Sounds good, Wes. I look forward to hearing back from you.

Michael,
Thanks so much for the thoughtful response and I saw the email you sent as well. We would still very much like to do this backpack and it sounds like Wind River would be a perfect backup plan as no permits are required. Let me circle back with my daughter and we will contact you via response to your email regarding trip planning, Thanks again!

Hi Wes,

Thanks for purchasing my Teton Crest Trail e-book, I appreciate that. I’m sorry you had such a discouraging experience with Grand Teton National Park’s permit reservation system, but I’m not surprised. In fact, I recently published this story about it because I think it’s probably the most aggravating permit reservation system in the National Park Service and I make a case for why it doesn’t have to be that way. I think that story would illuminate for you how common your experience was.

But moving forward, yes, you could travel out there to get walk-in permits, and basically about twice as much backcountry camping is issued through walk-in permits as is issues through reservations (which my story linked above notes makes little sense and is quite unique within the NPS), while there are exponentially far fewer people showing up on any given day during summer for a walk-in permit than attempted to reserve one at 8 a.m. Mountain Time on Jan. 7, so your chances are certainly far better. But there’s nonetheless a risk, as you correctly note, and it’s an expensive and time-consuming trip.

I may be able to help you out, perhaps through my Custom Trip Planning; and my policy is to refund the cost of your e-book if you purchase my custom trip planning for the same trip. I will email you directly.

Thanks for the comment.

Now we have a choice of trying to get in person permits, which is a pretty big risk traveling all the way from the east coast. We are also discussing having a backup hike planned (possibly the Wind River Range) if we flew out but were not able to get permits on site the day before. Needless to say, the wind has been taken out of our sails for this hike and I don’t see any other options, and can’t assume we would have any better luck if we try again next year. Please provide any advice or encouragement you can based on your experience, we really had this on our bucket list but it seems the demand may have it out of reach for us?

If it would be possible to schedule a call with you I would appreciate it, and understand there may be a fee which I would happily pay.

Hi Emily,

Yes, I think I can be of great help to your daughters. I’ll email you to follow up. Thanks for getting in touch.

Considering sending my 21 and 23 year old daughters on a backpacking trip in Escalante this late March. If you have availability and think you could help us plan something wonderful and safe for two inexperienced backpackers, I’d love to hire you for your help.

Thanks!

Emily

You’re welcome, Jonathan.

Thanks for checking! Love your website.

Hi Jonathan,

Thanks for the question. I looked at the Salewa Alp Mate Mid and it’s not the same boot I reviewed. Maybe most significantly, the Alp Trainer 2 Mid GTX that I reviewed has a Gore-Tex membrane, and the Alp Mate Mid is described as waterproof at Salewa’s website, but it does not specify Gore-Tex, which it would if that was the case. The boot height is also slightly different, as well as other, minor differences. However, although I haven’t used the Alp Mate Mid, I expect you’d find it good for walking your dog in winter and probably a great value if you see it marked down right now.

Good luck.

Thanks!!
Jonathan M.

Thank you for sharing such a nice sentiment and personal story, Mary. And thank you for being a subscriber to The Big Outside for so many years that I know you by name. I remember you writing to me in the past and mentioning that our kids are around the same age. What a wonderful childhood yours have had, thanks you taking them outdoors so much; and, of course, we parents get so much from that.

Please keep in touch and give my best to your entire family.

We’ve gone from carrying all their gear whilst backpacking to now begging them to wait for us on the trail! Michael’s blog has inspired many family backpacking adventures as well as dayhiking vacations across the West.

Wishing you and your family many blessings, Michael. Thank you for your great work.

You’re welcome, Ralph. I certainly understand your choice.

Thanks for the detailed response. I’m planning to return the hoodie. I have used TNF puffer (using for almost 10 years) and Patagonia Sweater (down fill that I bought this year), both are slightly heavier but do not feel this flimsy and delicate. Main issue is lacking hood for both and when I saw the price for Ghost Whsperer similar to what I paid for either of the two, I purchased it before researching! I didn’t think Mountain Hardwear would make something like this, but when the order was in shipping, I researched and realized that these rip easily and confirmation was after I received it. Thanks again for taking the time to reply.

Hi Ralph,

Your question is legitimate and I think my review of the Mountain Hardwear Ghost Whisperer UL Hoody addresses it at the bottom. With any ultralight gear, some degree of durability is always compromised. You can always get more durable gear, but you’ll carry that much more weight. In the case of the Ghost Whisperer UL Hoody (and other jackets in this weight class), the most vulnerable “parts” are the very light fabric and the light zipper. That said, I’ve had that jacket for a few years without any problems. I would certainly advise being careful not to brush the jacket up against any sharp points or edges and don’t just yank on the zipper as if it’s made of steel; but I follow those practices with non-ultralight gear, too, just to help ensure it lasts longer. But I don’t think you’ll otherwise see this jacket come apart or fail in any way.

Good luck and please share with us if you encounter any problems with the Ghost Whisperer UL Hoody. Thanks for the question.

Hi Erin,

Thanks very much for joining The Big Outside to get full access to all of my blog’s stories. I email new subscribers personally (as soon as I’m back at my laptop and see the purchase) with the e-book instructions and will write you now. I think you will enjoy my blog!

Thanks!

Hi James,

Thanks for joining The Big Outside.

Bummer about the wildfire in Zion, but yes, there are other options. Check out my story “The 12 Best Backpacking Trips in the Southwest,” especially the Coyote Gulch and Death Hollow Loop backpacking trips in the Escalante, neither of which requires a permit reservation. I also suggest you consider the Grand Canyon’s Thunder River-Deer Creek Loop from the North Rim, not far from Zion or St. George, because you might be able to score a permit, especially if you’re solo (which I’m reading into your comment, though I may be wrong). Check out the individual stories about those three trips because each has its own complications.

If you’d like my help planning any of them at the last minute, check out my Custom Trip Planning page to see how I can do that for you.

Thanks again for subscribing, I appreciate that. Good luck with your trip!

Hi Jeff,

Thanks for sharing that story about your backpacking trip in Yellowstone, sounds like you had quite an adventure. Keep in touch!

Thanks, Sue, good to hear from you and that you’re doing well.

Hi Jeff,

Thanks for the compliment, I’m glad you found my blog and like it. I offer detailed advice on buying the right hiking shoes or boots in my story “Expert Tips for Buying the Right Hiking Boots.” Check it out.

