Fred Haught, and Houston Bros Loop

[Crocodile Ryan]

I am planning a backpacking trip next weekend near strawberry, i am taking a few friends who have never been backpacking, i have never been on either of the trails and was wondering a few things

i plan on taking using the fred haught trail, then continuing on the houston bros trail and then using part of the gen crook trail back to the fred haught th

1. How easy will it be for a couple newbies to make the loop - i dont want
to scare them away from every going again

2. Water in the area, are there any reliable sources

3. Has anyone been in the area recently that can tell me how the temps
etc have been lately

[AZHikr4444]

I haven't been there recently, but I did do Haught all the way to the Houston Brothers last Thanksgiving. Mostly the hiking was easy up to that point. I'd say its a pretty good start for newbies, but there may be some downed trees and such because of the snowfall.

Water should be very reliable. Pinochot Spring and Aspen Spring are nice places, although I liked Pinochot better. The camp spots are close to the trail, but its nice. Might still be a bit cold up there.

I've heard that ATVers have taken over the Houston Brothers trail. I know my reasoning from NOT camping at Aspen was because it has become a thoroughfare for quad riders to jump on the Houston. At least six thundered past me as I sat there enjoying the spring, prompting me to turn back to Pinchot. Used to be the Houston was a little hard to follow, again, I've heard- but now you can probably just follow the quad tracks.

Hope this helps a little. I'm not sure about conditions up there- I checked with the FS a week or so ago, and they said Rim Road 300 was closed- but that's probably changed by now.

Mike

[Crocodile Ryan]

thx, that stinks about the atvers taking over the trail area, and i called the fs 300 is now open