Trans Supes hike II April 25-27 FIRM DATES

[te_wa]

the trans Supes hike last november was a great success! everyone attended and completed the 47 mile trek in great spirits.
carrying on the *new* tradition of the great annual Trans Supes hikes, this one is going to shift gears a little and begin in Spring this year. We will be travelling in a large loop starting and ending at Miles trailhead- we're looking at 11-12 miles per day over some fairly rough terrain. Leaving for the hike on Friday morning and returning by Sunday evening. I suggest experienced hikers only sign up. Lets get this ball rolling!

[nonot]

I'll commit now, but I may have a conflict in early April I'll have to work out. I like the plan as it doesn't overlap much with the last trip.

Possible campsites:

Night one: Reavis Ranch, Plow Saddle Spring, somewhere else mid-Frog Tanks???
Night two: Angel Basin, Clover Spring, Tortilla Ranch
Night three: Charlebois, multiple Calvary locations

I don't know much about Clover Spring or Plow Saddle Spring.

Where to stay on night two is my only concern and may require a scouting trip if we can't get a water report. Water in Fish Creek and a cache at Tortilla Ranch may give us more options. If there's water in Angel basin it may be a non-issue.

Gap to Ranch: ~7.5 miles
Ranch to Angel Basin: ~9 miles?
Basin to Pass: ~2 miles
Pass to Tortilla Ranch: ~6 miles
Ranch to Charlesbois: ~7.5 miles
Charlesbois to Boulder Canyon : ~4.5 miles
Boulder Canyon to Lake: ~5.5 miles

Total ~42 miles

I wanted to do some exploration around Reavis Ranch and camp there if possible.

[te_wa]

Reavis will be gorgeous in April, after the 12/07 showers. There is a huge pool near the Reavis Gap intersection w/Reavis creek.
Keep the ideas rolling...

[wallyfrack]

Would it be possible to hike Thursday through Sunday? It's easier for me to take off thursday/friday.
Other than that I'm all geared up.

[nonot]

With Wally's statement in mind, I'd like to propose April 17-20, which isn't really early April...but probably that or the next week after that would be what I could make.

[te_wa]

sounds good Nonot. Looks like we could even cut the trip a few miles short (32-35 miles, say) and do it in three days. BTW, the apple trees blossom in April and the grasses will be tall and green. Reavis and other spots will be fantastic. I like the idea of exploring Cavalry Trail and poking a nose into Pistol Canyon perhaps. How about April 18,19,20th? Glad to see you guys commited.

[wallyfrack]

April 18, 19 & 20 sound good to me. Once that's solid I'll request Friday off.

[Hoffmaster]

Yeah, if it's a 3-dayer I'll commit, otherwise I'm probably out. Too many things going on this year.

I have no input. Just tell me where we're going and I'll hike.

[Sredfield]

It can be getting pretty toasty out there that late in April.

[rally_toad]

Im definitely interested in this one, my ability to attend this one will mostly be linked to number of days and what days of the week. I think a Fri-Sun trip I could do but I dont want to take two days off school and work so I would not be able to go on a Thurs-Sun trip.

[hikeaz]

After decending Froggie from Reavis, might I suggest a jaunt down Fish Creek (there will be abundant water there) to Apache Trail. A shuttle would be abominable, but it would be a very scenic trip.
Another option includes, using the original routing, but from the Boulder/Second Water intersection - stay in the (Boulder Canyon) creekbed almost all of the way to the lake and then scramble (on a use trail) back up to the Boulder Canyon trail for the last mile to the Marina T/H. And/or; from the Dutchman shoot down Needle Canyon to pick up the Boulder Canyon Trail instead of Calvary or Bull Pass. There will be water in Needle.
Another cool option would be to head down Peter's Canyon from where the Peter's Trail startes to climb out of it at about 33 28 23 x 111 19 57. That route would dump you out onto the Apache Trail just east of Tortilla Flats.
The original routing, as well as any of these options will include an abominable shuttle... but if we are dropped off, like last time, it's no biggie.

[te_wa]

Im looking into a chauffer again, the road to upper horrel/campaign doesnt seem like a big deal even tho it was rated a 4x4 road. (nothing new really)
I was wondering if a trip down Fish Creek would bring us back to Tortilla/Peters Trail. Needle canyon sounds fantastic too, and Nonot and I did almost the entire off route Peters Canyon 2 weeks ago. Its really nice. Only problem you would end up at tortilla flats and thats not really near anything. Go down Peters canyon, then up the long ridge heading south to the Mesa up top. Ahh... so little time, so much Supes.

[hikeaz]

If the rains are kind to it, the road to C/UH T/H is 2wd. Caveats being if the creek is high and/or winter/spring rains rut the road on the decline/incline to/from the creek.

