HikeArizona.COM

The endless chatter of weather.

Ok I promised to look at the side of the mountain from Hwy 89. I looked yesterday and on my way back today. I could see north side and east side of Peaks. NOT MUCH COLOR AT ALL yet. There are a VERY few patches of bright yellow amongst very visible large aspen groves. I think another week, at least, before it really gets going. Now, I could not see Inner Basin, of course.

@azbackpackr That side usually turns the last week in September, from my memory...I think the freeze from the storm was too hard and those leaves were killed off before they had a chance to turn, but haven't blown off yet. If it had been consistently above average temp wise over the last few weeks I would understand them turning late, but given that cold spell last week, I don't think that's the case.

West Fork is changing. Last weekend was meh. Drove by on my way down the hill today and almost all the trees along the creek are changing. This might be the weekend to hit it.

Man, complain about it all you want, I love this weather. My lunches have been fantastic. THIS is the autumn weather I signed on for. I'm hiking the next two days (and doing other stuff) and I couldn't ask for better. Just longer days.

Rob del Desierto wrote:West Fork is changing. Last weekend was meh. Drove by on my way down the hill today and almost all the trees along the creek are changing. This might be the weekend to hit it.

I'm gonna be there next weekend. Hoping I got it timed right. Perhaps the warm weather we've been having will keep it going.

It was a perfect autumn day in NJ. Light and dark, light and dark as small heavy clouds moved fast across the sky in a stiff breeze. Temps just over 60, a wild mix of colors and a play of sunlight. Many little towns had their harvest festivals this weekend. It was nice to be out.

I tripped to Flagstaff yesterday. I wish I had felt well enough and had the time to hike Elden as I had originally planned. I guess I'll live without the additonal 4500' of AEG I would have gotten, but it sure would have been nice to hike, and we all probably know how I have a love affair with Mount Elden. Elden and my planned hike this past Saturday on Black Mesa both ended up being canceled. Real shame, too, as the weather was a 1,000 out of 100, if such a thing could actually exist. The color was great looking on Elden, too, as well as the Peaks and what I could see on the north slope of B.M. If you want to see aspen near Flag, I say get out soon, as the color might be gone by week's end. This weekened had to be the peak of it. Those leaves drop fast.

As it was, it was nice being back in Flag. Not move back nice, but a refreshing change from the Reservation. Highlights of the trip were seeing people, traffic (no joke), the pines, the color and seeing the Peaks and Elden, and seeing the Peaks from well east of Red Lake all the way to town. They had a nice cap of snow that drew the eye to them. The drive back was not fun, but it can't all be good. Maybe I'll get back there and do Elden again. It would have been nice to hike it in full color, but I've had those hikes before.

So, who's going to be the first to visit Bassett Peak this season? Judging from the photosets, early November seems like a good time to go.

Looks like it's likely to be a drier and warmer winter than normal. Especially in eastern and southeastern Arizona.

Let's hope the Arctic oscillation wildcard gives us a couple of good storms to offset the La Niña.
http://www.noaanews.noaa.gov/stories201 ... tlook.html

I want to have another winter like '09/'10

I'm heading up to Flag via Payson tomorrow and will check out any color up that way.

Unsure If I will be in Flagstaff or not, but if I get there, I hope to hike Elden. Maybe I can pick up the last of the color from last weekend. I assume the upper aspen are bare.

I don't think they really have gotten going yet. Let me know if I'm wrong. I'll do Abineau-Bear Jaw and we can compare notes.

azbackpackr wrote:I don't think they really have gotten going yet. Let me know if I'm wrong. I'll do Abineau-Bear Jaw and we can compare notes.

Uh, you're thinking of the lower oaks on the south face of Elden. The aspen were colorful last Sunday all over as were the oaks in the colder east faces.

Gorgeous in Flagstaff yesterday. Even my barber agreed that the weather of the day gives you a false impression of Flagstaff. Color seems to be waning except in the exotics in town. I guess it's moving down slope and in latitude. It does that. A big cool down is approaching, too. By mid-week, the forecast for the northern nether regions is only 54, to 43 up on Black Mesa. Guess it's getting to be now or next year if I want to hike that in shorts and have it be dry. I'll try to get out and make the summit and that shack area I could see when I was up there last month. I know how people have been clamoring to know what that was.

Wow! Nice little rain shower, lightning too. That was unexpected.

Unexpected to say the least. It was really coming down for a solid 5 minutes, if not more. I wish storms weren't always so quick to leave.

We had a splash or two here in Flag as well. 60% chance of showers again tomorrow.

That was an awesome little shower! Can't believe 5 minutes after it quit, we had total blue sky above us! Hey, please someone tell me that they caught that gorgeous sunrise this morning on a camera! I was driving, or I'd done it!

Sprinkled in CG in the afternoon, then there was lightning off to the north around 7pm. That was it for down here.