Blue Ridge AZT Section and Blue Ridge Reservoir

[kylemorgan]

A buddy and I are talking about heading up there this weekend for some camping/hiking/kayaking. I see that the campgrounds are closed and that's fine, I prefer to camp away from everything. I'm wondering if we're allowed to camp around the reservoir, if it's still open for boating/fishing, where we can park (trailhead?), and what permits are needed. Any info would help. Thanks.

[te_wa]

to kayak I suppose you will need the boat launch. Or portage it 1/4 mile to the water. The boat ramp is open, and you can camp on the western arm of the lake about 1/2 way down there are 2 very nice campspots on either side of the lake. Both are about 20' above the water, so keep your eyes peeled as you paddle south.
You might just forgo the boating thing and hike the section in your title "blue ridge azt section"
it starts at General Springs cabin and goes very close to the Resevoir as it makes its way up to Rock Crossing (?) campground. Ive done this section, there is an ultra-cool camp spot down stream on E. clear creek about 200 yds from where the trail crosses and heads up the hill. No permits needed for Coconino forest right?

oh, and ya better dress for cold weather. expected lows... 20-21

[kylemorgan]

Don't need a boat launch, just some place where we can walk down to the water reasonably close to either the road or a trail that I can take my Jeep on.

[Dschur]

Yeah the prediction for Payson is 60s for the high and 35 at night. With 50 percent chance of showers
for Happy Jack area

Tonight: A slight chance of rain showers. Snow level 10200 feet lowering to 7300 feet after midnight . Partly cloudy, with a low around 40. Windy, with a southwest wind between 25 and 32 mph, with gusts as high as 49 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

Saturday: A 30 percent chance of snow showers, mainly before 11am. Partly cloudy, with a high near 46. Windy, with a southwest wind between 30 and 38 mph, with gusts as high as 55 mph. Little or no snow accumulation expected.

Saturday Night: A 10 percent chance of snow showers before 11pm. Partly cloudy, with a low around 24. Breezy, with a west southwest wind 19 to 22 mph becoming west northwest 7 to 10 mph. Winds could gust as high as 33 mph.

Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 47. North northwest wind between 3 and 8 mph.

[te_wa]

Saturday: A 30 percent chance of snow showers, mainly before 11am. Partly cloudy, with a high near 46. Windy, with a southwest wind between 30 and 38 mph, with gusts as high as 55 mph. Little or no snow accumulation expected.

55 mph??
forget it... this according to the NOAA who are right on the weather about 50% of the time. (but I like how they list on their site "100% chance of rain" ...while its raining... no kidding)

but hey, anything over 10mph in a kayak can be a problem

[kylemorgan]

Yeah.....looks like plans are changing. Thanks for the tips. We're going to look for something closer to town. Kayaks + really cold + 55mph wind = no fun.

[Grasshopper]

Why don't you guys consider joining some of us in the Pinal's south of Globe,AZ at the Six Shooter TR#197 lower TH off FR112A at ~8:30am?

HAZ- Ken, James Lyding, Bob, rlrjamy, and myself are going to do a ~12ml loop hike up to the top via Icehouse Canyon TR to FR651, then FR651 to Pineline TR to Middle TR to Sixshooter Tr and back down to our parking at the lower TH... should be a fun, cool, and windy one tomorrow and not that far from the PHX area!