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When is the best time to hike? Or better yet, when is there the least amount of snow? I was thinking at the end of May... the sooner the better. Any ideas?

Check with jhodlof ... i think he hikes it about 3 times a week! But there's a remote snow reporting station that is still showing about 2 feet at 9700ft. With the snowfall this year, I'd bet there will still be snow in the higher elevations into June.

My personal preference is mid-October. That doesn't fit your "sooner the better" request however.

I would think, with "peakbagger" in your screen name, a little snow wouldn't be a big deal. IMO, Humphrey's is extremely boring and way too crowded without snow. I'd wait for next winter.

Mid-summer for least amount of snow. You will definitely still have snow at end of May. Not that thats a bad thing

I've seen snow up there in late June, in a "not-so-rainy/snowy" year. I've only been up there once in August, which I've heard is the optimal month if you hate snow and cold air. Even in June, it can be a bit cold at the summit (from what I've heard). It all depends on the weather for that year. For this year, I would guess wait until late July if you absolutely can't take the snow. also check online, there's a webcam in Flagstaff that you can use to see if there's still snow on the SF Peaks.

The problem with the summer months is the monsoon. I watched a monsoon storm pound Humphrey's from the fire tower on Kendrick Peak a few years ago. Lots and lots of lightning. When the storm passed, Humphrey's was all white; but it wasn't snow, it was hail!

I've been caught in a few hail and lightning storms on old humph. Its not fun. The hail hurts a lot. The last one I was in had lightning hit below me. I was around 10000' when I saw a flash of lightning which was maybe a few hundred feet out, and it probably hit a tree that was about a hundred feet or so below me. When you're shivering from mid 40s cold, wet because your poncho was old and had holes in it, and lighting is hitting near and lower than you its a interesting experience to say the least.

It's a horrible experience. Got hit by golf ball sized hail on my second or third trip. As there's nothing to protect you, just bend over and protect your head ;-)

As long as you start early in the summer you avoid the storms that generally crank up about 10am. You also avoid the winds in the early morning and best yet you avoid the horrible bugs. Every time I go somebody post a log how horrible it was a couple hours later. Just make sure you're turning around on the peak by 9-9:30am and it's a great hike. Although it is a little boring from Snowbowl as you're in tree cover most of the way. The Inner Basin approach is ten times better in my opinion.

jhodlof wrote:The hail hurts a lot. Its not fun

joe bartels wrote:It's a horrible experience. Got hit by golf ball sized hail on my second or third trip. As there's nothing to protect you, just bend over and protect your head

No doubt. My girlfriend and I were going to hike Humphrey's that day, and then we changed our minds at the last second. All I could think about when I was watching the storm from Kendrick is how we would have been up there in the thick of it. I would have covered my girlfriend the best I could, and then taken a serious beating. I'm so glad we hiked Kendrick that day instead!

Thats funny Matt, I had the same thing happen on Kendrick as well. When we got to the top we just watched the storm pound on Humphrey's. We hurried back down as the weather was coming out way, as soon as we got to the car it unleashed a downpour.

I'm planning a trip around Humphreys and the surrounding area in July for four days. I thought about camping at Lockett Meadow for a day and doing the summit but I'm not sure where to go after that. Does anyone have other hikeing recommendations in the area that would be cool?

You can hike Humphrey from the Inner Basin, which is accessed from Lockett meadow. You can bike or hike on the Water Line trail, and you can hike the upper portion of the Water Line trail to the Abineau Bear Jaw loop. You can also take the Weatherford trail from the Inner Basin and hike out onto the Peaks south side. You can hike up onto Sugar Loaf, and you can Hike/ bike O'leary peak and look back into the Inner Basin.

Can I make it to Lockett Meadow in a low clearance sedan?? The description says yes, the triplogs say...yes but with damage?

i've driven there in a ford taurus and did ok...though i may hesitate to do it again (the old taurus ain't what it used to be)

nickfraley wrote:i've driven there in a ford taurus and did ok...though i may hesitate to do it again (the old taurus ain't what it used to be)

google

I drove my 1989 red Dodge Caravan minivan to Lockett Meadow, twice, with no damage. This was about 2 years ago.

I agree with whoever said Humphreys is boring. Too crowded. Good enough workout, nice view from top on a clear day. Still, been there, done that, enough times.

Once again, do you notice that the person who originally posted this and asked for information has never re-appeared? This happens a lot. We must have cooties or something!

azbackpackr wrote:Once again, do you notice that the person who originally posted this and asked for information has never re-appeared? This happens a lot. We must have cooties or something!

He did it right. Trip reports and photos don't belong in the forum. He posted a couple days ago http://hikearizona.com/x.php?I=4&UID=41684 ;)

I think I'm going to head up Humphrey again this Saturday. I was planning on waiting until next Saturday, but something suddenly came up and I decided to push it to the 14th. PM if you want to go.

Did anybody hike Humphries on June 7th? The worst wind I have ever had on top. Easily over 85 mph. We had to crawl the last 200 yards or so. Unbelievable.....