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So, with most of the year past, and the summer vacation and hiking season ending, fall and early winter are coming up. Anyone have any plans for the remaining 3 months or so of 2013? Yes, I am shamelessly using this to talk about my own plans.

Next week, I hope to have a fun little trip to Colorado to hike San Luis Peak, and possibly Redcloud and Sunshine. I had such a good time last year on Harvard, I was hoping for a little more this year. Probably won't be as dry, and I don't know about the color which is late this year due to the rain and mild temps, but I will get to use my Outback to tackle roads that proved tough for my civic in the past.

Then, early October ought to be the start of fantastic weather, so getting back up to the Sierra Blanca area seems appropriate. Not sure of where I will go, but I want to explore that area this fall. Might do some new stuff with the meet up group on the Organs, but they really need to dry out and have a vegetation die back to open up to foot travel.

On the softer side, AEG is not going to be priority this fall, but every time I say that I do what I enjoy, and not typically stuff for just AEG, I do end up doing big stuff that nets me a lot. We will see, but frankly, just getting off the Rez has been a huge boon for me and I have met my goal for the year. It's all gravy from here out!

Jim_H wrote:So, with most of the year past, and the summer vacation and hiking season ending...

Your entire post contradicts your first sentence. As does my opinion: for many of us desert dwellers, hiking season is just beginning!

chumley wrote:

Jim_H wrote:So, with most of the year past, and the summer vacation and hiking season ending...

Your entire post contradicts your first sentence. As does my opinion: for many of us desert dwellers, hiking season is just beginning!

Re-read, and re-analyze your response.

The Autumnal Equinox is Sunday at 3:44 PM AZT time, so my post stands. Hiking need not end, but it won't be summer. There never was a contradiction to the reader who reads for comprehension. ;)

No comprendo Inglés

I hope to do some kayaking. I also made a deal with myself, after weeks of inactivity, to either ride my bike or hike at least 15 min a day. That is nothing, I realize, but that is all I have time for. If I tell myself I am riding for an hour, I don't have time, because I have a paper to write, or boxes to pack, or I'm late for work. If I say I will ride for 15 min then I might actually go out and do it, and might end up with 30 or 40 min. I rode my bike to work today for the first time in ages.

Pathetic, I know.

Havasupai at the beginning of October ... hiking in the Canyon with my Phoenix buddy later that month.
Staying at the Forest House Resort on Oak Creek during my birthday week in November, and doing some little hikes - probably including West Fork.
December is still open - probably get some desert hiking in.

I had to cancel most of my summer plans, but I still hope to get in a couple trips before the end of the year.

I really want to hike the AZT section from Pine to Mt. Ord vicinity (approx 76 miles) before it gets too cold up there.

I was signed onto a cool kayaking trip on the Colorado through the Imperial Nat'l. Wildlife Refuge but it got cancelled. I don't think Rick's Black Canyon trip can fit into my October, unfortunately. I have a permit for Grandview Loop in Grand Canyon, thinking about sending it back to get hiker's credit. I just don't have time right now. If I go to California I will post some cool hikes, and hope to get some new ones on the board. But I keep pushing back the date for the move.

I am driving to Tenn to spend two weeks there, very soon. Looking forward to the cross country. Have some property there, haven't seen it in 24 years. Taking my 90 year old mother, so we'll be taking our time. Hope to go see some old moonshiners up in the holler. Been warm there so wonder if any fall leaves.

Looking at another area of the Grand Canyon Parashant around thanksgiving. The good thing is very little beta on the web, one picture that has highly peaked my interest of 800+ foot walls in this canyon. Don't have any info on water, access etc. So will be a recon with some hope of success.

Near Christmas maybe a Forbidden Zone revisit. New info of 100 foot pet logs and fossil shark teeth the size of your hand is driving that, again have no beta as to where, so will be fun to look ( and not get caught).

RedRoxx44 wrote:I am driving to Tenn to spend two weeks there, very soon. Looking forward to the cross country. Have some property there, haven't seen it in 24 years. Taking my 90 year old mother, so we'll be taking our time. Hope to go see some old moonshiners up in the holler. Been warm there so wonder if any fall leaves.

Looking at another area of the Grand Canyon Parashant around thanksgiving. The good thing is very little beta on the web, one picture that has highly peaked my interest of 800+ foot walls in this canyon. Don't have any info on water, access etc. So will be a recon with some hope of success.

Near Christmas maybe a Forbidden Zone revisit. New info of 100 foot pet logs and fossil shark teeth the size of your hand is driving that, again have no beta as to where, so will be fun to look ( and not get caught).

Hiked up Parashant last year from the river, but only a couple of miles. Saw a couple of foxes. Neat place. No water at the time, but I imagine it sure must have some right now! We camped there, too.

I'd like to finish off the Tonto Trail sections. Not sure about S Bass to Garnet happening this year but its not impossible. The others should be "easy" dayhikes except S Bass-Boucher...gonna have to make a few days out of that unless I want to wind up in the hospital AGAIN. There's a good plan, I plan on not visiting the hospital again this year!

On that note, pretty sure I'll end up belting out a R2R2R mid November, depends on the days off they give me 2nd week but I'll get it in. First week in November I'll be in Phx for Halloween with my little one and of course Reavis 2.0.

Also really really REALLY want to spend a few days in The Valley and hike the Supes Ridgeline with my old crew of HAZzing hiking buddies, maybe Flatiron or 5057 for old times sakes, I'm sure a night hike could happen like old times!! If Echo is open by then I'll do a double for fun...nothing huge really, I just miss the area, the hikes in the area and my old hiking crew! A bit. Okay, a LOT. At least you've all come to visit since I've been up here!

Tortilla Peak 4918 and Malapais different routes are among my immediate wishes for hiking in the Supes.

peaks

Jim_H wrote:So, with most of the year past, and the summer vacation and hiking season ending

It's easy for you to say it's a reading comprehension thing but that's from your perspective, you knew what you meant. For folks like myself who don't differentiate hiking by season, with only a quick glance at the topic it appears both 'summer vacation' AND 'hiking season' are ending.

Now if you said it like so... and the summer vacation/hiking season ending I would have understood, at least as much as one who doesn't understand 'summer hiking', 'winter hiking' or the like.
;)

The rest of my year will be just like the first part, hike, hike & more hiking with some mountain biking thrown in. And like the first part I'll be back to Utah for another week.

Looks like we are adding a return visit to Zion next week! Angel's Landing and Upper Emerald Pools.

Doing the XTerra trail race in a few weeks, then I'm going back to peak bagging mode. My move to the west valley is finalized this weekend, so want to start exploring the peaks along I-10 and around Gila Bend.

Be done with all this training for a giant bike ride, and get back to hiking
My bike is great for getting back and forth to the office, but I have realized this year that long- rides are just not what I really enjoy for fun.

I'm rolling up to Mesa Verde next week for a day and a half. Then the week after that I'll be in San Diego, but there's minimal hiking on that trip. From then on, I've got nothing planned.
I'll probably spend some time in the White Tanks. It's been a while since I've been up to Barry Goldwater Peak.

Mesa Verde can be really nice this time of year. Wait and see, as it looks like the weather gods want to punish us. Colorado went right from heavy, tropical low pressure monsoon rain to winter snow and storms. Wind was really high the last 2 days. Perhaps you'll have better weather next week.