Planning my first ever solo backpacking trip this summer, shooting for late June. I'm from eastern Kansas so I'm wondering if I can just drive straight to the trailhead (maybe a 10 hour drive?) and hopefully sleep in the car, maybe even hang my hammock that first night at the trailhead? Is that something that is allowed, does it depend on the trail? I'm planning on a 7 day trip, 1 day to drive to the trail, 4-5 days actually backpacking, and then 1 day drive back. Shooting for late June for the trip. I'm looking at a couple loops, the North Loop in the Indian Peaks Wilderness looks like a good one. Looked at the trip report for it from a few years back. Any other notable loops, doesnt need to be in the same area.
Things I'm looking for in the loop:
Something that I can do in 4-5 days, maybe with a day of basecamping to get acclimated to the elevation. I've backpacked before in Colorado but each time I got elevation sickness on the way up a 14'er (Mount Holy Cross and Mount Snowmass). I was also in much worse shape then than I am now so hopefully that helps but I'd still like the day to basecamp and just soak up the wilderness for a day without having to cover a lot of miles.
I'm hoping for a loop that also has at least one peak, doesnt have to be a 14'er. I thought i read something in the North Loop trip report that there is a Mount somewhere on that loop, can anyone confirm that?
Need a loop where i can hang my hammock every night, I dont think that should be a problem in most places but this will be my first Colorado trip as a hammocker.
I'd prefer a trail that I didn't have to buy a bear cannister but if I really have to buy a bear canister, it wont be the end of the world.
I'd really appreciate any advice anyone could give me, looking forward to this trip and want to get it planned asap.
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