My partner and I landed a permit and will register about 40% of the way through the early access window. Last year we completed Mount Rainier's Wonderland Loop (~93 mi with something like 45K of combined elevation gain/loss), so we're pretty comfortable with hard hikes. We travel reasonably light, but not ultralight (~25+ pounds per person for 10 days, but we could cache our food at a couple of spots there...which spoiled us).
We'd love to spend at least a week in the backcountry since we'll be traveling all that way, and we figure we should have a few possible itineraries so we can cobble something together from what's left on the reservations. Pretty flexible on timing, though I definitely struggle in heat and wildfire smoke due to some fun health conditions; ofc we'll take what we get! The Lamar Valley area's of interest to me because I sure would love to hear wolves howl in the wild (I know it's not likely, but probably the best shot I have anytime soon).
Most of what I can find online seems aimed at folks who are doing 2-3 night trips. If yall have any suggestions about potential routes (or resources for DIY route planning), I'd love your recs. I'd say we are moderately comfortable with routefinding, but quite happy sticking to known trails. I'll have WFR certification by then, and we will be well-schooled on grizzlies by the time we set out, since our resident black bears are a very different kind of creature.
Thanks in advance! We didn't expect to land a permit so I'm reading up a lot this weekend.
We'd love to spend at least a week in the backcountry since we'll be traveling all that way, and we figure we should have a few possible itineraries so we can cobble something together from what's left on the reservations. Pretty flexible on timing, though I definitely struggle in heat and wildfire smoke due to some fun health conditions; ofc we'll take what we get! The Lamar Valley area's of interest to me because I sure would love to hear wolves howl in the wild (I know it's not likely, but probably the best shot I have anytime soon).
Most of what I can find online seems aimed at folks who are doing 2-3 night trips. If yall have any suggestions about potential routes (or resources for DIY route planning), I'd love your recs. I'd say we are moderately comfortable with routefinding, but quite happy sticking to known trails. I'll have WFR certification by then, and we will be well-schooled on grizzlies by the time we set out, since our resident black bears are a very different kind of creature.
Thanks in advance! We didn't expect to land a permit so I'm reading up a lot this weekend.