HikeArizona.COM

Hey all,

My brother and I are planning a backpacking trip over Memorial day weekend. Having grown up in Payson, I know how crazy Memorial days get...with all the city-folk occupying every stream and creek .

We are both experienced, hikers, and were looking to spend 2 nights and 3 days on a remote backpacking trip...the kind that requires some routefinding ability and is away from the beaten path (a get away from it all for a few days type trip). We would like a challenging hike that would loop us back to the car in the 2-3 days(10-20 miles?). A perfect location would include a trek to a remote, secluded fishing spot (I know, too much to ask for). Anyway, I was thinking the White Mountains or perhaps the Blue Range primitive area. There's also Humprhey's Peak (too crowded this holiday weekend?), or perhaps Mazatzal peakpeak near Payson (however, we would prefer a bit more forested terrain).

Is this feasible on a Memorial day weekend?

I would appreciate any input!

The east cabin loop will probably meet your requirements for water, but not for fishing, and can be broken into a few days of max 6-7 miles each. Routefinding is a challenge

http://hikearizona.com/decoder.php?ZTN=797

Thanks! I had looked at that one as well actually. I was worried about there be a bunch of people during the holiday?

Do a loop in the Gila. No crowds, but hard to get to. Nice time of year to loop to the central parks, if you can get over there.

If it were me id consider something out on the SC or WM apache reservations. Plenty of places to disappear and find some places holding fish. it only cost you $10 per day per person but I can guarantee you wont see anyone. Cant say I know all the rules for such a trip on the res, but surfing countless websites, 100's of phone calls, and an indian guide should have you on your way.

Jim_H wrote:Do a loop in the Gila. No crowds, but hard to get to. Nice time of year to loop to the central parks, if you can get over there.

Some of the west side may still be closed, though, due to the big fire last year.
KP Loop, Largo-Lanphier Loop, etc., both in the Blue Primitive Area.

ASUAviator wrote:If it were me id consider something out on the SC or WM apache reservations. Plenty of places to disappear and find some places holding fish. it only cost you $10 per day per person but I can guarantee you wont see anyone. Cant say I know all the rules for such a trip on the res, but surfing countless websites, 100's of phone calls, and an indian guide should have you on your way.

Ditto WMA Rez.
Just spent 3 days in the WMA Rez. and after Big Lake all the way down to White River, all the humanity we saw was one 3-person logging crew. (The WMA actually spend resources thinning their forests - Imagine that!?). AND - we saw: fox, porcupine, elk (including a small herd of bulls), wild horses, osprey, deer, coyotes and, yes, cows.

I had the same question and was thinking of making a trip to the White Mountains. Do you guys have any specific trails on the WMA res that are good for backpacking?

I'll be backpacking along the Black River over this coming weekend and I expect to see only a few fishermen. I have not gone to the rez at all since there is still so much of the Apache-Sitgreaves I haven't seen yet, but I hear it's nice. One really nice thing: they don't allow ATVs on the Rez. Who knew the Apaches were so smart?

ineedtoeatnow wrote:I had the same question and was thinking of making a trip to the White Mountains. Do you guys have any specific trails on the WMA res that are good for backpacking?

"Trails" as far as 'man-made' are scarce - that's what helps keep out the hoards (no carsonite signs or GPS tracks for them to follow). Note: The elk do make some nice trails, but where they lead? One merely needs a 'spirit of discovery' and a topo map and you'll have a ball.
A few of us will be backpacking down Paddy Creek to the Black for the W/E - you can join us if you please.

hikeaz wrote:you can join us if you please

@ineedtoeatnow
I highly recommend taking him up on that offer

hikeaz wrote:A few of us will be backpacking down Paddy Creek to the Black for the W/E - you can join us if you please.

Will there be fishing???

Outdoor Lover wrote:

hikeaz wrote:A few of us will be backpacking down Paddy Creek to the Black for the W/E - you can join us if you please.

Will there be fishing???

O'course..!