Pack light and go hiking

Spring hiking may be at its best right now, almost anywhere. Just remember the old maxim: It’s the art of knowing what not to take. Here are the best current fares to some grand hiking areas.

*--* DENVER LAX $234 American, Continental, Delta, Frontier, United SNA 324 American, Delta, Frontier, United BUR 340 Delta, United, US Airways LGB 234 Delta, US Airways ONT 249 American, Delta, United

*--*

*--* COUNTY CORK, IRELAND LAX $570 Aer Lingus, American, British, Continental, Delta, United

*--*

*--* EL CALAFATE, ARGENTINA (PATAGONIA) LAX $1,253 American, Continental, Copa, Delta, LAN

*--*

*--* FLAGSTAFF, ARIZ. LAX $178 US Airways SNA 178 US Airways BUR 182 US Airways LGB 178 US Airways ONT 178 US Airways

*--*

*--* FRESNO LAX $238 Alaska, American, United, US Airways SNA 358 United, US Airways BUR 448 United, US Airways LGB 392 US Airways ONT 118 ExpressJet

*--*

*--* JACKSON HOLE, WYO. LAX $465 Delta, United SNA 465 Delta, United BUR 451 Delta, United LGB 505 Delta ONT 449 Delta, United

*--*

*--* QUEENSTOWN, NEW ZEALAND LAX $1,295 Air New Zealand, Qantas, United

*--*

*--* YELLOWSTONE (CODY, WYO.) LAX $522 Delta, United SNA 499 Delta BUR 499 Delta LGB 469 Delta ONT 499 Delta

*--*

Restricted round-trip airfares as researched on computer Thursday, the day before the travel section goes to press. Fares change daily, and availability is not assured. Fares, which may require a stop or a change of plane, are for airlines serving Los Angeles International (LAX), Orange County/John Wayne (SNA), Burbank/Bob Hope (BUR), L.A. Ontario (ONT) and Long Beach (LGB). Domestic fares include sales tax; international airfares do not. There may be additional surcharges on both.

Sources: Sabre reservation system, airlines and Web