HikeArizona.COM

Hosted by the Arizona Backpacking Club and writelots: Passage Stewards for 17a (Alamo Canyon) - some of the best Sonoran desert on the AZT, and one fantastic piece of hiking!

Our goals for the weekend:

• Hike/Drive into the northern edge of our passage - about 7 miles from the Picketpost Trailhead. This could be a very excellent moonlight hike (full moon is Thursday). (If you chose to drive in you will need HIGH CLEARANCE 4wd and the ability to use it.)
• Grub out mesquite and catclaw and all other spiny plants which have grown over the trail. (You know you want revenge!)
• Check on water sources
• Cache water at the southern end of the passage for through-hikers
• Clear any problems with trail tread or identify areas for further work in future trips.

I am driving tools and materials as well as water and food into to our site so those who'd rather hike in don't have to carry too much. Also looking for volunteers to drive in. Anyone interested in the more adventurous trip to the southern border of our passage at the end of Passage 16? We're hoping for some crazy ORVers who may be able to help us out there.

Volunteers will be rewarded with a hearty dinner cooked by the event host on Saturday night and a cooler of icy beverages available for your enjoyment. We are also arranging for a presentation by Sirena Dufault on her recent through-hike of the AZT (and those who know her know she's an AMAZING story teller).

This is an excellent opportunity for involving kids, too! Just be sure they're old enough to be trusted with a pair of pruning shears and a shovel!

Don't miss the trail-work/social event of the season deep in the spectacular Sonoran desert!

I take it your base of operations will be where AZT 17 crosses Forest Road 4 (Telegraph Canyon Road)?

Tracey and I may be available that weekend.

If so, we would probably haul in another water cache to the AZT16/17 connection point then start working toward the north. Since we're already out there we'd probably stay Saturday night at the nice flat spot a few hundred yards up the hill from the gate at the start of AZT 17. Then on Sunday we could continue northward from where we left off, then driving back out.

CannondaleKid wrote:I take it your base of operations will be where AZT 17 crosses Forest Road 4 (Telegraph Canyon Road)?

Correct!

CannondaleKid wrote: Tracey and I may be available that weekend.

If so, we would probably haul in another water cache to the AZT16/17 connection point then start working toward the north. Since we're already out there we'd probably stay Saturday night at the nice flat spot a few hundred yards up the hill from the gate at the start of AZT 17. Then on Sunday we could continue northward from where we left off, then driving back out.

That would be REALLY helpful! I've camped at that spot a couple of times before - rocky, but it works. It can be hard for us to hike in all the way to the end AND do the trail work, so any help getting toward the north would be greatly appreciated.

Ugg...work decided to get in the way .... Was looking forward to it.

It's definite, Tracey and I will be out there Saturday and Sunday, camping Saturday night just up the hill from at the 16/17 TH.

We'll bring as much water as will fit in the Cherokee after loading our gear. One might think there would be plenty of room but not so...
:whistle:
Inside the vehicle will be a (quite large) spare tire, winch, air compressor, 12v cooler, extra oil/brake fluid/coolant, a few spare parts and enough tools for off-road repairs if required. Add in our camping gear and tools for the trail maintenance all we'll practically be splitting at the seams.
But it's for a worthy cause and we'll have a great spot to camp!

@CannondaleKid
Thanks! It'll be great to see more HAZers!

Im interested in coming this weekend to help out. I wont know If I will get the time off work for a couple days. Hopefully I will know by Wednesday.

Plan now:

We have a couple of folks driving into the site, and one couple driving into the far end (thanks!).

I have one group hiking into the site at 2:30pm and a second group leaving at 6pm. If you're still interested, join us at the Picketpost Trailhead at one of those times.

It's going to be GREAT!

Wow, that was something . We had 16 people working that trail on Saturday and 8 on Sunday. It's hard work though but I knew it would be. Thankfully on Saturday evening Wendy made it easier on us by cooking an incredible fajita meal with barbecued chicken and caramelized onions. We had all the fixings too. Wendy had to do most of the organizing as we pulled from separate groups to put this together.

Sirena drove the AZT truck out with all the tools and water. That FR4 is a bit nerve-wracking from what I gathered so I think hiking in was the easier choice ;) . It worked out well with Stoic driving out too as he helped with water and other things around camp as well as worked the trails. EVERYONE worked the trail. And thanks to Mark and Tracey for making that almost unbelievable drive to place the water at the south end of AZT17 and trim up to where we met them at the wash (that is part of the road ).

Segment 17 is a beautiful section of the Arizona Trail so that it made it extra sweet despite the back breaking work. Now, however, there is a lot less cat's claw and other sticky things lurking along the trail. We had guys also swinging picks to eradicate some of the sticky plants permanently but that soil is so incredibly hard . I think we would have liked to eradicate more so that we won't have to trim every year but that's a nearly impossible task I think. We were lucky to have perfect weather.

A great group effort and sense of accomplishment because there were so many of us and we could complete a lot of the work.

@tibber
Careful or you won't have anything left to say when you post your triplog!
;)