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03.2014 BACKPACKER 63 I N L A T E M A R C H , when clouds cloak Stumptown and snow chokes the Cascades, escape to the sunny Deschutes. This low- elevation canyon on the range’s arid east side sees scant snow, and the easy grade along a former rail line gently reawakens hikers’ legs. The northern portion at Deschutes River State Recreation Area sees heavy traffic even in spring, so start instead at the southern terminus, at Macks Canyon trailhead. Hike 13 miles downstream for a one-night out-and-back promising solitude (even rafters and anglers don’t flock here until May) and bighorn sheep sightings; wear gaiters and treat clothes with permethrin to ward off ticks. Spring fishing is stellar as well: Anglers can cast for a unique subspecies of wild rainbow trout, called Deschutes River Redside, which averages 15 to 18 inches. The trail’s first 4.4 miles are the roughest, requiring hikers to scramble around six former train trestles. But frequent wild- flower sightings compensate through- out: Fields of purple lupine and yellow balsamroot bloom in April. The path soon smooths for easy cruising to the water tower (11.5 miles in) where motivated hikers can hike off-trail up Harris Canyon to find prehistoric pictographs. Return to the river and continue downstream for another 1.5 miles to Fall Canyon Camp (no permit), where the canyon’s wrinkled cliffs surround the flat, grassy tent sites and the Deschutes’ current becomes your lullaby. Next day, retrace your steps for the fitness-building, 13-mile return. THE CHARLES C. DEAM Wilderness feels untamed, with rocky ridgelines, old- growth hardwoods, and soaring bald eagles. But its paths are mellow (some fol- low former Jeep roads) and snow-free by April—making this a primo destination for your season’s shakedown. The 23-mile Grubb Ridge/ Peninsula overnighter starts at Blackwell Campground and follows the Grubb Ridge Trail east for 3.4 miles, then continues 2.5 miles on the Axsom Branch Trail to the Hickory Ridge Fire Tower. Climb 123 steel steps for a 20-mile view over rolling forest. Return west on the Axsom Branch Trail to then hike 4.8 miles north on the Peninsula Trail, cruising atop John Grubb Ridge with panoramas over 10,750-acre Lake Monroe (Indiana’s larg- est). Continue north through stands of cedar and beech to pitch your tent lakeside on the peninsula’s tip to watch sunset. Start day two’s 10 miles by retracing your steps 2.6 miles on the Peninsula Trail. Hang a right (west) onto Grubb Ridge Loop to savor birdsong (of warblers and wood thrush) and kalei- doscopic wildflowers (white twinleaf and firepinks bedeck the trail starting in March) before returning to Blackwell Campground. YOUR TOWN CHICAGO, IL YOUR TRIP DEAM WILDERNESS, IN Watch raptors’ sunset hunts. ASSESS YOUR WARDROBE. Now is the time for deals on summer essentials like wick- ing tees, shorts, and sun hats. Sign up for email lists to hear about sales at web- sites like sierratrad- ingpost.com and your local outdoor retailer, scour sites like steep- andcheap.com and theclymb.com for deep discounts, and if you live near an REI, shop at the members’ garage sales. Make repairs. We like Rainy Pass Repair (rainypass. com) for gear that’s beyond home rem- edy; send items that qualify for warranty repair to the manu- facturer well before you’ll need them back; and consider a tailor for sewing jobs you don’t want to tackle yourself. STOCK YOUR BACKCOUNTRY PANTRY. Have meals and snacks premeasured and ready for a spon- taneous weekend trip. Order favorite items in bulk to save money and maintain a running supply. CLEAN GEAR. See page 38 for a detailed spring- cleaning plan. DESCHUTES RIVER TRAIL Enjoy sunshine along a mighty waterway. RICHMOND, VA Tag one of Shenandoah National Park’s highest peaks, 3,374-foot Trayfoot Moutain, on a 9.4-mile overnight loop from Blackrock Gap. Blooming moun- tain laurel wallpapers the trail in June, but March and April hikers will snag even better views of the park’s ancient mountains. nps.gov/shen; 2 hours drive YOUR TRIP Portland, OR YOUR TOWN P H O T O S B Y P A T & C H U C K B L A C K L E Y ( L E F T ) ; A L L I S O N O U T S I D E . N E T INFO BIT.LY/DEAMWILD DRIVE TIME FROM CHICAGO 4 HOURS INFO BIT.LY/ DESCHUTESRT DRIVE TIME FROM PORTLAND 2 HOUR S, 30 MINUTES SLOW AND STEADY: THE DESCHUTES RIVER TRAIL FOLLOWS AN OLD RAILROAD GRADE. YOUR TOWN, YOUR TRIP READY, SET, GO!