Route Editor
Route Scout
I've been thinking about this one since last year, but I have a few questions.
1. How close to the TH can I get in a rental car?
2. Is the mine construction interfering with access or degrading the experience?
3. Is the trail as interesting as it looks? This doesn't look like a classic AZ hike (especially since there's only one trip logged), but for some reason that wall of hills north of the highway makes me want to get out and start walking up.
Safford-Morenci
Moderator: HAZ - Moderators
Linked Area, etc none
contribute to this member driven resource
ie: RS > Save/Share after hikes 
-
RedRoxx44Guides: 5 | Official Routes: 0Triplogs Last: 4 d | RS: 0Water Reports 1Y: 0 | Last: 6,297 d - Joined: Feb 15 2003 8:07 am
- City, State: outside, anywhere
Re: Safford-Morenci
This one is on my list. HikeAZ did this one several months ago. I know they plan at some point to do a repeat. Might drop Kurt a PM
contribute to this member driven resource
ie: RS > Save/Share after hikes
-
hikeazGuides: 6 | Official Routes: 0Triplogs Last: 1,015 d | RS: 0Water Reports 1Y: 0 | Last: 1,015 d - Joined: May 13 2002 10:07 am
- City, State: Tempe, AZ
- Contact:
Re: Safford-Morenci
big_load wrote:I've been thinking about this one since last year, but I have a few questions.
1. How close to the TH can I get in a rental car? At the west end, if it is at all muddy, a 2WD car will likely not make it - no real clearance issues, though.
The east end, on the other hand, isn't too bad - there is one creek crossing (Turkey?) but the water is generally about 6-8 inches deep - Obviously this is variable.
2. Is the mine construction interfering with access or degrading the experience? We went before they got going on the mine expansion in earnest, so I have no up-to-the-minute data, but when we went there was little to no mine blight to be seen.
3. Is the trail as interesting as it looks? It is an interesting and worthwhile hike - Remember, we did it as as a shuttle - If you have to pick an end to go in-and-out from, scenery-wise I'd pick the western T/H to Bonita, although the eastern end has it's attractions as well. The thru-hike hike is quite varying in type of terrain and features. I would doubt that you will see another soul. This doesn't look like a classic AZ hike (especially since there's only one trip logged), but for some reason that wall of hills north of the highway makes me want to get out and start walking up.
"The censorship method ... is that of handing the job over to some frail and erring mortal man, and making him omnipotent on the assumption that his official status will make him infallible and omniscient."
George Bernard Shaw
George Bernard Shaw
contribute to this member driven resource
ie: RS > Save/Share after hikes
-
PrestonSandsGuides: 170 | Official Routes: 86Triplogs Last: 276 d | RS: 0Water Reports 1Y: 4 | Last: 284 d - Joined: Apr 12 2004 10:59 pm
- City, State: Tucson, AZ
- Contact:
Re: Safford-Morenci
The Safford mine is growing daily, but is not yet a disgusting eye sore. You can kind of see the mine on the left center of this pic: http://hikearizona.com/phoZOOM.php?ZIP=50278
"…you never know when a hike might break out" -Jim Gaffigan
contribute to this member driven resource
ie: RS > Save/Share after hikes