BACKROADER's Triplogs • HikeArizona.COM

Guides 3
Routes 3
Photos 3,641
Triplogs 16

57 male

Joined Mar 02 2004
San Tan Valley,

Las Cienegas - AZT #7

Las Cienegas - AZT #7

Tucson, AZ

Hiking		Nov 05 2017
		BACKROADER • Triplogs 16

Hiking	12.50 Miles	643 AEG

Hiking	12.50 Miles
	643 ft AEG

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No Pain, No Gain!

163/800 Miles Complete! November 5, 2017

The Housholder Family Hikers worked on another flat recovery hike of around four miles this past Sunday. The hike started off a backroad very close to the Old Sonoita Highway crossing towards the Gabe Zimmerman - Davidson Canyon Trailhead south of Tucson.

"There's a Snake in my boot!" - Woodie

This portion of the Arizona Trail was perfectly flat for the most part, contouring along some ridge lines leading down to the "Snake Tunnel" (which everyone loved) passing underneath Interstate 10 and gently back up another ridge line along the west side of Davidson Canyon towards our end destination at the Gabe Zimmerman Trailhead.

Yes, there was pain in my recovering foot along the way but the trail is helping to speedily cure it through the gains of beautifully abundant nature in every step!

Our family had a great time and we are eagerly looking forward to completing more of the Las Cienegas - Passage 7 at a future date!

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February 3, 2018

185 / 800 Miles Complete!

The Housholder Family Hikers added another 5 Miles to our totals hiking South on Passage #7 - Las Cienegas Saturday evening.

We hiked from the Old Sonoita Road westerly underneath Highway 83 then past the Sahuarita Road Trailhead and onwards to a giant water tank where our vehicle shuttle was parked. Guthook App Mile 110 to 105.

This was yet another surprise section of beautiful Sonoran Desert where we enjoyed being some of the only Hikers out on the AZT for a wonderful sunset.

The Housholder Family Hikers are one short 5 miler away from finishing Las Cienegas - AZT Passage 7. We still need to complete the area from Twin Lakes to the Water Tank (App miles 100 to 105) which will be coming soon. My recovering foot did real well on the last five mile hike

AZT 7 ends near the town of Vail southeast of Tucson after passing underneath Interstate 10’s Snake Muriel at the Gabe Zimmerman Memorial Trailhead. It follows beautiful Davidson Canyon into the Cienega Creek Nature Preserve where it receives it’s name.

After joining the Arizona Trail Association I found this nice background map in the members section which makes a fine base for another 16 X 20 inch family poster collage!

My recovering foot did real well on the last five mile hike as we knocked it out in roughly 2.5 hours. Still in pain afterwards for two days though. Bottom line no pain no gain on this endeavor!

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February 18, 2018

189 / 800 Miles Complete!

The Housholder Family Hikers completed another four more miles in breezy cool winter weather, from Mile 100 to 104 of the Las Cienegas Passage 7. We are excited to be nearing the 200 mile mark!

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196 / 800 Miles Complete! March 10, 2018

The Housholder Family Sauntuerers finished a couple final patches from Las Cienegas - Passage 7 of the Arizona Trail yesterday near the Old Sonoita Highway adding a short 3 miles of uncovered ground towards our goal.

Afterwards, we headed over to Craycroft and Swan to celebrate grabbing some delicious street tacos at “The Quesadillas!” This is the perfect place to feed trail hangry kiddos. Try the Ribeye Tacos

or better yet the stuffed Pollo Bacon

Quesadilla with freshly roasted green chili’s. Mmmmmmm.... We

Tucson!

196 / 800 Miles Complete!

The Housholder Family Saunterers having some fun finishing a few in-between miles from Passage 7 of the Arizona Trail. Now that my foot is getting stronger we can finish some more moderate parts. One uphill near the Old Sonoita Road and two by the GIANT water tank, which btw has plenty of holes and no water in it.

Passages 7 and 8 have been fantastic, relatively flat and easy going since January. This is an excellent area of the AZT, not as rocky...perfect for anyone to train on who is recovering from an injury!

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1 archive

Oct 28 2017

Guides 3
Routes 3
Photos 3,641
Triplogs 16

57 male

Joined Mar 02 2004
San Tan Valley,

Happy Jack - AZT #28

Payson, AZ

Happy Jack - AZT #28

Payson, AZ

Hiking		Oct 28 2017
		BACKROADER • Triplogs 16

Hiking	4.00 Miles	2,600 AEG

Hiking	4.00 Miles
	2,600 ft AEG

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The Housholder Family Hikers will be attempting another recovery hike. This time increasing the distance to 3 short miles, up in the cool pines south of Mormon Lake. From Forest Road 135 to the main highway crossing north of Goosberry Springs Trailhead at Allen Lake. Parts of Passage 28 and 29....if the foot feels good we will add one more mile up to 4! These four miles officially between 528 to 532 are perfectly flat for my slowly recovering foot to enjoy!

