4th Semi-Annual Painted Desert Rendezvous - Dates Changed

[PaleoRob]

Update: Date has changed again, due to a myriad of issues. Date now TBD April/early May

Alright, its December. What does that mean, beside that 2009 is rushing at us at ungodly speed? It means that although barely a month has gone by, I am already doing some plotting for the 4th Semi-Annual Painted Desert Rendezvous, and I'd like to bounce some ideas off of you who are potentially interested.

As a recap to those who haven't been, the idea behind the SAPDR is for folks to get together and explore a little wedge of the Painted Desert. Works well since generally our destinations have been about equal travel time for Phonecians and myself. We hike about in a somewhat aimless fashion, sometimes following leads from rangers, archaeologists, or my own personal hunches and experiences, finding fossils, rock art, ruins, pottery, and pretty rocks. The goal isn't massive miles, it is more about seeing what is out there in a little-explored region of our state that I (and others) happen to find fascinating. In the past it has been a combination between dayhikers and backpackers. There's something for everyone.

So, that little bit out of the way, here's some thoughts. Just tossing them out here to see what sticks.

Accommodations: The past 3 trips have been generally backpacking based, and this has worked out well, especially since our camps have been close enough to the trailhead to allow dayhikers freedom to explore as well. However there were some suggestions before this last excursion about motels and car camping ("gentlemen camping" as Randal might call it). Thoughts on any of this? There's no developed camping within the Petrified Forest, but the PeFo is but a small part of the Painted Desert. Developed campgrounds exist at Homolovi State Park and could be used as a base-camp. Those not wanting to camp would have motels in the area to chose from that are close to Homolovi. Upside is more gear and food we could use at the basecamp, downside being we're not in the middle of the wilderness and there is a fee.

Destinations: The last three trips have all generally been centered around the PeFo, which has been fine. There is lots to explore in the PeFo, and we've just begun to scratch the surface (even though I've been hiking out there for a decade now). But, as I mentioned above, the PeFo is just a little slice of the Painted Desert and some during our last outing suggested branching out. Well I've got a pretty big list of things I've got on my mind in terms of the Painted Desert, some outside the park, so here's a breakdown of some.
Black Falls Crossing - On the Navajo Nation, just across the LCR from Wupatki National Monument. I know very little about the area, but it is within the PD and due to its proximity to Wupatki there are likely lots of ruins. Crossing the LCR could be difficult to impossible in the spring however
Chavez Pass Pueblo - not in the PD per say, but it was an important and very large gateway pueblo between the LCR communities and the Mogollon Rim/Salt-Verde River basins to the south. This would be a simple dayhike/possible base (car) camp.
Chinde Mesa - within PeFo, it is the large, low mesa you see due north from the Painted Desert Inn. About a 10 mile round trip - probably a 5 mile backpack to give us time to explore and check things out in the area. Would probably end up taking up most of the time of the PDR, which is ok.
Hibbard Road - North of Hibbard is some state trust land that I've been out on several years back. There's some petroglyphs and fossils in the area that I know of, and I've got vague directions and tantalizing descriptions of some other stuff out there. It isn't as multicolored as the rest of the PD, as it is primarily composed of Moenkopi sandstones.
Holbrook Petroglyph Park - A ?city park located near the golf course. Haven't been there myself, and the road is short but kinda iffy, but the pictures of the 'glyphs I've seen look kinda cool
Homolovi Ruins State Park - More of a quick destination/base camp than a location for thorough exploration, it none-the-less provides a glimpse into the ancient inhabitants of the PD. And a handy potential base camp
Little Painted Desert County Park - Don't know much about it, though I've driven by it a few times. Supposed to have several miles of hiking trails into the Chinle badlands. Just north of Homolovi. Probably no camping/backpacking possibilities, but close enough to other things to make it a day trip.
Mountain Lion Mesa - Destination of the last PDR. Lots of stuff in the immediate vicinity we didn't get to explore, and further reading suggests other items of interest in the nearby areas as well
Ward Terrace - Stretches on Moenave benches and Chinle slopes from near Tuba City to Black Falls Crossing area. There was an article by Scott Thybony in AZH, November of 2006. Crazy hoodoos, arches, dinosaur tracks, and prehistoric ladles are all pictured, but I have little experience in the area myself.

So, there's a list of some of the places I've been looking to explore/get back to along with a few non-backpacking options for those who may not want to backpack. What do you all think about these? I want to get things organized a little bit sooner than the previous PDR.

[PaleoRob]

An update:
I woke up this morning with mucus plugging my nostrils and coughing up phlegm. I appear to be coming down with a cold or something. This may impact the PDR, but we'll see if it clears up over the course of the week.

[pickelltree]

pagerob, i have heard about this trip from hoffmaster. if you still are going to go i would like to tag along. let me know how you are feeling

[PaleoRob]

pagerob, i have heard about this trip from hoffmaster. if you still are going to go i would like to tag along. let me know how you are feeling

Will do for sure. Today certainly doesn't find me feeling any better than I did this morning.

[oliverr99]

I had that last week. It sucks! Well if you cancel it for another 2 weeks, I will be able to join in on the fun, May 9th possibly

[PaleoRob]

Yeah, I think we'll have to reschedule this one. I'm still not feeling great! Sorry folks. I'll look at reschedule dates next week. Don't want to wait too long though! Otherwise it'll get pretty toasty there!

[azbackpackr]

Well, then, good, there's still a chance for me later on. Cross that bridge when I get there!