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Has anyone climbed Mt. Humphreys this winter? I plan on climbing it in Late March/Early April and need some confirmation on the location of the trailhead. Do you have to cross any ski slopes, where do you go, etc. Thank you for any reply.

Panther: The trailhead is at the far end of the parking lot for the Snow Bowl Ski area. It is at about 9300 elevation, and the summit is just under 12,700. The trail is about 6.5 as I recall, there is probably a description here.

The Snow Bowl Road is off State Highway 180, about 7 miles northwest of downtown Flagstaff.

Based on recent and current precipitation, there may well be snow cover on all or some of the route at the time you are planning this. -R

From Route 66 downtown Flagstaff Take Humphreys st to Fort Valley. Turn left on Fort Valley. Fort Valley is also 180. Take it 7 miles to Snowbowl Rd. Turn right on Snowbowl rd. Take it to the top. It's 7 miles to the snow bowl. Turn left into a parking area. The trail crosses the bunny slopes into the forest. It is 4.5 miles to the top.

This time of year you want to take crampon cleats. There will be snow on the trail in the forest. Dress is layers. It WILL be cold on top. Maybe even windy.

The summit evevation is 12,633 ft.

Or if you have all day, go up from Locket Meadows--15-16 miles.

Starting from Locket Meadow is an amazing hike. I did that once with first doing Fremont Peak. Unfortunatly, The road is closed going into Locket Meadow in the winter, so that won't be an option.

Yeah. Its covered in snow. You can't even see the trail. THe best way, I say, Is straight up!

jeremy77777 wrote:Yeah. Its covered in snow. You can't even see the trail. THe best way, I say, Is straight up!

Jeremy said it best. Just go to the bunny slopes and hike straight up them suckers until you reach the ridge the head left along the ridge. Be sure to have a good pair of crampons.

This is clearly what we would call a "gonzo" topic here on HAZ.
We have no doubt that actual human climb AZ's highest point in the winter--we even know one friend of our who's done it.
But, nonetheless, it is truly STILL is really gonzo experience and, therefore, this is a gonzo topic!
SOOOO....we would truly appreciate receiving a step-by-step, blow-by-blow, breath-by-breath recap of your climb up the snowslopes of AZ's highest peak.
There is, afterall, a cadre of "armchair adventurers" who dearly love this kinda of stuff.
We can hardly wait to hear all the "details."

J&S

I posted/logged my trip up this mountain a week or so ago. Since I haven't used this web site long, I can't begin to tell you how to find my hike description, but it's here...

Jay

Here's a direct link
http://hikearizona.com/dex2/log-VIEWALL.php?NV=1816

if you ever want to know what somebody has posted just click on their profile

could also be found by going to the Humphries trail page

The road to Lockett Meadow is closed this time of year, but if you don't mind adding an extra 5 or so miles (round trip) to your hike get up Humphreys that way by parking at the gate on the road to Lockett Meadow and hike from there. I went into Lockett Meadow this way a few weeks ago in snowshoes, and it was pretty nice hiking. However, if you want to summit Humphreys from this way (or from any other direction,) you'll need to pick up a backcountry permit if you plan on doing it in the winter while there's snow. It's a free pass, I got one from the Ranger Station here in Flag. Have fun, that should be truly "Gonzo."

What on earth does "Gonzo" mean?

What on earth does "Gonzo" mean?

-Using an exaggerated, highly subjective style, especially in journalism: “a hyperkinetic, gonzo version of Graham Greene” (New Yorker).
-Bizarre; unconventional.

Thats what it really mean. However, they could just be using the word out of its context and just making it up. If it were me though, I would prefer the words discombobulated or snafu. On the one hand though, i'm quite esentric myself and i'm quite out there. Far out.