It’s hard for me to recommend a specific brand or model in footwear because the first and most important factor is that you find boots or shoes that fit your feet well, and everyone’s feet are different, as are the fit of boots from different brands. Try on boots until you find some that feel really good. If you have running shoes already, you probably have a sense of how shoes should feel when they fit well. Still, try out different models in the store and have your shoe size measured.

Good luck and thanks for the question. And see my story about climbing Mount Whitney with my son via the Mountaineers Route (not the standard hiking route, which I assume is what you’re considering and is also a great hike).

I just came across your website and blog—it’s super interesting and a great read.

I’m new to hiking, having really only done shorter hikes like Runyon Canyon in Los Angeles in my running shoes. My fitness level is pretty good, but it’s mostly based on exercising at sea level rather than hiking a lot of vertical feet. My goal is to eventually hike Mount Whitney with my son—it may be ambitious, but you only live once!

To build up, I’m planning to tackle some intermediate hikes like Mount Baden-Powell, Echo Mountain, and then Mount Baldy. I was thinking of investing in a mid-weight hiking boot and would love your advice. Ideally, I’d like something I can break in and feel very comfortable with by the time I’m ready for Whitney.

Any recommendations would be fantastic—thank you for sharing your knowledge and experiences!

Thanks so much.

Hi Patrick,

Good question. Since most mountains in the contiguous U.S. are still solidly in winter in March, I suggest you look toward the Southwest canyon country. See my blog stories “The 10 Best Backpacking Trips in the Southwest” and “The 5 Southwest Backpacking Trips You Should Do First” as well as “America’s Top 10 Best Backpacking Trips.”

See also my Custom Trip Planning page to learn how I can help you plan your trip.

Good luck.

Hi Kerri,

Yes, thanks for asking. That’s because that story, like many at my blog, is partly free for anyone to read but requires a paid subscription to The Big Outside to read in full. A subscription gives you full access to all of my blog’s stories, including the trip planner section in stories about specific trips, where I share details of the itinerary and other logistics and tips on planning the trip. Basically, this blog would not exist if not for the fact that I can make a living off it through the support of readers who find the information and expertise I offer valuable.

I also offer Custom Trip Planning, where I’ll help you plan this or any trip you read about at my blog. I could give you a trip plan for a shorter, really nice version of the backpacking trip you read about and, if you purchased that service, I could check to make sure you could still get a permit for it.

You might also be interested in my story “20 Great Backpacking Trips You Can Still Take in 2025.”

I hope one of those options is helpful to you. Keep in touch.

I have just discovered your website and blog as I was looking for off-the-beaten-path backpacking trips in Yosemite. I found a hike with the title “Yosemite’s Best-Kept Secret Backpacking Trip” and was intrigued. I couldn’t figure out the area from your article. A group of 4 of us are trying to put a 3-night backpacking trip together without having an advance permit and it seems that this area might be a good one to explore. Your specific trip is too long for us but wanted to see if there might be something in the area that makes sense. Thanks for the help.

Kerri

Hi Shannon,

Thanks for being a member of The Big Outside, I appreciate your support for my blog. The ads you see at The Big Outside are there to generate revenue, as I’m sure you understand. There’s sometimes a little box with an X inside it at the upper right corner of those ads; click on that to close the ad. Or try refreshing the page. The ads do reload again after a short time. I’m sorry about that inconvenience.

Please let me know if that helps or if I can help with anything else related to my blog. Thanks again.

You’re welcome, Lauren.

Thank you, much appreciated!

Hi Lauren,

Thanks for the compliment about my blog. Yes, good question about the Many Glacier campground and the camping area in there for backpackers with a wilderness permit for spending a night there. The park’s website, though, does specify that “the Many Glacier Wilderness Campground will be temporarily relocated to a site near the Many Glacier Hotel parking lot.” It doesn’t identify the exact location of that camping area near the hotel parking lot or how backpackers would access it—but presumably, that would be by using the hiker shuttles the park will be running along the Many Glacier Road from July 1 to Sept. 21, during the construction project.

In short, my read of the park’s statements about this project is that permit holders will still be able to use a “backcountry” campground near Many Glacier if you’ve reserved it on your wilderness permit.

I hope that offers some clarity, at least, and that the park provides more detailed information about that before the summer backpacking season is underway.

Good luck in the permit lottery! And thanks for purchasing my e-book.

Love your site. Question about backpacking in Glacier in 2025. I bought your e-guide to the Northern Loop and am planning an August trip with my husband. I just applied for the lottery today (finger’s crossed). I saw that their will be no wilderness camping permitted at Many Glacier this year due to a utility project. I see that your recommended itinerary includes camping at Many Glacier. Are you planning on updating the guide for 2025? If not, do you have any recommendations for how to alter your suggested itinerary now that camping at Many Glacier isn’t an option?

Thanks so much!

Hi Vince,

Good to hear from you again. That’s a good question and individual choices about it would come down to personal tolerances, just as you suggest. I think the first half of September is an excellent time to backpack in Glacier: Days are often quite comfortable for hiking, in the 60s, and nights sometimes in the 40s but could also drop into the 30s or below freezing. The weather is stable more often than stormy, but there’s certainly a chance snow could fall anytime in September.

My advice would be to discuss the possibilities for weather with the group and see how everyone feels about it. That might be a trip you want to save for when you can do it in July or August.

Good luck. Get in touch anytime.

Thanks, Amy, I appreciate that.

Hi Charlie,

Good question, and I’ll say that while the four-day hike from Lee Pass Trailhead in the Kolob Canyons to Zion Canyon, including the magnificent West Rim Trail, is a classic, my favorite backpacking trip in Zion is the Narrows overnight, top to bottom, which I consider one of “The 12 Best Backpacking Trips in the Southwest” and one of “America’s Top 10 Best Backpacking Trips.”

See my e-book “The Complete Guide to Backpacking the Narrows in Zion National Park.”

Thanks for the comment.

It can be difficult to decide on an itinerary with the plethora of options for backpacking in the Grand Canyon, so your articles have been super helpful recently.

By the way, do you happen to have a favorite backpacking trip in Zion? My friends and I are heading there for 3 or 4 days before the Grand Canyon.

Thank you!
Charlie

Hi Jim,

Thanks for writing and your nice compliment about my blog, it’s good to hear from you. It depends on which trailheads you’re interested in shuttling between in Yellowstone. Yellowstone Taxi provides service to some trailheads in the park. Their website provides more info on which trailheads they service.

