HikeArizona.COM

How do I add trails to my wish list (I'm a newbie)?

Also, does anyone recommend Cabin Loop - Mogollon Rim, AZ for a beginner? My girlfriend and I are looking to get our feet wet with backpacking and this seemed like a good start.

Welcome to HAZ Rob,

On a hike page the Wish List console is down at the bottom with directions. On indexes it's to the right.

Cabin Loop is said to be difficult to navigate. It would be best to have a map or a GPS with the route loaded. Apparently (reading other threads, triplogs and comments) there are closed areas currently from fires.

Robdice wrote:Also, does anyone recommend Cabin Loop - Mogollon Rim, AZ for a beginner?

The Cabin Loop is great for a beginner. The days might be a little long, but it's flat and shady. I really ought to start using the wishlist myself.

i disagree Alex (for the first time!!)
i think you should consider the distance and elevation gains coming out of 3 canyons, twice. Its at least 18 miles for the "east" cabin loop, as it is actually a loop outer circle with a trail cutting down the middle (see the map). Without any prior experience carrying all of your gear on your back at 7,500' you may try something a little less demanding.

I did this trail as an overnight several years ago, and remember i wanted it to be over with. the scenery in Barbershop and Dane Canyons is great, other than that its just a walk in the woods and crosses too many forest roads for my taste to rate high on the Must Do list. (think: vehicle noise/loss of "wilderness" feel) Although you may see nobody else on the trail, there are plenty of quads and cars driving around up there most any summer weekend.

But, to refresh my memory im going to help navigate this loop for the arizona backpacking club on August 22nd.
I do remember the trails having some faint sections but overall it didnt seem to difficult to navigate, and a map/compass is always something you should carry, so it will help if you take them.

I would also say that Cabin Loop is not a good trip for beginners. I mistakenly picked the west part to do in a weekend. I agree with Te-wa, very demanding trail, lots of ups and downs with the canyons and when doing it, you just want it to be over with. Had this been my first trip I don't think I would be into backpacking as much as I am today. Generally - beginners tend to over pack and carry way more than what is needed, myself included, which makes the elevation change on this one that much worse. There is a section of the trail that is very easy to get mixed up with around Barbershop spring. The trail wasn't very defined and even with a GPS we managed to get turned around a bit in there.

However, I would recommend the Derrick Trail/Horton Creek Loop - http://www.hikearizona.com/decoder.php?ZTN=879
I took a buddy of mine a couple weeks ago on his first trip there. Starting on the Derrick Trail and finishing on the Horton trail keeps the water weight down (filter along Horton Creek), lots of nice flat camping spots and the elevation change isn't too bad either. Roughly around 10 miles.

Yes, if done in two days or less, the distance might be a bit much for somebody who isn't used to it, and some acclimation is in order. The traffic is much less in mid-week, if you can go then. I was thinking primarily in terms of how my wife reacted to it. She found it much easier than most of the trips I've dragged her on. From her point of view, the big advantages are: it didn't snow, she never had to carry two or more days of water, there wasn't 4,000+ ft/day of AEG. As you can imagine, I get quite a grilling when I suggest a trip.

big_load wrote:Yes, if done in two days or less, the distance might be a bit much for somebody who isn't used to it, and some acclimation is in order. The traffic is much less in mid-week, if you can go then. I was thinking primarily in terms of how my wife reacted to it. She found it much easier than most of the trips I've dragged her on. From her point of view, the big advantages are: it didn't snow, she never had to carry two or more days of water, there wasn't 4,000+ ft/day of AEG. As you can imagine, I get quite a grilling when I suggest a trip.

I know the feeling... I was ambitious in the East Cabin Loop. It was my GF 3rd trip and she didn't like it at all... she injured her knee from the pack weight and the elevation changes. It was definitely too much to push in 3days/2nights. So now, I get to play 20 questions before each and every trip, just to make sure I'm not dreaming again ;)

allanalxndr wrote:I would recommend the Derrick Trail/Horton Creek Loop

That's a solid recommendation.

big_load wrote: trips I've dragged her on.

Heh heh, reminds me of me, when I was young, dragging various BOYfriends out there on backpacking trips!

Just wanted to put that comment of yours in perspective. Wouldn't want people to get the wrong idea about female backpackers, now, would we? ;)

azbackpackr wrote: Heh heh, reminds me of me, when I was young, dragging various BOYfriends out there on backpacking trips!

