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Topo and I will be knocking out a long day hike on Saturday April 10th. The 15.5 Mile Marsh Valley Loop Hike, we will hit the trail early so we have time to complete the hike. We would love some company!

I just noticed this is easter weekend, so I have switched the Reavis Backpack and this Day Hike.

Okay your switch knocks me outta the other, I like this one better so I'm in!

Cool Joe...Hopefully we can get another couple people involved. I just got new boots this morning at REI with my dividend, so I am going to start sporting them around the next few days to get them broken in and then test them on this hike.

What time to you want to start?

I'm hiking Battleship from Canyon Lake that day. I'll be watching for you guys. Sarichter may even show.

I'm good with whatever time

In response to wallyfrack:
There typically isn't bushwhacking on that route, however you're sure to find it if Stefan is near

Excuse my confusion, but is this hike on April 3rd or April 10th? I am interested either way. What time are we meeting at the First Water TH?

April 3rd. I had to switch two hikes because of Easter. This being a day hike, is much better for the holiday weekend than the overnighter I had planned. Join us!

What time are we meeting?

That's a good question. This is going to be a LONG day hike as far as mileage, so let's get an early start on it. Let's meet at 6:00, come prepared to head straight for the trail head (ie. coffee in hand, water in your pack)

We have options as to where to meet, we could meet at my house, we could meet at Joe's house...or we could do the parking lot gather someplace. I know where I live, and Joe is closer to the TH than myself....it looks like Mike is in Chandler, which makes him farther away yet. We could also meet at the TH...but that's a little wasteful on gas I believe.

So how about this, let's meet at the trusty Lowe's on Higley Rd. Exit US 60 at Higley, go North and the Lowe's is the first thing on the west side of Higley.

The address is 1440 S. Higley Rd. Mesa, AZ 85206.

If for some reason this isn't looking like a good plan....to early, to late, to far etc....speak up, I am open to whatever.

The plan is acceptable to me. Higley Lowe's at 6:00AM. See you there.

6am @ Lowes sounds good

Sweet! I drive a lifted green Toyota 4Runner...with a black and white dog hanging out a window.

Just for reference to you and your family members. Here is the proposed route. I will have my SPOT GPS with me at all times. If someone wants to track our progress on this hike send them this link. When they click on it, they will be able to see where we are. The SPOT will attempt to update our location every 10 minutes, however it is only able to do this when it can successfully send the signals. So if no updates are available tell them not to panic! I will be testing a new clear "window" in the top of my pack, hoping the SPOT has a better success rate with the tracking function.

Here is the link...


http://share.findmespot.com/shared/face ... CP1KkevF3P


The route with start at First Water TH, then at the junction with Second Water Trail we will head north on Second Water, turning RIGHT on Boulder Canyon which we will follow to Marsh Valley via Cavalry Trail. Once at Marsh Valley we will swing back via Bull Pass with an option to skirt around Black Top Mesa via Needle Canyon and East Boulder Canyon (we can make that decision on the fly, the mileage is not to much different (maybe 1.5 miles). We will complete our loop on the Dutchman's Trail all the way back to First Water.

Total Mileage using Bull Pass 14.3 miles.
Total Mileage going around Black Top Mesa 15.2 miles.

Turn RIGHT onto Boulder Canyon! Left outta boulder onto Cavalry.

LOL....thanks NoNot! I supposed I wouldn't have made that error in real life...but who knows! It's tougher to type out all those directions that I would have thought. Yes....we will be hanging a right onto Boulder Canyon.

Left, right, tom-a-toe, toe-ma-toe

I'll see you guys in the morning at Lowe's! Doesn't look like anyone from ABC signed up, so it should just be us. Bring a lunch...it's going to be a VERY nice day! Highs in the 70's and sunny!

Great hike today! We missed a trail junction, but made up for with a trip over Bull Pass and kept the mileage right around 16 miles total...and we did it QUICK! We were gone from the car for 7 hours and took a nice 45 minute lunch. Topo and I are pooped....but ready for more!

Great time Tyler

thanks for setting it up and driving.

I made Mike fall in a creek...sorry Mike!