3 day, 2 night, looking for ideas

[Thoreau]

So that Zane Grey thing scuttled the boat on prior plans, and vacation time is already set for that weekend and come hell or high water, I need to get the hell outta town to unwind a bit =)

So looking for ideas for what to do with 3 days, and where to go for the weekend of the 23rd.

Ideally nothing frozen as I've only got a bag that's EN rated to 29 (and makes me really question the EN rating system...) No objection to miles, so long as there's some water and shade.

Sadly, it seems as if the only area that's really prime right now is right smack where those runners are gonna be. I'm still gonna start a social media campaign to convince them all that the area is ebola infested and to not attend the run, so hopefully that pans out.

[chumley]

Sadly, it seems as if the only area that's really prime right now...

April in Arizona? "Prime" covers more of the state than possibly any other month of the year! Eastern Supes, Mazzies, Sierra Ancha, Bradshaws, Sedona, Teresas, Galiuros, Chiricahuas, etc. etc. etc.!

Here's the map for PRIME backpacking hikes in APRIL. Refine the parameters to narrow it down some more!
http://hikearizona.com/map.php?QX=4708

[Tough_Boots]

@Thoreau

How many miles a day are you wanting?

[Thoreau]

Pretty flexible id say. My main focus is just getting out there somewhere and enjoying some time. That said, id say upwards of ten a day is acceptable (if co ditions and views are worth it anyway.)

Using chumleys link above i found a couple spots down along the huachuas, and near klondyke, that seem somewhat promising... Azt 1, get 8, and powers garden.

[johnlp]

Aravaipa

[Thoreau]

Aravaipa has been on my want list for ages. So much so that i checked a few times since this weekend was carved out for permits, but as expected, no luck =(

Gotta get to a computer to consult the maps for some more likely candidates again. A lot of what i was looking at so far would be a stretch, at best, given drive times eating into it.

One trail that my mind does keep returning to from past experience is hells gate. I wonder how plausible it is to make that into a shuttle trip. I see one route that follows tonto creek up to bear flat, but that looks to be quite wet, and this time of year isnt gonna be warm. There even seems to be a trail just east a bit down haigler that eventually links back up to bear flat, but the stretch between the haigler/tonto confluence and where that trail starts on mytopo map layers worries me as possibly being as wet or wetter. (Really not too keen on having to go buy up a half ton of dry bags and lug them around, or being wet in those temps.)

[up2top]

I wouldn't think finding a 3 day trip this time of year would be that hard, but we're coming up with goose eggs every where we turn. Sedona? Great for day hikes; not so much for multi-day unless you pack all your water. Bradshaws? Where? I pulled up all routes around Crown King -- can't find anything with a reliable water source. There are a couple of awesome hikes down near Klondyke, but we'd need at least one more day, and I'm stuck at 3 maximum. Eastern Supes? Been there, done that -- twice this year. Might go again, but water sources were drying up quickly when I was there 3/12. Reavis Ranch will likely be the only reliable source and if temps stay this hot, the rest of the hike would be too hot, anyways.

I haven't explored the Mazzies yet, but most of those routes look to be fully exposed all day and no water source. I'd be happy to be wrong. Any suggestions? And I think we'd be fine with 12-15 miles a day, depending on the amount of bush whacking necessary. We're not above blazing trail in less traveled areas. We've hiked some in the Blue Range.

[chumley]

@up2top
Not sure what dates you're talking about, but with the next week looking to be in the 70s to barely 80 at PHX, I can't imagine that anywhere would be too hot. The forecast is calling for spritzes of rain off and on for the next week too, so some additional runoff might invigorate some streams. Not that there should be any problem finding water in any of Arizona's mountains in spring anyway. There's still snow melting in plenty of places!

Now if you are planning for something 3-4 weeks from now, things may change a bit.

[rcorfman]

I kinda doubt the Zane Grey race would have much of an impact on a three day outing along the Highline Trail. It actually might be fun to see a few of the runners pass by anyhow.

[Tough_Boots]

I second that the Mazzies have reliable water sources right now

Apache Creek Wilderness?

[up2top]

I kinda doubt the Zane Grey race would have much of an impact on a three day outing along the Highline Trail. It actually might be fun to see a few of the runners pass by anyhow.

We're not willing to take the chance. Adam has worked comms for many similar events and the amount of traffic the trails and see in support of the race is significant. I don't want to be anywhere near that kind of atmosphere.

[up2top]

@up2top
Not sure what dates you're talking about, but with the next week looking to be in the 70s to barely 80 at PHX, I can't imagine that anywhere would be too hot. The forecast is calling for spritzes of rain off and on for the next week too, so some additional runoff might invigorate some streams. Not that there should be any problem finding water in any of Arizona's mountains in spring anyway. There's still snow melting in plenty of places!

Now if you are planning for something 3-4 weeks from now, things may change a bit.

Yeah, looking at the extended forecast for the Supes, it does look like those trails may still be viable options. Especially in the eastern part. Still no water in Sedona or the Bradshaws that I can find that support a 3 day trip, but maybe I'm missing some good options. I'm open to suggestions for 30+ mile loop hikes or end-to-end with a shuttle. Prefer to not do an out-and-back.

[big_load]

Sedona? Great for day hikes; not so much for multi-day unless you pack all your water.

Maintaining the ability to pack all my water is half of what keeps my clothes from getting too small. (The other half is not eating as much as I could carry).

[joebartels]

Bradshaws? Where?

Poland Creek and Horsethief Creek were running two weeks ago
http://hikearizona.com/map.php?GPS=31822
Horsetheif Lake is nearby up top

Horsethief Creek may be less but certainly enough to filter

However I would not leave a vehicle overnight on 259, it's a known issue area. Top is usually high clearance accessible. @The_Eagle would know better

[mazatzal]

I hesitate to comment but decided it was time. The Mazatzal Wilderness is clearly the finest destination for such an excursion in April :SB: ;)

[chumley]

@mazatzal
only because backpacking isn't permitted in the mcdowells? ;)

[mazatzal]

@chumley
It used to be ;)

[maryl]

Arivaipa- did you check the east entrance permits? I love to backpack the Aravaipa. The east entrance is amazing.
Did the Mazzies a few weeks back. From Barnhart to the river pretty well marked but once you hit the river it's a lot of rock hopping and carin searching. Going was a bit slow. We didn't make it to Reavis but found a decent place to camp and head back out the next day. If you really have time and wanna put a 6 hour travel time I to your trip head out to the Gilla wilderness. I just did Jordan hot springs. Amazing! Talked to other hikers and they say the Gilla loop is good too