Good luck.

Hi Megan,

Thank you for the nice comment, I’m delighted that you find my blog so helpful. Thanks also for buying my e-book to for hiking the Grand Canyon rim to rim. It’s a great hike but I always warn people not to underestimate how difficult it is (especially in one day, if that’s your plan; backpacking it over two or three is a moderate hike).

Get in touch anytime.

I’ve been a follower for a long time now, and have been meaning to send you a note: I used a lot of your guidance and advice for our Teton Crest backpack in late August. It was an incredible trip, and I think we stayed at exactly the campsite you highlighted as a top 25 fav in North Fork (Death Shelf was full for the night we needed, but we sure enjoyed our hike through there). Thanks for making me look like a capable trip leader. 🙂

Just bought your eBook for rim-to-rim Grand Canyon — my husband and I are heading there in late October. Probably a little undertrained, but am going to hope some of the muscle memory from Teton Crest 3 weeks ago will carry over…

Thanks for all you do! Every time I have a wilderness adventure in mind, I come here first!

Thanks, Jack, I’m glad those stories were helpful to you and appreciate your feedback on that.

Thanks, Colin, for those nice words and for signing up for my Custom Trip Planning. I think you’re going to like the gear I’ve been recommending.

Thanks, Irena, I appreciate you sharing that. And congratulations on becoming a backpacker and especially already knocking off two such impressive adventures!

So finally, after purchasing all the gear, 3 years ago, I started planning my first-ever backpacking trip to Glacier NP. I was searching internet for itineraries and stumbled upon your website, and I really liked your way of telling a story to a reader, through your beautiful photography and detailed description of the area you were backpacking in, so I purchased your itinerary for Glacier NP and found it very useful! Next year I also purchased your itinerary for Grand Teton NP, and again, I found it really helpful, it made my planning much easier, and I enjoyed all the campsites you mentioned and side hikes you advised.

So I can’t recommend enough your guides to anyone who is planning an adventurous backpacking trip!

Hi Mitchell,

Thanks for writing and I’m glad you found my blog. Good on you for getting your teenage son out hiking with you. I was just hiking in the Presidential Range in June and plan to visit again and dayhike in the Whites this fall. Check out my story “The Best Hikes in the White Mountains.”

Keep in touch.

Hi Gav,

I’m not sure what exactly you mean by “not quite physically fit,” but I would always suggest that a moderate amount of exercise will make all hiking trips much more enjoyable. Check out “10 Perfect National Park Backpacking Trips for Beginners.”

Thanks for the nice words, Ericka, I’m glad you find The Big Outside so helpful. Keep in touch.

Hi Wendy,

I’m still not sure by your description how many days your permit is for and where your girlfriends will exit and your husband and son will join. At any rate, given the detail and depth of information I think you’re looking for, you might want to email me at info@thebigoutsideblog.com and see whether I can help you out with my Custom Trip Planning page.

Thank you for your response! My permit is for happy isles half dome (no Donahoe pass) . My permit is for four people; the ranger told me I can swap out people as long as I’m the lead. My girlfriends and I plan on following the route provided in your eguide in four days. When we finish my husband and son will join , essentially taking over their permitted spots. That is where I am interested in what to do with them. My understanding with my permit is I am not allowed to backtrack so I will want a new route for them , starting Sunday ( this trip is in 3 weeks) and being done Tuesday.. Any advice you have I will take and huge thanks for your reply!

Hi Wendy,

Thanks for the comment and I’m glad you found one of my Yosemite e-guides amazing. Since you’re talking about backpacking in late July, your options for backpacking may depend in part on how much snow remains in the high country and will definitely depend on what you can get for a walk-in/first-come permit.

You are correct that you described much of Yosemite but that said, there are many great options that vary in character and the difficulty of getting a permit. It’s hard to make specific recommendations without knowing more about what kind of backpacking trip you’re looking for, the length, etc., but it may be harder to get a permit for backpacking from Yosemite Valley to Tuolumne Meadows than for any other trip in the park.

Check out my stories “The 8 Best Backpacking Trips in Yosemite” and “How to Get a Yosemite Wilderness Permit Now.” And if you go to a park wilderness center for a walk-in permit, ask a ranger for a recommendation based on available permits. Also, I’ve helped many readers get a last-minute Yosemite wilderness permit just weeks ahead of their trip. See my Custom Trip Planning page.

Good luck and enjoy your Yosemite trip.

Yes, Pat, since you’re not engaging in a physical activity but will be regularly exposed to sustained, intense heat, I’d suggest getting one of the cooler sun shirts in my review, like the Mountain Hardwear Crater Lake Long-Sleeve Hoody, Patagonia Capilene Cool Daily Hoody, or Outdoor Research ActiveIce Spectrum Sun Hoodie.

Good luck.

Peace, Pat

Hi Nico,

I love it when readers suggest great hikes to me. Thanks for these suggestions, they sound really interesting. I’ve added them to my list of trips I want to take. Please keep in touch!

First, the South Rim Trail loop combined with Emory Peak in Big Bend National Park. Challenging 16-mile route in the Chisos Bason. The Chisos Mountains are the only mountain range in the U.S. fully contained within a National Park. Hike offers a picturesque 5-mile uphill route to Emory Peak with about 2,500 foot elevation. Final ascent to the peak requires rock/boulder scrambling to spectacular 360-degree views of Texas and Mexico landscapes. Continue on another 2.5 miles through Boot Canyon to South Rim which offers incredible views into Mexico. Loop down to the Chisos basin parking lot via Laguna Meadows trail. I have hiked rim to rim in the Grand Canyon and the vista at South Rim is different but comparable in scope to panoramic views of the canyon.

The second suggestion is Marufo Vega trail. It is at the very eastern edge of Big Bend park along the Rio Grande/border and might be the most remote hike in the National Park system. A 13-mile lollipop loop with some stark desert terrain so not to be attempted in summer. There are steep descents and ascents into and back out of canyons and in between you traverse a 200-ft ridge along the Rio Grande. Great views of the Dead Horse mountains in Texas and Sierra del Carmen in Mexico. This hike could be the least-traveled hike in the National Park system, which really appeals to me. Tip: after a rigorous day of hiking, head to Starlight Theater in Terlingua for an agave margarita, an appetizer of fried Brussels sprouts and tequila-marinated quail as your entree. You’ll thank me later.

