Camping, backpacking, hiking, et al

[Radbird]

Great pics, Roger. Missouri is a beautiful state.

Enjoy your time out here in the Rockies!

[Jocephus]

ive been watching a lot of "man vs wild" and "survivorman", so i should be good to go

[Hungary Jack]

Nice pics Freed. I was trying to place the spot with the view, but I don't think I have been there.

Missouri is underrated for hiking & scenery, IMO. The Ozark rivers make it a great place.

Looks like we head to CO in mid-July. Hoping to do Longs Peak, Mt of the Holy Cross (16 miles rt with about 5 miles above 13k!), and maybe Quandary or a non-standard route up Grays from Montezuma mine!

[stlouie_lipp]

Nice pics Freed. I was trying to place the spot with the view, but I don't think I have been there.

Missouri is underrated for hiking & scenery, IMO. The Ozark rivers make it a great place.

Looks like we head to CO in mid-July. Hoping to do Longs Peak, Mt of the Holy Cross (16 miles rt with about 5 miles above 13k!), and maybe Quandary or a non-standard route up Grays from Montezuma mine!

One of the partners at my firm hiked the Mt of the Holy Cross a few summers ago (it took all day). Took some great pictures.

[Freed Roger]

Nice pics Freed. I was trying to place the spot with the view, but I don't think I have been there.

Missouri is underrated for hiking & scenery, IMO. The Ozark rivers make it a great place.

Looks like we head to CO in mid-July. Hoping to do Longs Peak, Mt of the Holy Cross (16 miles rt with about 5 miles above 13k!), and maybe Quandary or a non-standard route up Grays from Montezuma mine!

That view is out not far off interstate 44 -park area before you get to Six Flags -we were in West Tyson Co Park, but the expanse covers Castlewood St. Park , Chubb Trail, Washinton Univ property, Beaumont Boy Scout camping area etc.

The trees and rolling greens of MO are pretty nice. It can be pretty inhospitable on hot and humid days though (i say that to keep the riff raff away).

here's an old Missouri GRB Rave

I've never summitted a 14er -unless you count driving up Mt Evans and walking 100 yards to the geographical marker. Holy Cross is supposed to be a good one I hear - isn't that one where its tough just getting to the trailhead.?

[Hungary Jack]

Summer in the Midwest is tough for hikers anywhere. You are either accosted by ticks in the Ozarks/Shawnee or overwhelmed by black flies in northern Michigan and Wisconsin. But once the weather cools, it's fantastic for hiking and camping.

The standard route on Holy Cross is tough because you have to descend/re-ascend a deep valley before tackling the peak itself. This adds a lot of climbing to the hike. The route I would like to try (Halo Ridge) avoids the valley crossing by circling its headwall, gaining a high ridge early on that hairpins all the way around to meet the Holy Cross Summit Ridge. It's 3.5 miles longer than the standard route, but the views are incredible. There is even a short catwalk section where the ridge narrows to 6ft.

This web site is great for scouting routes on CO's high peaks:
http://www.14ers.com/

Here is the route Smokey and I did last summer when we did the Bierstadt - Evans combo crossing this gnarly ridge called the Sawtooth.
Bierstadt - Evans via Sawtooth

Here is my favorite view of the route (the pic is deceiving, as it is not as exposed as it looks due to the scale):

[JackofDiamonds]

I led six day trips on the AT for wilderness orientation in college. I will hike that thing within the next four years.

What are you guys using for packs? I have a massive Shasta from 7 summers ago.

[lukethedrifter]

What are you guys using for packs? I have a massive Shasta from 7 summers ago.

Dana Designs/K2 Terraframe. Thinking of looking for something lighter.

[Hungary Jack]

What are you guys using for packs? I have a massive Shasta from 7 summers ago.

Dana Designs/K2 Terraframe. Thinking of looking for something lighter.

You might want to check out some of the Osprey packs. Smokey has an Atmos 65. It's a nice pack, but the straps could be a little beefier. It didn't handle a 40lb load well on our 6-day traverse of Isle Royale.

I lug bigger loads around in a TNF Crestone. Nothing fancy, but I have yet to find a nirvana pack. I used a Kelty Coyote for about 10 years and fell in love with the 3 external pockets, though its suspension isn't real forgiving.

I have a Gregory Adze that I can cram enough stuff into for 2 nights. It's a nice little mountaineering pack.

[lukethedrifter]

Freedette was tired and done after hiking -but was disappointed to find out we only went about 3 miles - she said "Oh man, now I'm not going to be in the paper like that one girl." who hiked the grand canyon.

Tell her it's about who you know, life lesson blah blah blah.
Maybe some day soon she and that girl can go hiking together.