Trans Supes hike II April 25-27 FIRM DATES

[te_wa]

the trans Supes hike last november was a great success! everyone attended and completed the 47 mile trek in great spirits.
carrying on the *new* tradition of the great annual Trans Supes hikes, this one is going to shift gears a little and begin in Spring this year. We will be travelling in a large loop starting and ending at Miles trailhead- we're looking at 11-12 miles per day over some fairly rough terrain. Leaving for the hike on Friday morning and returning by Sunday evening. I suggest experienced hikers only sign up. Lets get this ball rolling!

[te_wa]

not really a men's club only.. we have signed up here a gal named Kara F. Yllaw (ee-yaw)
for some reason she spells her name backwards to remain anonymous

[Hoffmaster]

Is this a men's club only! ------testosterone

In a roundabout way, that is the same question I was asking in my backpacking thread for this coming weekend. My girlfriend (fiance) is going on the trip, but she is the only girl so far. Where are all the lady backpackers? Surely there are some out there? I'm not looking to hit on anyone, I just don't want my girlfriend (fiance) to be the only girl.

[big_load]

Where are all the lady backpackers? Surely there are some out there? I'm not looking to hit on anyone, I just don't want my girlfriend (fiance) to be the only girl.

Mrs. big_load gets less than half as much vacation time as I do, but her main excuse is that she doesn't like death marches. Besides that, she'll be off on business travel somewhere.

[nonot]

I should be able to get the 19th off since that's over a month out.

Hope to see more people join in!

We'll have to rename the trip

Here's a little more info for those that are still on the fence:

Miles TH to Oak Flat: nice stroll through the creek under the trees, pretty easy stuff
Oak Flat to Rogers Trough: looks to be a climber, haven't done this portion yet, may be brushy, probably moderate difficulty.
Rogers Trough to Angel Basin: an easy downhill route, alongside the creek for a good portion, not very brushy except for the brief catclaw corrider right at the end. Passes by Rogers Canyon Ruins.
Angel Basin to ~ Fish Creek: seemed fairly easy last time I did it, alongside the creek.
~ Fish Creek to Plow Saddle: haven't done this yet, looks to be a climber, people describe it as moderate to difficult, probably will be brushy.
Plow Saddle To Ranch: looks to be fairly flat and easy, but I haven't done it yet to confirm. I'll probably be taking a side trip to explore the Ranch.
Ranch to Walnut Spring: looks to be a climber, described as somewhat rocky, probably moderate to difficult, but I haven't done this yet.
Walnut spring to Campaign TH: looks to be all downhill, described as rocky, described as scenic
Campaign to Fireline: a climber, descriptions seem to be that it isn't very brushy, follows near the creek.
Fireline to Divide: brushy, a climber, moderate difficulty but it's a fairly short section
Divide to Oak Flat: Downhill just about all the way. A bit brushy at first but the last half is very clear.
Oak Flat to Miles TH: see above

Water Sources:
possibly in Pinto Creek near Oak Flat
possibly Iron Mountain Spring
Rogers Trough Spring
possibly Angel Basin
Fish Creek
possibly Plow Saddle Spring
Reavis Creek
possibly Walnut Spring
probably some of the springs along northern part of Campaign

If the creeks are still all flowing in April (probable due to our winter rains?) then relying on springs is not necessary.

Weather for mid-April at 4500 ft:
Average high: mid to upper 70s
Average low: mid to upper 40s

Overall:
Days 1 and 3 only have about a third of the hike climbing, whereas day 2 is mostly climbing all day, so day 2 will probably be the most difficult for people, but it is the shortest day to compensate.

[te_wa]

Overall:
Days 1 and 3 only have about a third of the hike climbing, whereas day 2 is mostly climbing all day, so day 2 will probably be the most difficult for people, but it is the shortest day to compensate.

that's the scenario I was picturing. thanks for looking at the 3-D. The best part of this trip, IMO is that we dont have to shuttle-take chauffers-etc..
We can all meet at the Home Depot on 60 and Crismon the morning of the hike, at 7am sharp-unless someone has a problem with that.

[nonot]

Here are the figures, I think I was wrong, although day 2 is climbing most of the day, it's more spread out. Day 3 will probably have the most AEG with the 2000 foot climb over the divide.

Here are the approx elevations
Day 1: 3600-5400-3600: Major climb over Iron Mountain Pass, total gain >=1800
Day 2: 3600-5000-4800-5300 Major climb up to Plow Saddle/Windy Saddle, minor climb to Reavis Gap, total gain >=1900
Day 3: 5300-3300-5300-3600 Major climb up to Campaign Divide, total gain >=2000

Perhaps we should bring a bulldozer and level this all out

[Desertroux]

Now that dates are set I will talk to my owner for a "pass". I am afraid he thinks I will not return. With AZ summer coming and spring time in VA I do not think that is a problem.

I will keep you posted.

Te-Wa - I have an email in with my father seeing if I can hook up some tickets for you to VA. AT here we come broham... ;-)

[te_wa]

Te-Wa - I have an email in with my father seeing if I can hook up some tickets for you to VA. AT here we come broham... ;-)

well everybody it appears that the dates listed above are not set in stone and will be changed due to some travel plans that Ive made. I have a chance to hike in Shenandoah Nat'l Park with Ryan this spring, so Te-Wa will get to hang out with his eastern-squirrel brothers on the Appalachian Trail.
How about the end of this month march 28-29-30th?

[wallyfrack]

Ok, March 28,29 & 30 actually works good for me as well.

[Al_HikesAZ]

Have fun. I can't due it before April 15

[hikeaz]

Have fun. I can't due it before April 15

I get it.... I can't 'DUE" it before April 15th...... An accountant joke I presume?

[nonot]

I can't make those dates, I guess I'll have to figure out what I'm going to do with my time off in April now.

[big_load]

Darn, I'm technically available on the new dates, but I'm working on some deadlines. Have fun, and I'll catch the next one.

[te_wa]

well the dates arent solid anyway. april seems to be a bad month and march looks even worse. give input on dates. it'll help.

[wallyfrack]

Maybe you scared everybody off during Trans Supes hike I?

[Hoffmaster]

No way! Trans Supes I was awesome! I'd be down for this trip, but I already have to take more time off this year than I have actual vacation time for. I know...it sucks to be me. ;-)

[rally_toad]

wow only two people signed up so far? I'm afraid you guys might be mighty lonely haha. I have those 3 days off(March 28-30)as of right now but I was planning to go down south to Kartchner Caverns and the Whetstone Mountains. Maybe I will have to reconsider, I have never been in that part of the supes.

[wallyfrack]

OK, I promise to bring deodorant and camp down wind. Anybody ?

[nonot]

I can make it the original week proposed or the week after that, and now probably 2 weeks after the original weekend.

Getting into May it will start getting hot even at the higher elevations.

[wallyfrack]

I can make it the weekend after the orginal weekend. So Mike would 4/25,26,27 workfor you?