5 day backpacking trip in mid-November

[gorgehiker]

Hello friends, I'm interested in a finding a 50-75 mile trek I might be able to do on the AZT that will be WARM over Thanksgiving week in November. I do not have appropriate gear for freezing nighttime temps, so are there any options that would keep me in warmer temps that time of year? Thanks!!!

[garyc57]

@gorgehiker,

Two years ago, my son and I hiked the Tortilla Mountains segment the two days after Thanksgiving.

We camped near N 33.013348, W -110.997776, and it froze overnight. The tarp over my sleeping bag had frost on it. My cheapo Wal-Mart thermometer read 26 degrees, and our water jugs were frozen around the outside edges. Granted, we were in the bottom of a wash (where all the cold air sinks to); had we camped up on a ridge, it might have been warmer.

The Tortilla Mountains segment is arguably one of the lowest segment on the entire Arizona Trail. I don't know that you'll find anything much warmer.

Either try to hike earlier, or be prepared for the cold temps. YMMV. But above all, HAVE FUN!

[gorgehiker]

Oh dear. Thanks for this info. Good to know! I do not have the gear (nor the fortitude) for camping in the cold so I'll have to postpone this trail for the spring. Thanks again for the reply.

[nonot]

november is difficult to plan for. On one particular day it could be 90 degrees in the valley and the next week it could be 60, often times it is good to have a warm weather plan and a cold weather plan and just decide a few days before which to do.