KP South Fork # 70 and Blue Peak Backpack

[azbackpackr]

NOTE: THIS EVENT IS CANCELED DUE TO VARIOUS REASONS. NOT ENOUGH RESPONSE ON ABC OR HAZ, SO I HAVE SIGNED UP FOR BEAR WALLOW ON TUB!Friday June 25th to Sunday 27th 2010 Noon on Friday to noonish on Sunday.

This hike starts a few miles south of Hannagan Meadow, at the KP Cienega Campground. It is going to be an out and back, although there is a day loop possible to Blue Peak. My idea is to leave the camp set up in the same place both nights, and do a dayhike up Trail # 71 to Blue Peak on Saturday, possibly looping back down to KP on #72 (if it is in hikeable condition.) There is a degree of flexibility here—we could move camp if we choose to. A true adventure! There are other side hikes if the one to Blue Peak isn't enough for you, you can also go up to Moonshine Park.

Mileage is about 4 to 5 miles first day, lose around 1300 feet elevation. Second day, optional dayhike to Blue Peak, about 7 miles round trip, 2500+ elevation gain. Third day hike out, 4 to 5 miles, gain 1300 feet.

This area gets a lot of snow and rain, and is covered in fir, spruce, aspen, pine, etc. Down in KP creek there are several 10 foot waterfalls, and flat areas for camping. You can fish in it too, although the fish are small, they are said to be easy to catch. The view from Blue Peak is enormous and amazing. This is the heart of the wolf recovery area. I usually see a bear or two when I hike in this area. There are also elk, deer, mountain lions, etc.

The reason we are not doing the loop with Steeple Mesa Trail is due to recent trip reports that indicate it is covered in deadfall, and has little shade due to fire a few years ago.

Please Note: Partially exploratory for trip leader (although that may change because I may have time to scout it first.) No dogs, please! This area is not well-suited to hiking with dogs. This is a 3 day/2 night backpacking trip. We will not be car camping, but if you want to meet us at the campground instead of at the restaurant, that will be fine, just let me know! I am big on communication. Please respond to communications! If you are an ABC member you can sign up for it on there instead of on here.

Meet at noon on Friday June 25th at:
Alpine Grill, 42649 U.S. 180, Alpine, AZ 85920
(928) 339-1930‎

We will have lunch and proceed to trailhead and immediately start hiking. If you want to, you can meet us at the KP Cienega Campground sometime after 1 p.m. (probably closer to 2 p.m.) But please let me know about it if you want to do that.

On Sunday morning we will get an early start hiking out. Anyone who wants to stay behind is of course, welcome to do so, but I like to make sure that people can get home to Phoenix or Tucson before dark.

[azbackpackr]

As my dad used to say, "Like water off a duck's back..."

QUACK!!!

[azbackpackr]

UPDATE: The Paradise fire is blowing a lot of smoke around. I hear it is particularly bad around Hannagan and KP. We may change our plans and head for the Black river instead. More on that later.

[big_load]

Too bad. I kind of hoped to see that Grant Creek cabin, too, but the deadfall near the TH looked daunting. I hope it will still be there whenever I get back.

[azbackpackr]

The woman who answered the phone at the Alpine RD today assured me that the cabin has been saved. She said the fire is reburning through all that deadfall left over from the Thompson fire, and that although it was started by lightning, it is being managed like a controlled burn.

Since this hike is only a week away, I thought it best to have a Plan B.

[azbackpackr]

I just canceled this. I had it posted on ABC, and Deborah had it posted on Tucson Backpackers (TUB), and we both decided since there were no people signing up on any of the websites, we are both going on a TUB trip to Bear Wallow.

I don't much like Bear Wallow (too popular). (I have mentioned many times, Fish Creek is exactly the same as Bear Wallow only better), but I am going to go with the flow and go to Bear Wallow and hope I don't get poison oak rash...

[big_load]

Fish Creek is exactly the same as Bear Wallow only better

Now I have to visit Bear Wallow just to compare.

[azbackpackr]

I think you went to Upper Fish Creek? I am talking about the lower part, which empties into the Black River. I can't speak to the upper part, having done only 2 or 3 miles of it, from Hannagan campground, down to FR 24, and picking up the trail again for only a short distance, just to make sure I could find where it starts off of FR 24. That is still the upper part, though. The lower part starts off of FR83A. The lower part most closely resembles Bear Wallow, with a lot of flat areas for camping, etc. The fact that it merges with the Black River definitely bumps it up a few notches in my estimation. Swimming holes!

The entire Fish Creek Trail is 12 miles long from Hannagan to the river. I have yet to scout out some of the other drainages, such as Conklin Creek, to see if they are easily followed, to make a semi-loop hike.

[big_load]

That's right, I didn't get down the lower part. I enjoyed the somewhat alpine setting and the rather small scale that made it my own cozy little canyon for the day.

[azbackpackr]

I doubt many people hike the upper part. It really is a nice area! There are lots of creeks in the area where you can find some solitude, that's for sure.