Thanks, Meredith, I really appreciate your nice words about my blog and I’m glad you find it so useful. Please get in touch anytime.

I just wanted to let you know how great I think your blog is. I am an avid backpacker and have worked for many years as a backpacking/adventure guide and photographer. I’m always trying to learn more about the best techniques and gear, and I have found your gear reviews and skill tips to be very helpful – it’s actually some of the best content in the hiking/backpacking niche that I have found on the internet. I appreciate the authenticity of your blog and how your articles are based on your extensive first-hand experience. Your blog definitely stands out from the sea of clickbait that I unfortunately end up reading too much of, and I wanted you to know that I have gotten a lot of value out of it.

Thanks again and take care,

Meredith

Hi K,

No, I’m sorry but I don’t have any system for connecting backpackers for trips together. Good luck.

Hi Michael,

Thanks for the suggestion and I know dogs are not permitted in national parks. But as you probably know, they are permitted in many national forests and other public lands. I don’t have a dog so I’m afraid I would not be a good authority to answer your question. Good luck.

Would love to see a post on your recommendations for best dog-friendly backpacking trips. Although all your recommendations are great, dogs aren’t allowed in National Parks unfortunately. Just a suggestion :).

Take care,
Mike A.

That’s a cool plan, especially in fall, when all those North Rim trailheads should be easily accessible with good road conditions. The TI Grand Canyon East map shows all of those trails but certainly not the roads to the Bill Hall or Thunder River Trailhead. And I don’t know of any cab or shuttle that would take you to the Bill Hall area. Kaibab Lodge also offers North Kaibab shuttles, you could try them. Or ask whether any employee there or at the Grand Canyon Lodge at the North Rim wants to make some extra cash dropping you off and picking you up. That may be a very hard ride to find. But I’d love to hear if you succeed. Good luck.

Thanks for the reply. We are contemplating South Kaibab – North Kaibab – shuttle/cab frpm N Rim to other trailhead – Thunder/Deer (and back up) – shuttle to NRim – North Kaibab – Bright Angel. Perhaps 5 to 8 nights.

My question is specifically twofold – is it reasonable think that we can shutte or cab from N Rim to Bill Hall or Thunder River trailheads (and back couple days later), secondly, is there a single map showing all those trails (plus roads between N Rim and other N trailheads) that I can use for planning,(or finding other reasonable trail combos?

Paul

Hi Paul,

I’m glad my blog is helping you with planning your Grand Canyon trip and thanks for subscribing to The Big Outside. When logged in, you can access the trip-planning tips at the bottom of my feature stories about trips, where there’s always a map recommendation. The Trails Illustrated Grand Canyon East map includes the Thunder River-Deer Creek Loop.

I’m a little confused by your description of the route you’re planning because the Thunder River-Deer Creek Loop is nowhere near the North or South Kaibab or Bright Angel trails.

I can also give you a personalized trip plan for that trip or any you read about at The Big Outside. See my Custom Trip Planning page to learn how.

Good luck with your trip!

Hey Michael,

Good to hear from you again. Congrats on your Glacier permit, that’s awesome. I got a permit for a sort of northern loop variation, exactly what I wanted, for mid-Sept., so I’m happy about that. I’ve heard from people who succeeded and others who failed and were frustrated.

Rockwall vs. Wind River Range: both are amazing. Rockwall is more managed, with designated backcountry campgrounds that are busy, though backpackers spread out on the trail and it doesn’t feel busy.

But personally, since the Winds don’t require a permit rez, I’d apply for the Rockwall and go if I got that because it’s hard to get, and the Winds are an awesome backup and a trip you can do anytime.

Hope you are well.
Just touching base with you on what you thought of the glacier permit system this year? I had quite an odd experience, but managed to get the full northern loop permit in early August. I think it will be easier next year.

One question I had….. I was considering doing the Rockwall or Wind River Range (Cirque Towers and Titcomb Basin) – any recommendations on these?
Both would be amazing….. but your pick?

cheers

Hey Keith,

Thanks and I’m really happy for you getting that permit. You have a magnificent trip awaiting you. Congrats on that and enjoy. I appreciate your comment. Get in touch anytime.

Thanks, Erik, I appreciate your comment and I’m glad my blog is helpful to you. Thanks also for purchasing my my Custom Trip Planning. I’m excited to help you plan your trek on the Alta Via 2 in Italy’s Dolomites.

Hi Derek,

Thanks for buying that Glacier CDT e-guide and good luck with your permit application. That’s a great hike.

I’ve been aware of the border closure at Chief Mountain Customs station since Canada first closed the entire U.S.-Canada border during the pandemic. I honestly don’t understand why this crossing has remained closed but as far as I can see, that has not affected access to the Chief Mountain Trailhead at any time and would not affect access to that trailhead in 2023. Even the Montana road conditions report indicates that US 89 is currently open but MT 17 appears to not be open currently, presumably because it’s winter. I’m pretty certain I heard from readers who backpacked in from that trailhead in 2022 and I’d fully expect it to be accessible by this summer if not by spring.

Good luck! I hope you get to take that hike. Please get in touch if you do, I’d love to hear about it.

Hi Isaac,

Thanks for the nice words, glad you like my blog.

And good on you for planning to get your kids out in the wilderness with you. Our kids are now 22 and almost 20 and very experienced backpackers, climbers, skiers, kayakers, etc.; I have a lot of experience with taking kids backpacking from infants and toddlers on up to teenagers.

Check out my stories “10 Tips for Taking Kids on Their First Backpacking Trip” (which may be what you’re looking for, although it doesn’t focus just on infants) and “10 Tips for Raising Outdoors-Loving Kids.”

For when your kid’s a bit older, you might like “The 5 Best Tips for Hiking With Young Kids,” “The 10 Best Family Outdoor Adventure Trips,” “12 Tips for Getting Your Teenager Outdoors With You,” and “Why I Endanger My Kids in the Wilderness (Even Though It Scares the Sh!t Out of Me),” as well as this menu of all of the stories I’ve written about my family’s adventures at The Big Outside.

I think the biggest tips are dial expectations way back for distance and days. More than 2-3 days and you’re toting some really heavy packs with your own food and gear, all his stuff, and hauling out his filled diapers. And you already know how long every little task takes at home—compound it in the backcountry where you don’t have the conveniences of home.

