HikeArizona.COM

Edit: For Updated Info See top of page 7 of this thread:
viewtopic.php?f=4&t=6530&p=78295#p78295
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So I went to this squirrel party and met a few HAZers.. I want to know when we all are getting together for some camping event. Not to mentiom; it's about time our friend AZPride takes a rope to the top.. How about Cochise?! -- hiking maybe climbing, car camping in style? (My car camping still includes cooking on a fire and sleeping in a tent.)

OK. Here's the latest Info on Winter HAZFest 2012.
Friday Jan. 13 to Sunday Jan. 15, 2012
Middlemarch Canyon/West Stronghold/Dragoon Mtns.

This will be a camping/hiking/climbing/whatever else goes adventure.
The camping area is accessible by any carefully-driven sedan. 4wd or high-clearance are not required, but there is dirt-road driving involved.

The campsite and directions there can be found in this map link:
http://hikearizona.com/map.php?MY=936&M=3
If needed, zoom, change layers, print for your use.

Written directions are found earlier in this thread:
viewtopic.php?f=4&t=6530&start=100#p78234

Weather Update:
Looks like the potential weather system has weakened and slowed down. Now the forecast doesn't call for any chance of a shower until Sunday night. The weather should be nice, a couple of degrees above normal, with thin high cloudiness all weekend. It should keep the lowest overnight temperatures in the more manageable mid-30s.

What you need to bring:
It's car-camping, so bring everything that fits!
Most importantly, bring your own shelter, warm clothes, and sleeping gear.
Bring a chair to sit on.
Bring your own food. Bring food to share if you'd like. Jonnybackpack has offered to make chili and beer to share. Feel free to offer to contribute something.
I will bring a chainsaw and fire safety stuff. Therefore, firewood and the fire should not need further supply.
Bring a trash bag. We can't ever have too much room to haul out trash.

Arrive/Depart:
Since this is over 3+ hours from Phoenix, I currently intend to arrive before sunset on Friday. (Plan subject to Lumberg making me stay late). Climbing, hiking, photography workshop?, etc. on Saturday and Sunday. Monday is a holiday for some, and while I don't personally plan on spending Sunday night, I do intend to stay in the area all day Sunday, not breaking camp before late afternoon.

Further questions, suggestions, comments, etc.? Post here.

It's a temping trip, but the drive and the cool temps make me decide to stick with my original plan for Colorado. Unless the forecast suddenly turns bad in CO and good in SE AZ.

Is there a plan for a redo in a balmy area in a month or later in the spring? Perhaps with 80 degree highs?

Call me crazy, but I got the opportunity to snowshoe/x-country ski in Yellowstone this weekend! Have fun and maybe we can get together early summer up here on Garland Prairie for climbing at Paradise Forks/Sycamore Canyon and great night photography--I'll put something together for June.

hmm... was planning on the supes this weekend, but this sounds good, too. seeing hazers would be great.

chumley wrote:OK. Here's the latest Info on Winter HAZFest 2012.
Friday Jan. 13 to Sunday Jan. 15, 2012
Middlemarch Canyon/West Stronghold/Dragoon Mtns.


The latest weather forecast:
Highs 55-60, Lows 25-35. 10% chance of rain showers.

Jonnybackpack has offered to make chili and beer to share. Feel free to offer to contribute something.
I will bring a chainsaw and fire safety stuff. Therefore, firewood and the fire should not need further supply.
Bring a trash bag. We can't ever have too much room to haul out trash.

Further questions, suggestions, comments, etc.? Post here.

Looking forward to seeing this side of the Stronghold up close and personal. Per my last email from writelots, we will be joining in on the festivities.

Low 25-35

... hoping for low 30s or higher please .

I've had some of Jonny's chili and it is superb! Would offer a contribution for a serving. (obviously more than 2 cents )

And if Chumley has that chainsaw, I have no doubt we will be mostly toasty for the evening.

