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I might go backpacking Mount baldy loop next weekday , looking at the hike arizona map i only found 2 water sources thruout the trail and what is a good spot to camp out, im looking for something close to a water source .

@DixieFlyer
Great feedback as I hope people are careful around all those potential widow makers especially on breezy days.

Some areas of Baldy have miles of dead and dying trees.

@hiking_arizona
Those trees died many years ago during a bark beetle infestation. I remember them being dead 19 years ago when I moved to the White Mountains. I guess it does take a long time for them to all fall down.

@DixieFlyer
Yesterday I counted right at 100 downed trees on the West Baldy trail that I had to go over or under. I hiked West Baldy 3 weeks ago, and there were more downed trails this time. I was glad that I hiked up the East Baldy Trail and down the West Baldy Trail. In addition to dealing with twice as many downed trees on West Baldy as compared to East Baldy, in general the ones on West Baldy were more difficult to negotiate.

I hiked up Escadilla today, and there were lots and lots of downed trees -- more than I could possibly count. I think that it will be a while before I go back to the Escudilla National Trail.

@DixieFlyer Thx for update.

@DixieFlyer
Thing to do is keep calling the ranger district office to inquire when the trail crew will be clearing the trails. That serves to get the message out that the public is paying attention.

azbackpackr wrote:Thing to do is keep calling the ranger district office to inquire when the trail crew will be clearing the trails. That serves to get the message out that the public is paying attention.

I called the Springerville Ranger District last week and they told me that they would be clearing the Baldy Trails beginning in mid to late June.

Thanks for the updated trail and mountain conditions. I didn't see a triplog or photoset, but thanks if you posted one and if you do in the future, feel free to post a photoset link here so I don't miss it!

Mid to late June is probably a little late for planning for them to clear so many down trees for me to plan on hiking it in June, for me, for a first time and to avoid monsoon storm influences. A cold rain is one thing, hail, lightning, that is more threatening. Keeping in mind I want to enjoy it. Besides, the pictures from pre-monsoon are not as nice as the ones in September. Unless I get a wild hair, I will probably wait until late summer or fall. Just as well, since I failed to hike this before Humphrey as I was forced (as it were) to hike Humphrey thanks to the closure. Not that you cared all that much about that particular thing.

Now, I'm wondering if a trip to Heliograph is worth it this June? April pictures make it look bleak, but that is after the fire last year and before substantial regrowth which may take several years. That was so nice in June of 2015, I was hoping for a repeat. Different topic, I know.

Yes, I am at work and avoiding it.

Thanks again.

We’ll be backpacking and looking to go maybe 3-5 miles in and set up camp. Which do you suggest? Is there plenty of campspots? Or is there not much flat land?

@inthesticks
Flat is a relative term. I like the northern trail for camping and there is a nice stream that flows alongside the trail for awhile. If I remember right, about 3 miles in there is a nice spot on the edge of a meadow.

@inthesticks
Here is a nice flat spot... [ photo ]

@ALMAL
That's a decent spot too.

Does mt Baldy west have very many spots? I don’t remember much flat land

Within the first few miles. I don't remember many good campsites once you begin to climb in earnest.

When I was hiking Baldy west I remember seeing people camp off to my lef down a big hill. How do I get down there?

@inthesticks
Watch for side trails well before you get to that spot. There are "use trails" leading to those campsites.

the unofficial Mt Baldy season begins on April 15 with ADOT reopening 273 & 261 per ADOT and Big Lake General Store.

expect rotten spring snow in parts and 75+ down trees on at least East Baldy from my trek in late November.

Hopefully USFS springerville crew will have trails cleared by July 4 which is the usual target if they get the necessary funding.