TLDR: trees can only grow where there is enough water, and it's not too cold. Shocking study results!

@Karl09

The freeze dried Valley Camp organ meals need a bit of something extra, consider teaming them up along with some grilled gray matter as a side to truly entertain your palate on multiday trips.

Quick thoughts on other Areas that may be of interest to backpackers in March that avoid the Superstitions, Grand Canyon, and Mogollon Rim area: Mazatzal Wilderness - away from the Divide (e.g. near Verde River) Santa Teresa Wilderness trails Aravaipa Fossil Creek area (though this would be a short ...

We are looking at some locations in which most or all of us have not been and the Chiricahuas and Black River are two areas which were nominated for consideration, among others. ... Three days preferred. We have the ability to make the trip happen between January and March, but March is most likely...

Most water filters are going to protect you from bacteria but not viruses. Your sawyer should be fine for Aravaipa so long as you don't find yourself filtering immediately downstream of dead animals or near piles of excrement, and use the device as per its instructions.

If you go to your linked route in the route editor and right click on the map you can select the pinpoint forecast option at the crosshairs location. In the next two weeks you can see that the temperatures will be pleasant and maybe a bit on the Chilly side. However as we head into May and June I'd ...

Some places are cold sinks. If you are camping in a valley surrounded by mountains, expect it to be cooler. If you can look out from your campsite before nightfall and see somewhere the terrain drops down a few hundred feet below you it will be warmer at night. I've never actually measured using a t...

Your itinerary seems reasonable. Something to be aware of is that you will be in and out of the burnt patchwork of the Supes that was due to recent wildfires. Campsites are generally available elevated from the level of the washes and creekbeds you will encounter. You indicate you have little desert...

In Wally's recent trip he reported no water along the lower portion of West Fork Pinto Creek, near your planned first nights camp. As FYI, the trail between Rogers Trough and there is a suggestion at best in many areas. You can probably make it to within a half mile of the old Silver Spring cabin OK...

It would be more believable if the pool was fouled by a dead animal, compared to dry. (Just speculation, I have no direct knowledge of its current condition.)

Physically demanding on the wallet or your time to pay for the horse, hounds, and training of the animals, or do the training yourself. Also, having to track down the dog or a bolted horse that doesn't behave will get your heart pumping. But yeah, waddling off your horse to fire your rifle on a tree...

According to brief research on the Tonto website, your senior (America the Beautiful) interagency pass will only cover the use of Tonto NF picnic areas only. It does not cover the use of Tonto NF Shoreline use, nor Tonto NF boat launches. However, the Senior Tonto Discovery pass covers all 3 activit...

The slide area is just a gigantic pile of gravel. After you scale the wall, continue in a general down-river direction and follow the route that should be obvious from previous groups ahead of you. You will ascend slightly from the level of the top of the wall, gaining maybe 100 feet in elevation fr...

Also adding mention of the Pine Mountain Wilderness and Apache creek wilderness, as well as the massive Prescott Forest Service trail system to the south and west (and northwest) of Prescott. Albeit, some of these trails are really old roads. Blue Range in the east of the state has some good loop op...

As far as other options go, for the hotter months of the year, around Flagstaff there are backpacking loops possible when you combine the two AZT trails, the Flagstaff loop trail, the trails on Mt Elden and some other connector trails. But even with these, portions of these trails or loops are roadw...

Most loops involving the Highline trail will involve using the General Crook trail as part of the return loop. Much of the General Crook trail is along, or is, the rim road itself. However if you consider starting from the 260 TH then on the loop back you will be able to make use of a chunk of the G...

In the past 14 years of HAZ tracking: Chilson (https://hikearizona.com/dexcoder.php?PID=590107) Bear (https://hikearizona.com/dexcoder.php?PID=588661) have never been reported as dry. Thus these are pretty reliable springs, though I can understand the desire to get recent confirmation. Last HAZ repo...

if fixed anchors go, so could other types of recreation, like backcountry skiing. That's a jump I'm having a hard time making. :-k I had the same initial thought. My guess is that they are referring to potential expansion of regulations prohibiting travel on tundra. In winter, backcountry skiing is...

@nonot I don't believe there are any obstacles as it would make it difficult/impossible for certain emergency vehicles to pass (to rescue the people who ignore the signage). FWIW, I don't believe it is legal for ADOT to restrict specific types of vehicles from a state highway. I'll have to research...

Sarcasm aside, I'm glad the road is open again. Looking forward to the report on what obstacles were put in place in regards to the off road, high clearance only re-designation of Fish Creek Hill, and whether they took the approach you observe in Sedona. The news articles I have found only identify ...