Just finished the AZT!! Yay

[Fireweed]

I finished the AZT on May 15th. Thanks to all the people I met who helped me out--Elderly Ellen and Yeah But for trail shuttling and Tucson stay, Monica for making an Oracle zero day possible, Tom Wax for steering me the right way, dirt bikers Hardtail and Red Fox and friends for the Coors Light and cashews, Troy from Copper Mountain Motel in Superior for trailhead rides, LF Ranch for water, Skotphree for advice and food at the Grand CAnyon, Kiltman for taking care of my house, Fred Gaudet for the water report, Troy from Tub Ranch for Lockwood tank water update, Murray for interesting podcasts, Bill Webster for water source info, Hiking Dude for the fingerless glove made out of men's dress sock idea, Steve Bridgehouse for water at the N. entrance of the Grand Canyon, all the ranchers who maintain the cow tanks, the great breakfast at Jacob Lake, the friendly folks at Mormon Lake Lodge.

My journal is at http://www.postholer.com/fireweed

[The_Eagle]

Hey fireweed!

Glad you made it. We crossed paths and hiked for a short bit with you on Passage 40.
We were the "Slackpackers" as you referred to us!

Bruce

[outdoor_lover]

Congratulations!!!

[azbackpackr]

Wow! Count me in the "envious" department! That is just super! I will read your journal later on.

:worthy:

[Sredfield]

Bravo! I enjoyed our discussion at Roosevelt Visitor's Center. What's the next adventure? Please consider coming back to AZ for the AZT Rendezvous the first weekend in Oct.

[Tortoise_Hiker]

Congrats Fireweed.It was nice to meet you on 40-41.Well done! I was fooled by the blow-up turkey's also. We came back the following weekend and did 42-43. :worthy:

[desertgirl]

Congratulations!

[HikingDude]

Fireweed! Congratulations!
I hope your hands stayed warm.

[autumnstars]

Congrats!

[trekker]

Fireweed,

Just finished your whole journal; congrats, and thanks for the info. I'm planning Oracle to UT from mid-Mar to end-Apr this year, 2013.

2 questions:
1. At Mather CG in GC NP you just went to the CG Kiosk and told them you were thruhiking the AZT to get into the hike/bike site? That's how it worked 3 times in Glacier NP last summer on the CDT.
2. I'd be going thru the Crand Canyon towards the end of Apr. Do you, or anyone reading this, know if the trails are open before the N Rim is opened on 15 May? I was going to resupply there, but assume the PO wouldn't open until 15 May.

Trekker
trekker4@aol.com

[azbackpackr]

All GC trails usually are open year-round unless they are officially closed due to landslides. This happens only rarely, and usually not in the cold season. However, when you get up to the N. Rim the buildings and roadways, all those things will be closed. And there could still be a lot of snow on the Kaibab Plateau at that time. I'm sure other people will find something to add to what I just said, also.

[hikeaz]

Fireweed,
I'm planning Oracle to UT from mid-Mar to end-Apr this year, 2013.
2 questions:
1. At Mather CG in GC NP you just went to the CG Kiosk and told them you were thruhiking the AZT to get into the hike/bike site? That's how it worked 3 times in Glacier NP last summer on the CDT.
2. I'd be going thru the Crand Canyon towards the end of Apr. Do you, or anyone reading this, know if the trails are open before the N Rim is opened on 15 May? I was going to resupply there, but assume the PO wouldn't open until 15 May.

Trekker
trekker4@aol.com

1) The hiker/biker site is open to anyone w/o a motor vehicle.
2) Worst case, the PO @ the south Rim would be open, as it is year-round. The 15 May North Rim opening date is usually much later than SR 67 actually opens - the late date is merely to prevent someone coming from afar with reservations @ the N Rim from being turned away. You could phone Jacob Lake Lodge - they likely would be willing to hold a package for you ($) (928) 643-7232.
If it is a small resupply you could use Phantom Ranch.
The phone # for the North Rim P.O. is (928) 643-7122.

[Dschur]

There has been quite a few years when my husband was doing rim to rim every may and oct that we would get the first weekend the N. Rim would be open around/after the May 15th date, that they didn't even open 67 until the 15th and one time had to wait till the 18th before it opened due to a heavy snow yr..

[sam_hikes]

May 15 has been the new fixed opening date for hwy67 from Jacob Lake to the North Rim for several years... The ADOT & NPS gates are locked till that date.

The winter closure date for hwy67 has varied some recently but it is usually not closed till just after Thanksgiving depending on snowfall. In 2011 it closed on Nov 28 & in 2012 it closed for the winter on Dec 4 per ADOT's website.

Travelers on hwy67 from Oct until the winter closure should be prepared for snow & ice as hwy is not plowed at night or often--one year on Nov 15 we had to 4x4 the 40 miles to the NK TH where many were chaining up due to the deep snow and unplowed roadway.

I have heard of at least 1 NPS concessioner doing an April North-South crossing 1 year but I suspect they had special approval and clients likely paid big $$$$.

http://www.nps.gov/grca/planyourvisit/d ... UMP_167594

[paulshikleejr]

:worthy:

[trekker]

Thanks all for your input,

1. Still looking for a car park angel, preferably in Flagstaff, but Kanab, Fredonia, or Page might work; as I'll be hiking out on the Hayduke Trail route to US-89/Kaibab Wash, about 10? mi W of the usual House Rock Rd.
2. Fireweed, thanks for confirming the GCNP Mather CG hike/bike site info; from there I'll talk to the Backcountry Office about getting across the Big Ditch.
3. I've changed my resupply places to S Rim & Jacob Lake Lodge, eliminating all N Rim problems about resupply.
4. I'll make phone calls from Flagstaff to try to learn about snow from N Rim to UT. I also closely watch the monthly Mountain Snowpack Map (http://www.wcc.nrcs.usda.gov/ftpref/sup ... ow1301.gif -- copy & save to print on letter size -- the 1 Jan map is out, w/above average snow almost everywhere, all 3 long trails and even down in AZ & NM on the AZT & GET). It may be a good water year on the AZT/GET.

Trekker

[azbackpackr]

Good year to hike the Tonto Trail, also.