HikeArizona.COM

Hello HAZers

I'm going to be spending a week on the AZT around Flagstaff starting next weekend, I had some questions I was hoping you could help me with.

This will be my first time in the Flagstaff area, what is the bug situation like at the beginning of September from Mormon Lake to Mt. Elden? Should i pack my bug net to keep the critters off my face? Any gear suggestions outside the essentials I may want to consider carrying?

I'm prepared to cache water ahead of time if needed, but from my research it seems like I'll be able to get H20 from various campgrounds and whatnot on the way through. Do you think caching will be necessary? I'll be going 10-15 miles each day.

I was thinking about adding the San Francisco Peaks passage to my trip, but was concerned about water on this stretch. Thoughts?

I'll be taking precautions to keep the bears away from camp, but I'm just curious how active they are in the area? Any other wildlife concerns i may need to consider?

Finally, are there any side trips relatively close to the trail I may not want to miss?

I've not heard of bugs being an issue but for the light weight, I'd throw a head bag in the pack. Usually the wind keeps em off.
That kind of daily mileage should get you past reasonably reliable water each day, but don't pass any up. Fill up and drink till you slosh at any you pass. Know where the water is (ATA Databook) before you leave.
Peaks passage can be kind of dry, but you can likely fill up from the tank near Shultz Pass TH and Snowbowl.
If you see a bear count yourself lucky. I've heard of no issues with bears. Anyone else?
A side trip to the top of Mt Humphrey's might add to the experience.
Standard caveat: only you can plan your hike, this info worth what you paid for it.

My son, his fiance and I hiked parts of 31, 32 and 34 last week, and outside of the tank at Shultz Pass trailhead, I don't recall any water at all (besides the standing water in the underpasses at I-40, the railroad tracks, and Cosnino Rd. Nasty stuff!). Of course, I wasn't looking for it. Maybe it was there, and I didn't see it.

On 32, just before you reach the Shultz Pass trailhead, there's a (locked) metal cylinder with water splashing sounds coming out of it. I have no clue what that was, but the water sounded nice!

P.S. Is it spelled Shultz or Schultz? I've seen it both ways!

Thanks guys. I have everything planned pretty meticulously, just hoping for some input from locals or people familiar with the area.

June 12-17 I hiked passages 27 to the first half of 32 (Elden Pueblo on Hwy 89). I posted a water report to AZT and on the Facebook group Arizona Trail - hiking.

Water should be good to Marshall Lake though it may be hot hiking across Anderson Mesa. Afterwards, it will be dry except for the two wildlife tanks at miles 10.1 and 12.8 of passage 31. The water at mile 10.1 was arguably the best water I've had on the 535 miles of the AZT I've hiked from Patagonia to Flagstaff. From there, there is no water until some nice clear water under a bridge at mile 5.3 of passage 32. That water is not on the water report or documented anywhere that I've seen so I wonder if it is to be avoided for some reason. Anyway, there is a gas station / mart less than two miles farther at hwy 89 (don't cross the hwy).

Once you leave Walnut Canyon area, you will drop out of the pines and into the junipers. It will be dry and hot, then when you approach Mt. Elden, the trail will be a lot of black volcanic dirt/rock and that will be hot and dusty. My last day, I camped at about mile 8 of Passage 31 and stopped early to get water at the 10.1 source. I left there with close to 5 liters and only had about a cup left when I arrived at Elden Pueblo so plan accordingly.

I found all three of those passages relaxingly enjoyable. If the mileage is substantially more than your normal activity level cling on to those trekking poles in your avatar and have a ready supply of painkillers and duct tape

The bugs should be healthy, fat and self occupied now unless camping near water or in high grasses.

#30 is easy to pre-cache where it crosses the hwy
Pre-caching on #31 & 32 are pretty straight forward too, but hardly necessary being so short.

If you're into off trail exploring, Walnut Canyon east of Fisher Point. [ video ]

rcorfman wrote:From there, there is no water until some nice clear water under a bridge at mile 5.3 of passage 32. That water is not on the water report or documented anywhere that I've seen so I wonder if it is to be avoided for some reason.

Since I posted the above, the databook was updated as follows:

If any water it is effluent from waste water treatment plant

So it's probably better than a lot of the other water sources