The longest journey begins with one step . . .

[Sredfield]

I've been bitten by the AZ Trail bug, a hideous malady that permeates one's psyche and trip planning. In a thread on the other site we've discussed the first leg (Mexico to Patagonia) and there is a strong opinion that the first section should be done as a day hike, with lots of company. So I'm proposing a weekend in the Huachuca's doing the first leg, probably from the Mexican border thru Montezuma Pass to, say, maybe Sunnyside Canyon, probably 15-17 miles. The 2000+ up is said to be rather gentle, then its pretty much rolling along on top followed by a sharp decent. I'm thinking a weekend in March. One would probably want to camp or get a room nearby, so you could get an early start, and a shuttle would need to be set up, so its a two day proposition. A few people have indicated interest, anyone else?

[montezumawell]

Your idea is great! Maybe you can flesh out your possible options. What weekend in March are you thinking about? Where do you think people would camp if they aren't paying the Big Bucks for a room somewhere? What are you thinking shuttle-wise?

Sounds intriguing to the MAX!

Hope you can post up more free-form thoughts and ideas. Lots of people are reading this topic. They just aren't posting back to it.

J&S

[youngboy]

it seems we have caught the bug too, we are now dreaming of a thru-hike, but we will have to train our butts off to achieve that goal. but hey, never hurts to dream

[Sredfield]

Great! Thanks for the encouragement.

Specifics it is.

Weekend of March 14 (Friday-Sunday) 16, congregate Friday, do the hike on Saturday, tell tale tales and other blatant lies of past daring do around the fire Saturday nite. Pancakes Sunday morning

3 campgrounds in the area

http://www.fs.fed.us/r3/coronado/svrd/index.htm

Most likely candidate is the one at Parker Lake.

If we camped at Parker Lake we would be in the general vicinity, its probably closest of any FS campgounds. Also, if we get anymore like this rain, there will be plenty of "dispersed" camping opportunity anywhere on the forest. Having a base at Parker Canyon Lake would allow for those not doing the entire hike to do shorter hikes in the area, and maybe handle picking the long hikers up at Sunnyside Canyon. Given that a large group will go at probably different speeds, it would be good to have the picker-uppers near by.

I make mean pancakes Sunday mornings :A2:

Everything else is minor details, come one-come all.

Karchner Caverns is in the area, and a great attraction. We got in without a reservation last weekend, but if you try for a res. now it makes a good "extra" in the area.

Check out Miller Peak trail description, and Dave Hick's web page on the AZ Trail for more details.

http://www.geocities.com/davehicks01/index.html

Legalism: Remember, its 15+ miles, if you come along it is assumed you are up to the walk.

[Rodney]

Hey Sredfield...whereas we're not ready for a 15+ hike, we might be interested in being a shuttle for 3 others down to the start and doing the 1.5 miles South to the TH and back. Let me know what you think.

[Sredfield]

Great Rodney, all are welcome. This is how this will come together. (I ain't kiddin about the pancakes.)

Youngboy, never hurts to get started, come on along.

[cactuscat]

I'm requesting that weekend off work right now! :GB:

[youngboy]

thanx for the invite, but we probably dont have time

[Sredfield]

I'm off to Club Cabin, Mountain Spring, The Park, etc in the Mazatzals, I'll check back in here Tuesday evening. This rain could not have come at a better time, hope there is no snow up there.


I'm back, no snow, lots of water, great trip. Didn't get to do the entire loop, day hiked to Club, then up to Hopi, and out over Sandy Saddle. Very nice weekend.


I am going to announce the "AZT Initial Attack" weekend with a group of hikers I hang out with so we'll see if we can reach critical mass for this adventure. I hope you can come on out and stretch the envelope a little with some new country.

[Hoffmaster]

Hi. I am extremely interested in hiking the AZ trail. Longer hikes are what I'm into, so 15-17 miles in a day would be no sweat (ok, maybe some sweat). I will be backpacking in Utah the 3rd weekend of March , and galavanting around Mexico the weekend after that , but any other weekend I'm game. Too bad for me if it doesn't work out . Let me know.

[pfredricks]

I have been wanting to do the AZT in segments first. I would like to join others if possible. Please let me know if still in the works.

[cactuscat]

A guy came into the outdoor store where I work today who's right in the middle of thru-hiking it! He started March 15 and is expecting to finish May 15, and he's doing it solo. I really enjoyed talking to him, and he said he'd come back when he was done and give me a report.

[montezumawell]

This is probably a world class (or at least an Arizona Class) dumb question.

Is there someplace on the Net where you can go to:

a)log your sections of the AZT traversed
b)Solicit other people who wish to "pick off" various sections
c)Provide positive feedback for those who are doing "sections."

Our experience with the AZT goes way back to knowing Dale Shewalter BEFORE he got the idea to do the AZT. In 1997 we even spent National Trails Day working the AZT section through Rock Crossing Campground next to Blue Ridge Reservoir. What can we say? The AZT is way cool!

However, either we are missing something somewhere or what we are missing isn't very well publicized.

With any Long Distance Trail there are only THREE kinds of users:

a) Through Hikers
b) Section Hikers
c) Casual Users

Through hikers start at the beginning and go to the end. Usually within one calendar year.

Section hikers "pick off" pieces of the trail at their leisure. They may take years and, in some cases, a lifetime, to cross off each section of the trail and declare that "they did it." We know people who have taken this approach to "running" the entire length of the Colorado River from the Continental Divide to the ocean. Or the Mississippi from its headwaters to Cajun Country.

Picking off pieces of a trail or river is a TIME HONORED method of covering a given route.

Casual users are cool, too, but they don't figure into this topic.

So, what's going on with this topic? Is it fading away? Or is it ready to take on new life?

Guess we gotta kick back and find out, eh?

J&S

[Sredfield]

Is there someplace on the Net where you can go to:

a)log your sections of the AZT traversed
b)Solicit other people who wish to "pick off" various sections
c)Provide positive feedback for those who are doing "sections."


J&S

I think a page or section of HikeAZ is a natural for such information.

Another subheading could be for those seeking support, shuttles, resupply, water cache, etc. and maybe a placed to hook up with those commercial and non-commercial entities who might wish to fill that need.


A couple AZT sites:

http://www.aztrail.org/default.htm


http://www.geocities.com/davehicks01/index.html

[Sredfield]

A guy came into the outdoor store where I work today who's right in the middle of thru-hiking it! He started March 15 and is expecting to finish May 15, and he's doing it solo. I really enjoyed talking to him, and he said he'd come back when he was done and give me a report.

I'd sure like to talk to him also.