Highline Trail, Geronimo to Wash. Park Sun. May 15

[DarthStiller]

Continuing on to the next section of the Highline Trail that I have yet to complete, I want to hike from the Gernonimo TH to the Washington Park TH. This one will be done as a shuttle hike and Wally has so far agreed to serve as the 2nd driver. If we get a large enough of a group for this, we may need more drivers. Total distance is I believe 9.4 miles as noted by tonyp in his book. Leaving Mesa at 5:30am. Should be starting to get warm in the Valley around this time, so heading up north should begin to sound inviting.

[Tough_Boots]

This might be good timing and length for me with my leg still healing up. I can't wait to start spending some quality up in this area again. Judging by a couple of the tracks for this section, it look to be a little under 9 miles, though.

[krispykritter]

I'd like to join you, I've been looking at hiking the highline for awile. I work on saturdays so I always miss out on the group hikes, this will be cool.

[DarthStiller]

Judging by a couple of the tracks for this section, it look to be a little under 9 miles, though

I was looking at the .pdf map on HAZ for this area, and I was thinking it might be a nice idea to add the Pump Station Trail at the Washington Park TH to add a few more miles to this one. We can see how late it is once we get there and how everyone feels to see if we do it or not.

if the 3 interesteds commit (or we otherwise get to the 6th committed person), we're probably going to need more drivers.

[krispykritter]

I'am ready if you need another driver. I got a 7 passenger van.

[DarthStiller]

@krispykritter

We may end up taking you up on that offer. We can play it by ear and see how many commit.

[kingsnake]

Would we meet at the trailhead, or elsewhere then travel up? (Unless the FR is really well maintained my rusted out car under carriage would have a hard time making it without dropping parts ...)

[DarthStiller]

@kingsnake

Probably the best thing is to meet at my house in Mesa. I'll PM the address to all the committees who don't already have it a few days before. Wally and I both live by Higley and University in Mesa. Once we get everyone there, we can figure out how many cars we need total and who can fit into which cars.

[kingsnake]

I usually wake up at 0330 anyway, so being there at 0530 should not be a problem. ;)

I am in central Phoenix, Sunnyslope to be exact, if anyone wants to carpool down to Stillernator's ...

[DarthStiller]

@kingsnake
Kyle is over in Tempe. He hasn't committed yet but he can't resist this area. His bum leg just needs to cooperate and heal up.

[johnlp]

I will probably be committing soon. 95% chance I'm in.

[kingsnake]

Had to check with the wife ... Inshallah, I will be there.

[joebartels]

I'm in if there is room, great little segment with Sedona-esque views in one part.

[Tough_Boots]

He hasn't committed yet but he can't resist this area.

Happy now? I would be down for adding extra miles as well-- what about adding Col. Devin and the Railroad Tunnel for a nice little lasso up to the top of the rim? If we are going all that way and have a shuttle we might as well take care of some business while we're there.

[johnlp]

Let's go Groth! Somebody needs to write the triplog.

[DarthStiller]

what about adding Col. Devin and the Railroad Tunnel

I was contemplating one day doing this section of trail as a big loop up to the rim, along with the Myrtle trail and back on the Highline. But I've never done Col. Devin or the pumphouse trails, so I'm open to suggestion as to whatever the group wants to do once we get to that point. I would think that just that section of the Highline isn't going to be worth the whole shuttle setup.

[Tough_Boots]

I would think that just that section of the Highline isn't going to be worth the whole shuttle setup.

Other ideas:

Pine TH to Washington Park would be about 16 miles & 3900 aeg
Geronimo TH to Myrtle & up the rim would be 17 miles & 4300 aeg

I'm gonna do some hiking this weekend and hopefully feel more confident for any options that day. My leg is feeling more solid every day.

[nonot]

Col Devin is alright, you could do the railroad area too. I'll warn you about going east on the highline - the trail goes through a burn area in about 4 miles, disappears. I hear the Myrtle is almost gone (I never made it that far...lost the trail and had to turn back.)

[Tough_Boots]

I hear the Myrtle is almost gone

thats a shame they've let all those trails up the rim go... Promontory Butte and Horton Springs are pretty much gone as well.

[kingsnake]

16+ miles and 3900+ AEG is a bit beyond me at this point. (My 15 relatively flat miles last weekend was the furthest I walked since I was a Army private 27 years ago ...)