To Do in 2026

[b.stark]

What do you ride?

Rodeo Labs bikes... mainly a Flaanimal. I've been using a steel one for the off pavement stuff the last couple years, but just today finished up a new one in fancy titanium. Just needs some bar tape, but gotta make sure the cockpit fit is right first.

 

[Tarp Boy]

Our weekend warrior backpacking group tries to schedule a week-long trip each year each summer. Ten years ago we backpacked the Yosemite High Sierra Camp Loop and we vowed to go back. I turn 70 in a few weeks and it's maybe now or never. If we can't score a desired permit, we have a fallback plan to do a loop in the Emigrant Wilderness. We've got it on the books for late August. Big group this time, including my son and son-in-law. Those two are avid fishermen so I'll throw a rod in the pack to spend some quality time with them.
We try to do a few long weekend trips, within driving distance of home (Cincinnati area), in the spring and fall but we haven't even discussed those yet. That will take some more 'planning meetings' at local craft breweries.
A few of the retired gang have added a late season trip in somewhat warmer climes. We've done two segments of the Pinhoti Trail in Alabama/Georgia the last two years - may do another section of that in 2026.
Also plan to do some more travel with my wife now that we are both retired. We had to cancel a trip to Acadia NP a few years ago, so that's top of the list.

 

[balzaccom]

PUNKWOOD asked: What are your typical Southwest haunts?

We've been all over the Southwest, but most places are at least a two day drive from home, so they require a bit of an expedition. And it always seems as if we don't have enough time once we get there!

Death Valley many times, as well as Joshua Tree, Mojave Preserve, Manzanar, Bodie, Blythe Intaglios, Red Rock Canyon, and Anza Borrego in our home state of California. We're not counting the Sierra and all our adventures there, or in the northern parts of the state,.

We've spent a few weeks exploring Arizona, from the Grand Canyon (both rims) to Escalante, Glen Canyon, Petrified Forest, Canyon de Chelly, Saguaro NP, plus Casa Granda, Navajo NM, Pipe Springs NM, Tumacacori, Walnut Canyon, Tuzigoot, Dead Horse Ranch, Coal Mne Canyon, Wupatki, Montezuma's Castle, etc, all the way down to Organ Pipe and Chiricahua, Patagonia Lake, etc.

And Utah, with Zion, Bryce, Capitol Reef, Canyonlands, Arches, Cedar Breaks, Natural Bridges. Goblin Valley, Kodrachrome Basin, Monument Valley and Dead Horse Point SP, Fremont Indian SP, Dinosaur NM, Red Canyon, Snow Canyon, etc.

Colorado with RMNP, Mesa Verde, Hovenweep, and Canyons of the Ancients. Nevada, both Valley of Fire and Red Rock Canyon, Cathedral Gorge, Gold Butte, Great Basin, Tule Springs, Berlin-Ichthyosaur, Ft. Chruchill.

New Mexico may be our favorite, with Chaco Canyon, Bandelier, El Morro, Gila Cliffs, Aztec Ruins, Petroglyph NM, Salinas Pueblos, Rockhound SP.

We still have a long list of things we would like to see...and places we would like to return to!

 

[punkwood]

Our weekend warrior backpacking group tries to schedule a week-long trip each year each summer. Ten years ago we backpacked the Yosemite High Sierra Camp Loop and we vowed to go back. I turn 70 in a few weeks and it's maybe now or never. If we can't score a desired permit, we have a fallback plan to do a loop in the Emigrant Wilderness. We've got it on the books for late August. Big group this time, including my son and son-in-law. Those two are avid fishermen so I'll throw a rod in the pack to spend some quality time with them.
We try to do a few long weekend trips, within driving distance of home (Cincinnati area), in the spring and fall but we haven't even discussed those yet. That will take some more 'planning meetings' at local craft breweries.
A few of the retired gang have added a late season trip in somewhat warmer climes. We've done two segments of the Pinhoti Trail in Alabama/Georgia the last two years - may do another section of that in 2026.
Also plan to do some more travel with my wife now that we are both retired. We had to cancel a trip to Acadia NP a few years ago, so that's top of the list.

