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Thanks to suggestions from others, I want to do this via Dogie Trail. Should be interesting new part of AZ I haven't seen. According to Te-Wa we should prepare for it to be in the mid to low 20s probably during the night so be prepared if you want to come on this one.

Edit: Looks like we will also be taking the Casner Mountain trail out....adds a bit of mileage but the views should be worth the sore calves.

I'm sure that is the case. The supes are certainly starting to get very green and colorful....definitely makes for enjoyable hiking. I think the barrel cacti are about to bloom soon too. I saw tons of them with tiny buds starting up on the tops.

In response to Dirt4dinner:

So dirt you think you and Topo will make this one?

Lol I'll take that as a yes.....right as I was typing that up you confirmed ><

Ok, my wife gave up on the guilt trip and Topo and I are in. I will have the 4Runner, where is the meeting point? I am flexible, just plan on kicking in a few $$$ for gas and we are all happy!

Bark.

Dirt4dinner wrote:a few $$$ for gas

ok so how many decimal points come before $$$'s
like 0.00 or closer to my style, 0000.0

Im sayin we meet @ RTZ's place. He has gated apts. that Im going to park in. Hopefully, no thugs want a '99 ranger.

I'm still willing to drive my FJ Cruiser up there. It's probably got about as much room as the 4Runner. I have an ulterior motive - it is equipped with Sirius satellite radio, and we can listen to the Cardinals playoff game (that starts at 1:00pm sunday) as soon as we get off the trail. Sheesh, how often do they get one game away from the Superbowl? Hey RTZ, can you post directions to your apt? And the meetup time sat AM is still 7:30AM?

Hey RTZ, you live over by the HD by priest and Baseline?

Which complex? I live right there too, in the Apts with the fountains, if your in there I can watch all your guys cars while your gone.

Wish I was going, but I gotta go to a bunch of open houses this weekend

I think I live across the street from you. I'm in the ones literally right behind the HD.

I don't care if someone else drives. I just don't know that we can't fit gear and Topo in the back of anything...so do you have a roof rack on the FJ?

Well in order to really come up with a good meetup time it would be good to know about how long it would take to get to the TH from my place. I'm guessing it's somewhere in the order of a 2 hour drive in which case I would think 6ish might be a good meetup time so we can hopefully be on the trail around 8ish

6 sounds good. see you then.

6 it is. I will be the guy with a big cup of coffee....

I just checked with the Red Rocks ranger district to find out about water availability and trail conditions. Concerning water, he was not really much help and said we should bring all our own water down there (I think that's pretty much what they tell anyone who asks them at any time of year). Having not gone down there in January before, I'm a little torn on what to do about water. It's probably too early in the year for any significant snow runoff, and no rain for a couple of weeks now. I have to think that we could find some pools of water down there. I'll probably carry more water than I normally would, just in case.

Weather wise, he said 50's-60's daytime high, below freezing at night. He said snow on top of Cassner mountain.

A 6:00AM meetup? You guys are killing me. I was thinking more about getting on the road by 7:00 from my house in Gold Canyon and to the trailhead by 10:00 latest. Since the car seems to be a little crowded anyhow, maybe I'll drive up separately and meet up with you guys up there. Is it cool with you guys if I do that?

there also may be another joining us. we would pro'lly take 2 cars anyway. Josh, you can meet at my place if you want to either drive the Jeep or take my Ranger. That saves me a trip to Tempe for an already full 4runner. Or, we could meet Andy somewhere and the 3 of us could fit in the batting helmet.

about rangers, its hard to give advice from a desk. if those guys ever hiked to Taylor Cabin, id be surprised.

Man if I only had a 4wd I would go up there tomorrow for a quick scouting day hike.

do i need to drive the jeep, i bought another car that i would drive. but it has very low clearance. also the jeep is going to the shop tonight with the death wobble, we shouldn't take that if you know what i mean

Te-wa and pickeltree, I am happy to pick you guys up. Are you both in the FH area? I've used that Mall just off the 101 and Tatum a few times for a park and ride site, or do you have another suggestion? I think the batting helmet could squeeze you two in

Okay so I guess we'll make it 6:30 at my place to give Drew a bit of time to get the people out that way. It's super easy to get to my apartments. I'll just have us meetup in the front parking lot outside the gate with my keycard once everyone gets there I'll open it up. Basically you go down 60 from the east valley and exit on Priest right before it hits the 10. Take a left onto Priest and go through the first light (just goes into the mall). Take a left at the second light that also comes out of the mall and goes across the street. It's called Darrow Dr. Immediately after you make that left you want to make another left right into the front parking lot of my apartments...called Pine Shadows. You'll know if you've gone too far when you see the parking lot for the Home Depot. I should be right up there in the front parking lot waiting to open the gate.

OK, I talked to Te-wa. I will pick them up at Shea and the Beeline at 8:00AM.