And The List Keeps Getting Longer!

31 Replies

Friends, I have a serious problem to discuss with you.  The first step is asking for help, right?  The thing is I think I’m suffering from a fairly serious addiction.  I am addicted to hiking, and I haven’t gotten a fix in a while!  By now I think it’s fairly obvious that backpacking is my passion.  I started this blog as a creative outlet and as a way to share that passion with people who may be unfamiliar with it.  One of the best things about backpacking is the community that surrounds it.  When you meet people out on the trail, there is an instant bond that is created, and no one is a stranger.  I hope I’ve managed to convince a few of you to come join this great world of ours!

I’m seriously craving some time out on the trail.  Longing for the trail is alive and well inside of me, but with nothing but jam-packed weekends ahead of us for the forseeable future, I’m going to have to settle for writing about it!  I was perusing one of my favorite websites (and publications!) Backpacker, earlier, and I noticed a section titled “Best Hikes Ever.”  Of course, I had to check that out!  They had about fifteen different hikes listed, and I thought it would be fun to pick a few and highlight them here on the blog.  There is only one on the list that I’ve had the pleasure of doing before, but, after some research, the others have definitely made their way onto my hiking bucket list!

The Narrows, Zion National Park, Utah

I’ve talked about my experience on this trail briefly before.  Located in Zion National Park, this is one of the most popular trails in the area.  The trail is located in the Virgin River.  For most of the way, you are hiking through water that’s knee-deep with beautiful sheer canyon walls on either side of you.  Most visitors to the park choose to start at the bottom of the trail and hike to the section known as Wall Street.  Wall Street is a short section of the trail where the canyon walls narrow considerably.  It’s a gorgeous sight, and most definitely worth the effort to get there.  During our visit to Zion, we made it to the Wall Street stretch and turned around.  This day hike took around 6 hours and was extremely strenuous.  However, this trip was before my evolution into a backpacker so I often wonder if I would handle the trek better today.

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The entire Narrows trail is 16 miles in length.  Experienced hikers who choose this route usually do it from the top down, and turn it into an overnight hike.  Permits are required if you choose to do the whole trail.  One thing to be aware of on The Narrows trail is the possibility of flash floods.  The trail is located in a narrow canyon so flash flooding is a serious danger.  Be sure to check weather reports before heading out for the day!

Teton Crest Trail, Wyoming

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This trail will take you through Grand Teton National Park, and, by all accounts, is the best way to see the back country there.  The 40 mile trip gives you expansive views and incredible natural vegetation to gaze at.  The Teton Crest Trail is best done in the late summer months, as high altitude backcountry winters can be brutal and unpredictable.  On a personal note, I’ve wanted to see the Tetons since I discovered Ansel Adams in high school, and this seems like an excellent way to do it.  Besides, doesn’t hiking across something called Death Shelf Canyon intrigue you?

Northville-Placid Trail, New York

Here’s one for all my East Coast friends!  This trail is a 120 mile end to end trek from Northville to Lake Placid, NY.  It winds through the Adirondacks, and, like all great trails, offers spectacular views.  The thing that struck me most about this trail, however, was how many times I read the word “solitude” while I was researching this trail.  While I love meeting fellow backpackers, there’s something about the feeling of being alone (with John!) in nature.  It’s a powerful experience, and one of the many reasons why backpacking is so therapeutic.

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Four-Pass Loop, Colorado

It’s no secret that I’m in love with the state of Colorado.  I’ve been ready to move there for years!  But even I had never heard of this particular trail until I saw it listed on Backpacker’s site.  This is a 26 mile loop (the best kind!) that begins at Maroon Lake just outside of Aspen.  The trail boasts panoramic views of the Maroon Bells which are the most photographed peaks in North American according to various sources.  It also includes fields of wildflowers and pristine mountain lakes.  I am no stranger to the beauty of Colorado, and, if this is the best of the best, I’ll be checking it out very soon!

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Instead of satisfying it, I think this post may have kicked my trail desire into overdrive.  I think  it’s time to talk to John and get a trip planned!

Have you hiked any of these trails?  Any of them near you?  If so, can I crash on your couch? ;)

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31 thoughts on “And The List Keeps Getting Longer!”

  1. aftertheivyleague

    Oh my god, the Teton Crest Trail in Wyoming? “I want to go to there” <—30 rock reference. But seriously, that is stunning. Reading about amazing trails definitely isn't the same as hiking them, I'm sure it won't be too long before you're able to get back out there! Busy schedules can be fun/great, but they can also be a bit of a pain when you'd rather be hiking!

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  4. Carrie

    Woah, the Wyoming trail screams “Sound of Music.” Tell me I’m not the only one who sees Maria/Julie Andrews dancing through those field! ;) And woohoo for Lake Placid! That’s about four hours from me at home.

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  8. Heather @ Better With Veggies

    Oh wow – now that’s a great obsession. You could be addicted to way less healthy things, just remember that. ;)

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  9. Haley @ The Saucy Apple

    What beautiful pictures! I haven’t hiked any of those specific hikes, but I can identify with your hiking addiction. When I was just out of college, I went to the Grand Canyon to celebrate. I hiked down it and back up all in one day! There are tons of signs that actually warn you not to do this, but if you like to hike, I can’t recommend this one enough. Maybe spread it out over two days though. There are cabins at the bottom that you can stay at overnight.

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  14. nptrailtom

    Natalie and John, I am the Webmaster for http://www.nptrail.org. This is a website that has everything you need to plan a hike on the Northville-Placid Trail. I am also the Chair of the NPTrail Chapter of ADK (the Adirondack Mountain Club) and work with trail stewards to maintain the NPTrail. It is a trail that stays in valleys rather than climbing mountains. There are plenty of lean-tos and campsites along the trail. And yes, it isn’t hiked by hoards of people so you will have solitude. My favorite time to hike is September – October. The bugs are gone, the trail generally is dry and major maintenance, where needed, has generally been completed. Oh, and the fall colors are great and the temperatures are just right for hiking. Please contact me through the website if you would like one on one hike planning help – http://www.nptrail.org

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    1. Natalie @ Free Range Human Post author

      Thank you so much for stopping by the site! I hate to admit that I had never heard of this trail before I did some research for this post. However, it seems like a fantastic trek and I look forward to doing it in the future. I will definitely contact you when the time comes!

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