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Summer HAZFest 2012!!! (Starring: The Perseids!)

Posted: Apr 03 2012 11:32 pm
by chumley
UPDATE: Location, Directions, Info: viewtopic.php?f=4&t=6888&p=83678#p83678

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uh huh, pun intended...

Yes, it's time for a full-fledged summer camping/hiking/climbing/shenanigans adventure. Come one, come all... but don't say you didn't have time to clear your calendar (seriously, it's over 4 months from now)!

Date: Friday, August 10 through Sunday, August 12

Destination: Cabin Loop on the Mogollon Rim. We'll make a base camp that everybody can get to*, and if need be do a few shuttles to create dayhikes along the Cabin Loop. There are great opportunities for beautiful established-trail hiking in the cool pines, as well as off-trail exploration in rugged Dane Canyon (or Barbershop, Yeager, etc.)

If it's really hot (you know, over 80), there might even be a possible swimming trip over to Knoll Lake.

All of this is contingent on this part of the forest not burning down first. :pray:

Why this date??? It's Perseid Meteor Shower Weekend! That's right, despite a waning crescent moon rising after 2am, we should be subject to a weekend of debris from the Swift Tuttle Comet, which should provide a show of up to 50-60 meteors per hour (about 1/min). As long as the skies are clear.

This will of course require adult beverages and very late-night hiking to get away from the light of the fire, and time to readjust your eyes for better viewing. (The first time you'll ever be able to justify using that red light on your headlamp). If you haven't experienced a good meteor shower away from city lights before, it truly is something to behold! Bring a whole book of wishes, and see if they come true!

Details to follow. Just put it on your calendar now. No excuses.

* The new CNF travel management rule takes effect next month and there's a lot to learn about the new restrictions on travel and camping. As such, the exact location we will camp will be determined later. Nonetheless, you can expect it to be within 3 hrs of Phoenix. 2 hrs paved, and up to 20 miles on graded, sedan-accessible dirt roads. Don't be a wuss. Your Prius will love the fresh air!

Re: Summer HAZFest 2012!!! (Starring: The Perseids!)

Posted: Aug 09 2012 4:09 pm
by juliachaos
I'll be heading up in the morning... gotta do my weekly karaoke tonight ;)

Re: Summer HAZFest 2012!!! (Starring: The Perseids!)

Posted: Aug 09 2012 4:12 pm
by chumley
There will be guitars and singing at HAZFest too. :)

Re: Summer HAZFest 2012!!! (Starring: The Perseids!)

Posted: Aug 09 2012 4:17 pm
by juliachaos
....and I will be bringing a guitar and singing. what a coincidence!

Re: Summer HAZFest 2012!!! (Starring: The Perseids!)

Posted: Aug 09 2012 4:31 pm
by outdoor_lover
I'll be leaving town in an hour, will probably just go ahead and meet you at the Camp spot Todd!

Re: Summer HAZFest 2012!!! (Starring: The Perseids!)

Posted: Aug 09 2012 5:15 pm
by chumley
sounds good. it's looking like i'll be there at 9-9:30.

Re: Summer HAZFest 2012!!! (Starring: The Perseids!)

Posted: Aug 09 2012 7:42 pm
by Trishness
Tibber and I are driving up tomorrow afternoon. We should be there by 6PM at the latest.

Trish

Re: Summer HAZFest 2012!!! (Starring: The Perseids!)

Posted: Aug 09 2012 8:54 pm
by chumley
The early report is fantastic!

62 degrees!

The east access is in good condition. Only a few patches of washboard. Otherwise I was able to keep a 40-45mph pace.

Spotted so far:
At least a dozen elk
One white tail deer
One bushy tailed fox
And a brilliantly clear starry sky with a stray perseid. We can only hope for a night like this on Saturday!

So that's the update for anybody still not sure.

Did I mention the 62 degree part? :y:

Re: Summer HAZFest 2012!!! (Starring: The Perseids!)

Posted: Aug 10 2012 1:12 am
by chumley
Direction revision!! FR 161 is the "mogul" road that is 3.6mi north of FR300. If you have high clearance it's no problem. Sedans should continue to the original road at 4.2 miles which marked as FR9032R. Both will get you to the camp spot. Just be aware that the road I thought was 161 is actually 9032R. They are only half a mile apart. I have placed a white reflective sign at the 161 turn that says "camp chumley". It's basically impossible to miss. But non-high-clearance should not turn there, and go 1/2mi north to the 9032R road.

Basically if you turn down (east) on either 161 or 9032R you will end up at our campsite. See you tomorrow!

Re: Summer HAZFest 2012!!! (Starring: The Perseids!)

Posted: Aug 10 2012 6:52 am
by laurabalaura
Planning to drive up today and maybe do a short hike afternoon.Any idea if we can have fire?
Looking forward to meet you all!