Still, it’s cool. We took our son to the summit of an 11,000-foot peak in WY when he was 11 months old during a month-long road trip around the West. Ultimately, though, car-camping and dayhikes may enable you to do and see more than backpacking.

If you consider a longer backpacking trip with a baby or toddler, I’d say if your short shakedown trips go really well, excellent. Think hard about everything you’d want to include in a first-aid kit for a baby/toddler because there’s so much more unpredictability that’s potentially very problematic in a remote place. A device for communicating/calling for help in an emergency, like a Garmin inReach, would give some reassurance.

Good luck and get in touch if you’d like my Custom Trip Planning. I’ve definitely put in my time with kids of all ages.

Thanks for the great question.

Thanks for putting out great content over the years! I’ve done a couple of your 10 favorite backpacking trips but they’re all on my bucket list.

I wanted to reach out and see if you have any advice, resources, or recommended blog posts for backpacking with a baby? My wife and I have a 10 month old and I’m feeling a sense of urgency to get out as a fam while he’s still young and small enough to toss in our Osprey Poco Plus Carrier. He’s ~20lbs right now but will obviously be heavier this summer when it’s prime backpacking season. I’m planning on having my wife carry our son and I’ll take all our gear but it’ll be a substantial change regardless. I’m thinking that we’ll just have to tone it down on the miles and elevation but would love any recs you may have.

For context, we took him on a couple of backpacking trips last summer in Redwoods NP and State Park. Perfect climate for backpacking with an infant. We live in LA and I’m keen to get out into the Grand Canyon, Sequoia, and Kings Canyon as a family. I actually might take you up on a trip planning at some point soon. We’re doing a PNW road trip and I’d love to hear your take on the best backcountry sites with relatively short mileage going in for setting up a basecamp. I think that’ll be more out speed this summer opposed to high mileage loops.

Thanks again for great content and appreciate any recs you may have!

Hi Vince,

Good point and no reason to avoid Fresno, I simply listed the larger airports nearest to Yosemite, which presumably have more flights than Fresno. But if that works for you, great.

Have a good hike and thanks for buying that e-guide.

Hi Phillip,

Yes, take a look at this story. Thanks for asking

Hi John,

Thanks for the nice words and congrats on your Grand Canyon permit for backpacking from Lipan Point to South Kaibab, that’s a great hike.

As you probably know, the only water source along the Escalante Route, from Red Canyon to Tanner Beach, is the Colorado River, accessible at several points where the trail drops to the river level. The Colorado can vary from silted to relatively clear and easy to filter; when it’s heavily silted, it would quickly clog any filter and render it useless. If that’s the case, you may have to let river water settle out in pots before using a pump filter to treat it, and settling water out can take hours.

You’ll have to plan where and how you’ll get water every day and carry according to your hiking time and when you’ll reach water sources. A ranger should be able to tell you what the Colorado is currently like when you pick up your permit, but the river’s condition can change suddenly, too.

Good luck!

Me and my son have secured a backcountry permit in the Grand Canyon on the route you described – we are starting at Lipon Pnt. and exiting on S. Kaibab. I’m struggling a bit with planning for water purification. I’ve read that the water directly from the CO River can be so silty that it will clog a purifier. Do I need to use some other sort of system, like a bag to let sediment settle and then purify out of the bag?

Any insights appreciated!

John

Hi John,

Yes. I’ll email you directly. Thanks.

Thanks for sharing your experiences in Yosemite, Jerry. Competition for wilderness permits there is intense but mostly concentrated around several popular trailheads and trails. There are areas of the park with much less demand and fantastic scenery. My e-guides to three Yosemite backpacking trips offer tips on getting a permit.

I also offer Custom Trip Planning and I can help folks figure out trips that have less demand for permits, greatly increasing their chances of getting one. See also my story How to Get a Yosemite or High Sierra Wilderness Permit.”

Get in touch anytime.

Hey Ethan,

You’re very welcome and thank you very much for the kind words and the feedback. I’m glad you find my blog enjoyable and helpful. Please don’t hesitate to get in touch anytime.

Your site, however, has all the showstopper bucket-list trips that I want to do up front, all in the trip lengths and mileages I would want to do them in, and is well written to boot. And you respond quickly and thoughtfully. So thank you; I’m definitely a happy subscriber!

Hi Eddie,

Thanks for that feedback about my e-guide “The Best Backpacking Trip in Idaho’s Sawtooth Mountains,” I’m glad you loved that hike and not surprised, it is beautiful. Get in touch anytime.

I downloaded your Sawtooth Mountains trip guide, which was an invaluable resource for our trip! The route from Redfish to Pettit Lake was amazing! Thank you so much!

Eddie

Hey Elisa, that’s a great list of trips you’ve ticked off! Nice going. Thanks for the nice words and for subscribing to The Big Outside, I’m glad you find my blog so helpful to your trip planning. Rock on!

Thanks, Michael!
Elisa W.

Hello Gene,

Your five-day running-hiking trip in southern Utah sounds fantastic. It’s the kind of trips I very much enjoy taking with long days exploring different trails. I think I could give you some great suggestions for similar trips around the West through my Custom Trip Planning. I’ll email you about and we’ll take it from there. Thanks for getting in touch.

I found your site while researching The Maze. We thought we might try that after an opening day doing the R2R2R. But, I was totally unable to figure out how much running we could do and whether we could string together 1-3 days of, say 25 miles each day. Care to take a stab at spending a few minutes to propose some ideas? I guarantee you I would certainly use your services if you come up with a interesting idea and we decide to do the trip. I spent way too much time on the last trip figuring out a complete trip! (Wonderland Trail, for example, would be a good idea, but a lot of us have already done that – ditto for Lake Tahoe)

Hi Roxanne,

Thanks for that question. June 18-25 is tricky because it’s already hot in the Southwest but often still too snowy in mountains like the Tetons.

But the southern Olympic coast, while just 18 miles, is a great three-day hike and should have good weather, certainly mild temps and no snow. Zion’s Narrows would probably be a good one then, too, but it’s likely too late for you to reserve a backcountry permit for June. You’ll see on a map of Yosemite that there are middle-elevation areas, such as north and northwest of Yosemite Valley, where trails can be snow-free or mostly so by late June. Lastly, I have backpacked in the Sawtooths in late June, but you would definitely encounter snow above around 8,000 feet.

See “America’s Top 10 Best Backpacking Trips.” And I know of specific routes in Yosemite that would likely work for you then; see my Custom Trip Planning page to learn how I can help you plan your trip.

