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I thought a casual hike to Philomena Spring, but not to Humphrey, might be nice. I'll probably hike Humphrey one of the other days, and it might be fun to explore the west side of the Peaks, instead.

Either Saturday or Sunday is fine, but Saturday is probably better, and a start time that is around 10 is fine by me. It is not a long hike, but it is off trail for a lot of the hike, however it is easier to use the main trail to the 5th switchback, instead of the end of the 3rd. Slopes can be loose and steep, and rocks are a given.

The spring will most likely be flowing, but will the stream still be flowing?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YqgfHNk ... e=youtu.be

Saturday sounds great, but where do we meet?

It depends on where I stay the night before, either Snowbowl, or in town. Snowbowl is probably the best place.

BTW, if you have surgery, you need to be fully recovered before setting out off trail on the Peaks.

@Jim_H
Well its not really surgery, they are taking out one screw and I'll have two stiches.

@Jim_H
Have you ever tried the route Joe and I took to the Spring?
There's a lot less of the scree surfing, also a trail / game trail the majority of the way.
http://hikearizona.com/gps=21202

Isn't it prohibited to hike off-trail above 11,400ft in the Kachina Peaks Wilderness?
HAZ Map here: http://hikearizona.com/gps=425
Full discussion on this triplog: http://hikearizona.com/trip=76360

@Widowmaker
OK, but just be sure you can cross the terrain. You'll know better than I will, about how your ankle feels.

@The Eagle
I have not, but I am not really interested in it. I like being up higher in the spruce on the Peaks, and I might opt to tag the bomber wreck, since we will go right below it by about 500'. Also, scree is minor unless above treeline, as it gets colonized by plants. Talus is the issue in the rocky areas, and generally steep slopes are, otherwise.

@chumley
Depending on your location on the Peaks, it is technically illegal, however, this hike will observe the spirit of the law, but not the letter, as the spring and a good deal of the area around the spring is very easily accessed from below and it is mostly large talus and small boulders around the spring. I will not be going more than a dozen feet or so above the spring and I am not visiting Humphrey from the spring.

Oh, but I do want to go see the hot tub, I mean tank made of wood.

@Jim_H
Had the screw removed yesterday. And I feel so much better.

@Widowmaker
Good to hear!