3 day, 2 night backpacking trip! please help!

[joshyboy1369]

I would like to go somewhere in the forest, i wont mind a little bit of snow or just cold weather. It would need to have drinkable water along the trail. i wont mind walking betwen 12 and 15 miles a day, maybe a little more.. please tell me a trail name, and if you know where i can get a detailed map. Thanks alot!!

[JoelHazelton]

You posted this in the Grand Canyon forum... Are you asking for a trail in the Grand Canyon? Are you bringing a filter? I wouldn't depend on drinkable unfiltered water anywhere, even if there's a spring. Diarrhea when you're 20 miles deep in the wilderness can't be fun.

[Jim]

Thats a pretty tall order, needing water on the trail. Can you be more specific to an area, other than just forest?

I would suggest a trip that parallels the Mogollon Rim above Payson. I believe there are some creeks that might have water in them, and there are some larger dams and lakes in that area as well. We have an almost complete absence of surface water around Flagstaff, so that is the best area for surface water that is in the forest. Some trail are Barber shop trail #91.
You might also try some areas around Payson that may have water, or the White Mountains. The loop to Baldy Peak in the Whites may be just what you are looking for.

[big_load]

Diarrhea when you're 20 miles deep in the wilderness can't be fun.

That's for sure. One of my hiking buddies was on a trip in the GC last year in which the whole group suffered diarrhea, apparently from food on the morning of their departure. One of them died of dehydration.

[Jim]

One of them died of dehydration.

Are you serious?

[big_load]

One of them died of dehydration.

Are you serious?

Unfortunately, yes.

Needless to say, it was traumatic for all involved. Two hikers remained with the deceased for two days while the other two hiked out for help. I wish I could remember the dates, but I think it was in the Spring of 2007. Since then I've had dinner with one of them and been hiking twice with another. They're all doing much better now.

It's probably worth noting that some GC water sources contain chemical that make them either unsuitable or marginally suitable for drinking, even if filtered.

[Jeffshadows]

One of them died of dehydration.

Are you serious?

Unfortunately, yes.

Needless to say, it was traumatic for all involved. Two hikers remained with the deceased for two days while the other two hiked out for help. I wish I could remember the dates, but I think it was in the Spring of 2007. Since then I've had dinner with one of them and been hiking twice with another. They're all doing much better now.

It's probably worth noting that some GC water sources contain chemical that make them either unsuitable or marginally suitable for drinking, even if filtered.

Especially Miner's Spring, if I remember correctly. I used to have a chart...I'll see if I can find it again...

[Jeffshadows]

Here it is as a PDF; looks like they've updated it recently, too...

Grand Canyon Water Sources.pdf

(334.72 KiB) Downloaded 186 times

[te_wa]

well thats not entirely true. the GC simply states that the water may contain levels of arsenic and/or mercury that are unsuitable for constant consumption, but have yet to identify any true risk as I recall, they say that it is not tested by officials (epa?)
however, it may be noted that arsenic is a leading cause of lung cancer, and is found moreso in AZ water (municipal) than any other state. At least these were the statistics given me by the DEQ of AZ state- several years ago.
So given the fact that I eat sushi once a week, im likely to get more mercury than the 2x a year I visit GC. YMMV ;)

to the OP: try the Highline trail. It has forest, good views in many spots, runs 51 miles, great weather right now, crosses at least 8 reliable streams and some springs too. 3 days would be 17 miles a day. Start at 260 th and hike to Tonto creek (hatchery) camp for the night. Night 2 camp at Washington Park. Last day from Pine TH walk up the road to the Rimside Grille and have lunch with the owner, Steve.

[big_load]

well thats not entirely true. the GC simply states that the water may contain levels of arsenic and/or mercury that are unsuitable for constant consumption, but have yet to identify any true risk as I recall, they say that it is not tested by officials (epa?)
however, it may be noted that arsenic is a leading cause of lung cancer, and is found moreso in AZ water (municipal) than any other state. At least these were the statistics given me by the DEQ of AZ state- several years ago.

Arsenic and mercury would be lesser concerns for me, too. A more immediate problem would be water that's too highly alkaline.

[nonot]

Can you even drink some of the grand canyon stream water...Little Colorado...Garnet...I thought it was so alkaline it would make you ill?

[Jeffshadows]

Can't be too much worse than Tucson city water...

[Al_HikesAZ]

I agree with the Highline Trail recommendation. If you are fixated on hiking the forests on the North Rim, consider the Arizona Trail Sections from the North Rim across the Kaibab Plateau. Should be some water in the stock tanks. But be careful & wear orange - I'm not sure when Mule Deer Season happens on the North Kaibab. If you disturb a stock tank that a hunter has set up for, you could have some surprises.

[azbackpackr]

Miner's Spring near Horseshoe Mesa?? I have used that water on several occasions, never knew it was supposed to be bad. I did filter it, of course! And of course, my filter is not going to remove arsenic. Considering there are several old mines right by there, I would assume heavy metals and arsenic, and maybe even asbestos, would be in a lot of GC springs. It would be difficult to spend several days at Horseshoe Mesa, which I enjoy doing for the view, without having to refill your jugs at Miner's Spring. Never bothered me.

Where were the people who got sick, where the one person died? Oh, I see, you said it was from food? What did they eat? Moral of that story is bring Immodium in your first aid kit, and also keep your hands clean with baby or alcohol wipes, and keep your dishes clean with boiling, and don't eat yesterday's cooked food. That is very, very sad, though, but I just thought inserting some info on prevention would be apropos. Also, when filtering water you have to be so careful with the hoses, so as not to contaminate them--the intake should never touch the outflow, and you should keep your outflow tube in its little bag. This could be a problem for me because I am often sharing my filter with other people who are not as careful as I am.

It is getting very cold in the White Mtns. When I rode my bike to work yesterday morning it was 17 degrees. (Yeah, I'm tough!) Two backpackers camped at the junction of East and West Baldy Trails this past weekend called for help on their cell phone when 8 inches of snow obliterated the already bad trails, which as many of you know are covered with hundreds of dead trees. Apache County Sheriff's Posse horseback riders went to them and directed them as to the way out. (Yeah, I know, if they had a GPS, which they did, they should have GPS'd their route, and then could follow it back through the snow. On the other hand, Sheriff's Posse LOVES call-outs, they don't get many of them! They get to use all their toys, etc.)

I personally am heading for the desert this winter.