Good luck!

Appreciate your recommendation! Love the trails you have covered.

Thanks

Thanks for the nice words about my blog, Jen. Yes, that Bear’s Ears to Big Sandy ultra-dayhike really is amazing, read about it in this story. And check out my training regimen for ultra-hikes in “Training for a Big Hike or Mountain Climb” and see my story”How to Know Hard a Hike Will Be.”

Good luck and get in touch anytime.

I enjoyed your Bear’s Ear’s to Big Sandy post. That is one of the adventures I have on the list for this summer.

Hey Michael,

First of all, congrats on getting a Teton Crest Trail permit today, I know that’s a very difficult one to reserve, and I’m delighted that my e-guide “The Complete Guide to Backpacking the Teton Crest Trail in Grand Teton National Park” helped you. I know you’ve also purchased my e-guides “The Best Backpacking Trip in Yosemite,” “The Complete Guide to Backpacking the Wonderland Trail in Mount Rainier National Park,” “The Best Backpacking Trip in Glacier National Park,” and “The Best Backpacking Trip in Idaho’s Sawtooth Mountains,” and I hope you’re finding all of them equally helpful.

Thanks and keep in touch!

I was lucky enough to be online to get a permit in early September for the TCT and the e-guide helped me prepare with the campsites. It also gives you some alternatives, if you don’t get a permit.

Definitely recommend to anyone looking at backcountry trips! A valuable resource!

Thanks, Maria, I’m happy you like my blog. As you know, I can help you plan your trip. See my Custom Trip Planning page to learn how.

First of all — thank you!!! The Big Outside is a really great blog and I am so glad that folks like yourself take the time to put such an amazing resource out to the world. I’ve been browsing through your blog and I am having a really hard time picking between all the options!

I am very much looking forward to planning a father & daughter trip for my dad’s 60th!

Hi Michael,

Thanks for the kind words and I’m glad you find my e-guides helpful.

The variations in how individual national parks issue backcountry permits can make the process a little confusing. For Grand Teton NP, when applying for a permit at recreation.gov, you’d choose the Mountain Camping Zones under Area for a backpacking party of up to six people for camping zones/areas in the park’s core, for example, all of the zones along the Teton Crest Trail; and you’d select Mountain Group Sites for a backpacking party of seven to 12 people for those same camping zones/areas in the park’s core.

As for solo backpacking in Glacier National Park, that’s definitely a tricky question. I honestly don’t recommend backpacking solo in grizzly country and I’ve never done that myself (even though I’ve backpacked solo many times in black bear habitat). Your personal decision may depend on your experience and comfort level, but if you decide to go solo in Glacier, I think you’d at least be marginally safer by sticking to areas of the park where there are more backpackers, like trails emanating from Many Glacier, or long sight lines, like the Highline Trail. More-remote areas of Glacier, where you’d see fewer people, might create more risk simply because when you’re alone you don’t make as much noise or create as much odor as even a small group of hikers. And perhaps avoid any areas where the park is warning of an active grizzly bear, even if the park hasn’t closed that area yet.

See this blog post, where I elaborate in more depth on that question.

Thanks and good luck. Keep in touch.

Firstly, I’d like to thank you for your amazing e guides—they are excellent sources of knowledge for backpacking trips and my go to info for any trip I’m planning.

Couple of questions I do have are:

1. Online Teton Camping reservations—do I select the Group Ones? Or Mountain Camping Zones? Any difference?
2. Solo camping in Glacier—I have solo hiked there before on various trails, however, what are your thoughts on multi-day backpacking through Glacier solo? I don’t really have an option for a group.

Thanks.

You’re very welcome, Karen. I’m confident you’ll like your new Feathered Friends Egret UL 20 bag and I’m glad you find my “10 Pro Tips for Staying Warm in a Sleeping Bag” helpful.

Thanks to your advice, I’m sure I will be more comfortable on cold nights in the mountains in my new sleeping bag,

Happy Trails,
Karen

Hi Tory,

Thanks for sharing your experience in Yosemite and your feedback on my Yosemite e-guides, you certainly saw some great areas of Yosemite. I have a permit for a new trip there next month, so watch for that story eventually.

Please keep in touch!

I bought your Yosemite guides last year and hiked the two loops you recommend- one starting and ending at Tuolumne including a Half Dome summit, and the other starting at Tuolomne and ending at May Lake- as a 12-day trip in July. I just wanted to say thank you for helping me plan an awesome trip!

Red Peak Pass, the Sawtooths, and the Grand Canyon of the Tuolomne were all highlights! I also couldn’t believe how much solitude I experienced in Yosemite in July. Thanks again!

Thanks for those nice words, Kristen, I’m very glad you found The Big Outside and most of all that you found and love hiking. I appreciate you being a subscriber and I’ve enjoyed helping you plan your hikes.

You will heal and be back on the trail. Keep working hard at recovering. We will keep in touch!

In Nov. 2019, your blog was the first one I found when I decided I would start solo hiking and I remember there was so much information, I kept reading and reading. I soon realized I was ill-prepared for even the simplest hike and your blog helped me get mentally and physically prepared and also gave me great information on gear. I was starting at point zero and your blog opened up new doors for me. It’s my go-to for anything hiking-related. Even with COVID last year, you helped me plan some great hikes in several national parks. I appreciate receiving the emails with articles ranging from best places to hike, best gear, affordable gear, etc. I also LOVE the pictures that are always included with the articles and on your blog. They are spectacular!

I’m not on social media, so I don’t belong to any hiking groups. Your blog gives me plenty of useful information and I appreciate it a lot. Your writing style is easy to understand and it’s clear you have a wealth of knowledge and experience. Subscribing to your blog is the best investment I have made and it has helped me become more confident in my hiking.

On a personal note, this year has been challenging because I injured my knee in April and I haven’t been able to hike since Memorial Day. When I shared my frustration and disappointment with you over not being able to hike and now awaiting surgery, you offered words of encouragement. This is just another reason why your blog is more than a blog. Thank you!

Hi Mike,

Thanks for the good question. I’ve backpacked a couple of times in the Selway-Bitterroot, though not specifically during any hunting season, but I have hiked and backpacked in various parts of the country during one or another hunting season.

