, Yellowstone is filled with Grizzly bears. Hiking alone is strongly discouraged; more people make more noise, so there's less of a chance of startling a bear, and if there is an encounter, there's safety in numbers (and I'm pretty sure that, over 100 yds, i can outrun not the bear, but Brita.) Just kidding... probably.
Really, I am very happy that they're joining, and just as i'm nearing completion of the 1st stage of planning. Having just faxed my application to Glacier NP, i have only Olympic left to apply for, and that may be done only 30 days before the start of the trip.
Save Oregon, all the hikes are planned; Yellowstone, RMNP, and Canyonlands have all been approved. Idaho and Weminuche (Colorado) are both planned, and the maps for Oregon are on the way.
Not ahead of where I wanted to be in planning, but on schedule. From here, I'll finish the on trail portion of planning as i get confirmation from Glacier and the Oregon beta arrives. Though now i'm shifting my attention to some of the homefront planning for while i'm gone. Sublet, bunnies, etc.
I'll also start to put together beta packets for each destination. These will contain my maps, permits, details on the area, etc. I'll also start to look at some good side trips while i'm driving. Contrary to what i may have said earlier, i won't be seeking out the world's largest ball of twine, but i do want to see what is along the highways that i'll be driving.
This is great in so many ways. Rit will join me for the final few days of the Olympic hike, then we will explore Seattle and relax for a few.
Brita will be with me from start to finish in Yellowstone, which is really good news. As you may know from Yogi and BooBoo, Yellowstone is filled with Grizzly bears. Hiking alone is strongly discouraged; more people make more noise, so there's less of a chance of startling a bear, and if there is an encounter, there's safety in numbers (and I'm pretty sure that, over 100 yds, i can outrun not the bear, but Brita.) Just kidding... probably.
Really, I am very happy that they're joining, and just as i'm nearing completion of the 1st stage of planning. Having just faxed my application to Glacier NP, i have only Olympic left to apply for, and that may be done only 30 days before the start of the trip.
Save Oregon, all the hikes are planned; Yellowstone, RMNP, and Canyonlands have all been approved. Idaho and Weminuche (Colorado) are both planned, and the maps for Oregon are on the way.
Not ahead of where I wanted to be in planning, but on schedule. From here, I'll finish the on trail portion of planning as i get confirmation from Glacier and the Oregon beta arrives. Though now i'm shifting my attention to some of the homefront planning for while i'm gone. Sublet, bunnies, etc.
I'll also start to put together beta packets for each destination. These will contain my maps, permits, details on the area, etc. I'll also start to look at some good side trips while i'm driving. Contrary to what i may have said earlier, i won't be seeking out the world's largest ball of twine, but i do want to see what is along the highways that i'll be driving.
Wednesday, April 2, 2008
"Inside Information pt 2" God bless the National Park Rangers...
This post is a little out of sequence; I was hoping to get into the individual hikes, but a call from the ranger at Yellowstone has forced me to reroute the sequence and overall route, which made me realize that i had yet to chronicle how i came up with my planned route in the first place.
In a nutshell, i chose the destinations, then started going east to west. Logical, no?
No. I forgot to account for latitude. I thought it worked out well that i was going to hit Glacier and N. Cascades towards the end of the trip, when it would be warmest. I never imagined that Y'stone would be an issue, starting in late June. I was wrong.
I get a call yesterday from a Wyoming area code, and was very excited picking up the phone. The very nice ranger informed that i had planned a fantastic extended hike, covering some of the best scenery in the park, but that it was totally out of the question for the dates i wanted. Not b/c of availability, like i feared, but due to conditions, which is almost worse.
She told me that crossing passes above 7,000' was a no go. I made sure that she didn't assume that the brooklyn zip code meant my experience was limited to hiking Prospect Park, but once she said that the rangers don't travel those areas at that time of year, i dropped it.
Apparently, mid to late June at those elevations, the 8-10' of snowpack begins to melt, leaving half as much slushy, heavy snow. This also creates huge runoff, making most of the major streams un-fordable. Anyone who has played Oregon Trail knows what happens when you try to ford a swift river...
So, I was heartbroken; seriously, i was as down as i've been in months. I had put about 30hrs into planning Y'stone, knew that the route kicked ass, and now I couldn't do it.
Well, an interesting challenge, really the 1st major snag i've hit planning this. I spent a few hours with the Y'stone beta last night, but as hard as i tried, i couldn't come up with an alternate. The rub being that no high passes means stay in the valleys, but valleys (as we know,) have streams, streams that are uncrossable at that time of year. Disappointing in itself, but I soon realized that this also meant I probably couldn't hike the route that I had just planned for Idaho (at least 40hrs of work,) as the elevations are similar, and there are way more stream crossings in Idaho.
