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divide trail from Mt Peeley t/h to Y-Bar tanks. 11 miles one way. Want to find some big pools for swimming- see Y-bar trail description for Fritzski's pics. Nice getaway from the Valley at an average of 6500ft

Wish I could join ya man, but unfortunately we are super busy at work. Have fun and we have to get a hike in before my eastern departure. Looking like Sept. 3rd.

One of the hardest rainfalls I have seen in a long time happened in this area this last week. Monday the rain was coming down so hard on the Beeline about the pass next to Mt Ord and all the way to the rest area at the Roosevelt rest area. It was enough so that a truck rolled on the North bound lanes up hill that is. And the road way was blocked on the South bound lanes by a land slide. Slade Creek was running bank to bank and higher that I have seen since the monsoons after the Willow fire burned. So just watch out for the rains we have been getting the most rain that we have had in a long time in the monsoon season. The clouds are building back up and there is a 30% chance of rain tomorrow and 40 on Sunday for the Payson area.

well Dawn its a good thing you are used to that drive! btw, how's GD treatin you?
I was going to do a trip into Wet Beaver but the chance of flash flood/t storms cancelled that idea. So, Im back to this trip. Hard rain? bring it... I am looking at the weather forecast daily and hope to at least get some sprinkles while the chance is pretty low it might happen. The mazzy's sure are nice after some rain. I'll leave a trip report. el guapo out!

Dschur wrote:One of the hardest rainfalls I have seen in a long time happened in this area this last week.

I'm not surprised. The worst storm I ever experienced on the trail was in November 2004 near Sandy Saddle. The lightning started around sunset and was still going strong at noon the next day. What little remained of the trail in that vicinity washed away.

Mike and Steve have not returned home from this hike! Their vehicles were found at the trailhead - search and rescue crews are looking for them! If you have any information on these guys please call --- --- ---- Thanks Felecia

Mike callled just a bit ago - they are fine! They got off trail and bushwacked to get back to the trail head - thank you for the concern and sorry for the alarm!

hike was good, took a little longer than I would expect. sorry for the scare

I thought you probably had some sort of delay. I usually make a wrong turn on
the long hikes and just make it back before dark. A little added suspense...

the hike was brutal- we averaged <1 mph off trail and had to skirt a 60' waterfall, many exposed drops and basically stumbled upon a pot farm complete with watering system and discarded fertilizer bags Day 2 was a 13 hour hike, mostly off trail.
one thing to note, the Mazatzals are so gnarly that SAR doesnt do a ground search because of the rugged terrain. AIR rescue only- thing is, they could never spot someone off trail. IF the Superstitions were Stephen Hawking, the Mazatzals are Henry Rollins.

Yeah, but Henry's gettin' old now. Still, my favorite show on tv these days.

Dang dude! Glad you're OK!
Good thing your run-in with the pot farm didn't turn into a scene from The Beach. I'm not sure if it's the remoteness or what, but I've found pot farms in the Mazatzals as well, close to Mt. Ord.

It figures the weekend that I'm out of state, everybody has crazy cool adventures.

I'm glad you guys made it home safely! The entire Mazatzal trail system has gone to crap since the Willow Fire.

te-wa wrote:the hike was brutal- we averaged <1 mph off trail and had to skirt a 60' waterfall, many exposed drops and basically stumbled upon a pot farm complete with watering system and discarded fertilizer bags Day 2 was a 13 hour hike, mostly off trail.

There was some more raiding of the pot farms in this general area see the article in the Payson paper at http://www.paysonroundup.com/section/fr ... tory/30034 There is even a special phone number to call if you come across any.

wow, that raid took place a week before we were there. I would say thats not the usual suspects, the camp found by the feds was using some high end gear, MSR tent even- which is not something a i'd expect to see. Anyway, I hear there is up to a $1000 reward for this stuff. WE never found any plants, or evidence of marijuana, so I guess we get no money.