[FLHiker]

I'll be in northern Arizona in the middle of April (coming from Florida for vacation) and am interested in climbing Humphreys Peak. I know that this year has been slightly below normal for snowfall (according to the Arizona Snowbowl website), but I was wondering what sort of conditions to expect, how difficult route finding is, if it would be possible to glissade, how much avalanche danger is to be expected, etc. Any help would be greatly appreciated!

[Jim_H]

I was wondering what sort of conditions to expect,

AM ice and PM slop.

how difficult route finding is

easy to moderate


if it would be possible to glissade
No

how much avalanche danger is to be expected
None


Best to check back in early April for better beta, if there will be any. April is just about the worst month on the on the Peaks, early to mid May is the tail end of the bad spring melt off. I would say the spring melt is roughly late March to mid-May, but it varies from year to year.

[FLHiker]

Thank you for the information! I guess I was under the impression that there would be more snow still on the mountain in April. Would you recommend following the hiker's trail up from the snowbowl parking lot or going the more direct "Winter Route?"

[azbackpackr]

I'd recommend hiking the Canyon instead!

[Jim_H]

I would recommend the trail in April.

[FLHiker]

Don't worry, we'll be hiking the Canyon also, and visiting Wupatki N.M, Sunset Crater N.M., Petrified Forest N.P., and a bunch of places in NM, UT, CO, and NV. We're out west for 3 weeks and really looking forward to it!