JF/Fish Creek Loop DEC. 5&6th 2009

[te_wa]

Arizona native and all around cool dude DesertRoux (Ryan) is coming to visit us from his new home of Richmond, Virginia this December.

this hike is going to be a great one.. on trail, off trail, perfect campsite and awesome canyon hiking in Fish Creek. We are going to start this hike at the Tortilla Trailhead in the central Supes and use the JF trail to reach Tortilla Pass.. then make our way to Angel Basin and beyond a couple of miles to the intersection with the Frog Tanks trail. At this junction, we'll stay the night in a near-perfect camp spot surrounded by shade trees, a couple of flat spots for small tents, and several great trees for hanging!
On the second day we take 7 miles of Fish Creek (upper) canyon completely trail-less, lots of rock hopping and scrambling, and near the end of the hike closest to the bridge some serious scrambling over/on/around very large boulders. Some the size of a bus! We will end the hike at the Fish Creek Bridge on Apache Trail AZ88. A shuttle vehicle can be left here to get us up the hill the 2 miles back to Tortilla.

I did this trip back in November '08 and part of it just last month.. it is IMHO one of the nicest little loops in the Supes.

We'll head out for the trailhead around 7:30 am on Saturday the 5th, and return back home on Sunday the 6th.

see linked hikes for details, experience off trail and route finding in the Supes a must.

[oliverr99]

It is the weekend of my birthday. Might have to think about this, even though I don't have a hammock.

[te_wa]

i forgot to mention: just to let everyone know, this trip involves much more than just trail hiking, so i wanted to explain that it will be for moderate to advanced backpackers only!!
i dont want to see anyone get in over their heads.

[nonot]

While not the most advanced, the first day will be about 13 miles and involve quite a bit of catclaw and brush. The second day will be a ~9 mile rock hopping extravaganza!

Normally I don't like to do the exact same trip twice but I'll see if I can make this one since Ryan's in town.

[te_wa]

that's basically why im doing it twice.. he wanted powers garden but im going there next w/e.
and i just did from goat canyon to angel basin and was reminded how kinda cool fish creek is. so i dont mind doing it a year later.. ;)

[rally_toad]

OOOHHH!!! Round 2 eh!? We'll see as it gets closer.

[drewboy]

How can I resist another Te-wa catclaw shredding, boulder hopping adventure? That campsite at the confluence of Frog Tanks and Fish Canyon is definitely one fine spot.

[Desertroux]

I must send a thanks to te-wa for putting this together! Way to look out bro...

Yes Ladies and Gentleman the rOUx is back for a backpack. noNot, I hope you can make it. Drewboy, I look forward to hike with you. Others can staire in amazment as te-wa and I bicker about Poltics, Burbon, and various denier's of sil...

My brothers might come as well. Which means this will be a party and some good hiking! They will be sleeping on the ground though, silly humans. Ewok On !

[Stickfigure]

Sounds great! I hope my legs still work!

[oliverr99]

So I am thinking this might be over my head! No problem. Thanks for letting me know, until next time....

[te_wa]

and various denier's of sil...

sil? its spinnaker man, step into the now!

seriously, this trip is for the possessed, the kinda folk that give demons bad dreams, the suicidal tendency madmen who know what it takes to own this trail. 'cause if you dont own this trail, its gonna own YOU

*hope you love catclaw

[rally_toad]

Heck yes! I'll be pushing my way through that catclaw in shorts and a t-shirt like I always do! Im really hoping to make this, we will see how it works out with finals and reviewing around that time though.

[wallyfrack]

I got some new gear I need to shred. This sounds perfect. I may have to bring the captain along or first mate Jerry.

[Vaporman]

This one's on my list after seeing Nonot's triplog last winter, but I'll see if this weekend works out...

[writelots]

seriously, this trip is for the possessed, the kinda folk that give demons bad dreams, the suicidal tendency madmen who know what it takes to own this trail. 'cause if you dont own this trail, its gonna own YOU

So, yeah, I'm not sure I could pass this one up, with a gauntlet like that thrown down. As long as I can extend the caveat to "suicidal tendency madwomen"!

[Desertroux]

I am stoked, looks like a good turnout.

Wally, Its awesome you hopped aboard. I need some help accessing te-Wa's druken world problem solving. Heheh.

[te_wa]

In response to writelots:
it'll be nice to have you. fish creek is a lot of fun, coming from Tookson, will we see you at the trailhead (main) parking lot? (the real t/h is 3 mi. beyond, with 4x4 mandatory for a short distance)
i hope the tortilla flats has the grille ready for some green chile burgers. after fish creek, i'll take 2!

[nonot]

If people are open to it, there's a few places in Fish Creek I want to check out the second day. Are you guys planning to zip along like last year or take some extra time to check out the canyon? Hmmm, guess I could wake up early the second day...maybe.

[te_wa]

naw, remember last time out there we were running from a storm.. this time we can actually see fish creek.

[SuperstitionGuy]

If people are open to it, there's a few places in Fish Creek I want to check out the second day. Are you guys planning to zip along like last year or take some extra time to check out the canyon? Hmmm, guess I could wake up early the second day...maybe.

Fish Creek Cave info for nonot:

The cave is on the south side of the canyon with quite a bit of vegetation and trees in front of it. GPS location was N 33 30.026 and W 111 16.177 and you will have to exit the stream bed and scramble a few feet through the brush before you will see it. There is a campfire ring just to the east of it up against and slightly protected by the rock cliff. The cave itself is quite large and has been used by the natives for hundreds if not thousands of years. This is a true cave not an overhang and it has not been dug out by pot hunters but has been metal detected by a local expert. So if you go there please do not dig it up!
:bigth: