Manning Camp/ Devil's bathtub loop

[rally_toad]

Wanted to do some backpacking in Saguaro NP Rincon Mtn district. Found this loop which looks to be about 20 miles, totally doable in two days, spend the night at Manning Camp just about the half way point, water there year round.

This hike will be April 25th and 26th.

Loop starting from Miller Creek, spending the night at Manning camp and returning via Turkey Creek, walk the road back to the car, or have a shuttle of only a few miles.

[rally_toad]

Well I looked into getting a permit, and we can do it by mail, fax or walk in by noon the day of.

Should we just do it as a walk in? If not I'll need to know for sure who's coming so I can get a permit for the right number of people.

[rally_toad]

Alright looked into it on the NPS website, we will need to apply for a permit before noon on the 24th, that should be no problem with an 8:00 start time at my house in Gilbert. I'll pm you guys my address, and I will drive, just whoevers in the back is gonna be cramped.

Jump in Wally!

[te_wa]

just a warning, i wear injinji socks

[rally_toad]

i wear injinji socks

Whatever floats your boat man, I tend to like to leave the toesy socks to the ladies though.

[Jeffshadows]

Depending on how my leg feels I might drop in and say hi on the morning you're heading down Turkey; I've been meaning to go back up there...

[writelots]

i wear injinji socks

Whatever floats your boat man, I tend to like to leave the toesy socks to the ladies though.

I think those might actually be my toe socks that he stole...

[te_wa]

actually looking forward to this trip, after this weekend's expected snowstorm in W. Fork I'll be ready for some nice weather. I got the injinji's on backcountry outlet. theyre pretty cool, man. no more blisters!

[dysfunction]

Ok, I have to ask. How do the injini's prevent blisters?

[te_wa]

id get blisters between my toes with sweaty feet. even with the best fitting shoes, im using montrail and scarpa runners - plus they feel good and let your toes spread out and possibly breathe better. i did a 6 mile test run with them and i like 'em far better than my traditional socks, smartwool and inov8. duribility of the bamboo fibers (mine are 75% bamboo, recyclable) is questionable and i have no word on lifespan just yet. for $8 a pair it was a gamble im willing to take.

[big_load]

I wore injinji socks on my last trip and really liked them.

[dysfunction]

Thanks! That's interesting, especially since my wide feet barely have enough room in regular socks

[big_load]

Thanks! That's interesting, especially since my wide feet barely have enough room in regular socks

Oddly enough, that's a problem for me too. My little toes are messed up from a lifetime of not-wide-enough toebox (as well as just being born messed up). Besides a wider forefoot, I need to separate the wee-wee-wee piggies from the rest of the litter to prevent blisters. Normally I use a small bit of lamb's wool between them and the no-roast-beef piggies, but injinji socks work just as well.

[te_wa]

no-roast-beef-piggies?

man this conversation went south, quick

another idea i had for these socks is that they would work for gloves in a pinch. not dexterity gloves, just hand-warmers. just a thought.

[rally_toad]

Wow. your actually serious about the toesy socks.

[dysfunction]

The really funny thing is I'm sitting here thinking.... "hrm, I may have to try them"

[writelots]

The really funny thing is I'm sitting here thinking.... "hrm, I may have to try them"

I'm telling you - they're godsends. I've got very wide feet - particularly the absurdly wide toe box. I fought major toe blisters for years. Since toe socks, barely a one. They're brilliant.

The bamboo pair I've got has lasted me longer than the Merrell shoes I bought with them - More than a year old and still looking just as good as new...

I'm headed up to Manning Camp Saturday. Maybe I'll leave a present for yous guys!

[te_wa]

particularly the absurdly wide toe box

i like to refer to those as "Neanderthoes"

manning camp would not be complete w/o a bottle of two buck chuck. got some?

[Jeffshadows]

I bet we could arrange for some MD 20/20 to find its way up there for you

[rally_toad]

A week before I might try and fax in the permit application to save us time that saturday, and make sure we get a spot at Manning.

Regarding the toesy socks. I don't care how comfortable they are, Im not wearing them.

But they have a nice easter selection of toesy socks at Target and walmart, you guys might want to look into that for this weekend's hikes.

[te_wa]

that's it? three is a crowd, i suppose but c'mon people this is a classic AZ hike. Im interested in hearing more specifics about each days' travels - after looking at maps and pics, i think this is going to be great. ;)