HikeArizona.COM

Alrighty, its fall so its time to start thinking of the next Painted Desert exploration and easy overnight backpack into the Petrified Forest or nearby environs. "Mountain Lion Mesa" will be a dayhike sortie with probably "accommodations" taking place in the southern wilderness northeast of Agate House. Possible side trip option to Chavez Pass Pueblo for those of your returning to Phoenix, as it is on the way between Holbrook and Strawberry.
Total of 8 folks for overnight. Dayhikers are welcome - they don't affect permit limits.
This'd be on Oct. 11th-12th, though if there is no interest I can push the date back. This has also been posted on AZH, with no takers so far. I'll have to collate the two lists, I guess, if I actually get any takers.

Just an update, but this hike has been moved due to date conflicts with interested parties to Nov. 8th and 9th.

Any thoughts on expected weather conditions and day/night temperature ranges for those dates?

My guess is probably 50s-60s in the day, 30s at night. It'll depend obviously if we've got a high or low pressure system in the area.

Rob;

Trying to get a "feel" for the proposed route. From the Rainbow Forest Trail Head the trek would be north and east of Agate House http://hikearizona.com/decoder.php?ZTN=962

Can't say I'm familiar with the area beyond Agate House, but I'm intrigued. What are the anticipated "eye candy" sights?

See: http://hikearizona.com/photoset.php?ID=4200 for some photos of last year's Rendezvous in the same general area.

Excellent! Love the rock art...

Thought you guys were exploring the Black Forest Wilderness last year when you took all those shots?

http://hikearizona.com/images/maps/PNF.jpg

Nope! My Black Forest hikes are posted under Onyx Bridge.

Rob - I'm 99% sure that I will be going to PEFO that weekend. What's up in the air is whether I can clear out the whole weekend to do the overnighter. Should get clarity next week on my business travel schedule. Also have a couple of co-workers interested in the trek...

Randal Schulhauser wrote:Rob - I'm 99% sure that I will be going to PEFO that weekend. What's up in the air is whether I can clear out the whole weekend to do the overnighter. Should get clarity next week on my business travel schedule. Also have a couple of co-workers interested in the trek...

Good deal. It'll be nice to finally meet up with you. Even if you can only do the dayhike, there should be lots of cool stuff to see.

PageRob wrote: It'll be nice to finally meet up with you

i can verify the awesomeness that is Randal Shulhauser. He has enough cool in him for two dudes. After all, he drinks Guiness
cant make it out Rob, I was already signed up for the Fish Creek thing.

Rob;

Have my business travel schedule booked and can now commit to the Saturday over-nighter. Can you post time and place to rendezvous, I presume Saturday 11/8 morning? For anyone else interested and wanting to hitch a ride from the Phoenix area, my F-150 can accomodate at least 2 more riders with gear...

RANDAL

I have to be in the Chinle area on Saturday-Sunday, Nov. 8-9. I could do a morning hike with someone at the Painted Desert on the way up Friday? Or even Thursday afternoon, if anyone's interested?

Southern visitor center will be the rendezvous point. Not sure when y'all want to have to get up down there in the valley, but I was thinking maybe 9-ish? That means leaving Page (or PHX) around 7. I think it is about the same drive time for valley dwellers and myself. How does that work for everyone?

Bummer, sorry to hear about that Mike. Maybe in the spring?

dshillis - Chinle town or Chinle Wash?

PageRob wrote:dshillis - Chinle town or Chinle Wash?

Chinle town...

I have to be up there Friday afternoon, so I'm thinking about hiking somewhere Thursday afternoon, camping Thursday night, and maybe doing something Friday morning before I head the rest of the way up to Chinle/Many Farms...

Update for those that haven't also been following on AZH.

Meeting time planned for 9am at the southern Visitor's Center in Petrified Forest National Park. I'll PM folks my phone number this weekend if anything (questions/comments/concerns) arise on the way out to the Park next weekend. Last year we didn't have cell service there, but the way people have been throwing up cell towers around the area, its possible that we'll have reception at the parking area. Probably not at Mountain Lion Mesa or the basecamp I have planned, however, for those of you who are cellphoneaphiles.

Alright, just checked the weather for this weekend out at PeFo. Looks like Saturday'll have calm winds with a high of near 60 degrees and an overnight low right around 32. Slight chance of rain after 11am on Sunday with a high in the mid 50's and increasing wind. Sounds like we'll have a good time out there and hopefully the rain'll hold off until we're packed up and back on the road! Looking forward to seeing y'all Saturday morning!

See you 9am @ South Entrance Visitor's Center!

I'll be driving a red Ford F-150...

http://hikearizona.com/phoZOOM.php?ZIP=71435

Fantastic time Rob, thanks for pulling this together!

PS. Rob, page 56 of "Tapamveni - Rock Art Galleries of Petrified Forest and Beyond" by McCreery and Malotki indicates;

...a multiroom site atop Mountain Lion Mesa...

Went through here on Sunday afternoon, on way back from Chinle/Many Farms area...so missed you by a day!