159/800 Miles Complete!

The Housholder Family Hikers are back on track! The second recovery hike went real well. We chose a super flat passage and I only fell down once.

I am thankful that my foot was strong enough to make it from Forest Road 135 at mile 528 all the way up to mile 531 where the AZT passes Allen Lake Crossing over the Highway towards Mormon Lake and Flagstaff.

This is a picture of our family celebrating with Fenix; "The Arizona Trail Dog" at the Gooseberry Springs AZT sign sporting our plush new hats and bandannas.

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"What's the best place to chow down and feed your Hangry Kids after section hiking near the AZT Happy Jack Passage 28?"

The Long Valley Cafe of course! Just around the corner from Clints Well Campground. We love the Saturday Night Prime Rib special. Our family has been coming here for over 10 years now!

We will add more triplogs to this passage at a future time....

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2 archives

Oct 01 2017

Superstition Wilderness - AZT #19

Guides 3
Routes 3
Photos 3,641
Triplogs 16

57 male

Joined Mar 02 2004
San Tan Valley,

Superstition Wilderness - AZT #19

Globe, AZ

Hiking		Oct 01 2017
		BACKROADER • Triplogs 16

Hiking	5.00 Miles	5,125 AEG

Hiking	5.00 Miles
	5,125 ft AEG

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Recovery Hiking after a major setback!

March 2017 was not a good month for the Housholder Familty Saunterers. It started with a "Spring Break" of Bianka's falling from the monkey bars at school just a day break started. She broke a bone in here leg and was casted. Recovery for her was super fast and only one or two months. A week later I was involved in an auto accident and broke 9 bones in my right foot. Major Surgery and plenty of visits to the physical therapists coupled with six months of ZERO hiking and we are back on trail with these warm up passages.... So bottom line we did not let our "Spring Breaks" stop us from having a "Hoppy Easter" and another fresh start on October 1st, 2017:

Recovery Hike - One Flat Mile Along the AZT!

At milepost 349 to 350 as measured from the Sonora, Mexican boarder the Arizona Trail crosses over Theodore Roosevelt Lake Bridge along the Salt River where Passage 19 ends and Passage 20 begins at the Vineyard Trailhead.

I am looking for small flat areas on the trail that will be easy for my recovering foot to hike, starting in the next couple weeks. This one and a half miles perfectly fits the need for a flat, non-rocky route as it follows the actual highway on pavement it would thus make for a great place to once again return to action!

156/800 Miles Complete!

Good News! The Adventure Continues.

On October 1st, 2017, the Housholder Family Hikers (Saunterers) were able to get back out on the trail. Since our two "Spring Breaks" we have been temporarily sidelined. Bianka's leg healed super fast but my major foot surgery has taken much longer, testing my patience.

The one mile recovery hike was successful on the flat highway bridged-crossing spanning the Salt River at Roosevelt Lake (passage 19, milepost 349 to 350 as measured from the Sonora, Mexican boarder). We are now searching for some more, flat two or three mile potential places for the next recovery hikes.

Little by little the foot is healing and getting stronger everyday thanks to an awesome surgeon and numerous physical therapists!

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Finishing off the year 2018 in style!

December 31, 2018

250 / 800 Miles Complete!

The Housholder Family Saunterers enjoyed a great sunset hike overlooking beautiful Roosevelt Lake on The Thompson Trail #121, which is a part of the Arizona Trail, a short three mile connector route that travels up and over Sonoran desert hillsides between the Roosevelt Dam bridge area and Forest Road #341, a fine way to finish off a great 2018!

The beautiful area hiked was between FR 341 just north of the Cemetery and over the Thompson Trail towards Roosevelt Lake Bridge! A fantastic place to enjoy sunset. FR 341 was manageable yet somewhat rocky after the gate near the water plant just north of the trailer park. Pictures are attached and a map as well.

We will be back to add more triplogs to this segment from future visits.....

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2 archives

Feb 11 2017

Guides 3
Routes 3
Photos 3,641
Triplogs 16

57 male

Joined Mar 02 2004
San Tan Valley,

Black Hills - AZT #14

Black Hills - AZT #14

Tucson, AZ

Hiking		Feb 11 2017
		BACKROADER • Triplogs 16

Hiking	15.00 Miles	4,702 AEG

Hiking	15.00 Miles
	4,702 ft AEG

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Arizona Trail Passage 14 Black Hills

The Housholder Family Hikers took on the Black Hills AZT Passage 14, or at least the first five miles from Tiger Mine Trailhead and pulling out at Tucson Wash! Here is what we posted on Facebook about the adventure!

