Four Peaks WA Intel Mission, Sunday, May 25

[DarthStiller]

Depending on the weather forecast (mainly temperature), I want to do either the Chillicut Trail from the Rock Creek TH or the Oak Flat Trail to the 4Peaks Trail to where I left off on the Buckhorn Mt. hike I did last week. If the weather is hot, we can do Chillicut (out and back, 6 miles RT, 3000') or if its only lower 90s, we can try the Oak Flat (maybe 12 miles RT, out and back, 2000'-3000'). I really want to resolve what's really there vs. what the maps say and post the GPS routes so this area isn't so much of a mystery. The views over there are astounding, by the way. The eastern side of 4Peaks, Roosevelt Lake, etc, is amazing. the elevation will be in the 5000' range (+ 750') so that should help in terms of the temperature. Anyone game?

[tonyp]

I'm in, though I doubt my Buick will be much of a resource.

Tony

[DarthStiller]

Wally and I have the 4x4's, so we can handle that end of it. The weather this week will decide which trail we take. Probably a week from today we can discuss on the board and make a decision.

[wallyfrack]

If the current forecast holds up, we should go long. I may have to bring a sweater.

[joebartels]

I'm game for whatever plan unfolds.

I called the Tonto Forest to try and find a clue if it's scorched in the lower parts or a chaparral bushwhack. They sent me to the Mesa district and they sent me to the Tonto Basin district. After taking them on a virtual ride to the trailhead the least I can say is now they've heard of Oak Flat #123 & Chillicut Trail #132

[DarthStiller]

Doesn't give you much faith that that area will ever be properly mapped, unless we do it...

At least it looks like it won't be hot. I'm leaning towards the Oak Flat/4Peaks-AZT plan. Bring the ponchos if you got 'em. Nice to see a crew developing.

[DarthStiller]

The NWS Phoenix website has a forecast high of 56 and 40% chance of "measurable" precip. We'l see how that changes in the next 36 hours. Looks like the Oak Flat/AZT longer hike is in order. I checked it on TopoUSA and it doesn't look like it should go much over 13 miles, if it goes that far. Chime in if you have any other preference/idea/unresolved childhood issues, etc. Leave from my house in Mesa 5:30am.

[DarthStiller]

Ok, the forecast tomorrow in our location is officially 71 and sunny. Should be nice and cool.

With that in mind, here's an idea. It is possible to do this hike as a loop. The Chillicut Trail is supposed to go to the top of Buckhorn Mt. I've seen two recent maps that show this trail fades off about 2 miles north of that. I've plotted waypoints at a guestimate of where the new alignment of the AZT-4Peaks trail will be if it stays at the same elevation like it did when we hiked a portion of it. I would like to look for the junction with the Chillicut trail if its still there. if we can make anything out, we could hike the Chillicut trail back to the Rock Creek TH by FR445A to FR445 to the Oak Flat TH. this loop would be about 14 miles RT.

If we don't see a trail, maybe we can take a consensus vote on trying to bushwhack down to where the Chillicut trail ends. A 2 miles bushwhack doesnt really appeal to me, but it would be all down hill, so that might help a bit. Its also downhill into a canyon, so that might not be good.

We can discuss in the morning and see what everyone thinks. we could take two cars and leave one at the Rock Creek TH. the shuttle distance is only a few miles. it would save a little time hiking on the road, and if we do decide to do a 2 mile bushwhack, a mile or so less hiking might be nice respite.

Let me know what you think, or we'll just discuss tomorrow.

[joebartels]

Loops are always preferred but I'm game for any plan. I'm dressing for the worse. If it's the manzanita crap Preston and I went through at Alder Saddle then it'll be sloooow going.

[DarthStiller]

The manzanita's always worse going uphill. I think I learned how to deal with that in my eastern Supes expeditions. I take the football mindset and bust thru like a running back. the thick brush with the thin scratchy branches is the killer stuff. and if there's catclaw, all bets are off.

[tonyp]

The Forest Service describes the Chilicut as "heavily damaged" from fire, which could mean an obstacle course over charred logs. For me, that's a break-even with pushing through manzanita thickets. From the topo, the drop into the canyon looks doable, but that's just lines on paper. We may have to make this decision on the trail. It seems an easy enough car shuttle that we don't lose anything if we stare down and decide just to double back.

I gotta think the Chillicut goes at least to the spring.