HikeArizona.COM

I don't know what I am getting into here, but this is what I have found on the map and it looks like fun! The plan is to do this as a shuttle hike (the trailheads aren't very far apart, so it's not a long drive between them). We will start at Mud Springs TH, hike down the mountain towards Apache Lake, turn East and pass through Adam's Camp and by Browns Cave (we will be camping somewhere in the area...no idea what it's like). The next day we will then turn back north at Browns Cave and climb up all the way to the top of the ridge at Black Bear Saddle, and then loop around the north side of Browns Peak and end at Lone Pine TH (which is the trailhead most people use to access Browns Peak). Total distance is roughly 10 miles each day with Adam's Camp at the half way point. I am guessing the trail will be faily overgrown....so be warned. I need at least one other person to drive to create the shuttle. There is no available hikes to link to this posting, so grab your bear tooth map and then use your imagination to figure out what this is goint to be like.

Hike: Mud Springs TH to Lone Pine TH via Adam's Camp and Browns Cave
Distance: roughly 20 miles
Type: Shuttle
Duration: April 24th and 25th
Meetup: TBD but early on April 24th (roughly 7am in Mesa or Fountain Hills)

If I can make it you know I'm down with this one!

It can be a loop too. There's a trail from Lone Pine to Mud though it rarely gets used. As I mentioned the biggest concern is going to be Alder Creek to Black Bear Saddle. Oh wait a minute, I just remembered Nate did it http://hikearizona.com/decoder.php?ZTN=2013

Ok, maybe this isn't going to work. I wasn't planning on route finding with a compass. I might go back to the drawing board for the trip on this particular weekend. I don't need my dog covered head to tow in cholla and I don't need me to be either.

....I am open to suggestions...

You almost might as well do it as a loop and finish the hike down the road to Mud springs from Lone Pine. Or else make the shuttle longer and hike in from Cottonwood camp.

I remember when we did that Chillicut-Oak Flat shuttle at black bear saddle there was no discernable trail heading downhill like the map said it should. That might be a better idea to try in the opposite direction due to the questionable condition of the trail there.

I would really like to do this, that the one section of the 4Peaks trails I haven't done yet. but I'd have to convince my wife to get a babysitter for the kids for that Saturday.

I'd really like to close the gap on this one too, convince her Chris.

The Cholla isn't that bad, bear in mind Nate drove a car on a 4x4 road too... http://hikearizona.com/photo.php?ZIP=90074
I've been to Brown's Cave with a dog with zero issues and that's going to be the most cacti rich area.

OK FINE! I am down for pain agony and regret. Let's do it the opposite way I have it listed. Let's start at Lone Pine and fight our way down hill rather than uphill.

woof woof, bark bark bark, woof, bark growl, bark.

Translation: What the heck has this idiot got me signed up for now?!?!?

joe bartels wrote:convince her Chris.

Let me see what i can do. no guarantees, though.

joe bartels wrote:The Cholla isn't that bad, bear in mind Nate drove a car on a 4x4 road too... http://hikearizona.com/photo.php?ZIP=90074

That picture is actually kind of encouraging. If we can drop a car off at Cane springs we might be able to do this an ALL day dayhike. Or maybe drop off the car the day before. Or is the overnighter a better idea?

I think that's a 4x4 Subaru. Though you don't need 4x4 to get to Cottonwood Camp, that's up 401. To shuttle to Cane Springs would take at least six hours.

A shuttle from Cottonwood would be possible. You're only cutting off a third of the hike and certainly not the difficult part. Bear in mind it would be about 3-4am to 10pm to midnight with shuttle setup/retrieval. But it's doable...

I am planning an overnighter, just because I want to spend a night in my hammock. Come on ladies, it will be a good overnighter!

Backpack is really the way to go on this one.

Yeah, an overnighter makes more sense, I agree. However, I talked to my wife and she has piano recitals for her students scheduled for that day. Doesn't mean totally no-go for me, but it doesnt look great. Time to start the campaigning...

Let's go gang....check in with your bosses (read wife's) and get slide over there to the "committed" section. I'm not going at this thing alone!

The only way this is gonna be possible for me is if you can move it to Sun-Mon, or maybe Fri-Sat. Sun-Mon makes it possible to do without getting a babysitter. My wife has an all day work event on Sat. and will be out of the house from 8am-6pm, so leaving the kids all day with someone isn't a very desirable option. I only mention it since no one else has committed yet. if someone else committs for Sat-Sun, then I'll have to hit the "Cancel" button.

Sat. Sun. is the weekend...which is when I am not slaving away at work. So, hopefully someone else commits, otherwise I will just reschedule it for a different weekend entirely and figure something else out for this weekend.

So Tyler, if I were the only one to commit would my car (Accord, Mustang is gone ) be okay to make it to both these trailheads. I know I can make it to lone pine from the El Oso direction but what about Mud Springs? I need to get some more Four Peaks action in.

we will figure it out...your car would get to one of those trail heads...and mine will get to either of them. Don't worry though...one of these other SISSYS! is going to sign up.

tell topo I think he's a wuss for not committing to this one. Better yet I'll tell him when I see him at Charlebois.

Awesome trip idea, but unfortunately I don't have a free weekend for a month. Enjoy!