| Week of October 31-November 6, 1996 |
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Moderate hiking trips in January Question: First, I’d like to say that I regularly read your column and I have learned a lot. I can even say that I’ve used the advice you’ve given other adventure-seekers for my own trips (e.g., El Yunque in Puerto Rico). I have a challenge which I’m sure you can handle: I am currently planning a four-day trip for myself and three friends to take place in mid-January. Two of us are fairly experienced hikers/campers, and the other two have little experience. With this in mind, I’m looking for a place to do some moderately challenging backcountry hiking and camping. There are a few requirements: I’m looking for somewhere only two to three hours from a major airport to maximize time and minimize connecting flights. (Two of us are in Detroit, one in Boston, and one in Seattle). I’m also looking for a place near some large mountains such that we can take day hikes from base camp up the mountain. I’m looking for a place with temperatures of at least 50 by day at lower elevations. The mountain and surrounding area should be large enough that there are lots of nearby trails, great vistas, natural beauty (of course), and a minimum of people. I’ve looked at areas such as the mountain “sky islands” near Tucson, the Anza-Borrego Desert, and I’ve read a little about some areas in Texas. Most important is a large mountain to climb and explore without very cold temperatures, at least at the bottom. Cool temperatures on top would be delightful. What can you recommend as far as the places listed, as well as other places? Please list several possible locations. Geographic location is open to anywhere in the lower 48 states. Thanks for your help. Alan Susser ϳԹ Adviser: Well, Alan, please don’t take this the wrong way, but you seem to be asking for a whole heckava lot, considering we’re talking about January after all, when much of the backcountry in the central and northern sections of the country–not to mention the higher elevations in the south–will likely still be under snow. And a lot Texas’s Big Bend National Park is another logical choice, although it would entail a 325-mile drive south from El Paso (not the country’s most bustling airport by any means). Drive fast enough, though, and you might make it in five hours. Once there, base yourself at one of the park’s three developed campsites ($7 per night), and sample the Chihuahan desert through a slew Two more possibilities: El Malpais National Monument in southern New Mexico (no big mountains, 70 miles west of Albuquerque, a handful of day hikes; call 505-285-4641) and California’s Mojave National Preserve (four and a half hours from L.A., day hiking galore, not much in the way of mountains; call 619-733-4040). For more details on these two places and others, consult |
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