10 days Feb. 22 - March 4

wedge · Post by **wedge** » Jan 15 2006 8:24 pm

2 Canadians looking to escape winter! Visited AZ last May, and fell in love with your state! On this trip, we are going to Organ Pipe the first three days. Any input about tent camping there? I have read that there are 2 campgrounds within monument grounds.

Also, any suggestions for moderate backcountry overnight stuff in Saguaro National Park? Douglas Spring, Tanque Verde? We have done a number of trails in Sabino Canyon as well as Catalina (Romero Canyon), and would like to try something different.

OK, this message is out of control...........also, any information about Chiricahua Monument camping? What kind of weather can we hope for in that area for late Feb?

big_load · Post by **big_load** » Jan 15 2006 9:44 pm

Also, any suggestions for moderate backcountry overnight stuff in Saguaro National Park? Douglas Spring, Tanque Verde?

For trips overnight trips in Saguaro, Tanque Verde is OK. Park your car inside the park and climb the ridge, spending the night at Juniper Basin. The peak is just beyond. You can double the length by spending the next night at Manning Camp.

azbackpackr · Post by **azbackpackr** » Jan 21 2006 7:10 am

Please be careful at Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument as it has become a major thoroughfare for illegal drug and human smugglers. A ranger was murdered there in the past year or so. Please don't disregard the dangers of running into people with automatic weapons crossing the border. I have backpacked there 10 years ago, and it was bad then, it is said to be worse now. It would be ok if you are just car camping with all the snowbirds but once you get into the backcountry you are not very safe.

te_wa · Post by **te_wa** » Jan 21 2006 2:29 pm

still, there are more murders in Mesa in one day... no one seems to consider this a problem!

Organ Pipe is not as bad as you might think- of course you are going to hear the bad and not the good.

I would not suggest however to feed or water the border jumpers, the last thing we need to degrade American lifestyle and economy is a bunch more "enablers".

You might consider Chiricahua Crest or other longer trails. Ive been waiting for someone to hit that area with.

azbackpackr · Post by **azbackpackr** » Jan 22 2006 6:08 am

There are more people in Mesa. I don't mean to be a fear-monger, but this border issue is a reality. I hope you Canadians do go to Organ Pipe, I should say, because it is a really neat area! So are all the other areas mentioned by the other people.

By the way, where do you live in Canada? I used to visit my aunt, who was a naturalized Canadian citizen, in Lillooet, BC. After she got really old she and her husband moved to Kamloops. I loved Lillooet, and the surrounding mountains, the rivers and lakes.

wetbeaverlover · Post by **wetbeaverlover** » Jan 22 2006 7:22 am

Organ Pipe is a beautiful place and I truly feel much safer there, in spite of the border issues than I feel in that concrete wilderness known as Phoenix.

te_wa · Post by **te_wa** » Jan 22 2006 9:55 am

wetbeaverlover wrote:Organ Pipe is a beautiful place and I truly feel much safer there, in spite of the border issues than I feel in that concrete wilderness known as Phoenix.

well said. I am reminded of the Aruba incident, where tourism plummetted to an all time low because ONE girl went missing. Rediculous!

theneuhauser · Post by **theneuhauser** » Jan 22 2006 11:54 am

also, any information about Chiricahua Monument camping?

The chricahua is great, during certain seasons, mainly sprin, summer and fall. While the base of the range is till great, including The national monument and other unique geography. You wont want to camp out at the very scenic, peak region. Temperatures at night can be down around 0-10 degrees farenheit with lots of wind.
Camped in the back of the truck up on top two years ago (nov/dec time) i listened to trees fall over all night, the watch read 16 degrees f the next morning.

For a good desert camp, drive to tombstone, and cut back up along the forest road that takes you into the backside of the cochise mtns. Once you get past a few rv's and a ranch, it's usually just you and the rocks. You might want to use this forum and search the "in season" hikes to identify some good trips.

deserttarheel · Post by **deserttarheel** » Jan 22 2006 5:14 pm

In response to wedge's reply:

Douglas spring is a nice campsite at 4800', as is tanque verde at 6000'. Both generally have water in Feb., but this has been a dry winter so check. Another nice place is deer spring on the back (East) side of the Rincons. In the Chiricahuas, check out the South Fork Forest Camp and Cave Creek trailheads on the east side. Both start at about 5000'.

However, you might find either the western Superstitions E of Phx or the Verde River Trail in the Mazatzal wilderness N of Phx more what you are looking for, b/c they are lower elevation. The Superstitions are more scenic (to me); the Mazatzal (locally mispronounced Matazal and closer to Mad as Hell -- it means "empty space in between" I think) is more remote: the road to the verde river trail is definitely 4wd high clearance.

And while you are probably safe in an established campground in Organ Pipe, I don't overnight there or in the Huachucas any more b/c of the smuggling. And the Huachucas are beautiful.

Brittany · Post by **Brittany** » Jan 22 2006 5:51 pm

In response to theneuhauser's reply: I did some camping out in the Chiricahuas a couple years ago in the September/October time frame. We stayed in Tombstone the first night and really didn't plan ahead to find places to camp. Don't do this. The closest thing they have to a campground are three RV parks that have a couple slots set aside for camping. It really didn't feel like camping much at all.

The next day the campground in the park was full, and we were told we could find camping at large at a nearby forest service road. If I recall correctly it was a right turn, not too far before the entrance to the park. The ranger at the park entrance should know. I remember we had to drive in a ways before we were in a legal camping area, but there were actually several very nice camping areas and it was nice to get out of a campground. The temperature got down to the high 30s that night, but with a good sleeping bag and tent, we were comfortable enough.

FredKinzer · Post by **FredKinzer** » Feb 14 2006 9:35 pm

In response to wedge's reply: For this time of year you may want to check out packing in the Superstitions from Peralta to Canyon Lake or go to Reavis Ranch.

avistar · Post by **avistar** » Feb 20 2006 8:52 pm

mt.wrightston is a great hike south of tucson they have campgrounds,and you can also camp on the mnt. it has an elevation of 9400' and a great camp at 7400' lots of room and flat there or baldy saddle, or on top is my personal best

,great view's and wildlife gota watch for bear's tho

ive been there many times over night and during the day and never seen a bear, ive heard them but never seen any, just keep food far from you at night. great beautiful hike. HAPPY TRAILS

azbackpackr · Post by **azbackpackr** » Feb 24 2006 5:44 am

Mt. Wrightson trails are all still closed, aren't they? Since the fire last year the Super Trail and Mt. Baldy Trail have been closed. I think I would have heard if they had opened up again.

10 days Feb. 22 - March 4

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