HikeArizona.COM

April 16-18
Length: 7 miles round trip
Rating: Easy +
Lucky at Arizona Backing Club (http://www.meetup.com/Arizona-Backpacking/) and Moovyoaz at Friends Hiking Club (http://www.friendshiking.com) have organized a trail clean-up at Fossil Creek on April 16-18, and are looking for other hikers and hiking clubs to join us. Contact one of us if you'd like to help!

Here's a chance to have a great, fun weekend and give back to the environment! Fossil Creek is a beautiful riparian area northwest of Payson. It's a great place to visit but is a little "over loved" by visitors. We'll backpack in on Saturday, and spend a few hours picking up trash and generally cleaning up the area. We'll have plenty of time to explore the incredible canyon before enjoying the evening's campfire festivities. We'll be joined by other hikers and clubs, so this will be a big and lively group. We'll need to double bag the trash we pick up and haul it out (unless we can get the Tonto NF to do it), but our packs should be light after we eat all our food and drink all of our margaritas! Be sure to bring gloves!

Here's the plan:
Friday afternoon: Car camp at the Pine Trailhead. Walk to the Rimside Grill for dinner, horseshoes, volleyball and drinks.
Saturday morning: Drive to the Fossil Creek TH, hike in, and set-up camp alongside the creek.
Saturday afternoon: Pick up trash (trash bag donations are welcome).
Saturday evening: Dinner and socializing with the other participating clubs/hikers.
Sunday: Hike out and head home.

I went on but it says the meetup is full!

I assume you went to ABC's Meetup Group. You are welcome to join us with the Friends Hiking Club, either through Meetup, or just as a club guest (our CLUB members pay yearly dues, but Meetup members are treated as guests, who are always welcome). At any rate, the more the better, I say.

For background on this event, see the previous HAZ forum topics titled
Fossil Creek getting trashed (3006)
AZ forests are filling with trash (4386)
So far hiking clubs from Friends, ABC, HHH, and AHOTE are onboard.

I am an avid day hiker, but haven't done much camping since I was a kid because I haven't yet invested in all the gear (tent, sleeping bag, etc.). What is the bare minimum that I would need to go on this trip? I am very interested and would love to help with the clean up!

Uou can always rent gear from REI. You would need the basics, tent, sleeping bag, sleeping pad, backpack, your food does not need to be cooked and I am sure someone has a water filter you could use. Those are the basics.

I suggest you come to the monthly Friends Hiking Club meeting at the Boulders in Tempe. We have very experienced backpackers available who can offer you one-on-one advice about equipment, and can walk you through the process, without trying to sell you something. We meet the first Monday of the month, and guests are always welcome. More info is at http://www.friendshiking.com. We'll take care of ya.

cannot wait, it has been about three years since i have been to fossil. i am looking forward to see what it looks like with the damn gone.