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I finally got all my backpacking gear (hurray for early Christmas presents) to go spend a night in the supes and I wanted to go up on flatiron. Where would probably be the best place to park overnight for that? I'm not sure if they will let me use the camping spots at the tonto ntl forest trailheads if I'm not there even if I pay for it. I just want to make sure that I don't get my car towed and/or broken into. Would it probably be best to park back and second water trailhead and tack on a few miles or would I be okay at the tonto camping spots?

Crosscut trailhead and hike from there would probably be best I would think. Then you dont have to pay the exorbitant Lost Dutchman fee.

rally_toad wrote:Crosscut trailhead and hike from there would probably be best I would think. Then you dont have to pay the exorbitant Lost Dutchman fee.

Ya I meant Crosscut not Second water. Isn't there a sign there that says no overnight parking? I wana make sure I don't have to pay impound fees or anything (sorry new the whole backpacking stuff....as I said just finally got all the gear I need to do it).

Oooo btw just want to note anybody who wants to is welcome to join me, nobody I know has any gear especially to take the 45 degree nights. Probably going to do it tomorrow night but maybe friday, I don't know.

Your first backpack ever and you want to lug all your gear to the top of the flatiron? You sure that's what you want to do?

nonot wrote:Your first backpack ever and you want to lug all your gear to the top of the flatiron? You sure that's what you want to do?

Mehhh first time I went up there I for some reason took 2 gallons and that was about the same weight as what I have planned out for it. Still I have been thinking about maybe something off of second water perhaps down near La Barge Canyon instead. I've just always wanted to see the city from up there at night, but it probably wouldn't be bad to save it for maybe spring or something. Chances are too it would be windy up there and a pain to setup my new gear that I don't have any practice with. Any other short overnighters you can think of (5 hours in and and 5 hours out max is what I want to shoot for)?

5 hours each way will get you to most places in the Supes. Usually I try to camp by water in a place I can have a campfire and not take the steepest trails imaginable, hence why I was surprised you want to try to go up the flatiron. If you really want to do it, I don't want to deter you, I've seen people up there, I was just thinking for your first trip you might want to try something a little easier, lol.

I would recommend anywhere along the dutchman between terrapin trail and where the dutchman meets the red tanks, that gives you Charleyboy and LaBarge springs, or just somewhere along the dutchman since I think the creek will have water. One of these days I intend to camp on the Cavalry Trail and check out some of the side canyons there.

Second water per your idea is pretty nice, there are many good campsites between Boulder Canyon and LaBarge Canyon.

Ya water isn't so much of a concern for me as I don't have a filter yet ^_^. I'm just going to bring my full 3 liter camelback and an extra gallon for cooking and the hike back (probably won't use all that water though especially with the temperatures being so mild....I'm good at conserving). I know I'm in shape to haul all that gear up to flatiron but would probably be good to get some experience in easier areas.....like I said I need to get used to setting up my gear and everything. I really want to see if I can get anyone from the site to come along so that I have somebody experienced along (makes me really wish my parents had put me into scouts when I was a kid).

rushthezeppelin wrote:Ya water isn't so much of a concern for me as I don't have a filter yet ^_^.

A filter isn't going to do you any good on FlatIron unless it's raining out, no running water there.

I overnighted on there one time, that was a good climb with gear. I was carrying an extra gallon for some friends that were doing a double ridgeline. So I had 3 gallons total, plus 2 6# firelogs for a fire up top. There was 6 of us and we each brought a firelog. There was already a fire ring up there and the logs burn pretty clean and don't blow nearly as much ash around.

Pretty awesome view from the top at night though, IMO it's worth the effort.