To be honest, I’ve seen what I consider two kinds of hunters in the backcountry: the ones who stand or camp beside a dirt road waiting for game to walk past them and those who actually ride a horse or hike for miles into the wilderness and put real effort into finding their game and hauling it out (and appropriately clean up the site of their kill after butchering their game to carry it out). The first category of hunters scares me more because I don’t see them as ethical or “serious” hunters—and they usually carry rifles, making them more dangerous. The “serious” hunters who venture deep into the backcountry are generally, I believe, more careful about identifying their prey and avoiding accidents.

I believe hunting guides tend to be highly responsible and safe because their livelihood depends on that. I’ve met a number of them.

There are also rifle hunters and bow hunters and the latter have less range and are more likely to make a good visual ID on their prey and try to get close enough to get in a good shot.

Yes, I would backpack during hunting season in a wilderness and I think the most risky time is when you’re a short distance from a road, where there may be less-responsible hunters with rifles.

You should definitely wear blaze orange very prominently—shirt and/or jacket—be loud when you’re near any roads and check the state Fish & Game website for hunting season dates.

Good luck. That’s some big, remote, (normally) uncrowded wilderness you’re planning to explore. Have fun.

I’m planning a backcountry trip to the Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness in mid-September. It will be my first trip to the S-B Wilderness. Primarily for solitude reasons and somewhat for safety considerations, I typically try to avoid hiking during big-game hunting seasons. Since we will be in the Wilderness our largest concern will be with guided/outfitted hunters on horses. Do you have any thoughts on this, either in general or specifically for Selway-Bitterroot? I think we can choose carefully and avoid gun season, but will likely be hiking during archery hunts. Interested in your thoughts and thanks in advance.

Hi Philippe,

Thanks for the question. I’ve backpacked a fair bit of the Olympic Mountains and all over the Pacific Northwest, possibly my favorite part of the country.

The Seven Lakes Basin and High Divide Trail would deliver the kind of scenery you’re looking for; it’s a stellar hike, at least in clear weather, and this is the time of year to do it. The Seven Lakes-High Divide-Sol Duc loop would be much shorter than you’re looking for, but you could extend it a bit by adding the out-and-back hike to Hoh Lake and another to Appleton Pass. Try to get a camp in the Heart Lake area, where you’d have an opportunity to get up on the High Divide both early and late in the day (two separate trips, afternoon/evening and the next morning from your camp), if weather was clear only at one of those times. Unfortunately, the Seven Lakes and High Divide are probably the most popular area with backpackers and hard to get a permit for.

The Skyline Trail is scenic but known for navigational problems along sections of overgrown or obscured and muddy trail.

The Hoh-High Divide traverse, at least as I understand descriptions of it, would certainly be a cool hike, but mostly in rainforest, with the best views precisely what you’d have on the Seven Lakes-High Divide-Sol Duc loop.

For the length and scenery you’re looking for, I’d recommend a trip I’ve taken in the park’s northeast corner, east of the areas you’re looking at but also in the rain shadow of the Olympics, so it gets considerably less rain than the west side. We took five moderate days to backpack the loop from Obstruction Peak to Deer Park, the Gray Wolf Valley, Gray Wolf Pass, Dose Meadows, Lost Pass, Cameron Pass, and Grand Pass. Killer views of Mount Olympus and its glaciers and the entire range.

Also, I’ve done the Ptarmigan Traverse and may post a story about it soon. It’s a very serious alpine traverse, mostly off-trail, crossing six glaciers and requiring roped travel (with partners, ideally), with difficult navigation, potentially hard weather, and finishing with possibly the worst bushwhacking I’ve ever encountered (and I’ve encountered a lot of bushwhacking). It doesn’t sound the what you’re looking for.

And click here to learn how I can help you plan your trip.

I hope that’s helpful. Good luck, stay safe, and keep in touch.

Michael

I am looking for a bucket list approx 4- to 5-day backpacking trip within a few hours of Seattle. My preference is for big mountain views, and glaciers and some solitude. I prefer trails to bushwhacking and don’t appreciate intense route-finding difficulties.

I am considering the following:

1. Skyline Traverse. I’d start on the Quinault and make a loop, which is nice for staging my car. There may be some navigational issues in the Kitma area.
2. Seven Lakes Basin Area
3. Hoh High Divide Traverse

I’m even considering the Ptarmigan Traverse as well. I am fine to bringing crampons and one ice axe.

What do you recommend?

Thanks,
Philippe

Thanks for the nice words, Shane, and a thumbs-up for the good work that you do. Keep in touch.

What an incredible role model you are. I especially enjoy your family focus. You are just awesome. The great outdoors on a weekly basis should be on every child’s/parent to do list.

The peace of mind that can be had when our timing syncs with nature’s timing is a real master tool. The pace of life falls into rhythm, the mind clears, the anxiety melts away, and all is well.

I believe we would soon experience a seismic shift in the mindsets of children across America, and a dramatic decrease in Columbine/Newtown-style killings.

What you do is incredibly valuable, and inspiring. I will be posting a link to your web site on my website, following you on twitter, discussing your work with the coaches who work in my group, and the kids/families I coach. I will be integrating your overall vision/mission into my work.

I operate an Executive Functions Skills Coaching group for children with Learning Disabilities & Autism, called Life Skills Corp. in the NY/CT area.

I look forward to posting pertinent posts to my parents and followers.

All the best,

Shane

Hi Charlie,

Thanks so much for that comment and for being a subscriber to my blog, I really appreciate all of it.

You’ve ticked off some great trips hitting the Eagle Cap Wilderness, Spider Gap-Buck Creek Pass Loop in the Glacier Peak Wilderness, and Idaho’s White Cloud Mountains. Nice going!

And good on you for pursuing adventures. Please keep in touch.

I’m a big fan of your site and have been since I started backpacking seriously around 7-8 years ago. In fact, the Big Outside inspired some of my early multiday trips out west, including the Eagle Cap Wilderness in the Wallowas, and Spider Gap loop here in Washington. Also, without your recommendation, I never would have discovered the White Clouds, which are easily one of the coolest places I’ve ever hiked. Now I’m an avid backpacker, and it’s no exaggeration to say that Big Outside helped me get here.

I just wanted to express my gratitude for the work you do, and I hope to follow your adventures for years to come!

Charlie

Thanks, Brian, I’m glad you found The Big Outside, too!

Michael’s blog is fantastic! Each post is well-written, informative, and engaging. I am an experienced backpacker but I have been learning a lot of great information from Michael.

I am thankful to have stumbled across Michael’s website!