The Housholder Family Hikers and Fenix had another great time and were the only people on the Arizona Trail from Tiger Mine Trailhead just north of Oracle....

155 / 800 Miles Complete!

The Housholder Family Hikers had a great time with Fenix "the AZ Trail Dog" hiking a quick 5.5 mile segment from Arizona Trail Passage #14 - The Black Hills north of the town of Oracle. The day started by picking up some awesome eats to-go at the Oracle Patio Cafe.

We then drove the RAV4 out past the Tiger Mine Trailhead and down into Tucson Wash where we enjoyed a yummy tailgate party breakfast. Karolien and Ben then started hiking from Tucson Wash South while Bryce, Bianka and I shuttled the car back to the Tiger Mine Trailhead and hiked North swapping keys in the middle.

The kids did great under the warm desert sunshine! There were roughly five ridge to wash, down and out sections before completion. There was minimal shade other than from Saguaro or down inside the washes. Afterwards we stopped off in Oracle once more to do some 'Tiken at Sue and Jerry's Trading Post before heading back home.

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NOTE: We will continue to work on linking this segment going north with already completed segments coming south from the Florence Kelvin Highway until they are joined together!

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For all ya all Section Hikers!

Passage 14: The Black Hills 27.5 Miles can be easily broken down into four shorter segments. We have already hiked from Tiger Mine TH to the easily driven Tucson Wash, which is roughly 5.5 miles.

On the north side we can chip away another six miles by taking the easily driven Dodson Wash Road and hiking the six today back north towards Freeman Road Trailhead which will leave the Gapgage Wash road in the middle two segments to hike!

Dodson Wash is located at roughly 23.5 miles on the Freeman Road about three or so miles east of Freeman TH. After leaving Freeman the road enters a smooth wash past a windmill at Antelope Tanks, then follows the wash to the left and after a couple smooth miles arrives at Antelope Tank which was mostly dry. One half mile more and you arrive at the AZT Crossing which is a six mile hike past Antelope Peak back to Freeman Trailhead.

Tucson Wash to Gapgage will be 9 Miles.
Gapgage Wash to Dodson Road is about 8 miles.

November 25, 2018 ·

247 / 800 Miles Complete!

The Housholder Family Saunterers had another fun time this past Thanksgiving Weekend hiking the northern part of Passage 14 from Dodson Wash to the Freeman Road Trailhead.

A shoutout of thanks to Sequoia for helping us shuttle our ride and the fun conversations we had at the finish line. The maps claim six miles but we knocked out closer to seven. The area was beautiful with fantastic scenery all around each ridgeline. Fenix came along this time and enjoyed the fun!

Hiking NOBO from Dodson Wash Road near Antelope Tank was a very beautiful and super scenic outing. The trail gains in elevation and had some of the most scenic areas on the east side of Antelope Peak as you contour around that flank going around to the northern slope. I took many pictures of the catclaw jumping Cactus during this upward climb. In no time at all we made it up to the backroads on the northern side of Antelope Peak which lead us back towards Freeman Road and our vehicle which we were thankful that Sequoia had driven back for us after dropping us off.

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January 5, 2018 Scouting Trip

Passage 14 - Black Hills - Segment Hiking Access
There are some great and mostly easy access points for segment hiking the Black Hills Passage 14. I have already mentioned how easy it is to access the AZT via Dodson Wash to Antelope Tank.
Yesterday Bianka, Fenix and I drove out to explore around Gapgage Wash aka Copper Canyon to see how easy it was (or not) to get in!

We drove out to Freeman Trailhead, then had fun in Dudleyville at a new park playground in route to Palomita Road.
To start with the information found in the ARIZONA TRAIL DAY HIKER’S GUIDE needs updating! We could NOT access Gapgage via Palomita Road. Palomita ends at a cattle stock pond which was dry and fenced off. The residents did not even know what I was talking about and said to get the Camino Rio Road from Mamoth, So we headed south five miles to North Mamoth and found easy signed access to the Camino Rio River Road that flanks the west side of San Pedro River, along the Railroad Tracks. This road was very easy going with no clearance issues at all!

About 4.5 miles north of Mamoth (opposite some railroad trusses) which made a bridge over Gapgage Wash we turned LEFT (west) into Copper Canyon. I am adding some of those topo maps to the end of this post.

This road followed a very smooth Gapgage Wash for about 5.3 miles keeping mostly left until a corral and huge rusted water tank. Keeping left past the corral once more after that came a green gate pictured which rounded a small hill and we were at the AZT in no time at all.

NOTE: Turning south before the green gate would be the road along a ridge towards Mountain View Tank and easy AZT Access there as well.

