Help keep this newb from killing himself (Sycamore Creek overnight)

[TooOld2Hike_EP]

Am 68.

Wisdom is supposed to come w/ age. Not always true, as I will soon show.

Total newb to backpacking. (Didn't do Scouting as a kid.) While I have good equipment (eg., "The Cadillac of Backpacks"), that doesn't mean I know how to 'drive.'

There's a winter storm coming to the Matazal area early this week. (Beeline Highway.) I'm an engineer type, and am somewhat obsessed with testing mods I've made to my 'sleep system.' I want to see how it performs below freezing.

The forecast low on Wednesday night south of Payson is around 20 degrees (F). Last year I tested my system to 29 degrees at the Houston Mesa campground in Payson, and it was fine. But the FS closed HM this February, so I can't camp there this coming week.

The KOA campground in Payson is available. But it doesn't sound like fun.

So, I'm thinking about driving to the Sycamore Creek area of the AZT and doing an out & back hike on the AZT with an overnight to brave the cold. (And have some fun.)

(FWIW, I've been training here (N Phx) and hiked 5 miles today with 25 lbs without any issues. I don't know how I would do at 3500' altitude though.)

There are a lot of things that I don't know. For example, I don't know about the trailhead.

From what I've read on HAZ, I'm supposed to loop around from the north on Old Highway 87 to a trailhead. ("The" trailhead?) But according to my GPS map and a satellite image, I can drive to a differnt trailhead from the south portion of Old Highway 87 that connects to the AZT in a half mile.

From the satallite image, it looks like I drive onto business lots. And then the asphalt ends. Is that the trailhead? Or do I continue on the dirt road to the dirt oval? (My truck is a 4x4, and I checked engagment today.) Hard to tell from the satellite. But it looks like a fence blocks vehicle access to the oval.

The weather forecast there is for rain (and possibly snow) Tuesday. Does that mean that the dirt roads will be impassible? Or that I will get myself in, but not out? (I doubt that AAA will come to save me.)

Once on the AZT, I thought that I would pick a direction and hike for a while and then pitch my tent around 5 pm.

Is it safe to leave my truck there? Or will I come back to find my tires stolen?

Would it be better to return near my truck for the night? Is that allowed? (I read that we're not supposed to camp on private property, and I understand that. I can't tell from the satellite if it's private or public.)

Or, alternatively, I could loop around on the north side of Old Hightway 87 to a dead end oval where they broke up the Highway. (I wonder why?) Can I camp there?

I'm leaving the security of improved campgrounds for the uknown. Which is kind of dumb to do for the first time solo.

(The good news is that there shoudn't be any rattlesnakes out.)

Would you please share your wisdom with me so I don't do something too stupid.

(Or if someone wants to come along - I'm mild mannered (I don't swear.))

[mazatzal]

@TooOld2HikeQ
We met you on the trail on Thursday.. I was with the group doing trail maintenance on AZT 22b (aka Little Saddle Mountain trail #244). Thanks for telling us about the deadfall. We took care of it [ photo ] [ photo ]

[TooOld2Hike_EP]

@mazatzal
Wow, you all do a fantastic job! Being a newbie, I thought that straddling the tree was part of the 'charm' of hiking!

I hate to quote a certain past president, but here it is very true that "I didn't build that."

I wouldn't have been able to make this hike without you all clearning the way. So thanks again!

(I think that I have been 'bitten' - I am hoping, in mid-March, to take the Mormon Grove way next time. In the meanitme, I'll keep training with 25 lbs on my back.)

[TooOld2Hike_EP]

triplog (such as it is) posted.