HikeArizona.COM

Let me begin that I have not been backpacking before, my first trip is planned for the Sups over Thanksgiving. I have, however, lived and worked in the Sawtooth mountain range (ID) guiding backcountry rides. I know a lot about horses, not a lot about camping.

I have grand ideas of a thru-hike, however, being a full time high school teacher it just isn't possible. So, I have been planning to do a few sections at a time as breaks allow during school. I'm unfamiliar with the land south of Phoenix and I don't know how snow or water will factor in to the elevation changes.

Originally, I wanted to do a NOBO hike and start at the southern border this Dec. I am under the impression that snow will be a problem in the Huachuca mountains? Is this true?

If that's the case I would like to do sections 4-7 this December before the spring semester starts. Does anyone see a logistical problem with this? I am a member of the AZ trail and I'm excited to get the new guidebook coming out in December. I do not plan on carrying a GPS (too expensive), but if needed I will get one.

Any advice is helpful!
Bs

@blisterfree
Yes, that is a good idea. I will check into it and also the silk liner that Mike was talking about.

I finished a backpack of passages 4-8 today, or 8-4 since I went SOBO. The water situation wasn't bad.

Passage 7 - I filled up at Cienega Creek (passage 8 ) with enough to get to Twin Tanks. There is Duck tank but I've seen it when the water level is really low and I've seen all the trash that's been dumped in there.

Passage 6 - I filled up at Twin Tanks to get to the trough in Oak Tree Canyon. A lot of fine suspended soil (use a prefilter), but the water tasted ok, not like cows. There's a rocky point on the north shore where you can get right up to the water without walking through the mud. This is the only dirt stock tank I used.

Still in passage 6 I remembered a metal cow tank recently installed near where the trail crosses FR 4064. Maybe 200 feet east on the road, and a lot cleaner than the trough in Oak Tree, so I filled up there, and skipped the trough (it did have water though).

Those were the long stretches. From there it was easy. Bowman Spring, had to break the ice but full. Kentucky camp, water on tap, and a restroom. Cave Creek had water. Gardner Canyon creek had a good flow. Casa Blanca canyon also good. Walker basin, a small pool below the dam. A lot of spots to get water when the trail drops into Temporal Gulch. Then the last 7 miles into Patagonia are dry which makes a cold drink at the market quite refreshing.

I did hit patches of snow on the switchbacks above Bear Spring but was melting fast, probably nothing over an inch deep.

The one backpacker I met on the trip is attempting a thru hike. I asked him about snow in the Huachucas, and he said there was a few inches after the last storm, nothing bad. I wished him luck but I think he'll have a tough time ahead.