Rough Canyon Loop w/ Reavis 109 North

[nonot]

I'm thinking about taking a Friday off in October or November when the temps are nice and doing a 3 day, 2 night loop involving Rough Canyon, Paradise Canyon, and Reavis 109 N in the Supes. Hopefully Cimeron Mountain has some secrets to reveal. The off-trail terrain looks, well, rough, but the topo and satellite flyover views make it look doable. If anyone is interested, I'll listen to your input on the weekend, otherwise in a week or so I'll just pick a date and anyone who wants to join is welcome.

Keep in mind that a portion of this will be off-trail and it is likely at least some bushwhacking will be required, no whining about it since you are forewarned!

[te_wa]

You must mean the Flatiron. I dont know how to describe "harder" or not, Siphon Draw is steep yes but very well travelled. Rough Canyon hasnt seen a person (that we know of) in quite some time. I still dont think the route will be killer, or leave you for dead, but you have to understand these guys are Supes masters and we have all become accustomed to its challenges. This will pro'lly be like going up Frog tanks, but with catclaw and ironwood, jojoba and manzanita. (all hard as hell to bypass)

[JoelHazelton]

a.k.a. bloodbath. You seem like a pretty seasoned outdoorsman, but if heavy bushwhacking through prickly hell isn't on your resume, at least be ready for some serious discomfort. Too bad Lon doesn't visit the forums again and offer some insight on the canyon. He was here for like a day

[SuperstitionGuy]

I don't recall a lot of catclaw or any type of nasty cactus when I ventured through Rough Canyon. There of course is no trail but a lot of good old solid rock to climb up and over. There was very little water when I went through but of course I don't know the current water conditions of the Sups. Actually as I recall it was easier than Trap Canyon. Near the upper end was a spot that I had to hand over hand a short ways but it wasn't so much rock as just good old fashion dirt and vegetation. Have a good safe trip and take some time going through Rough Canyon and find the cliff dwelling that is supposed to be up there. Oh and don't forget the pictures as the fall colors should make it a nice trip.

[nonot]

OK, based on the feedback I'm going to set the date as firmly on Nov 21-23rd. Plan to meet somewhere in east Mesa on the morning of the 21st. If you are coming from east of globe it probably just makes more sense to meet at the trailhead.

Based on past experiences planning trips in November, it will either be:
snowing 2 feet deep
90 degrees


Let's hope for something in the middle.

When the date gets closer I'll PM meeting location and times.

[te_wa]

on Saturday November 6th of 2007, during the Trans Supes hike the high daytime temp reached 96° on the Roger's Canyon/JF trails. Do you remember?

[nonot]

96 was the last day on the Dutchman. The Roger's Canyon Trail was done when it was "only" 85-90 That was a freak heat wave though, if I remember correctly, the week before and after it was 15 degrees cooler.

[big_load]

In that week of 2003, it was 26F when I woke up along Two Bar Ridge, but it reached the mid-90s by the time I got down to the Tule TH.

[Hoffmaster]

Dang! Why do I have to be moving to Ohio on Sunday? This trip sounds so cool. I love bushwhacking in the Supes. Have fun guys!

[deserttarheel]

I am going to propose Nov 21-23rd and see what feedback I get over the next few days.

These dates work for me. If this is when we go, I'm in.

[scorpion scus]

im in, gots to meet some new hiking people that i can persuade to do some canyon trips. looking foward to it.

[te_wa]

awesome Mike! glad to have you aboard. so far the only planned trips are way to far off.. im getting antzy
powers garden is on the 25th

[rally_toad]

ugh... school on friday so I might not be able to make it unless I want to take a day off and do this.

What time in the morning you thinking of leaving? I might make this one, but I need to think about it.

[nonot]

The plan would be to leave sometime Friday morning. We have 8-10 miles to do the first day plus the drive in, so it will be a fairly full day. I don't think we have to meet at the crack of dawn...maybe rendezvous at 8AM-9AMish in the east Valley.

[wallyfrack]

I have to work Friday but I think I may hike in after dark. You only live once. If anyone wants to join in on the madness, let me know.

[rally_toad]

Hey Wally I'll join you in hiking after dark. That works alot better for me, then I wont have to miss school.

[wallyfrack]

Alex,
I work until 5p and wouldn't be home until 6p. I would be ready to leave by 6:15. I'd guess we'd get to camp around 10:30.
The trail is fairly flat and some downhill so we could make good time. It's aggressive but I like pain.

[rally_toad]

That sounds fine with me. I've done plenty of hiking in the dark before :bigth: just need to ask that saturday off work and then I will commit.

[rally_toad]

So whats the itenerary on this trip? Where we camping and whats the route. I know it says a loop involving Rough and Paradise but whats the route and plan for each day?

[nonot]

First and last days will be mostly spent on the Reavis North Trail.
Middle Day will be Rough Canyon and Paradise Canyon.

The campsite selections will be driven by where there is water.

I see two options for our first night: Plow Saddle Spring or near Frog Spring by the tanks.
Based on where we are the first night we will climb from there. It's 500+ feet less to climb from Plow Saddle, but it means we have to do more miles that day. I'm thinking we should let the water sources determine whether the middle day is done clockwise or counter clockwise. Potentially I guess if we camped at Plow Saddle we could even leave most of our stuff there and only carry water and food to do the loop up and down through Rough Canyon, that might be an advantage too.
For the second night either Plow Saddle Spring or near Reavis Gap trail.

I do not plan on bagging the peak or even attempting it, I do not think anyone will have time to do that.

[te_wa]

some of us (possilby myself too) will be hiking in on Friday evening. Reavis trail is easy to navigate under headlamp. There will be very little moonlight. If hiking in on Friday after work is the only option for you, you are not alone so that opens up potential for more attendees. The group hiking in on Friday morning will likely camp at either A) Plow Saddle Spring or B) a spot just south of where the Frog Tanks trail enters Roger's Canyon (7.6 miles day 1)
We stayed there this past w/e and it has to be one of the nicest small campsites in the Eastern Supes. This spot could also serve well as a base camp to enter Rough Canyon and then return to our gear, to head to a different campsite for Saturday night. At least this is what I gather from our discussion. I think Nonot makes the call. I can only bribe him with Shrimp Ramen. If that doesnt work, nothing will