What i thought might be a minor snag was quickly jeopardizing the plan for 2/3 of the trip!
But I'm really glad to say that I think i've come up with an adjustment that saves my intended Yellowstone route, and a large part of the thanks goes to the Y'stone ranger that spent 45min on the phone with me today. I had a number of questions for her, and she stayed on with me as i quickly ran through my options based on her answers.
Finally, I settled on keeping the original itinerary, but shifting it one month later. I can't emphasize enough how helpful the rangers i spoke with were, and how much of their time they spent helping me.
So that took care of Y'stone, but i now needed to adjust the rest accordingly, especially Idaho. In the last 2hrs, here's how it is shaping up--I'm thinking that i'll head to the Coast after Utah, around 6/15. I believe that i will take my time travelling through Oregon, maybe stopping at Crater NP. Being closer to the Coast means that higher elevations are passable earlier. Then I'll get to Seattle around 6/20, where the conditions at Olympic should be good. Not as good as late July, when it is drier, but acceptable. I'd be departing around 7/2 for Idaho. where I should be able to keep my original itinerary; the slightly lower elevations (relative to Y'stone,) should mean that the passes will be free by early July. And if not, i stay lower and fish...
Now, It looks like I'll still have time to get to Glacier, after Y'stone, before heading home. I think that my experience at Glacier will be even better, based on the fact that I'll be there in late July, rather than early as i had planned. This probably means that N. Cascades is a no-go, as I would only be able to visit in late June. However, I may replace that visit with a 2-3 day trip to Crater Lake in Oregon. We'll see...
In a nutshell, i chose the destinations, then started going east to west. Logical, no?
No. I forgot to account for latitude. I thought it worked out well that i was going to hit Glacier and N. Cascades towards the end of the trip, when it would be warmest. I never imagined that Y'stone would be an issue, starting in late June. I was wrong.
I get a call yesterday from a Wyoming area code, and was very excited picking up the phone. The very nice ranger informed that i had planned a fantastic extended hike, covering some of the best scenery in the park, but that it was totally out of the question for the dates i wanted. Not b/c of availability, like i feared, but due to conditions, which is almost worse.
She told me that crossing passes above 7,000' was a no go. I made sure that she didn't assume that the brooklyn zip code meant my experience was limited to hiking Prospect Park, but once she said that the rangers don't travel those areas at that time of year, i dropped it.
Apparently, mid to late June at those elevations, the 8-10' of snowpack begins to melt, leaving half as much slushy, heavy snow. This also creates huge runoff, making most of the major streams un-fordable. Anyone who has played Oregon Trail knows what happens when you try to ford a swift river...
So, I was heartbroken; seriously, i was as down as i've been in months. I had put about 30hrs into planning Y'stone, knew that the route kicked ass, and now I couldn't do it.
Well, an interesting challenge, really the 1st major snag i've hit planning this. I spent a few hours with the Y'stone beta last night, but as hard as i tried, i couldn't come up with an alternate. The rub being that no high passes means stay in the valleys, but valleys (as we know,) have streams, streams that are uncrossable at that time of year. Disappointing in itself, but I soon realized that this also meant I probably couldn't hike the route that I had just planned for Idaho (at least 40hrs of work,) as the elevations are similar, and there are way more stream crossings in Idaho.
What i thought might be a minor snag was quickly jeopardizing the plan for 2/3 of the trip!
But I'm really glad to say that I think i've come up with an adjustment that saves my intended Yellowstone route, and a large part of the thanks goes to the Y'stone ranger that spent 45min on the phone with me today. I had a number of questions for her, and she stayed on with me as i quickly ran through my options based on her answers.
Finally, I settled on keeping the original itinerary, but shifting it one month later. I can't emphasize enough how helpful the rangers i spoke with were, and how much of their time they spent helping me.
So that took care of Y'stone, but i now needed to adjust the rest accordingly, especially Idaho. In the last 2hrs, here's how it is shaping up--I'm thinking that i'll head to the Coast after Utah, around 6/15. I believe that i will take my time travelling through Oregon, maybe stopping at Crater NP. Being closer to the Coast means that higher elevations are passable earlier. Then I'll get to Seattle around 6/20, where the conditions at Olympic should be good. Not as good as late July, when it is drier, but acceptable. I'd be departing around 7/2 for Idaho. where I should be able to keep my original itinerary; the slightly lower elevations (relative to Y'stone,) should mean that the passes will be free by early July. And if not, i stay lower and fish...
Now, It looks like I'll still have time to get to Glacier, after Y'stone, before heading home. I think that my experience at Glacier will be even better, based on the fact that I'll be there in late July, rather than early as i had planned. This probably means that N. Cascades is a no-go, as I would only be able to visit in late June. However, I may replace that visit with a 2-3 day trip to Crater Lake in Oregon. We'll see...
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