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What a way to kick off summer!
Quartz Peak trail in the Sierra Estrella Wilderness. May 17th dayhike.

Stiller wrote:Sorry I can't offer to drive on Saturday Dave.

No problem Stiller. You guys have fun!
Alex, you may want to change the date on the heading and calendar to the 17th, so people who are open to Sunday can join you

sarichter wrote:say around 5 AM

We'll keep it at 5:30, it wont be too bad, should be done before it gets too hot. Thats about my limit for getting up early.

So your question is which way are we approaching the trailhead from? We can do from the west/north if that is easier.

Wherever you guys want to meet would be fine, I'll probably meet up with Stiller at 5:30 in Mesa, since there is no point in both of us driving all the way out there to meet, when we're only a few miles away to begin with.

Really sorry about the date change Dave!

Yeah, if we can keep our meeting time for 5:30am that would be good for me. I already wake up at 4am to leave by 5:30am, any earlier makes it REAL tough.

the one time I did this I drove from the north off I-10. I need to check my old info for the directions. the description of how to get there from the south on the HAZ description made it sound kind of tricky. I agree also that it's probably easier to hop off an exit on I-10 to meet up with sarichter and dwnorth.

Speaking of which, you guys tell me where you want me to meet you and we'll make our over after Alex gets to my house. We can meet you guys at separate spots if that works best for you, just let me know.

well the home depot's and lowe's on the west side are kind of sketchy. looks like dwnorth lives in avondale which is on the way to the northern highway approach [btw Stiller, i did Montezuma not too long ago so directions shouldn't be difficult]. i can park over at Papago Park in East Phoenix which is about 1 mile north of the Priest exit off the 202. It should be easy and quick access...

dwnorth,

do you have any suggestions?

Does anyone know if the gnats are out in the mornings like they are in the afternoons?

We will let you know after this one, last hike I did was in afternoon, so all I can do at this point is confirm THEY ARE OUT IN THE AFTERNOON! I'm sure you already knew that though.

I checked my info for the ride in from the north. Its pretty easy. If we go from the south i need to check other maps, rely on a navigator (Alex), etc. I also want to get a pic of the house along the north way with the cannon in his front yard with "KEEP OUT" (or something similar) written on it.

well i'm sure we will run into worse things than gnats doing this hike. i met up with a ticked off bighorn sheep, a juvenile rattlesnake, and an angry agave when i was up there last.

sarichter wrote:i met up with a ticked off bighorn sheep, a juvenile rattlesnake, and an angry agave when i was up there last.

A bighorn would be cool, I wouldn't be surprised with a couple snakes this time of year, saw 3 my last hike and we only went 2 and half miles.

I prefer all the other things, the gnats I can do without. They're pretty bad now in the afternoons at the valley elevation and a few thousand feet up. If I'm moving quick it's not as bad. Guess I could load up on deet, permethrin and a face shield...lol

I'll try and hit a test hike in the morning before committing.

joe bartels wrote:I prefer all the other things, the gnats I can do without. They're pretty bad now in the afternoons at the valley elevation and a few thousand feet up. If I'm moving quick it's not as bad. Guess I could load up on deet, permethrin and a face shield...lol

I'll try and hit a test hike in the morning before committing.

a test hike the morning of... you are hardcore.

The last time I was up there, there were these sparrow-sized birds that were whooshing by our heads as they were chasing bugs to eat. They were going really fast, which made things a little uncomfortable while we were trying to enjoy the views. That was actually a little more annoying than gnats.

Joe your gonna let a few bugs get in the way of a hike??? Don't be a baby!

joe bartels wrote: think you've received some incorrect information.

Perhaps I have, but the information I've found published online and in books puts Quartz Peak trail at 2472 ft +- elevation change each way. Therefore completing this hike is like doing the Grand Canyon one way. But I've been wrong before.

Sunday is fine for me. Can't get a committment on my buddy's ride since he is taking care of a seriously ill family member. Will update when I know more. Btw, the way my buddy and I went, through Rainbow Valley, no way a Mustang would make it. Not familiar with the other options.

dwnorth wrote:

joe bartels wrote: think you've received some incorrect information.

Perhaps I have, but the information I've found published online and in books puts Quartz Peak trail at 2472 ft +- elevation change each way. Therefore completing this hike is like doing the Grand Canyon one way. But I've been wrong before.

Sunday is fine for me. Can't get a committment on my buddy's ride since he is taking care of a seriously ill family member. Will update when I know more. Btw, the way my buddy and I went, through Rainbow Valley, no way a Mustang would make it. Not familiar with the other options.

i agree... and the southern approach is even more courageous.

In response to rally_toad:
I think I'll go just to prove you can't go the whole way without complaining

wonderful

Stiller wrote:wonderful

something to look forward too!

If you don't mind a late add I would like in on this day hike. I can help out in the transportation department, I have a Jeep Wrangler 4 door.

That sounds cool. We'll need to arrange a place to meet. I live in Mesa, but I'll be driving into Phx from there in the 5:30-6am range with rally_toad. Maybe we can meet you off the 202 on our way in to pick up everyone else.