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How accurate is the trail head forecast for the cabin loop trail, 2wks ago i did the mount baldy trail nearly froze my @ off, is cabin loop less cold this season.

The forecast is directly from NOAA, doubt you will find better
that said I'd imagine the closer the weather station would net better results
scroll the list and you will see 16 miles away seems reasonable yet rim weather is so frantic ( based on past experiences ) I always prepare for the worst in that neck of the woods

Welcome to Arizona in July. Exact forecasts are hard to come by as we are in the monsoon season. In general you should plan for the possibility of showers and thunderstorms between noon and 2AM, and following a storm it will cool off, but be more humid.

In Greer AZ (near Mt Baldy) the historical avg low is 50, and the coldest 2 weeks ago was 52. It will be colder as you gain elevation and you should plan to lose about 3 degrees for every 1000 ft in elevation. So the top of Mt Baldy could indeed get down to the 40s at night or right after a storm. If you just look at the TH forecast, be mindful it only applies there, not to higher points along your hike. In some cases, like Mt Baldy, it is better to use the map and click along the trail to get a forecast for mid-way up the Mtn.

How bad was this area effected by the Highline fire? Pretty sure they might have used some of this Trail as fire lines. Anybody been up there recently?

Just got back, used a light 50 degree bag and fleece jacket at night both nights. Rain or shine it's prime time...

@ALMAL

pixelfrog wrote:How bad was this area effected by the Highline fire?

How about the June fire damage on the Fred Haught and Houston Brothers trail between FR95 and FR139?

Seems like there is more fire evidence on Fred Haught west of 95 than on the 139 side, at least along the trail anyway. I could smell it when I hiked through in early August, but not this time.

Actually it's the section between 95 and 95 again that has more fire evidence.

@ALMAL
a. For delicate souls like me, a 20-degree bag was just fine.
b. I've been up a bunch in the last ~five weeks and have only been soaked once, but rain's threatened almost ever time - I always assume a sprinkle and pack accordingly. I have not liked relying on Strawberry/Pine forecasts.
c. There was some noticeable fire damage on that nub of the 139A that leads to the Pinchot trail head, but I didn't see anything I'd characterize as significant damage on the outer loop trails, or Houston Bros. It's been beautiful all late summer.

A special area for sure. I got a report from a reliable source that the road to Washington Park has been repaired and is great shape. I prefer to hike in from Colonel Devin to avoid the 14 miles on the rim road. I was parked there and camped up top when the storm washed out the road. Almost couldn't get out.

Backpacking there next week, just incase taking my 4.3 klymit pad , plan on cowboy camping.