Re: Summer HAZFest 2012!!! (Starring: The Perseids!)

Posted: Aug 10 2012 10:13 am
by chumley
Fires are allowed and was roaring last night. Expect more of the same tonight and tomorrow.

Re: Summer HAZFest 2012!!! (Starring: The Perseids!)

Posted: Aug 10 2012 10:35 am
by tibber
chumley wrote:Fires are allowed and was roaring last night. Expect more of the same tonight and tomorrow.

NONOT is in the house! between the two of you, it should be amAZing as always! and I heard rumors of entertainment from "Not Julia" :D . My camera will be ready though my trigger finger is worn out from GNP but I'm sure I'll manage to get some video.

I am bringing my specialty Trader Joe's beer brew to share (too strong for me to have much); sorry that Richard, John and BAB won't be there to help finish it off :( but I'm sure someone can do the deed ;) .

Tibber

Re: Summer HAZFest 2012!!! (Starring: The Perseids!)

Posted: Aug 10 2012 11:55 am
by JuanJaimeiii
Is anyone going up Saturday morning? I am looking to do AZT 27 on Saturday and would love a lift from the Pine Trailhead off of 87 up to the General Springs Cabin area. If so please PM me.

Re: Summer HAZFest 2012!!! (Starring: The Perseids!)

Posted: Aug 11 2012 8:46 am
by te_wa
JuanJaimeiii wrote:Is anyone going up Saturday morning? I am looking to do AZT 27 on Saturday and would love a lift from the Pine Trailhead off of 87 up to the General Springs Cabin area. If so please PM me.
hey, that sounds familiar... lol!

Re: Summer HAZFest 2012!!! (Starring: The Perseids!)

Posted: Aug 11 2012 7:49 pm
by AzGnome
Sorry I had to miss this one. Had surgery to reattach Hamstring will be down for the season. Hope all of you have a great time.

Re: Summer HAZFest 2012!!! (Starring: The Perseids!)

Posted: Aug 11 2012 7:55 pm
by big_load
@AzGnome Ouch! :o Heal fast. :stretch:

Re: Summer HAZFest 2012!!! (Starring: The Perseids!)

Posted: Aug 12 2012 6:41 pm
by Trishness
I just personally wanted to extend a HUGE thank you to Todd for putting this together. I know you said "aw, it was nothing" but I think we all know a lot of work goes into coordinating this type of event. : app : Bravo!!!! It was great to see a few familiar faces (Pam, Angela, Larry) and so many new ones (Laura, Liz, Patrick, Johnny, John, Todd, Cindy, Corey, Alex & family, Steve, Andre, Joel, Bruce and finally Teva Joe. Joe, after NINE years we finally meet! Now I have faces and personalities to go with your avatars and online personas and if I forgot anyone I'll apologize right now. A rowdy bunch for sure but it was a terrific weekend. Camp dogs were Kai, Daisy and Timmy...they all started out white but were kinda off-white by Sunday morning. Daisy was the "dahling" of the weekend and PRANCED (yes pranced) from tent to tent at 6AM as well as in the meadow. If I had room in my X I would have kidnapped her but then Johnny would have hunted me down and probably killed me on the Beeline. Kai is a gentle soul and Timmy is an adopted pup who wears a bandana and loves people!

The stars of the weekend were the Perseids and also the guitar styles and harmonies of "Not Julia and the Hiker Boys" as they played such classics as "Classical Gas", an acoustic Nirvana tune, an acoustic Green Day tune and another song Tibber videotaped but needs to be edited big time.

What a great weekend! :GB:

Re: Summer HAZFest 2012!!! (Starring: The Perseids!)

Posted: Aug 12 2012 7:14 pm
by chumley
So I'm still up here. Liz and I just drove out of camp. Trying to avoid elk on the way out (easier while driving and posting on the forum!)

Anyway, I bet you didn't know that hazfest was a competition. But it was. And I won.

By hiking within 20 yards of 3 bears today. :y:

Hopefully there's a reasonable photo? Stay tuned!

Re: Summer HAZFest 2012!!! (Starring: The Perseids!)

Posted: Aug 12 2012 8:02 pm
by big_load
chumley wrote:By hiking within 20 yards of 3 bears today. :y:
That's where all the bears went. Mrs. big_load was hassling me today because it's been too long since I turned up a bear.

Re: Summer HAZFest 2012!!! (Starring: The Perseids!)

Posted: Aug 12 2012 9:40 pm
by PatrickL
Trishness wrote:an acoustic Green Day tune
Good Riddance? We need video of that one!

Re: Summer HAZFest 2012!!! (Starring: The Perseids!)

Posted: Aug 12 2012 9:56 pm
by Trishness
chumley wrote:Fires are allowed and was roaring last night. Expect more of the same tonight and tomorrow.
Seen from SPACE!