Thanks, Amy, I’m honored and delighted that reading my blog inspired you to do your squats. That sounds a lot like my workout routine in 2020! Yes, here’s to getting out more in 2021.

Your blog most definitely provided appreciation, inspiration, perspective, and hope this year. I didn’t leave my apartment for SIX WEEKS during NYC’s lockdown, and your blog was one of the bright spots on my screen. Thanks for your always helpful reviews, suggestions, and stories. They helped save my sanity and motivated me to do my squats in my living room! Here’s to Happy Trails for all of us.

Hello Slade,
If I may offer a thought, but where to start? Selection is #1. Planning is #2. After a lifetime of career and family,always having to attend to something,I finally made it to living in my dream country Italy at age 74. I selected where to live based on proximity to what I love : Dolomites and Venice. During our summer break in Covid19 I took train and bus to Puetz-Oedle and hiked for the first time EVER by myself – in the Dolomites. In a state of ecstatic disbelief. I could hike there forever and never look at another mountain. So what I’d say is “Quality of the experience is more important than quantity”. Get to know one or two routes that you love and that are really convenient, now that you have a family to take along. But do at least one of your top favorites soon. Bon Voyage!

You’re welcome, Slade, and happy holidays to you and your family.

Thanks so much Michael for the great advice. Happy Holidays.
Slade

Hi Slade,

Your comments and questions always make me smile, maybe because we think so much alike. I appreciate this question, in particular, because it brings up a quandary I’ve wrestled with for many years. Your question has also sparked an impulse to perhaps address it more deeply in a future blog post.

I’ve kept a list of trip ideas for decades (literally, since my twenties). It now has hundreds of ideas and totals almost 20,000 words, including the notes I’ve made with each trip idea. I’m older than you and I fully realize and accept that I can’t get to them all—there are too many places to see in this country and around the world and too much to do in those places to get to them in one human lifetime—but I do think a lot about how to prioritize them.

For starters, as I suggest in tip no. 1 in my “10 Tips for Getting Outside More,” I always plan months ahead because that gets necessary logistics done and gets it on the calendar—which is the important first step in ticking off your list.

I consider priorities such as which trips are best with my family, what my kids could do at various ages, what my family wanted to do. I look at when I can fit a trip into my calendar and choose the adventures that are ideally suited for that time of year—for the best weather, wildflowers, fewer people, or special aspects or conditions inherent to a particular place.

I consider where I haven’t been—or haven’t been in a while—and who’s available to join me (if not my family) and capable of a certain trip (some are harder). Circumstances beyond my control often dictate choices. In 2020, I saw five planned trips canceled because of the pandemic: a guided river trip in early June, one backpacking trip in southern Utah and two others I had permits for in the Canadian Rockies, plus another backpacking trip in the Sierra in September that wildfires prevented. As substitutes for three of those, I took my family back to a place I love and hadn’t been to in years, the Idaho side of Hells Canyon, and backpacking in two places that had been on my list for years, Utah’s High Uintas Wilderness and Nevada’s Ruby Crest Trail. All of those substitutes were wonderful, not consolation prizes at all.

As one last point to emphasize in this response, I also have top-priority trips that I rank above others when making choices. You can see some of those that I’ve already ticked off in my stories “New Year Inspiration: My Top 10 Adventure Trips” and “The 10 Best Family Outdoor Adventure Trips.”

And as you know, I can help you plan your trips. Click here to learn about my custom trip planning.

Keep up inspiring that little boy of yours. He’s a lucky kid and I think he’ll reach an age—as my kids have in their late teens—when he fully understands and appreciates all you’ve shown and done with him and that history cements an irreplaceable bond between you.

Keep in touch.

I’m like you in that I’m a dreamer and a planner. I have literally hundreds of bucket list backpacking trips, dayhikes, bikepacking trips, and mountain biking destinations that I want to do. Like I’ve said before, I only work one week a month and am constantly traveling but even though I dayhike and bike at least 4 days a week now, up to this point in my life my big trips with my wife have been mainly international travel and scuba diving. We have a 2-year-old son who is already obsessed with the outdoors and actually did his first 2-day hikes this week with my wife and me and hiked the whole way without being carried or pushed in a bike. I was so proud of him and want to take him all over the world.

The problem I have is I’m 41 years old now and don’t know how to get to everything I want to do. I’m in the best shape of my life and know I have many many years to hike and bike on my dream trips. But how do you choose? Where do you start? How do you find a way while still working and having to share family time to do everything you want to do? How do you wrap your mind around it being impossible to do everything you want to do in one lifetime and how can you be content with just getting to what you get to?

I hope you don’t find this a silly question. But I literally am kept up at night pondering how to get it all in. How do personally go about picking from your lists of must-do’s while leaving others undone?

Thanks as always!

Slade Smith

Thanks, Matt.

Thanks, Mark, I appreciate that and I’m glad you found The Big Outside. Keep in touch.

Thanks very much for those generous comments, Slade, and good on you for your own commitment to raising your son to love and appreciate the outdoors. Keep up the good work of parenting and please do keep in touch.

Not only is Michael an excellent writer and storyteller, he is a family man who has raised his two kids in the great outdoors in a world that unfortunately seems to have forgotten the importance of this. I have a 20-month-old son that is already obsessed with the outdoors and I’m absolutely thrilled about this. Reading Michael’s stories about taking his kids on amazing adventures is truly inspiring and makes me want to follow in his footsteps with my son.

He has a very impressive resume outdoors and has accomplished many of the world’s greatest routes on both land and water. But even more impressive than that to me is that both of his children are following in his footsteps because of his and his wife’s efforts and guidance. You won’t find a better blog on the Internet for adventurers with young kids.

Thanks for all you have done with creating this site Michael. You and your family are truly inspirational.

Stay safe out there!
Slade Smith

Thanks for the kind words, Liz, and for subscribing to The Big Outside to get full access to all of my blog’s stories. Now you can enjoy my full story about hiking the Grand Canyon rim to rim to rim in a day! Enjoy it and keep in touch.

Hi Janine, that’s such a nice comment I hardly know what to say. Thank you very much. I hope you continue enjoying my blog and that you get the opportunity to visit America someday. Take care and keep in touch, I’d love to hear from you again.

Janine

Thanks, Robbie, that’s a good problem to have! Keep enjoying that magical Idaho outdoors.

Robbie

Hi Mitch,

Thanks very much, I appreciate the greeting, and thanks for being a subscriber and supporting my work on my blog. Stay well.