HikeArizona.COM

this hike starts at Miles trailhead and ends at First Water trailhead, 3 nights, 4 days. 50+ miles of Superstitions paradise.
day 1 is a 10 mile strenuous hike ending for a night at Reavis Ranch
day 2 is a 14-16 mile moderate hike ending at Dripping spring (Fraser canyon)
day 3 is a 10 mile moderate hike ending at Charlebois spring
day 4 is a moderate/easy 9 miles out to First Water

This hike will be physically demanding and is not for the inexperienced... Superstition Wilderness is rugged wild land and if you are up to the challenge of long days and sometimes strenuous hiking, get on in here. IF you have ANY doubts about your ability to finish this hike then you probably shouldnt attend. This is a serious commitment, 50 miles is a long, long way.

Now I have to do Frog Tanks to experience the misery for myself. Personally, catclaw never bothered me too much. At time of year particularly, I should probably have long sleeves anyway. Its the thick manzanita bush on the Cuff button trail that I hate. It makes it very easy to lose the trail and hard to find it, plus its hell to bust through.

If I can make it then, I'll do that section on Day 2 as a loner, if no one else feels adventurous enough.

I'm also wondering about the shuttling. Looks as though we may need a few vehicles if the number of people continues to grow. Any plans on leaving vehicles at First water? How safe is it there?

OK. I put my name on the "committed" list. This sounds better and better the more I think about it. I was supposed to go to Ohio tomorrow for a few days, but the trip fell thru. As a result I got 2 vacation days back! I'd rather spend some time off work doing something like this.

But...I'm only in for this if you can promise me Tres Banderos at the end of the trip! Any Mexican food place with a mounted bass on the wall is a place worth visiting!

Coming up the Fireline from Campaign is a hump (800+'), but what-the-hey......... I'm game..... I've done it in the SNOW, so how hard can it be; right?

Just for reference... >
Sunrise at 7:00 a.m.
Sunset at 5:30 p.m.
Approximate Number of Daylight Hours: 10.5

I know going up the Fireline from Campaign/Pinto junction is about the steepest trail out there, but Reavis gap from there has to be a close second. I've hiked down Reavis Gap twice and it hurts my knees. At least after the Fireline levels out, its all downhill and in the shade to Reavis Ranch. I'd rather commune with The Great Spirit at Circlestone for 2 hours than do the Reavis Gap Deathmarch.

I would have to pass on Tres Banderos, unfortunately, since my wife will be working that night and I'll need to watch the kids. Also, there's the whole Monday Night Football with the Steelers thing. If I miss kickoff, there's a risk of me reenacting the "Wapner's on at 4 O'Clock" scene from Rain Man.

The daylight issue is one I was wondering about. I guess that's what they make headlamps for, though.

te-wa wrote: but I'll tell ya, Frog Tanks is all you bro. Ive done it. It sucked.(the view from the trail looking down into fish canyon is great, after that, all catclaw and large rocks.) Yuck.

Heres the view Mike is speaking of...

Frog tanks kicks pumpkin, literally.

http://i14.tinypic.com/4z4p444.jpg

I'd be willing to do Frog Tanks as a day hike in October. Then I can be glad we're not going through there in November.

Frog Tanks as a day hike would be 20+ miles from Rogers Trough. That rough section of it would make it take quite a long time. The book on the Supes says in that section to budget a speed of 1/2 mile per hour. And in Oct. there are usually still alot of 100 degree days, so the feasibility of it might be questionable. You might be able to do it as a shuttle hike from Reavis Ranch to Rogers Trough, but the driving would take almost as long as the hike, unless you leave a car overnight. Oct. 14 is a bye week for the Steelers, so maybe then, weather permitting.

did anyone happen to notice that so far, 4 people signed up for this trip happen to be ultralight packers. I guess I better look into this ultralight thing. There might be something to it... :idea:
I was just going to mention for the sake of mentioning, it seems that we should be able to do 16 miles in a lot less than 10 hours. i mean, thats a real snail's pace as far as I can reckon- about 3mph including breaks for lunch and resting- still would only take about 6 hours or "so". Unless you're Kurt, 16 miles takes him only 2 hours, 12 minutes.

Can't do the Friday to Monday off thing, Thursday to Sunday or Saturday to Tuesday yes. Just not going to take 4 days of leave for it though. Sure sounds like the makings of a good trip and something that would be right up my alley.

-TIM-

te-wa wrote:did anyone happen to notice that so far, 4 people signed up for this trip happen to be ultralight packers. I guess I better look into this ultralight thing. There might be something to it... :idea:

Heed the call of the prophet te-wa. :worthy: I must admit there are alot of good ideas to save pack weight and I've borrowed some but it's one piece of gear at a time for me. I can still handle 3 miles an hour. Maybe I'll be doping but I can hanlde it.

Ultralight = Beer The glorious thing about overnighters.

It is only going to be a wee bit of fine Reposado that lulls me to bed on this one though.

About the proposed cache on our third day...
Who is going to make it? What is the possible "booty"? Also I will be in VA by then, you bastages better take care of me! Tres Banderos benefits for courtesy.

Wally, what are you in need of? I am going to be clearing out my gear closet for the move.

Hmmm. Wondering if I could hike in to Reavis Ranch from the North Friday night and meet-up with the group. I'll have to think about this one.

I'd be open to making the cache

Desertroux wrote:Wally, what are you in need of? I am going to be clearing out my gear closet for the move.

I have what I need but lighter is better. Let me know what you want to clear out/sell and I'm sure there's something I want.

te-wa wrote:did anyone happen to notice that so far, 4 people signed up for this trip happen to be ultralight packers. I guess I better look into this ultralight thing. There might be something to it... :idea:

I think there surely is. I'm more lightweight than UL, but I know from experience that a trip like this can go from nearly impossible, to sheer torture, to almost pleasant, depending on how many pounds you can leave at home.

My big, heavy tent will be sporting a sign on it for when it rains,

"No ultralighters allowed"

nonot wrote:My big, heavy tent will be sporting a sign on it for when it rains,

"No ultralighters allowed"

touche!

this week Im making a solo tarp from silnyl with a caternary curved ridgeline. I'll have a sign that reads: "scorpion stings, $0.25"

te-wa wrote:

nonot wrote:My big, heavy tent will be sporting a sign on it for when it rains,

"No ultralighters allowed"

touche

My TarpTent Rainbow will have a sign that reads...

"yes, believe it or not, you can have both!"

Any firm(er) idea on the dates for this?

Ace4 wrote:Any firm(er) idea on the dates for this?

As of now it is going to be 2-5 of November.