Kudos to you two for your accomplishments. I have been a backpacker all of my life, mostly in the western mountains and deserts. Eventually I took up mountaineering, but had to let that go due to age and injuries, but it sure was an exciting time in my life. Now in my late 60s, the best I can do is section hiking and 14ers. You are certainly right about the heavy use and party atmosphere. I try my best to avoid them, but it is getting to be more and more difficult. They are so full of hubris and at the same time so ignorant. Fortunately, these are mostly benign environments, so they don't often die when they do something stupid. Mike