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Anyone know the status/expectation of apples around Reavis Ranch ?

I know the trees are there and are very much alive and producing.

I'm not sure when apple season is though. I think it's right about now. The apple trees at west fork had nearly ready apples a month ago.

Might try calling Mesa Ranger District and see if the wilderness dude has been there this fall. I've found that early October was good. The northernmost orchard had the best ones last time I was there.

I've also heard that October is the best time to go for apples. I'm planning on going then to sample them.

Anybody remember what the apples were like last year?
Seems like Neal said they're good every other year. I couldn't find it but it seemed like he said the deer wipped 'em all out, but I can't remember if that was last year or a couple years ago. With the drought last year you'd think they'd be better this year.

Sid, how many years has it been since you and peter? prunned the orchards?

I don't think there were any apples last year. I hope the rains we've had this year were in time to help the crop. If I get ambitious tomorrow I'll dayhike it and let you know.

I don't think there were any last year. I intend to go in sometime soon, so don't everyone take them all!

hmmm, I don't know anything about these "apple orchards?" Is this a well kept secret, or can you share the info? : I've lived in phoenix for 34 years and am always thrilled to learn something new.

curious, sophia

Hi Sophia,
There is an old apple orchard at Reavis Ranch. The trees have had little to no care since it became part of the wilderness in the 1960's.

Here's the report. There are very few apples. At first I thought there were none but then I saw a couple of red ones high in a tree. They were too high to pick so I searched on northward. I finally found about 3 trees that had a few apples each. I brought 3 home but estimate there's a dozen or more left on the trees. It's pretty dismal. I wonder if this is the remnants of the drought. There may have been few blooms this year. Perhaps next year will be better because of the rains we've had.

BTW, there were gnats all through the hike but not as bad as in the spring of this year. The creek is running so you don't have to dry camp.

Have fun.

azhiker96, thanks for the update. Did you start your hike at Rogers Trough or frm the Apache Lake side ?

I started from Roger's Trough TH. Also, not sure if I mentioned, the wild grapes are ripe and pretty heavy this year. I saw a bee tree right next to the trail about 140 yards North of Reavis saddle.

Re: apples -- there was a bad storm around march of this year or so right when everything was blooming. The freeze probably killed most of the blossoms.

Leva

Just got back from Reavis Ranch today. Apples are on all the trees, ready for picking and eating. Beautiful this time of year, few leaves are just starting to turn yellow.

Thanks for the info, which trail head did you use for access ? Took apples, bisquick, butter, cinnamon and made ice cream with an old hand crank on my last camping trip.