Thru Hiking in winter

[Möbi]

Hi everybody!
In January my husband and I (very experienced hikers from Norway) want to start hiking the Arizona trail from south to north the whole way through (all in all we have 75 days to spend on the trail). Can anybody tell me, if that is possible and what kind of equipment (snowshoes, crampons, uice ax.....??? we will probably need. - Would be happy to get an answer as it is not easy to receive informations about hiking in wintertime. Thanks a lot and have a nice day

[Sredfield]

Möbi

You can, of course, hike it whenever you like, but starting in January versus March complicates it tremendously and increases the risks, some of which are life-threatening storms and low temps. Additionally, mud could also be an issue where we get snow and daily thawing. Yuck!

I don’t know how much you know about AZ, some people think it is all desert. It’s not. We have winter here, and sometimes quite a bit of it. Topography and elevation is key to hiking the southern end, much of the trail is in the desert but it hops up to 7-8 k feet in the “sky islands” where you will be in the mountains with commensurate weather and snow conditions. You may need snow shoes for a few hours or a day or two in the mountains, then not need them for several days. Further north, you will be in winter conditions all the time.

Also, AZ weather is extremely variable year-to-year. There may be snow in the mountains or it may be dry. You will want to monitor conditions closely to see what kind of winter AZ is having, and adjust accordingly. Be prepared for storms-you will likely encounter them and have to hole-up in the tent for a while—maybe days.

A winter thru hike is probably possible, but doing it in the spring is much more pleasant.

That’ll be $.02. ;)

[CannondaleKid]

As very experienced hikers from Norway I would believe you have hiked in very cold/snowy conditions. If that is true, you would be able to handle the various conditions.

However, as Shawn mentioned, certain equipment may be needed for anywhere from one day to a week or more, which of course could change depending current conditions.

[Möbi]

Thanks a lot for your kind answers, it was good to hear something about the AZT in winter as there are no informations at all about hiking in winter in the internet to find. Think we can do it, and have to, because from Jan. to March is the only time we have for that adventure, and it is a dream of our lifetime to hike thru Ariyona once. / Let us see, we will keep you updated. Thanks a lot, greetings

[SuperstitionGuy]

Keep us up to date so HAZ members can be prepared to assist you as you arrive, make the journey and depart back to your home.

Would be nice to meet you as my Grandfather immigrated from Bergen when he was 18 years old. His and my last name is Ose.

[blisterfree]

You would need two months to complete, rather than three. Choose Feb-Mar rather than Jan-Feb for longer days and the greater chance of a warm spell to melt off snow on the southern mountains (at least below the forest zones and on southern exposures). Either way, prepare for most nights to be below freezing, possibly well below, as well as the chance of weekly or biweekly storms that can bring blizzard conditions to the mountains, and the attendant need to use snowshoes off and on between Pine and Grand Canyon, and then much of the way from GC North Rim to the Utah border. Bring a sun hat and sunscreen too, of course. Welcome to Arizona.

[chumley]

Hei Möbi-

As others have said, there are challenges associated with winter conditions here.

Because of the range of elevations and variety of terrain, I think the biggest challenge will be the variety of gear you will have to carry to be prepared. Hiking in cold weather with good snow is very likely not a problem for you. Similarly, hiking in the desert in the winter should not pose any problems. I would expect the toughest challenges to rise in the transition areas. Heavy, wet snow, quick melting and a kind of mud that does not exist in Norway -- heavy, slippery, glue-like mud that attaches to your boots until you are carrying an extra 5kg on each foot!

As others have said, the weather can be very unpredictable. It is possible to go an entire month without any rain or snow. Or we may have a storm that lasts 2-3 days every week for many weeks in a row. During stormy periods it is significantly cooler, even in the lower elevations. During nice weather, even at high elevations it can be warm during the day (up to 10-15C at 7000-feet), causing snow to melt in exposed areas, while it may still be very deep and drifted in forested areas. Even during nice weather it will drop to -5C or colder at night, causing snowmelt to refreeze. Snow storms can produce upwards of 50cm in the mountains.

In April a couple of years ago, I "rescued" two AZT hikers who got stranded in a cabin during a spring snowstorm (see photos: http://hikearizona.com/photoset=19638&start=15). One of the things I noticed that day was how much water was running along the trail. So not only did I have to deal with hiking in snow (snow shoes would have been helpful), but also numerous crossings of creeks and streams that normally would be dry. It is rarely cold enough for a long enough period for these crossings to be frozen.

One other comment that nobody has mentioned yet is that on the Grand Canyon portions of the hike you may want spikes for your boots. Enough people (and mules) hike those trails in the winter that the snow gets packed down and icy. Snowshoes are useless unless there is fresh snowfall and regular boots make it very slippery. Crampons would probably be overkill, but yaktrax or microspikes tend to be popular choices.

If you do plan on this hike, keep us posted. It would be fun to meet you somewhere along the trail when you pass near Phoenix. I might even be persuaded to cook up some homemade kjøttkaker, kompe, kjøttsuppe, fårikål or some other treat that I don't make nearly often enough!

(Foreldrene er fra sørnorge -- Farsund og Flekkefjord. Jeg har besøkt 15 ganger. Jeg er ikke så flink å skrive ... jeg har aldri vert på skolen )

[blisterfree]

Snowshoes are useless unless there is fresh snowfall and regular boots make it very slippery. Crampons would probably be overkill, but yaktrax or microspikes tend to be popular choices.

Snowshoes are less useful in the posthole-quality snowpack that tends to dominate in the Southwest, but the floatation is better than nothing, especially north of the Mogollon Rim where their use isn't as limited by rough terrain. Postholing can be worse (and slower) than slogging through deep powder, and snowshoes will help minimize it, moreso the less one (and one's pack) weighs. Use Yaktrax for occasional traction needs, I agree. Might as well carry them the whole way.

[chumley]

Snowshoes are less useful in the posthole-quality snowpack that tends to dominate in the Southwest...

If I wasn't clear, I was referring specifically to hiking in the higher elevations of the grand canyon where high-use from people and mules pack the snow. There will most certainly be a need for snowshoes elsewhere along the route

[foreversuperawesome]

I am also planning on a winter hike, although a simple section hike of passage 8-17. Does anyone know how's the weather usually like in these passages?

[Al_HikesAZ]

I am also planning on a winter hike, although a simple section hike of passage 8-17. Does anyone know how's the weather usually like in these passages?

If you look at these sections of the AZT, you will find information in the upper right hand corner on Historical Weather and Trailhead Forecast (a short term weather forecast). For instance, here is Passage 8 http://hikearizona.com/decoder=2425