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In anticipation of the temperature in the deserts becoming more bearable within the next couple months, I've been getting really excited about what trails and areas I'll be exploring this winter.

Does anybody have any particular areas they keep thinking about? For me, it's all of the desert northwest of Phoenix (Hassayampa wilderness, Hells Canyon Wilderness, Wickenburg Mountains, Harquahala Mountains.) There seem to be a few sparsely scattered peaks that are documented on this site, but the canyons and longer hikes seem largely unexplored.

Anyone else having this same itch about certain areas as I? I suppose new seasons and fresh terrain just excite me.

Recent road trips to Utah have created much interest in areas I've never backpacked or hiked in

The Superstitions, still so much I havent seen or explored, so many cool places, when the weather cools down I can head down there and hike for the entire day and go backpacking instead of just a few hours of hiking in the morning to beat the heat. Also would like to head out to Hells Canyon Wilderness, every time I pass the turn off for Lake Pleasant I think about how I still want to get out there to that area, but havent yet. Places down by Tucson I would like to check out too, the East District of Saguaro and the Rincon Mountains as well as do some more extensive hiking in the Pusch Ridge Wilderness.
But the season is always too short and I always miss going somewhere I really wanted to go by the time summer rolls around again. The best time of year for hiking in the desert also happens to be the busiest time of year for me. In the summer I basically have to time go wherever I want, but its too hot for really long desert hikes.

I want to get back into Box Canyon, east of Florence. It's been several years since I've been out there, but it's an awesome place. Never explored Martinez & Cottonwood Canyons. There are a lot of abandoned mines out there, as I remember, too. You need a truck to get out there, which holds me back

Anza Borrego/ Death Valley ( Cali)
Cabeza Prieta/ the Kofa/ Galiuros/ Pelloncillos Az
San Rafael Swell/ The Dirty Devil River basin/ --fall/spring--UT
The Gila---lower elevation winter/fall/spring

Needles Eye Wilderness. I've been trying to get back there for the last 6 years! Flew over it in a 182 couple years back checking it out. Looks pretty unforgiving.

base871 wrote:Needles Eye Wilderness. I've been trying to get back there for the last 6 years! Flew over it in a 182 couple years back checking it out. Looks pretty unforgiving.

How weird! I was just eye-balling that area on a map last weekend. Probably won't ever make it there though, because I'm moving out of state in a few weeks.

I'll be back in the Superstitions again, searching and enjoying the life back there. Can't wait!

Where is this Needle's Eye Wilderness?

It is east of San Carlos lake, where the Gila River cuts into a 1000ft canyon. Very hard to get to logistically. Of all the research i have done on this place over the years (library, internet, even flying over it in a plane) i've never once come across any photographs of it. I have spent countless hours on this. I've also never met anyone who has been there. Its my "Holy Grail" at the moment! The only way i could see maybe getting back there would be to put in below the dam, and float into it. Or get permission from the Apache's, the state, and from the private landowners, and hike in. I could die a happy man if I ever get a chance to go there.

nothing written about Needle's Eye because they are currently not legally accessable. This according to my friend Scott in his book "Exploring AZ's Wild Areas"
does the area include mining operations or otherwise private land trusts?

I read that you must get a permit from the San Carlos tribe, or from private landowners to even reach the wilderness. Sounds pretty remote and seldom seen.
I'd be interested in going there definitely, it just seems pretty hard to plan logistically.

Very hard!

Very interesting... A place I've been researching a bit lately is the Cerbat Mountains, particularly the Cerbat Pinnacles in the Mount Triton wilderness. All I've heard from a couple excerpts is that they are the "main attraction" of the wilderness, and I've only found one tiny little picture.

Prepare for tough bushwacking in Needle's Eye. A friend and I got there via access from a rancher he knows. We crossed the res then took a long and rough dirt road in, basically hiked thru this guys' yard then down a canyon for a long day. Saw lots of coati's. It was hot and the catclaw was brutal. Some nice cliffs and interesting rock. It's on the list to go back to but I have too many things going right now---

I'll be in Yuma all winter--hopefully until about the end of April. There are about 5 wilderness areas, plus the river (I'm taking that kayaking class we discussed elsewhere) and the Kofa and Imperial refuges, and the Goldwater bombing range. Plus the mtns. on the Calif. side of the border. Some neat canyons, including slots, some very rugged peaks, etc.

In the past, I have done a little hiking in the area, mostly in the Gilas (not to be confused with the Gilas in New Mexico.) Some really wicked peaks to bag in that range. Very steep and rugged.

I also plan to do a lot of road biking and some mtn. biking as well. The road biking because there's a fun club and I have several good pals in that club. So it's fun, too. It's all good. The weather in winter there is just unbelievable. I lived in Tucson for 13 years, so I know desert winter, but Yuma is warmer. Shorts, sandals, and you can often leave the windows open at night. It gets cold once in awhile, some winters are balmier than others, but generally it's great.

If any of you will be in the area feel free to contact me if you want to go for a hike. I can't promise I'll be free (I will have to be working, too, drat) but will try to make time.

RedRoxx44 wrote:Some nice cliffs and interesting rock. It's on the list to go back to but I have too many things going right now---

Hopefully fun things. I'll have to keep an eye on the reports, because you always pick good trips.

I'll be in the valley for Christmas and Thanksgiving, so I'm hoping to do something in the Supes, I'll likely end up doing Piestewa and Camelback for sure since I've never done them and they're so convenient. I'm also hoping to do Brown's Peak and something down by Tucson (Santa Ritas or Catalinas or something). The problem will be finding the time to make the trips.

The temperature is starting to mellow and I'm getting excited! Topos of the Hells Canyon wilderness have been next to my bed the past couple nights for bedtime reading material.

azpride wrote:Topos of the Hells Canyon wilderness have been next to my bed the past couple nights for bedtime reading material.

This is the kind of excitement I live for, anticipation is almost as good as the hike!

Whereas newbies plan out what will be fun, the thrill of what can I do without dying rules!