Reminds me of taking my husband backpacking today! There's usually bribery involved in addition to assurances of a trail that's downhill both ways and crosses streams stuffed with trout...

When people ask how he feels about me heading out into the wastes all alone, isn't he nervous/jealous/lonely he only responds "As long as I don't have to go with her!"

azbackpackr wrote:Wouldn't want people to get the wrong idea about female backpackers, now, would we?

That's for sure. There's not much I would do that's beyond her capability, it's mainly a question of what she regards as fun. I'm glad Robdice seems to be thinking in advance about keeping it fun.

Thanks! This is really great info guys (and gals). I think we'll check out Derrick Trail/Horton Creek Loop first. I guess we'll need to test the waters first, but I'm sure we'll be hooked! I already am just by reading and buying the gear.

Neither a dragger nor a draggee be...

writelots wrote:[crosses streams stuffed with trout...

Oh, yes, I know him well. The quintessential man with a purpose. Can't go out there unless he has a reason. He must have a reason, or he won't go. He must fish, hunt, pan gold, hunt for antlers, scout his next hunt, try out his new (insert name of toy), or see if new part on (insert name of toy) is functioning properly.

If you tell this man you just go out there for the heck of it, he is puzzled.

azbackpackr wrote:Neither a dragger nor a draggee be...

My wife has no interest, so I don't bother. I go, it's ok to have separate interests.

allanalxndr wrote:So now, I get to play 20 questions before each and every trip, just to make sure I'm not dreaming again ;)

Ugh. This never goes away. Even if I have never been on the trail before, and read her every description of the area/canyon/hike/elevation/mileage/climate/weather report, have her look over the map, and do everything within my power except hiring a porter to scout (and that wouldn't help either), I still get 20000 questions. Then when we're on the trail, its another 2000 questions (or, really, just one or two repeated questions) like "Are you sure you know where we are?", "Are we still on the trail?", and my 'favorite' one, "Are you sure they weren't lying to us? You know, just like making this (place) up?" No matter how obvious the question is (pointing out our location on a map/pointing to the trail next to us/asking why a guide/friend/HAZ would "make something up") the response will be, "Are you sure? I don't know..."
ARGH!
Sorry, just had to have a little vent there. I enjoy backpacking and hiking by myself, with friends, and usually with my wife too, but sometimes the perennial questions (many pointless, in my opinion) grate on my nerves.
So, getting back on topic, make sure, if this is the first time you've been backpacking together, that y'all are well prepared and informed. Should make for a good bonding experience if all goes well!

ha! wait till you start leading trips and you get to experience "kitten herding" at its finest.. 11 tired, cold and hungry adult backpackers who look as if they'd rather be in Siberia hunting snipes in their underwear.
i do it 2x per month!

Geez, Rob...

Maybe you should see if SHE might like to plan a trip. She would choose the place, get the maps, guidebook, study them, plan the food, all the logistics, call the rangers, do the internet searches, go shopping, etc. See if she would take charge. I think it would make a huge difference if she becomes the person doing the planning. You just sit back and let her do plan it.

When I was young I went on a lot of club hikes, but I also soloed (spelling?) and planned hikes for just me and a buddy of mine. I learned a lot from the older people on the club hikes, and by reading (mostly The Complete Walker, by Colin Fletcher.) Then I just went out and did it.

It did sort of help that I was obsessed with the idea of backpacking...

te-wa wrote:ha! wait till you start leading trips and you get to experience "kitten herding" at its finest.. 11 tired, cold and hungry adult backpackers who look as if they'd rather be in Siberia hunting snipes in their underwear.
i do it 2x per month!

I'm already a girlscout volunteer

PageRob wrote:So, getting back on topic, make sure, if this is the first time you've been backpacking together, that y'all are well prepared and informed. Should make for a good bonding experience if all goes well!

This is the key piece of information. I made sure Jen's(GF) first backpacking trip would be nice, laid back, planned and easy for her. Her first trip was Canyon Creek... She loved it, I hated it. No real trail, lots of bushwhacking, and snakes... I don't do snakes. But she loved it, the water, the trees, the scenery and was hooked and ready to go on another one. I look at it with the opinion of, If she ain't having fun, I'm definitely not having fun! Shes a trooper and hangs in there, best backpacking partner for sure! I plan the trips, she puts together the meals, and we have an awesome time enjoying the new places together. She learned her limit early, on East Cabin Loop, and knows from that if it'll be a "guy" trip or not.