FR449

[DarthStiller]

I'm planning to go to the Upper Horrell TH this sunday, Jan. 21. Rain is in the forecast for Fri. and Sat. anyone have any experience on that road after a recent rain when its not a downpour than can offer words of advice as to whether or not I should not chance. I have a 4WD, so that's not a problem.

[hikeaz]

In response to Stiller's reply:

It has been my experience that the dry sand on that "road" is more of a problem than runoff or wet sand. That said, the creek section and the steep hill leading down to it may be an issue if there is (high) running water.
You may keep an eye on the pinpointed trailhead weather forecast here >( dead link removed )

[joebartels]

Just keep your momentum in the sand and you'll be fine. Sometimes the creek crossing get a tad high after heavy rains. However with the lack of any recent heavy rains it should take several days of downpour to get to that point. Then again we're about due for a good ten year flood!

Now if it snows, I wouldn't want to be that far off the beaten path

It's such a fabulous area, enjoy!

[big_load]

Just keep your momentum in the sand and you'll be fine.

Here's a conversation that's getting all too frequent:

"Why are you speeding up?"
"We need a good head of steam to get across that sand."
"Are you sure we're going to make it all the way over?"
"Not entirely."

I'll spare you the rest of it.

[joebartels]

I've been in there after a recent deluge. Best advice, windshield wipers on before hitting the water or you're driving blind.

[DarthStiller]

FR 449A was ok, even after the snow. the trails, however, were another story. it was very difficult to find and stay on the trails with alll the snow. it didnt hit us until we were up on the Two Bar Ridge trail and didnt get to 6 inches until we were after our halfway point of the hike. the hike took 12 hours to complete, the last 2 hours of which were in the dark. Bad experience in some ways with all the snow, but all in all a memorable day and a good one since we're still breathing today.

the oddest thing we saw was bare footprints in the snow at the junction of Campaign creek trail and Reavis gap trail. they went all the way back to the Reevis Mt. school. I dont know if they were teaching them survival skills with that or what. it was dark when we saw them and I mentioned the Blair Witch project to my buddy. He was kind of freaked out by it and wanted to finish and get out of there ASAP.

[Nighthiker]

Bear.

[Grasshopper]

In response to Stiller's reply:

I was hoping that this 1/21 hiking trip you planned was the one where you guys were going to check out and report back on the status of that "decommissioned" portion of the East end of the Pinto Peak Tr#213 where it ends/begins at the NW end of FR306...wern't you the hiker who was hoping to get up FR306 one day to check out this section of Tr#213 so that you would not have to drive North to access it from FR449A?

My hiking buddy and I want to do FR305 to its end and then complete ~2.5mls we have yet to hike in on that Cuff Button Tr#276, so we can say we completed the #276 Tr.; and..hopefully while we are out there, IF enough daylight, we wanted to 4x4 up the creek of FR306 to its end to check out the TH start of that NW end/start of the Pinto Peak Tr#213.. but..probably not until this Spring'07; Would you have any interest in joining two of us next Spring, when hopefully my hiking buddy and I can plan it on a Saturday.. I have a "heavily modified"-rock crawler- Jeep Wrangler and you could also bring your 4x4? My Jeep will only hold two passengers with hiking gear. I have never been to FR305 or FR306.. have only viewed the details of it on the Superstition Wilderness Topo Map;

Regards,

[DarthStiller]

I did do that Trail 213 last month. we got to about a half mile from the end of the trail before we decided to head back. The map I had with me showed that the trail ended at a certain point at FR306. Once we got to that point (according to my GPS) there was still a trail. and older map I have showed that the trail continues until Flat Rock Spring (I think that was the name). I need to learn more about how to do a hike description and post pics on these hikes.

I would be interested in taking FR306 up to its end point and doing the last portion of Trail 213 that I didnt complete and then taking a semi-bushwhack trail up to a spring another half mile or so north. This older map I have shows a faint trail branching off from Trail 213 up to this spring as opposed to other maps I've seen that show FR306 continuing at this point.

FR306 isnt so bad, I doubt you need a crawler, unless its wet. In the spring of '04 me and a friend got back there and out with 2WD vehicles. My 4WD has served me well so far, so I have faith in its ability if my old 2WD Amigo could make it out and back.

[Hoffmaster]

Bear.

I think he means human footprints, without shoes. I doubt the Reevis school would teach survival skills to bears.

[Grasshopper]

In response to Stiller's reply:

Hello Stiller,

I will send you a PM (personal message email) sometime today-1/23, with more info so that WE ALL can plan another trip up to the end of FR305/FR306 sometime in the ~late Spring, when it warms up some in the day/night to do a full day outing to TR276 and TR213.

Regards,

[Nighthiker]

Peter Bigfoot sometimes waks about barefoot, but don't be surprized if it was a bear.

[azbackpackr]

I agree w/ Nighthiker. Bear tracks can look just amazingly like a human's. Usually a bit narrow in the heel, though.

[DarthStiller]

these that I saw I believe were bare human footprints. they were side by side with normal shoe/boot prints, so i doubt if it was a bear walking side by side with another person. they were kind of small and a bit narrow though. the toes got smaller from the big toe on down. they also looked rather fresh.

[hikeaz]

In response to Stiller's reply:

If not Peter, Cody Lundgren or one of his disciples, I'd venture........

[Nighthiker]

Regarding the tracks, perhaps one was tracking the other.