Nice, some areas we don't see discussed as much on these forums. I hope you follow up with some photos and/or trip reports!

 

[punkwood]

PUNKWOOD asked: What are your typical Southwest haunts?

We've been all over the Southwest, but most places are at least a two day drive from home, so they require a bit of an expedition. And it always seems as if we don't have enough time once we get there!

Death Valley many times, as well as Joshua Tree, Mojave Preserve, Manzanar, Bodie, Blythe Intaglios, Red Rock Canyon, and Anza Borrego in our home state of California. We're not counting the Sierra and all our adventures there, or in the northern parts of the state,.

We've spent a few weeks exploring Arizona, from the Grand Canyon (both rims) to Escalante, Glen Canyon, Petrified Forest, Canyon de Chelly, Saguaro NP, plus Casa Granda, Navajo NM, Pipe Springs NM, Tumacacori, Walnut Canyon, Tuzigoot, Dead Horse Ranch, Coal Mne Canyon, Wupatki, Montezuma's Castle, etc, all the way down to Organ Pipe and Chiricahua, Patagonia Lake, etc.

And Utah, with Zion, Bryce, Capitol Reef, Canyonlands, Arches, Cedar Breaks, Natural Bridges. Goblin Valley, Kodrachrome Basin, Monument Valley and Dead Horse Point SP, Fremont Indian SP, Dinosaur NM, Red Canyon, Snow Canyon, etc.

Colorado with RMNP, Mesa Verde, Hovenweep, and Canyons of the Ancients. Nevada, both Valley of Fire and Red Rock Canyon, Cathedral Gorge, Gold Butte, Great Basin, Tule Springs, Berlin-Ichthyosaur, Ft. Chruchill.

New Mexico may be our favorite, with Chaco Canyon, Bandelier, El Morro, Gila Cliffs, Aztec Ruins, Petroglyph NM, Salinas Pueblos, Rockhound SP.

We still have a long list of things we would like to see...and places we would like to return to!

Wow, you've seen a lot of the region. Once our stay here in Mexico City is over, we are debating whether or not to move to Northern Arizona or somewhere in New Mexico. Which route my parter takes with her career (academia) may decide this for us. In any event I will be keeping an eye on the NM locations you mentioned as we are fully unfamiliar with that state.

 

[SEAlpine]

2026 will be my first full year being retired and at 51yo the body is feeling pretty good. Feels like I should have a bunch of big trips planned but as of now only Bluff and TMB are locked in for sure.

January- Shovel snow and ski
February- Basing out of Bluff/car camping in tent for ~1-2 weeks to hike Comb Ridge, Cedar Mesa, Needles (never been!).
March- Fish Cr/Owl Cr Loop (or maybe October/November)?
April- Catch my first Steelhead on a fly-rod here in AK
May- More Steelhead and Dolly Varden fishing on the fly-rod
June- Catch my first King Salmon on the fly-rod. Lots of big ridge and mountain hikes.
July- 11 day Tour du Mont Blanc trek with my wife and 17yo daughter. France>Italy>Switzerland>France.
August- Typically sub-alpine hunting for Sitka Blacktail Deer
September- ? Yukon Territories for hiking and Fall tundra colors
October- Finish last half of Snowman Trek in Bhutan (did ~ first half this Spring). North Rim GC? Never been!
November- Cedar Mesa, Fish Cr/Owl Cr?
December- Family time in Maui?

I'm intersted in treks in Azores, Ethiopia, Scotland, and the Arctic Circle Trail but not sure if I'll pull these off this year.

 

[Dreamer]

Drive to Wyoming - currently planning to arrive ~25 June - earlier if possible

Backpack and fish until late September or until work interferes - mostly in the Winds - areas of interest Ross Lks/Ram Flat - Klondike Lk - the third Indian Pass - if I can manage another 50+ night trip that would be good