Icehouse Canyon/Telephone Loop Sunday May 24

[DarthStiller]

I've never been out to the Pinals yet and this seems like a good time of year to check that out with the temps getting higher. I'm going to take Icehouse up, then take FR651 over to the Telephone Trail and come back on that. I'm guessing this would be in the 11-12 mile range and about 3000'. Should be a good workout, and Monday is a holiday to recover. Leaving Mesa at 5:30am, as usual.

[JimmyLyding]

If my camping trip to Knoll Lake with the GF falls through then I'm in. This is an awesome area. However, I'd recommend going up Icehouse and down Sixshooter. Sixshooter isn't as scenic, but it's more shaded and you'll appreciate that.
rljamy and I back last October went up Sixshooter to the top, over to Pinal Peak to experience about the most intense wind I've ever experienced, and then down Icehouse. 15.7 miles, 4800 AEG, and a little over 7 hours.

[DarthStiller]

I'm open to any suggestions as long as you show up. sarichter told me today he's interested in this also. We can have another heavy metal jam on the way out in the Stillermobile.

[sarichter]

yeah, i'm most likely down. i just need to make some sense of the week first. should be 'committed' by tomorrow or Tuesday.

[DarthStiller]

[JimmyLyding]

We won't be back from camping until Sunday afternoon so I can't do it that day. If you push it back a week I'll guarantee that the Mount Lemmon Super Deathmarch will be on a Sunday in the fall.

[DarthStiller]

Well any hike on a Sunday in the fall is out for me more less, depending on the Steelers' schedule.

The next week I'll more than likely be back in that area with my family doing a hike with them. there are some shorter trails up there also according to the maps that seem doable with small kids. After that, I'm available for whichever weekend in June you want to pick. This seems like the perfect time of year to start this area and there are enough trails there that you can make multiple trips and do different combinations of trails/loops/etc. Let me know.

[JimmyLyding]

There are some nice family hikes up on top. Check out Fritzki's maps.
In the fall I can hike on:
Sunday September 13 (Steelers play on Thursday night the 10th) and I will be in Tucson for the huge Arizona-NAU game on Saturday the 12th.
Sundays October 18 & 25 (Arizona home games in Tucson). Steelers are playing, but I heard that the DirecTV feed will be blacked-out in metro Phoenix.
Sundays November 8 & 22 (Arizona home games in Tucson). The Steelers play on Monday night the 9th
Saturdays September 19 & 26
Saturdays October 10 & November 14

Also, I would love to do a big hike either Saturday or Sunday May 30-31, and I'm going to probably do Humphrey's Peak either June 13 or 14. I can drive in June

[DarthStiller]

My friend Ted is in for sure on this one, so it looks like there could/should be 3 of us so far.

I’ll probably be hiking the Pinals most of june. I’ll probably also do one or two more local hikes in the Santans early in the day before it gets too hot. Whatever is left in the Pinals that I haven’t done thru June would probably be good for Sept. 13. Nov.1 is also good because it’s a bye week. By that time though, the weather will be cooler and I’ll probably he heading to the Mazzys, or down to Tucson. I’ve also got 4 free weekends in July/Aug after I get back from Serbia and my wife and kids are still there. I’ve got one weekend planned out already for the north rim of the GC, and I’m contemplating making a weekend trip to Marble canyon/Lee’s Ferry for a couple hikes up there.

[BobP]

rljamy and I back last October went up Sixshooter to the top, over to Pinal Peak to experience about the most intense wind I've ever experienced, and then down Icehouse. 15.7 miles, 4800 AEG, and a little over 7 hours.

The two things I remember most about that trip were the rain at the start,the wind at the top, and Stanford beating UofA. Oh wait that's three . I really enjoyed that hike. I think if we waited about 2 more weeks, the colors would of been spectacular.

[sarichter]

My friend Ted is in for sure on this one, so it looks like there could/should be 3 of us so far.

I’ll probably be hiking the Pinals most of june. I’ll probably also do one or two more local hikes in the Santans early in the day before it gets too hot. Whatever is left in the Pinals that I haven’t done thru June would probably be good for Sept. 13. Nov.1 is also good because it’s a bye week. By that time though, the weather will be cooler and I’ll probably he heading to the Mazzys, or down to Tucson. I’ve also got 4 free weekends in July/Aug after I get back from Serbia and my wife and kids are still there. I’ve got one weekend planned out already for the north rim of the GC, and I’m contemplating making a weekend trip to Marble canyon/Lee’s Ferry for a couple hikes up there.

north rim? across? just wandering around the trails on that side?

[DarthStiller]

The tentative plan is to go up Sat. Aug. 1 and do both the Widforss and Uncle Jim Trails. That would be 15 miles total, but it’s all flat. Aug. 2 we’re thinking about going down to Ribbon Falls and back in one day. Its 13 miles RT. We’re planning on a way early start to alleviate the heat issue. Then it’s down to Flag, spend the nite, and then go to the Painted Desert and do Onyx bridge on Mon, Aug. 3 (my 40th birthday). I have a cabin reserved for Aug. 1 at the North Rim and a room at a Motel 6 in Flag Aug. 2. Wally is in for sure so far. My friend Ted who will be with us on this hike is considering joining us, depending on his summer vacation plans in Aug. You’re welcome to tag along also if you want. I would post this as an event, but room reservations can be a hassle if the crowd gets too big. The cabin has 2 beds, so any more than 2 and it becomes a semi-camping trip at the north rim. I’m open to suggestion, though.

[sarichter]

tomorrow is going to be an absolutely awesome day for hiking... all this rain has pretty much cooled down the area and sky. should make for some good photos when it clears tomorrow.