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Pinaleno Recommendation for 1 night and 2 days.

Posted: Jun 17 2020 3:04 pm
by OllieDood
Good Afternoon,
I'm looking for any recommendations on a loop to do in the Pinalenos this week for 1 night and two days backpacking. It is to my understanding that some trails in the Pinalenos are impassable from fire damage or just too overgrown. Preferably I'd be looking for a hike in the 15-25ish mile range at mostly high elevation. A loop would be great.
Thanks in advance,
Jake

Re: Pinaleno Recommendation for 1 night and 2 days.

Posted: Jun 17 2020 3:27 pm
by nonot
I haven't been since the fire, but any type of 25 mile loop would require you to go to lower elevations. If you do the cunningham loop you can connect it with some road walking and other short trails on top to total up to perhaps 15 miles. With the telescope/refugium area, you are mostly squished to one side of the top of the mountain.

Re: Pinaleno Recommendation for 1 night and 2 days.

Posted: Jun 17 2020 4:07 pm
by chumley
What nonot said. And even if you drop off the mountain you'll fight through burn area on most options. There's still plenty of nice day hiking to be found there, but I wouldn't waste effort backpacking beyond a short trip to get a a mile or two away from the popular road-accessed spots. Doing that wouldn't be part of a larger loop though.