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Anyone know the status of autumn leaves at Inner Basin (near Flagstaff) or Escudilla Mountain (near Springerville)? There hasn't been any recent hike postings or photos from these trails. General literature suggests fall colours are at their height last week of September, first week of October...

RANDAL

Did a hike out to the Inner Basin on Saturday (10/06/2007) and I was somewhat disappointed. Lockett Meddow had plenty of aspens that had turned yellow already and it was absolutely beautiful. However, after hiking up to the Inner Basin, most of the trees had lost their leaves due to the high winds the previous day. I was really hoping to see the whole basin colored in yellow on my first trip up this trail but I guess I'll have to wait for next year. Just wanted to let others know that most of the trees in the Inner Basin are stripped bare.

Next stop for me is the West Fork in Oak Creek. Anyone know around what time the trees in Oak Creek start to change?

Keep in mind it's over a 1,000 foot elevation change.
However if you really want people to know then post a triplog,
ten times more will see it.

Lower West Fork is another couple weeks.
Though the entire canyon won't be in prime.

Did only about 1/3 of Escudilla Trail yesterday as my friend was not up to it. We missed the peak of the aspens by a few days, I think, although lower down they haven't turned yet. It was still very pretty, with lots of yellow. Crowded, too. I am not used to seeing 10 or 15 cars at any trailhead I hike around here. I'm used to seeing NO cars! (Grumble grumble!)

Up Big Lake Highway 261 they are just starting to turn. Last week the views of Escudilla's north slope were very yellow--you can see a view of this slope from many areas near Springerville. Now the upper reaches of the peak are no longer yellow.

Escudilla trail was beautiful on Saturday, but rather crowded. Extremely windy, the leaves were dropping fast in the wind. The wind was insane at the summit, I didn't want to risk getting my camera out up on the fire tower. The wind ripping through the pillars of the tower sounded like a jet engine. A lot of color was also visible driving along 260 near Sunrise on Sunday.

I was on Hart Prairie yesterday and it was a mixed bag. Some trees are still green, some trees completely bare, others at various stages of autumn glory…

Absolutely perfect weather yesterday with clear skies, a chill in the air, but NO WIND!

http://hikearizona.com/decoder.php?ZTN=952&EXT=T#15069

Randal Schulhauser wrote:I was on Hart Prairie yesterday and it was a mixed bag. Some trees are still green, some trees completely bare, others at various stages of autumn glory…

Absolutely perfect weather yesterday with clear skies, a chill in the air, but NO WIND!

Second guessed Hart Prairie. Decided to stay in the valley instead....

Anyone been down in the West Fork yet? Just wanted to know if the colors started changing yet and if they will be in full swing by next weekend...

If you go next weekend there might be some color left in the warmer pockets. Right now it's in prime

With November upon us, are there any hold out areas with prime autumn colours?

Ash Creek in the Galiuros. I was a bit early this past weekend. I'm about to post pics.

I've had Bassett Peak/Ash Creek on my "to do" list for some time. How long does it take to get to the trail head from the Phoenix area? Logistically it looks like an over night camp adventure...

4:45 from Ahwatukee

Randal Schulhauser wrote:I've had Bassett Peak/Ash Creek on my "to do" list for some time. How long does it take to get to the trail head from the Phoenix area? Logistically it looks like an over night camp adventure...

It does take a few hours to get there. This time I took the I-10 and got off on exit 340/Circle Rd. This turns into Fort Grant Rd which you follow to the Eurofresh greenhouses. There you will turn left on FR651 and follow it to FR660. This knocked a ton of mileage off. There are a few great campsites along the road to the trailhead. None of them were occupied last weekend, except for the one I took.
If you go this weekend or even next weekend the colors should be out of control! My pics are all closely cropped because the colors just weren't there. It didn't allow for sweeping panoramas. Have fun!

Hoffmaster wrote:I took the I-10 and got off on exit 340/Circle Rd. This turns into Fort Grant Rd which you follow to the Eurofresh greenhouses. There you will turn left on FR651 and follow it to FR660. This knocked a ton of mileage off

Sweet! I forgot about that pointless stop in Wilcox, Kansas or whatever it was...ugh
thx!

Hoffmaster wrote:

Randal Schulhauser wrote:I've had Bassett Peak/Ash Creek on my "to do" list for some time. How long does it take to get to the trail head from the Phoenix area? Logistically it looks like an over night camp adventure...

It does take a few hours to get there. This time I took the I-10 and got off on exit 340/Circle Rd. This turns into Fort Grant Rd which you follow to the Eurofresh greenhouses. There you will turn left on FR651 and follow it to FR660. This knocked a ton of mileage off. There are a few great campsites along the road to the trailhead. None of them were occupied last weekend, except for the one I took.
If you go this weekend or even next weekend the colors should be out of control! My pics are all closely cropped because the colors just weren't there. It didn't allow for sweeping panoramas. Have fun!

If I can overcome a couple of work logistics, I should be able to take Friday 11/9 as a vacation day allowing for a Friday "over-nighter". Let's hope those colours are "out of control"...

I'll be back out there this weekend hoping for peak at the Aspens. It'll still be another weekend the lower canyon I'll bet. Just remember signage for the FS roads is pretty poor out there, have a good map and follow it closely. A downed tree has blocked the wash but the final approach to the limited parking is not as tough as it used to be. Plan on some pinstriping if you drive to the end tho---

Joe, Randal, Letty and anyone else headed to Ash Creek this weekend! Please keep this in mind!

http://www.hikearizona.com/dex2/viewtop ... =51&t=3028

Thanks a bunch!