Looking forward to a nice hike in the Dragoons and seeing all of you. :PMIC:

Situations here keep changing. I may be able to "fly" down there for the day Saturday, but it's going to be a last minute plan if I do. So I may still make it, even though it won't be to "camp" most likely.... ;)

tibber wrote:hoping for low 30s or higher please

The past 7-days of readings from the two nearby weather stations show that it's been reasonably comfortable. Last week was a bit above normal though, and I would expect the temperatures to be closer to where they have been the past two days. One good thing to come from the potential unsettled weather expected is that cloudiness will keep the nighttime temperatures higher, quite possibly in the 40s.

Pearce Elfrida
Tues Hi 67 68 (last week)
Tues Lo 37 40
Wed Hi 66 64
Wed Lo 33 46
Thurs Hi 65 62
Thurs Lo 31 34
Fri Hi 68 67
Fri Lo 39 32
Sat Hi 67 66
Sat Lo 34 35
Sun Hi 53 51
Sun Lo 45 39
Mon Hi 52 50 (today)
Mon Lo 28 31

My wife's training that I have to drive her to (apparently) is now up in Phoenix in the afternoon. Looking less likely that I will make it.

I have some stuff to do in the am but I,ll roll in sometime mid afternoon sat and plan to camp. I need a hike rest weekend.Although there is an intrquing area nearby!

tibber wrote:Looking forward to a nice hike in the Dragoons and seeing all of you. [/i][/color] :PMIC:

Yeah - what she said! I'll plan on contributing some stick-to-your-ribs cheesy campfire cornbread to the party on Sat. I know chum said that he'll have lots of fun with the chainsaw, but I might pack some of this pecan wood anyway - just to reduce our footprint out there.

Oh, it's gonna be SO nice to get that hammock out! It's been AGES!

I don't cut down living trees. Though burning dead and down does still remove some wood from decomposing and providing homes for spiders and scorpions I guess.

Weather Update:
Looks like the potential weather system has weakened and slowed down. Now the forecast doesn't call for any chance of a shower until Sunday night. The weather should be nice, a couple of degrees above normal, with thin high cloudiness all weekend. It should keep the lowest overnight temperatures in the more manageable mid-30s.

really looking forward to this I will probably be heading down tomorrow evening in order to get the most out of the weekend. it'll be great to see everyone again, and hopefully to also meet some new faces. I hope you all in the "maybe" group decide/are able to come out as well. see everyone there

juliachaos wrote:really looking forward to this ... I hope you all in the "maybe" group decide/are able to come out as well. see everyone there

Ditto what she said! :GB:

In addition to jonnybackpack's homebrew, I will be contributing an old Norwegian secret for winter warmth ... a bottle of imported Norwegian Aquavit, a potato-based spirit aged in sherry casks and sailed around the world and across the equator twice, subjecting it to varying oceanic humidities and months of rolling waves.

Also on tap for entertainment ... custom HAZ Catchphrase!

I have to cancel due to illness, my gear was all sitting in a pile, ready to go

Just talked to Deidre Burton she is climbing Peacemaker on Sheepshead and will also be camping with us! For those of you that do not know her she is an inspiration to all of us climber girls. She helped establish Jacks canyon and is the author of the guide book.
I am also very excited about this trip some will climb, some will explore, some will document the amazing scenery with their amazing photos.. Some will play their guitars
ALL WILL ENJOY!

chumley wrote:... a bottle of imported Norwegian Aquavit,

Brings back fond memories of sailing from Greenwich to Manhattan. I even remember part of the Aquavit song my Norwegian friend taught me . Looking forward to Winter HAZfest 2013.... that is if all the 2012 naysayers are wrong.

With what I need to get done tonight, I won't be able to make it out of town until really, really late tonight or early Sat morning. So, I will likely be seeing everybody as they roll out of their tents Saturday! (Or maybe a little bit later than that)

rlrjamy wrote:Brings back fond memories of sailing from Greenwich to Manhattan.

What's that, a 30-mile booze cruise down the East River?