Did you guys (Matt & Mike) hike Peter's Canyon from the Peter's Trail down to Tortilla Flats/Apache Trail?

If the target is 3 days & 2 nights with Reavis being night 1, a camp part-way down Fish Creek would get you out to Apache Trail about noon (or earlier) on day 3.
It IS possible to climb up and out of Fish Creek near its intersection with Lost Dutch Canyon. You would then reach the old road into Tortilla Ranch, near the old Miller Mines.

If the target is 4 days and 3 nights, then other options become doable; such as the Needle Canyon and Boulder Canyon (bottom), as well as other options.

I have GC permits for 4/4 through 4/10, so those dates will not work for me - the rest of April is relatively open and I would be a "go"..

[Hoffmaster]

Did you guys (Matt & Mike) hike Peter's Canyon from the Peter's Trail down to Tortilla Flats/Apache Trail?

I wasn't with him, so I don't know.

It's been years since I've been in Peter's Canyon. I've only started at Tortilla Flat and have only hiked as far as Pistol Canyon.

[hikeaz]

My bad.
Upon reinspection of his post, Mike said that he was he and nonot, not you, Matt... Sorry.

BTW - Congratulations on your engagement!

[te_wa]

Kurt, we hiked Peters where the trail crosses the wash, and took the canyon down about 3 (?) miles, past the old cowboy dam, around a few spectacular rock formations and hidden canyons, to the point where the canyon veers sharply north and a small drainage FULL of brush comes in from the saddle between Peters mesa and Squaw canyon. from there going up that tight brushy canyon was difficult. But after we got 1/2 way to the top I could see a route using the ridge described earlier. Vaporman was just ahead of us, (a little lost, as he confessed) and we never caught up to him
If we took a direct route from Miles on West Pinto* down to Angel Basin -12.5 mi.- for night 1, Rogers/JF to Peters mesa and down to Charlebois ~14.5 mi. for night 2 then day 3 would be a shorter 10 miles out of Boulder Canyon.

*the very pleasant West Pinto is on my list to complete. This would also be easier to assemble a chauffer without the huge drive all the way up to Campaign. These routes are also dependent on water, but april looks good for Angel basin. We shall see!

[Hoffmaster]

BTW - Congratulations on your engagement!

Thanks Kurt!

[Davis2001r6]

I might be interested in this as well. I know my Dad is planning a visit out here to AZ and wants to do some hiking, but this would not be the trip for him.

[nonot]

If people can't make the full trip, there are always bail-out or bail-in options, IE, doing what Stiller did on the first Trans-Supes Hike and go out at a trailhead half-way, or do what Wally did and meet us at camp on the second or third night by coming in another trail. For example, if we're going to go by Tortilla Ranch, that's an easy halfway point for access. (Of course, bail-inners are required to resupply the beer. ;-) )

I'd rather do a full-trip, but there's alot of other ideas we could do if we want can only do 2 or 3 days or don't want to make it a "Trans-Supes" hike, IE, a 3 day loop involving Reavis Gap, Frog Tanks, Rogers Canyon, W Pinto, and Campaign, for example, then you don't even worry about a shuttle.

I like Kurt's idea - taking Upper Fish Creek, I've never done it, but I can imagine it might be too tough for some people though for a backpack. His other options around Boulder Canyon, Needle Canyon were what I was going to do anyways if we headed that way.

Any Trans-Supes hike will have a long shuttle, unless you get enough people to do a key-exchange hike, so it shouldn't be the deciding factor.

[hikeaz]

If people can't make the full trip, there are always bail-out or bail-in options, IE, doing what Stiller did on the first Trans-Supes Hike and go out at a trailhead half-way, or do what Wally did and meet us at camp on the second or third night by coming in another trail. For example, if we're going to go by Tortilla Ranch, that's an easy halfway point for access. (Of course, bail-inners are required to resupply the beer. ;-) )

I'd rather do a full-trip, but there's alot of other ideas we could do if we want can only do 2 or 3 days or don't want to make it a "Trans-Supes" hike, IE, a 3 day loop involving Reavis Gap, Frog Tanks, Rogers Canyon, W Pinto, and Campaign, for example, then you don't even worry about a shuttle.

I like Kurt's idea - taking Upper Fish Creek, I've never done it, but I can imagine it might be too tough for some people though for a backpack. His other options around Boulder Canyon, Needle Canyon were what I was going to do anyways if we headed that way.

Any Trans-Supes hike will have a long shuttle, unless you get enough people to do a key-exchange hike, so it shouldn't be the deciding factor.

The part of Fish Creek closer to Froggie isn't too bad, in fact it's pretty easy walking. Below its intersection with Dutch, though, the boulders get bigger, and as you close in on the Apache Trail they are huge.......BUT it's down hill, which, believe me is a TON easier than going the other way with a backpack (ask me how I know). Plus, it would be our last day pack-weight too.