I’m overwhelmed! 30-ish mile backpack route please!

Trip recommendations, current conditions, and other trail related Q&A
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BackpackerPT
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Joined: January 1st, 2013, 10:09 am

I’m overwhelmed! 30-ish mile backpack route please!

Post by BackpackerPT » June 17th, 2021, 6:06 pm

Brand new to Oregon (Bend) and want to find a less-crowded place over July 4 weekend for a short backpacking trip (30-ish miles)

We are 2 very experienced backpackers and a solid trail dog.

I’ve searched sooo many forms and guides and all that has done is overwhelm me! Can you help me narrow down my search???

leiavoia
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Re: I’m overwhelmed! 30-ish mile backpack route please!

Post by leiavoia » June 17th, 2021, 7:01 pm

From Bend, you might consider going up down and around Mt Strawberry.

Umpqua River should be open if you want to bring two cars to shuttle between points. You can hike any section but the upper eastern section is the most scenic I am told.

I just posted a trip report for the Rogue Wold Loop, a recently restored trail.

I did Packwood Lake / Coyote Ridge in Washington last year in mid July and it was snow free except one tiny spot.

Green River / Goat Mountain north of Mt St Helens should be open by then.

I would strongly recommend getting Backpacking Oregon and Backpacking Washington by Douglas Lorain. It organizes longer backpack trips by season.

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drm
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Re: I’m overwhelmed! 30-ish mile backpack route please!

Post by drm » June 18th, 2021, 11:34 am

Uncrowded on a holiday weekend in the summer. May I suggest the moon, or maybe Mars? Venus will be too hot. And I hear that on the equator at noon in the summer, Mars can be kind of balmy. Just bring a warm sleeping bag for the chilly nights.

\s
(sorry, couldn't help it)

Really though, it you want uncrowded, look for where there is still snow.

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Chip Down
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Re: I’m overwhelmed! 30-ish mile backpack route please!

Post by Chip Down » June 18th, 2021, 11:46 am

Don't even bother. Anyplace you go it will be crowded, the mosquitoes will be terrible, there will still be snow, and it will be hot. Hiking sucks.

But seriously, advice isn't worth much if we don't know what excites you. Flowers? Glaciers? Mossy old-growth forest? Waterfalls?

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jime
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Re: I’m overwhelmed! 30-ish mile backpack route please!

Post by jime » June 18th, 2021, 3:50 pm

This would be snow free now. Relatively close to Bend, this is a lesser known 25 mile loop just outside the Middle Santiam Wilderness. It is a Mtn Bike loop, but the plus is the the bikers have done trail maintenance in recent years.
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/25571542
I have not hiked it, but have enjoyed the adjacent Crescent Mtn Trail a few times. You will note on the above website that there are some water issues. The Wilderness has additional trails but trail maintenance is limited.
The field guide has some more resources on the area here -
https://www.oregonhikers.org/field_guid ... Trail_Hike

viewtopic.php?t=19465

Additional reports -
https://wanderingyuncks.com/2014/07/30/ ... ilderness/
https://wanderingyuncks.com/2020/07/26/ ... 7-18-2020/
https://wanderingyuncks.com/2017/07/07/scar-mountain/

Expect mosquitoes.

BackpackerPT
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Joined: January 1st, 2013, 10:09 am

Re: I’m overwhelmed! 30-ish mile backpack route please!

Post by BackpackerPT » June 18th, 2021, 5:35 pm

Hahaha I did think of Venus, everyone wants to go to Mars so….

I did say LESS crowded….I do expect everything to be pretty busy.

Forests and waterfalls would probably be the priority at this point. But I also realize beggars can’t really be choosers when looking for lesser known hikes!

I do have both of the guidebooks previously mentioned. I was a bit disappointed as all of those trips were too long for our two-night trip.

Thanks for the helpful advice! I’m still pouring over trip reports…some of them look great!

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