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Weatherford loop backpacking?

Posted: Sep 21 2018 8:07 pm
by domromer
Is there a trail listing on hike AZ for the Weatherford loop? If seen it called that or the Kachina peaks wilderness loop. I can't seem to find a listing for either on hike AZ. I'm trying to get all the info I can on the loop including water sources.

Re: Weatherford loop backpacking?

Posted: Sep 21 2018 8:24 pm
by joebartels
follows the canyon along the old road
[ Weatherford Canyon Loop ]

Re: Weatherford loop backpacking?

Posted: Sep 21 2018 8:59 pm
by domromer
I was looking for the loop that includes Weatherford, Kachina, and mt Humphreys.

Re: Weatherford loop backpacking?

Posted: Sep 21 2018 9:33 pm
by The_Eagle

Re: Weatherford loop backpacking?

Posted: Sep 24 2018 4:11 pm
by hikeaz
I have done that loop a few times (ccw from Schultz), a couple as a backpack. With the exception of Snowbowl itself, and depending on the time of year, water is scarce. Any of the decent historical springs have been tapped by Flagstaff (and they keep building!).
Maybe a cache hike ahead-of-time up to the top of Lockett, or?

Re: Weatherford loop backpacking?

Posted: Sep 24 2018 4:56 pm
by big_load
hikeaz wrote:water is scarce
Or nonexistent. When I backpacked out and back on Weatherford to the peak, I carried enough for the whole trip. And I didn't see a drop of water the whole way, except what people had cached at the saddle.

Re: Weatherford loop backpacking?

Posted: Sep 24 2018 6:06 pm
by domromer
Thanks for the feedback. We are thinking on whether to cache or not. If we didn't cache we'd probably carry 8 liters between us. If we do cache I figure i'd do it close to the snowbowl parking lot being as we'd start from Shultz Tank.

Re: Weatherford loop backpacking?

Posted: Sep 25 2018 8:58 am
by hikeaz
big_load wrote: Sep 24 2018 4:56 pm
hikeaz wrote:water is scarce
Or nonexistent. When I backpacked out and back on Weatherford to the peak, I carried enough for the whole trip. And I didn't see a drop of water the whole way, except what people had cached at the saddle.
Yep...early June can work as there is often substantial snow along the upper Weatherford. Yes.. it takes much more time and fuel to melt snow, but ya have something to do while waiting for the bourbon to cool down anyway....