National into the night- Hippy Style!

[Hippy]

GOYAAH and I are at it again, this time it's National at SoMo
Sunday September 2nd, meet up around 530pm
Let's plan on shuttling a vehicle at each end and doing one way (this time)
Who's in!

[Hippy]

@Trishness sorry to hear that but i totally know how you must be feeling, i messed up my right ankle at Supai back in June, the swelling finally went down a month later and I'm just now wearing my vibram five fingers daily again!! darn hiker's injuries!!! wish you the speediest recovery! we will definitely have to get together when you've "walked it off" for a nice hike!

[Trishness]

@HippyHaley
sorry but i may have to cancle on you guys an old freind invited me to go tp zion with him last min .

How much fun can we have with a typo? My mind is reeling

Trish

[Hippy]

never a dull moment with DBMooner!!



Okay everyone, time change!!!

We'll be meeting at 530pm!! At the Central Ave Information/Restroom area.

We need some shuttle volunteers!

1 vehicle to park at the east end off Pima Canyon Road. This vehicle will drive us back to Central where everyone else will be parked.

I volunteer my subaru to be jammed packed and take us to the west (Alta Trailhead) this is where we will begin. In the end we'll need someone to shuttle us back to Alta Trailhead to pick up my Subaru.

I've never done a shuttle so this seems logical to me, if anyone else has any suggestions just let me know!

[Tough_Boots]

I don't understand why we're meeting at central but the ends are at Pima and Alta. Also, if we meet at 5:30 at Central and then drive to Alta, we won't be hiking until at least 6. That only gives us 5 hours to hike 14.5 miles and then pick up all the cars at two other locations by 11 when they close. There is no wiggle room there. ;) Also, if things are that tight-- I might have to cancel. My knee seems totally good to hike on and shouldn't be a problem, but if it starts to flare up there's no way I can risk further injury right now by keeping that pace. Of course, it was fine doing White Mountain at night so I'm sure it will be fine doing the National . White Mountain was more bushwacking and less breakneck speeds, though.

[ultrazona]

Ok there is alot of confusion on this.

The only option I see is to use locations that don't have locking gates. There is a "trailhead" just East of 43rd ave and Estrella Drive. We would need to hike that trailhead to National. The only other location I know of to park the cars at would be location in a neighborhood on the South East side of the mountain range. There is a cos sack off South 40th Place and East San Gabriel Ave. It would involve hiking Desert Classic (East) to Pima Wash Trail (West) to National Trail.

Do we even have two available cars for this?

Why not do this as a 30 mile night hike? Out and back?

[chumley]

I don't recall how these parking lots are gated ... don't they only close the entry gate, with the exit gate always open but with "severe tire damage" spikes preventing after-hours entry, but not limiting exits at any time?

If so you would just have to park a shuttle before 7pm and drive out whenever you are done. Or do they close the physical barrier gate at 11pm?

[John9L]

There is a "trailhead" just East of 43rd ave and Estrella Drive. We would need to hike that trailhead to National. The only other location I know of to park the cars at would be location in a neighborhood on the South East side of the mountain range. There is a cos sack off South 40th Place and East San Gabriel Ave. It would involve hiking Desert Classic (East) to Pima Wash Trail (West) to National Trail.

I'm not crazy about this parking situation. Has anyone parked in these areas before? Setting up this shuttle is going to take a solid 45 minutes. Is this hike going to be worth the effort? We might as well just hike Ridgeline!

[ultrazona]

I'm not crazy about this parking situation. Has anyone parked in these areas before? Setting up this shuttle is going to take a solid 45 minutes. Is this hike going to be worth the effort? We might as well just hike Ridgeline!

I am starting to agree, this is turning into a whole production.

[ultrazona]

I don't recall how these parking lots are gated ... don't they only close the entry gate, with the exit gate always open but with "severe tire damage" spikes preventing after-hours entry, but not limiting exits at any time?

If so you would just have to park a shuttle before 7pm and drive out whenever you are done. Or do they close the physical barrier gate at 11pm?

I don't know for sure.

[beterarcher]

I parked in a lot at Thunderbird Conservation Park, which had the same gate set up, in Glendale to go ninja fishing at a lake on the edge of a sub division . when I got back to the truck at about 2200 hrs there was a nice friendly city revenue generator on my windshield. I don't recommend leaving your vehicle in the park after hours unless you guys pitch in for the "after hours parking fee" I don't know how much it is yet but I don't imagine it's more than like $35.00.

[John9L]

I am starting to agree, this is turning into a whole production.

Hey Vince, It’s up to you and Haley but I vote on simplifying all of this. Why don’t we just meet at Central at 5:30pm and make a loop or something along those lines. Let’s be done before 11pm. We should be able to hike 10+ miles in that time. I definitely want to hike I just want to avoid all the uncertainty with the parking.

[juliachaos]

I don't recall how these parking lots are gated ... don't they only close the entry gate, with the exit gate always open but with "severe tire damage" spikes preventing after-hours entry, but not limiting exits at any time?

If so you would just have to park a shuttle before 7pm and drive out whenever you are done. Or do they close the physical barrier gate at 11pm?

Yes, this is how it works in Phoenix. The Thunderbird Conservation Park is run by Glendale, so has different rules. I've left my car past closing at both South Mountain and Squaw, and have never had a problem.

[Hippy]

@John9L That's what I said this morning. Let's just all agree on some 8-10 mile loop off Central.

Sounds like National will be a LOT easier if we do it as a 30mi day hike sounds like a nice october hike that way.

Any suggestions?

Oh...what if.....we took Los Lomitas to Kiwanis to National to Ranger to Bajada to Max Delta which will take us back to the cars?....I think that's the right order?? I should go check, racks up a few miles anyway I'm sure.

[John9L]

Oh...what if.....we took Los Lomitas to Kiwanis to National to Ranger to Bajada to Max Delta which will take us back to the cars?....I think that's the right order?? I should go check, racks up a few miles anyway I'm sure.

That sounds like a good plan. See you at the Central parking area on Sunday at 5:30pm.

[Tough_Boots]

Sounds good to me!

[Hippy]

@John9L I told you I posted. Anyway, perfect, there's no gates to lock us in I know that much! See you all at 530pm sunday at Central! by the Los Lomitas TH!

[Tough_Boots]

That loop will give us 7.5 miles and about 1,500 ft. I think we'll have plenty of time to get out of there by 11 . I'll probably bike to the TH.

[Hippy]

@Tough_Boots okay, add in another trail then! Make it longer! :wlift:

[ultrazona]

That loop will give us 7.5 miles and about 1,500 ft. I think we'll have plenty of time to get out of there by 11 . I'll probably bike to the TH.

Where you biking from? I might be interested in joining....

[Tough_Boots]

@GOYAAH

I live near 7th St. & Roosevelt in central phx. The trailhead is only 8 miles from my place-- straight shot down central! I'm always down for a biking partner.