Thanks for the update!
~ Michael

Cool! Sounds like I won't need to bring light crampons. One less thing to carry. But what about north of the Grand Canyon, in the Kaibab. Or is that snow melting out too?
~ Michael

Anyone needing a ride from Tucson airport area to the south border AZT trailhead on Monday morning March 14th, I have a shared private car ride seat available that would cost $35 (your share of our collective $70 cost). Let me know by PM if you are interested. Thanks.

~Michael

These are all AWESOME responses that are very helpful. Thank you very much. Issue solved!

~ Michael

I'm looking at the maps and trail data and seeing the following re-supply towns with post offices where I could ship food/supplies to: Start with food/supplies for 53 miles. mile 53: Patagonia; resupply for next 62 miles mile 115: Vail; resupply for next 93 miles mile 208: Oracle; resupply for next ...

I'd love to do without such cleets on this trip. But I'm concerned I might regret the 8 ounces saved, at least in a few segments in the beginning, and perhaps in north Kaibab. I'll have only one hiking pole with me, not two. Btw, this is a very newbie question, but I am guessing NOBO = North bound, ...

Yay! Someone else besides me who sees a likely AZT need for an ice/snow traction aid. Perhaps I'm not crazy after all. ;) Yeah, the Kahtoola Microspikes look good too. I am leaning toward the Hillsound only product because it's a little lighter and cheaper, and I am hoping its slightly smaller teeth...

The suggestion of calling the rangers I will definitely do before starting. Right, it's the snow already on the ground that I am thinking about, not a new storm. Thus the lightweight Hillsound FreeSteps6 Crampons. Anyone else taking (or has taken in the past) traction aids like that?

~ Michael

Thanks. Yes, I had read those previously, and in fact was the OP of one of those threads. ;) The last link you provided I find especially helpful -- I had forgotten you had suggested some segments to especially look out for... 27-30, and 34 -- which I would encounter in April, so there's more time f...

Thanks for your thoughts. For reference, here are the SNOTEL reports for AZ. But I'm not sure which of these places are very relevant along the AZT. The range of snow depths shown currently is anywhere from 2" to 52", with most places currently showing about 2 feet. http://www.wunderground...

Oh, and I forgot, a pair of gloves to wear inside my wool mittens, since my fingers are as susceptible to cold pain as my toes.
~ Michael

I will be hiking S > N the entire AZT starting March 14. It looks to me likely there may be a foot or two of snow on the ground in many higher places. With that in mind, here's my snow apparel strategy which I would love feedback about from other experienced AZT hikers: -- non-Goretex low-profile hi...

Ahh, I see. "Guthooks" is the same $10 iphone app I was referring to in the original post. That's reassuring. Thanks.
~ Michael

Thanks for your detailed replies. I am a little confused about the Guthooks reference you each make -- when I go to their site, I see no reference to anything about the Arizona Trail. What are you two referring to?
~ Michael

Hi, I'm a very experience hiker who will backpack solo S>N starting mid-March, and based on reading this fine site's info and other online resources like the main AZT site, it seems like I'd be fine buying the $10 iphone app for the AZT plus maybe downloading the various passage color map PDFs ahead...

I'm intending to go to the Tucson Book Fest from March 12-13, then probably get to the south border start point the next day or perhaps the day after (thus the 14th or 15th). I'm pretty much a solo hiker since I really value my quiet connection with nature in ventures like this, but would enjoy shar...

Hi, I intend to hike the AZT S>N in its entirety for the first time this year. Considering the El Nino increased rain/snow amounts recently in the higher elevations of AZ, what do you recommend as the ideal start time for this Spring from the Mexico Border? Perhaps late-March instead of mid-March? O...