Thanks Burton for the heads up on Coyotes. I never realized that they can be a problem up there. Seems there have been several encounters in the last couple of years. Seems hang your food and smelly items away from your sleep site. Just like backpacking. And when you see them - be aggressive, throw rocks, make loud noises, etc. Any idea how the campsites up there handle the coyote problem? Or any other great scenic routes up in that direction that that may be slightly safer?

And how about water. Does anyone know if getting fresh water is a problem, or is it plentiful at stops along the way? Thanks again!