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What a way to kick off summer!
Quartz Peak trail in the Sierra Estrella Wilderness. May 17th dayhike.

Enough of an upgrade to make me very jealous! :worthy:

we figure out transportation arrangements yet?

No not yet, as of right now dwnorth says his friend who might come has a truck...

If you move it sunday I can recommit and drive if you get stuck for transportation.

I'd be good to do it Sunday, is everyone else alright with Sunday or no?

Quite a long bit of the drive in requires high clearance, 4x4 isn't necessary though. Too far to hike in, in my opion.

Sunday works for me. Still awaiting an answer on my friend with the truck.

Perhaps you guys are out of my league because I wouldn't call this a short hike. Short in distance but I thought it was pretty tough. Up and down is the equivalent of rim to river of the Grand Canyon.

dwnorth wrote:Up and down is the equivalent of rim to river of the Grand Canyon.

I think you've received some incorrect information.

Quartz Peak 3,979 - Trailhead 1,563 = 2,416
Bright Angel 4,380
South Kaibab 4,790

Well its only 5 miles with 2400 elevation gain, it shouldnt be that tough of a hike, and it won't take all day, that doesnt mean it isnt a climb, just that I've had worse....(Miller Creek to Manning Camp, now that climb is a dog!)

We still have had no reply about transportation, it looks as though the date will be changed to Sunday, since then Stiller will be able to go and drive.

It would help if we can get a reply from everyone committed so far on a yay/nay for the move to Sunday. I need to be back in Mesa by 6pm so we would need to get an early start. How long does the Butterfly Mt. side trip take, and is that still for sure?

Butterfly mountain doesnt have to be for sure... we can decide when we're up there if it looks doable or not.

i know your are worried about the road, it can be sandy but we came around the north side and did make it with a four door yaris that had 5 people in it with never once thinking we would be stuck only worried about bottoming out, which we did about 4 time, they were minor. but be prepared, i would want you to get stuck out there. we also had an exterra that day in case. we were going to get close and then do a shuttle with the exterra and leave the car farther back on the road, but the driver in the yaris went slow and made it. good luck

the hike is very gradual, only the beginging and the very end are steep.

If you still have the original oil pan you aren't trying hard enough

nonot wrote:If you still have the original oil pan you aren't trying hard enough

that and the exhaust system. seriously, i tried this in a CRX...light, agile, and just enough power to not dig myself into the sand. I probably could've made it all the way, but I was seriously worried I'd really get stuck. After seeing the rest of the 'road' to the trailhead, stick to high ground clearance because there are some bogs that will catch even two wheel drive trucks.

i'm in for Sunday. i'd prefer Saturday but I know Stiller has more things to work around. If we do it Sunday, lets not do Butterfly. I usually have stuff to prepare for work the next day.

i'd prefer saturday, i have to work sunday, but please don't hold up on my account alex if you've got a good group to go...i can find a way to catch it later
dave

I figured you would be out if we moved it to Sunday Dave. Its just we cant seem to find a driver! I would take the stang, I would just hate to get it stuck, or damaged.

Looks as if we'll have to move it to Sunday, that way we have a driver.

We can skip Butterfly as it seems as though people need to be back if we do it Sunday.

Are you unavailable the whole day on sunday Dave or is there a time when you could do it?

i'm not done until about 2:30 or 3pm this Sunday, so that won't really help. thanx anyway

Ok, I think this is the first time I've gone from Interested to Cancelled to Committed on a hike. Looks like we're all agreed for the switch to sunday. Sorry I can't offer to drive on Saturday Dave.

Next is where do we meet? Stephan and Alex, do you guys want to meet me at my place and then we can meet dwnorth somewhere? Let me know what works best for everyone. Is 5:30am good again for a meeting time (in Mesa)?

since i'm halfway between the estrella range and stiller's place, i think it may be smart enough to meet up somewhere in phoenix... guess it depends. we taking the north or south approach?

I could come up to your place Stiller, and then we could probably arrange to meet the others someplace along the way. 5:30 am sounds good, its a little bit easier for me to get up early in the summer time because the sun is at least starting to come up at that time now.
We'll be taking the south approach to Quartz exactly how it is described in the hike listed on site.

rally_toad wrote:I could come up to your place Stiller, and then we could probably arrange to meet the others someplace along the way. 5:30 am sounds good, its a little bit easier for me to get up early in the summer time because the sun is at least starting to come up at that time now.
We'll be taking the south approach to Quartz exactly how it is described in the hike listed on site.

i may have not asked this question clearly enough. the southern approach from maricopa? or the western/northern approach from estrella parkway? i believe the southern approach is pretty rocky and more difficult... i could be wrong though as i have never attempted that side before.

depending on where we start, i believe there are plenty of lowe's / home depots on either edge of the Estrella's to park cars and meet up.
since it's getting warm out already, anyone interested in starting a bit earlier... say around 5 AM?