I’m from back east (grew up in Pennsylvania, live outside DC now). Moderate amount of camping experience but I don’t usually enjoy really going for big miles (8-12 miles in a day usually feels about right, depending on how much elevation I’m gaining). The goal is mostly to be out in the woods and enjoy nature sounds, smells, and sights.
I’ll be in Portland for a conference mid-July, and I have a few days to myself first. Fly in on the 11th, plan to be on trails July 12 to the 14th, then back in Portland for the night of the 14th. My preference is to do the camping in a hammock, but if the best options for that season don’t have the trees, you could convince me to bring my tent.
I’ve been contemplating something in the Roaring River / Serene Lake area, but now I’m wondering if that’s going to be too overwhelmingly buggy. (Adjusting for the fact that most of my hiking, camping, and backpacking is in the blue ridge, where we get plenty of mosquitoes and ticks — so gear will be treated with permethrin and I’ll have picaridin, etc)
Should I keep looking in that area? Somewhere else more likely to be successful?
Main constraints:
- 2-3 hour* drive from Portland
- 25-35 miles total distance (give or take a few)
- strong preference for hammock
- July 12-14