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!

[rally_toad]

Speaking I think for those of us hiking in the dark. I know I for one would prefer Plow Saddle for a campsite just because I dont want to try and follow Frog Tanks in the dark to our campsite. If we have extra time the 2nd day, Im going to have to jump over to Reavis Ranch really quickly because I have never been there before.

[hikeaz]

In reviewing the map it appears that a possible route would be to drop into the E-W portion of Paradise from either the Frog Tanks or Willow Creek drainages and head west in Paradise to pick up the Frog Tanks Trail southwest down to its intersection with Rough Canyon at its mouth. From there it appears feasible to head up Rough Canyon & cross over that saddle into the N-S portion of Paradise Canyon & then climb out Willow Canyon back to the Reavis Trail. Obviously, we could reverse this as well.
Thoughts?

[nonot]

You're pretty close to what I have planned Kurt, but I plan on making use of a N-S ridge to avoid a good section of thick brush.

Without knowing where we will find water, I cannot make any guarantees of camping near Plow Saddle. Keep in mind that the north half of Frog Tanks is very different than the south half. However, going in at night will be very difficult for you, especially if we have to go all the way to Fish Creek to find agua.

I just did a photo alignment with the planned route and it looks solid, the only thing I have no idea about is how bad Rough Canyon will be.

We will be using the hill dead center of this badly stitched photo: http://www.hikearizona.com/phoZOOM.php?ZIP=62454

[rally_toad]

I was talking to my friend Andrew again and he wants to join us on this one too, so plan on another person. He will be joining me and Wally and the other nighthikers on friday.

[te_wa]

some of us (possilby myself too) will be hiking in on Friday evening.

if anyone wants to leave Friday at or around noon, Im going to be driving to the trailhead then. Tyrone Anderson might be joining me. I dont want to hike in at night but cannot leave Phx. before 11 am.
We will be leaving from Ftn Hills area around 12:00 pm.
I can seat 4, comfortably (read: DVD player)

[wallyfrack]

Tyrone Anderson might be joining me.

So we'll be getting into camp about the same time.

Sorry Tyrone but that load you hauled up Kendrick was crazy!

[deserttarheel]

Is everyone still up for this? Any thoughts about meeting up and carpooling?

[rally_toad]

Is everyone still up for this? Any thoughts about meeting up and carpooling?

It looks as though at least 7 of us are up for this still.

Just based on the discussion it looks like there's going to be possibly three different meeting times for this hike.

Early morning hikers going with nonot

Noonish hikers going with te-wa and tyrone possibly

Night hikers going with wally and myself

[tahoemike]

I might be able to do this. I have a knee which is getting serious Advil treatment right now and seems as if it'll be ready to go... :stretch:

tahoemike

[nonot]

All committed people who aren't leaving in the afternoon/night have a PM from me.

I'll check back by Wednesday for the remaining people who have to make up their minds. Hope you can all make it.

[rally_toad]

Weather forecast for AJ and Globe those days are highs in the high 70s lows in the mid to low 50s with 0% chance of rain. That sounds nice, so I doubt I will be bringing a tent.

I dont know how much those forecasts are to be trusted as last time the forecast was only 10% chance of rain and we all know how that turned out in the end.

See you all Friday.

[wallyfrack]

I dont know how much those forecasts are to be trusted as last time the forecast was only 10% chance of rain and we all know how that turned out in the end.

You're an amphibian. What's a little rain?

[SuperstitionGuy]

It's late November, your going to be backpacking in high country and you will be a long way from your vehicle.

BRING SHELTER OF SOME KIND!

[deserttarheel]

Night hikers going with wally and myself

It now looks like I won't be able to do this except as a night hike for the first leg (darn cops just keep arresting people). How far is it to Plow Saddle Spring? And what time do you think we would actually hit the TH? And how good is the trail down to Plow Saddle Spring?

[wallyfrack]

Steve,

We would be leaving my place in Mesa approx 6p. I would guess we would hit the trailhead by 8p. I estimate Plow Spring about 7 miles in. The trail in is fairly level and in good shape (last time I hiked it). We would have 4 hikers so we could camp at plow saddle regardless and catch the others at first light.

[rally_toad]

camp at plow saddle regardless

Thats what sounds best to me. I might have had to protest had we decided to hike Frog Tanks at night.

(last time I hiked it).

Isnt that what you said about the JF Trail??? Here we go again

[wallyfrack]

Isnt that what you said about the JF Trail??? Here we go again

If nothing else we'll have a good story for the hiking troubles thread. Lost, dead batteries, rain, bears, Big Foot!...it's all good reading.

[deserttarheel]

Sounds like fun but I am going to have to take a pass on this one.

[te_wa]

Weather forecast for AJ and Globe those days are highs in the high 70s lows in the mid to low 50s with 0% chance of rain. That sounds nice,

now its more like 67-46
what that really means for Plow Saddle is 67-36
the NOAA site frequently lists high points such as Plow Saddle the same basic temp as fountain hills. except for one little issue... the elevation difference is 3000'.
subtract 4 degrees for every 1000' and you have your forecast
(ftn. hills is 76-49)

she gon' be cold mang