HikeArizona.COM

By popular demand... or something like that.

September 12-14th, 2014
Santa Maria Mountains
Prescott National Forest - Camp Wood area

Never heard of it? Isn't that half the fun?

This event posting is just for the car-camping social gathering. Participants are free to arrange their own hikes (or not). There are numerous possibilities. Short trails. Longer trails. Connecting routes. Possible loops. Hyde Mountain lookout. Off-trail options. Apache Creek Wilderness. And more. There are even a lot of 4wd roads if you are into that. Some area hikes can be found on this map http://hikearizona.com/map.php?QX=3535 Other options are available.

Driving Directions:
Beginning at Cordes Junction / AZ69 and I-17
Travel AZ69 north for 20.75 miles.
Turn right onto Fain Road. [It's the 4th traffic light in Dewey ... before you get to Prescott Valley. Sign indicates "To AZ89, I-40, Chino Valley, Prescott Airport".]
Travel 18.4 miles to T intersection. [Fain Road turns into Pioneer Parkway and is a divided highway much of the way.]
Turn right onto Williamson Valley Road.
Travel 19.5 miles on Williamson Valley Road. Watch your speed. This road is very well patrolled.
Turn left onto Camp Wood Road (dirt).
Travel 15.4 miles on Camp Wood Rd. [The first 5-6 miles is smooth. The road condition deteriorates as the miles go on.]
Turn right onto FR95. The sign for "Merritt Spring" across the street is bigger and brighter than the sign for FR95.
Travel 0.4 miles on FR95 to and turn left into FR95C. HAZFest site is 200 yards up the road. FR95 is a rough dirt road and caution is required when driving.
Map with downloadable GPS tracks here> http://hikearizona.com/map.php?QX=3553
You may find this location using Google Maps by searching "County Road 68 & Forest Service 95 Rd, Prescott, Arizona 86305"
The site is now 1mile short (west) of the marked location at the end of the GPS track. A reflective "camp chumley" sign marks the turn at FR95 and 95C.

I have made this trip in under 2.5 hours from Tempe.
60 min from Tempe to Cordes Junction
20 min from I-17 to Fain Road
20 min from Fain Road to Williamson Valley Rd
20 min from Williamson Valley Rd to Camp Wood Rd
30 min from Camp Wood Rd to HAZFest (This portion WILL take others much longer. I drive fast on dirt roads).

If you are coming from the west valley it may be shorter to go through Wickenburg. From Flagstaff it's quicker to take I-40 west to Ash Fork, and then south on AZ89

This area is popular with hunters, but deer and bear hunts close on September 11 so I don't anticipate seeing a lot hunting activity.

While there is currently some water flowing in creeks and streams in this area, I expect that by next month, things will dry out somewhat.
The elevation is about 5700 feet, and while weather can't be determined at this time, the normal/average for mid-September is 80-85° for daytime highs, and 40-45° for night time lows. Or what people like me call "absolutely perfect!"

Everybody is welcome. There are no restrictions.
But, please respect fellow attendees. I wouldn't personally bring children since we tend to stay up late and make a bit of noise. Dogs are welcomed as long as you can control them and they don't bother people or other dogs. Common sense things.

Disclaimer:
Nothing is provided. This is dispersed camping in the middle of a national forest. There are no restrooms, no water, nothing. Bring what you need. You are responsible for yourself. Bring your own food, shelter, etc. You are responsible for taking your own trash back home with you. There is no trash service here. Access is via a 15-mile dirt road that is sedan accessible. High clearance is preferred, but not necessary, especially if you are accustomed to driving your vehicle on forest roads. If this isn't something you normally do, proceed at your own risk. I take no responsibility for your vehicle, the drive, or anything that happens to you or your property while getting to/from, or at HAZfest. You are on your own.

A fire will be built, maintained, and safely extinguished. Everything else is up to you.

I hope to see you there!

Please post comments or questions in this thread, or PM me directly and I will gladly respond.

chumley wrote:Let's not misrepresent things. He is on the record supporting 5 or 6 trees per acre.
viewtopic.php?p=39068#p39068

I feel loved! Where do you find these?!

That might sound extreme, but 5 to 6 very large old pines on an acre can be really nice. With a lush ground cover or grasses and forbs, that would produce a really attractive pine forest. If the trees were on a perfect grid, that is 85 feet between each tree, which if 80 feet tall would allow for ample light to reach the ground. If in a more realistic clumped and single cohort pattern, you would abundant gaps in the forest for meadows.

I'm in

chumley wrote:Let's not misrepresent things. He is on the record supporting 5 or 6 trees per acre.
viewtopic.php?p=39068#p39068

From June 09 2009? Holy cow Chums either a great memory or you have a dossier on all of us... ...

Accidentally hit the commit button and had to cancel, so that's what that is.

@Patrick L
That's ok. The system lets you uncancel/reinterest/recommit anytime you want, so nobody is judging you. Yet. ;)

chumley wrote:@Patrick L
That's ok. The system lets you uncancel/reinterest/recommit anytime you want, so nobody is judging you. Yet. ;)

Oh, we'll be talking about you...

Update:

HAZfest will not be in Anthem, but it is open to swingers!
http://hikearizona.com/photo=439060

Hangers and grounders will have room to set up too. We're all-inclusive.

@chumley
Open to swingers? Oh, maybe I should come. Is that the correct spelling? ;)

Commitments are piling up, so my plot failed. I'm definitely out.

@big_load
Be the first to not like this...

@chumley At least I'll have more hiking days left for the cooler weather.

@chumley #AC0505 ;)

Now with specific location and driving directions. See the original post for details.

Some of us will be coming up after work, so it will more than likely be dark out. How easy will it be to find you at night?

SpiderLegs wrote: How easy will it be to find you at night?

if you see a bonfire you've arrrived

BobP wrote:if you see a bonfire you've arrrived

I know. Ambika suggested I could burn my unused wood packages at HAZfest. I said no need as the chainsaw gang/bonfire crew would handle that . I said my package couldn't even measure up to the size of just one log they put on the fire.

@SpiderLegs
If you follow the directions, it will be very easy to find us. We will be just off FR95 on the left, and I'll probably put out the reflective Camp Chums sign just in case.

@tibber

I said my package couldn't even measure up to the size of just one log

Ya that's tough to beat for anyone...

I thought that would be wonderful when taken out of context and woop, there it is.

I wish I could go, but ill be in Joshua Tree, California. Any places to hike there?