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I'm planning on going down tonto canyon again this memorial day (from hellsgate to gisela). It's a rough trip but anyone who's interested is welcome to join me. I'd like to keep the group size around six or so. Much bigger and it gets harder to find places to camp. I already have one or two other people interested so let me know.

Matt, do you have details, such as when you are leaving and returning? Mary

wish I could hit this one, Matt.
For M-Day, I might go for the West Clear canyon from Apache to Bull Pen.
Ive been lovin canyoneering so far...

Wish I could but the overnight stuff is out of my league.

Do you think that puppy will be flowin' fierce this year or is all the snowpack already gone?

How about from Bear Flat, downstream ? Streamflow may be a problem.

uh, I meant Willow Crossing, not Apache. Wrong canyon!

That sounds freakin' awesome! I've been through various parts of this canyon, but never done the whole thing. The water should be flowing like crazy this year! If it is, it will not be for beginners! :twisted: I love it! Post some more details. I'm 90% sure I'm in if that's cool.

I was thinking we'd go up to little green valley friday (27th) in the evening and start the hike saturday morning. I was planning on being home tuesday evening (31st) that's four nights and four days of hiking. This should give us a nice slow pace. I have to work on friday so it might be late when I get up there, and I might have to work that wednesday, if not I might plan on staying in the canyon an extra day. Michelle is comming along for this one, and it's her first real backpacking trip. She's been on a few short overnighters but she want's to try something a little more challenging. I tried to tell her how tought his hike is but she wants to dive right into the world of backpacking and who am I to tell her no. It should be interesting.

Hmmm. I've missed the last two. I'd really like to find the time and try it with you guys. Who you got on the guest list so far Matt?

In response to AK's reply:

So far it's me, michelle (my wife), vashti and her husband, and matt hoffman if he wants. So you would put the grand total at six if you're interested.

I might be up for this. I was contemplating a solo down West Clear Creek (I'd like to have done all of the big three Mollogon Rim canyons), but Tonto is awesome too. And the group last year was a lot of fun. Hmm.

joe bartels wrote:Wish I could but the overnight stuff is out of my league.

Well, Joe, with a good headlamp and a s&*t load of power bars it might be a day/night hike..... likely only 24-28 hiking/climbing/swimming hours
Just think of it as a "double" Rim-to-Rim.....

Matt Hoffman wrote: The water should be flowing like crazy this year!

It will change before Memorial Day, but the gauge is @ 93 cfs today http://waterdata.usgs.gov/az/nwis/uv?09499000.
Last Memorial Day when we did this trip it was about 4 or 5 cfs.

During the rains this February it was flowing about 15,000 and it's been known to hit 70,000! (as a benchmark, the Colorado through Grand Canyon generally flows 8000 to 12000 cfs)

In response to hikeaz's reply:

damn thats a lot of water!

do you happen to remember (or could you guess) what the water level was when we did this the first time ('03 I think)

In response to matt gilbert's reply:

If my (feeble) memory serves, it was just under 10 cfs on Memorial Day W/E '03.

Matt, in my February triplog for Hells Gate I mentioned that the creek was impassible. Man Ive never seen that much agua in Tonto.

In response to mikeinFHAZ's reply:

Yeah there was alot of water moving through. Damn fast too. You might be able to see in the pictures on AZH I posted. Water was pouring out everywhere.

hikeaz wrote:

joe bartels wrote:Wish I could but the overnight stuff is out of my league.

Well, Joe, with a good headlamp and a s&*t load of power bars it might be a day/night hike..... likely only 24-28 hiking/climbing/swimming hours
Just think of it as a "double" Rim-to-Rim.....

Funny stuff Kurt, I know your kidding but I would have to say the Triple rim is easier than doing tonto in a day.

I just went to Hellsgate 3 weeks ago. The water was flowing pretty good but I didn't think it was all that bad. I think by may it will be fine again. but think possitive just bring an innertube and you might be able to "Day Tube" it!

day tube my pumpkin!

Remember the falls?!?

Those of us who are in for this trip will be meeting to talk about the details Wed night, if anyone is still interested who hasn't spoken up now's the time, I'd like to get the final list of people going set in stone. Please let me know if you want to meet up wed night. Even if you can't make it to the meeting let me know anyway and I'll sum up the details and get back to you. I'd really like a final headcount for this thing so speak up folks!