Route Editor
Route Scout
"Hopefully with our 2011 winter season now ending and with warmer April-May'11 day/night temperatures forthcoming in and around the Mazatzal Wilderness- Mount Peeley and Sheep Mountain areas, we can hopefully once again continue our individual and group search-hiking efforts to locate GPSjoe's remains to help bring needed closure to Joe Domin's family and many caring friends.
On March 6th I had the opportunity to visit with Joe's son- Christian Domin from Chicago. Christian wanted me to again express his family's sincere appreciation for all previous and any continuing efforts we have time to devote in helping to locate his dad's remains. We all want to know what happened on that tragic Mon-11/8/10 day which should be further explained in a formal investigation after finding GPSjoe's remains. If we are not able to find Joe, Christian wants us all to know that he and his family are content to know that their dad, father-in-law, brother, granddad, and uncle's remains will reside within a hiking wilderness area that GPSjoe so loved to be."
********************************************************************************
All interested in day and/or overnight vehicle camping, tent or hammock, backpacking in, off trail search-hiking, or just established trail hiking are welcome to attend any part-of this planned Wed-4/27 to Mon-5/2 (5 night/6 day event). Also welcomed are those who would just like to drive-up for a days visit and relax in our camp area at 6105ft elevation within the shade of oaks and pines.
Please review the now posted Hike Description for this event: Camp Grasshopper - Mazatzal Main C/Site, AZ http://hikearizona.com/decoder.php?ZTN=16003 which includes my posted triplog, pic set with captions, and driving directions with GPS driving tracks posted for your further reference and download as necessary.
To provide more detailed driving/hiking route information, here is the same GPS driving tracks as above, but also to include all the "key" way point information needed:
http://hikearizona.com/location_g.php?QX=582
Random comments to apply for this event:
.. This will be primitive area camping, so you will need to be fully contained for overnight stay;
..Some may prefer to backpack-in and out, so those driving in for overnight and/or day hiking or day visiting only, please consider bringing extra water to be shared with the backpackers who will be in need;
.. As previously noted in pic set and driving directions section and on GPS track comments, campsite areas 1 & 2 are accessible by 2WD-high clearance vehicles (no cars) and campsite areas 3 & 4(main-largest area at 6105' elev.) are accessible only by 4WD-high clearance with upgraded tires recommended. All four campsite areas are free, first come-first serve, and I cannot guarantee that these campsite areas will be available for only our interested HAZ/AZH community members. Weather permitting, etc., I plan to arrive at the main campsite area #4 by late morning Wed-4/27/11.
.. The exit off of FR201 to our camping areas on FR3348 http://hikearizona.com/photo.php?ZIP=186321 is an easy exit coming in, but a very,very difficult right turn out of FR3348 to drive FR201 to the Mount Peeley TH, thus you will note that we have a designated "turn-around" location on FR201 which I have designated with a way point location on the above linked GPS track. This will require most of us when exiting FR3348 to first turn left and drive the approx .25ml distance to this designated turn-around location before driving back up FR201.. this will be kind of a pain in the pumpkin, but safely necessary.
.. For those interested in parking on FR201 vs FR3348 (which may be a good plan for some considering a short backpack in option), on the above linked GPS "key" way points driving tracks, I have noted two way points on FR201 where vehicles can park, then hike the distance back to FR3348. Driving in on FR201, parking location #1 (for two vehicles) is only .1 mile past FR3348 and parking location #2 (for three vehicles) is approx .50 mile past FR3348;
General comments regarding this camping area and some extra items to consider bringing:
.. Our campsite areas seem to have good cell phone coverage for those needed check-in calls;
.. The area is large enough to offer adequate personal, private hygiene areas as required (we will need to keep this area clean and as tidy as possible after..);
.. I suggest you bring insect repellent just in case it is needed and also consider bringing a shovel for any personal needs..;
.. These four campsite areas are hammock friendly for any "hangers" in the group;
..Regarding firewood and campfires: all camping areas have some small established fire rings, but prior-to our outing, we (I) will need to follow the Tonto Natl Forest website to confirm if the NF has invoked "fire restrictions" or not. If not for our period 4/27-5/2, then those who can, it would be appreciated if you would consider bringing up some firewood for our camping nights and chainsaws if you are legal to use. As of my scouting trip 3/31, there was a significant amount of pine downfall in the area, but little hardwood and some of this pine will not be that great for campfires or cooking with. Also, I am certain that others will be camping in this area prior-to our scheduled outing and will consume some of this existing down firewood;
..Continue to read this "event summary" for ongoing updated comments which I will add as I think of them or you do first. ;)
National Weather Service Forecast for our camping area which is 2.5 driving miles from the Mt. Peeley TH: http://hikearizona.com/forecast.php?e=T ... 9EUTJOZz09
I am much looking forward to hopefully good camping weather for a good turnout and an opportunity for us all to have some fun together in a very nice area to be
so the set you found must belong to one of our other HAZ members driving in/out of Camp Grasshopper?