Where is the toughest hiking in the US?

[Cool Hands]

In my naive and biased opinion, I'd be inclined to say the White Mountains of New Hampshire, because I've heard the gradings in parts of the country outside of the northern northeast, especially outside of the Whites, are much more rational -- though the eastern US is all pretty tough I've heard, probably because its comparatively less rugged ridges allow and challenge trails to climb virtually anywhere. After all, the 500-mile-longer PCT supposedly has only 300,000 feet of elevation change compared to the AT's 475,200 feet, according to the sources cited on wikipedia.

So, I'd vote for the Whites. Not really talking individual trails, but regions or long-distance trails.

[moytoy]

Frankly I'll take climbing a mountain to walking in a swamp any day. So the Florida Everglades get my vote.

[Dogwood]

On maintained trail, partially on maintained trail/tread, or bushwacking?

During what season? Snow/desert heat/major spring fords/etc involved?

First, I think we all have to expand our hiking minds to NOT ONLY include the 3 main N-S long distance hiking trails!

Elevation changes can sure play into the hiking difficulty but so can hiking at a high elevation(say above 10,000 ft) for prolonged periods like on the Colorado or Continental Divide Trails. What abaout hiking the Arizona Trail during the hotter parts of the YR? What about hiking the Great Divide, Pacific Northwest, or say the West Coast Trail during prolonged bouts of heavy rain/sleet/snow?

Elevation profiles don't tell the whole story about how hard/easy the hiking might be! Even elevation profiles can be misleading depending on their scale, ratios between vertical and horizontal, and the quality of the trail/tread!

[jrnj5k]

Devils path in the catskills is pretty rough. 24miles with 18000 feet of elevation. Its straight up and straight down the wholeway.

[Cool Hands]

On maintained trail, partially on maintained trail/tread, or bushwacking?

During what season? Snow/desert heat/major spring fords/etc involved?

First, I think we all have to expand our hiking minds to NOT ONLY include the 3 main N-S long distance hiking trails!

Elevation changes can sure play into the hiking difficulty but so can hiking at a high elevation(say above 10,000 ft) for prolonged periods like on the Colorado or Continental Divide Trails. What abaout hiking the Arizona Trail during the hotter parts of the YR? What about hiking the Great Divide, Pacific Northwest, or say the West Coast Trail during prolonged bouts of heavy rain/sleet/snow?

Elevation profiles don't tell the whole story about how hard/easy the hiking might be! Even elevation profiles can be misleading depending on their scale, ratios between vertical and horizontal, and the quality of the trail/tread!

Well, I was still thinking more of how rugged and challenging the trails are -- but I guess the hardest trails to negotiate (as in rocks, poor maintenance, and such), the hottest trails, the wettest trails, or the snowiest trails would be interesting to hear. Not bushwacking, I think I implied I was talking maintained trails -- and I didn't mean to imply I was only considering the Triple Crown, I just cited an example for the tendencies of western US trails to be more gently graded, by my understanding. Sorry if I was vague -- this is the General section, so I posted a general question. Care to give an example of what you consider the hardest regions?

[Cool Hands]

Devils path in the catskills is pretty rough. 24miles with 18000 feet of elevation. Its straight up and straight down the wholeway.

http://www.backpacker.com/october_19...stinations/477

I just googled devil's path and found this article -- very interesting, since I live in Connecticut and this would definitely be doable on a long weekend. King's Ravine sounds like a must-do too!

[Leanthree]

I have never hiked there but I would imagine Denali, Alaska is the answer to your question.

[Ox97GaMe]

Not all the trails out west are 'graded'. you can find some pretty rugged hiking in RMNP, GNP, and the Tetons. Many of the higher peaks (13,000+) can be challenging, and some are technical climbs (requiring ropes). The climb up Half Dome in Yosemite is pretty grueling too.
Some of the climbs on the Long Trail (Camel, Mansfield) are as rigorous as in the Whites.
One of the hardest trails that I ever hiked was the Pacific Rim Trail. It has ladders that scale rock ledges.

[Ox97GaMe]

I have heard that Pantegonia (Argentina/Chile) is pretty grueling hiking too.

[fiddlehead]

As for the US, bushwhacking some parts of the CDT in CO can be as steep as you want.
You add your own switchbacks or, you go straight up.
Bushwhacking through sections where there are millions of blowdowns (Pasaic wilderness, after the cyclone hit it in 1997 was close to impossible)

Outside of the US, the Pyrenees HRP route had some sections that were 3,000 feet per mile. (that is as steep as I've hiked) and I've been to the Himalayas 7 times.

Of course, hiking can be vertical, depending on where you go but switchbacks are put in to make it easier (and do-able)
Yes, the whites are tough, but they are usually clear of blowdowns and maintained.
THAT makes them do-able.

It's all Good.

[Leanthree]

I have heard that Pantegonia (Argentina/Chile) is pretty grueling hiking too.

If we are going international (places worth going so excluding the poles, inside volcanos and other nonsense places) then just go to Tibet/Nepal.

[Papa D]

Wrangell-St. Elias National Park & Preserve, Alaska

[Cabin Fever]

Away from the buffet line

[Hikerhead]

The Harry Johns Trail in PA. I bet nobody has hiked that...except for one other.

[Papa D]

The Garnet Canyon Trail in the Tetons with full climbing and camping gear will get your attention - it's not close to the "hardest thing in the US" but it gains 1000' per mile for 6 miles - not exactly cake

[Feral Bill]

I have never hiked there but I would imagine Denali, Alaska is the answer to your question.

Surprisingly easy hiking. A very few easy trails, and plenty of strolling through the tundra. Must get back there.

[Mags]

The walk up my staircase at the end of the weekend. It means I have to wait until the following week to go hiking, climbing, skiing, backpacking etc.

Damn hard hike.

[Blissful]

So, I'd vote for the Whites.

Naa try the Mahoosucs of Maine. Makes the Whites seem easy.

[Cool Hands]

Naa try the Mahoosucs of Maine. Makes the Whites seem easy.

Hiked those last summer, I guess I kind of included them in my idea of the whole White Mountains area. The Mahoosucs are insane. I love how the trail just shoots up the mountainsides -- no switchbacks or anything.

[Snowleopard]

The Great Range Trail in the Adirondacks is fairly demanding and very beautiful:
Rooster Comb, Hedgehog, Lower Wolf Jaw, Upper Wolf Jaw, Armstrong, Gothics, Saddleback, Haystack and end with Marcy, 14000' elevation gain and loss. Armstrong, Gothics, Saddleback and Haystack are especially beautiful. Backpacking it is now harder than when I was on it because camping is not allowed above 3500' elev. I had intended to have a relaxing trip, but I had to walk faster than the black flies fly and couldn't stop without getting eaten.

For a shorter trail, Huntington Ravine in the White Mtns (NH) is supposed to be very steep, but I haven't done it yet.

King's Ravine Trail is not easy, but all the above are harder.