We entered the green gate and took pics at the AZT Crossing we would soon be hiking. There is NO real good place to park without blocking the road around the AZT North Crossing but there are a few places to park around the general area just before the trail corssing on the east side and a larger area to park just west of the AZT crossing.

Next we drove downhill west into Camp Grant Wash, which was a small drop down into the wash not much trouble with our high clearance TRD Tacoma Off Road package. Curving right we drove the hard packed wash bed of Camp Grant until after a couple miles we ended up at the AZT Camp Grant Wash Crossing pictured with no issues at all and no issues with deep sand as well.
Driving back we tried the Camp Grant Wash towards Willow Road but had to turn around about a mile or so past the Corral pictured because of DEEP SAND! We almost got stuck had to lock the differential on the 2WD Tacoma to get it of what could have been a mess with pending rain forecasted. After that we decided to play it safe backtracking to Gapgage and get out before the rains hit! Afterwards, we headed home via Kearny and Old Time Pizza!!!!

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254 / 800 Miles Complete! January 12, 2019

The Housholder Family Saunterers aka Misfits (accompanied by Fenix) enjoyed a fantastic late evening sunset section hike along the Arizona Trail Passage 14: The Black Hills, our first four miles of the 2019 New Year! We knocked out a stunningly beautiful stretch of lushly green Sonoran Desert, thanks to recent abundant snow fall and rains between Gapgage and Camp Grant Washes, while enjoying distant views of the snow capped Catalina Mountains south of us along Oracle Ridge to Antelope Peak near Freeman Road on the north extending towards a distant Hayden mine smelter tower and the Galiuro Mountains to the east.

From Gapgage Wash (Guthook Mile 220.1 Elevation 3477 FT.) the AZT heads NOBO over a hill then down into a couple washes back over a high hill about 3500 feet, then across a ridge and swiftly downhill a couple miles, some 700 feet lower towards our end at Camp Grant Wash (Guthook Mile 223.3 down at 2794 feet in elevation, where our parked Tacoma was waiting for us. Roughly four miles all together eventhough the App says about 3.5!

Five Stars!

One of the fun things about segment hiking the Arizona Trail in bits and pieces is knowing you will be coming back to delicious places like Mi Pueblito’s Mexican/American Restaurant and Tortilla Factory located in Mammoth, Arizona!
Karolien and Bryce enjoyed a marinated and grilled chicken, bacon and guacamole cheese sandwich while Ben and I jumped all over the Carne Asada burro with rice and beans. Bianka had a giant bean burrito with some of mom’s French fries before the family hiked a small portion of the Arizona Trail Passage 14: The Black Hills, which was accessible north of Mammoth, via Camino Rio and Gapgage Wash backroads.

After our hike we stopped quickly back in (before they closed at 8PM on a Saturday night) to use their spotless restrooms and left with a twelve pack of freshly made giant tortillas and for desert enjoyed trying the tasty apple empanadas... a yummy way to cap a super fun outing!

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This now leaves us with a 6 mile piece between Dodson Wash and Camp Grant Wash to finish and the 9 miles between Gapgage Wash and Tucson Wash to connect before we complete the Black Hills Passage 14!

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January 26, 2019

Be Pie Partisan!
Bianka and her choice of a giant, freshly baked Peach Pie from the Oracle Patio Cafe, our after Arizona Trail hike special treat for tonight’s sunset!

Arizona Trail Passage 14: The Black Hills - Segment Hiker Access Points.

Just north of Tiger Mine Trailhead you can access the AZT easily with a truck or passenger vehicle such as a Toyota RAV4 via Tucson Wash. To get to Tucson Wash take the Tiger Mine Road until it ends vearing left at a Ranch. At the Ranch there is a gate to the right that enters Tucson Wash. Take Tucson wash left or west towards the AZT Mile 211.4. Pass through one more gate to get there.

Just two tenths of a mile before arriving at the fenced Tucson Wash Gate you can turn northwest into another spur I will call the “Tucson Wash Spur Road.” This leads down a wash for about one mile until the wash becomes fenced off. AZT Mile 212.5. Pictured

We had earlier hiked from Tiger Mine to Tucson Wash so we hiked between Tucson Wash and this newly discovered point to cut 1.1 miles off the hike towards Mountain View Tank located at AZT Mile 219.1, which leaves us with a shorter 7.4 miles on a future hike to knock out.

You can segment hike access the Black Hills Passage 14 at any of the following NOBO points:

X Tiger Mine 206.8
X Tucson Wash 211.4
X Tucson Wash North Spur 212.5
Mountain View Tank 219.1 (via the Gap Gage Road)
X Gap Gage Road 220.1
Camp Grant Wash 223.3 (via Gap Gage Road)
X Dodson Wash aka Antelope Tank 228.8
X Antelope Peak Backroad 233
X Freeman Road Trailhead 234.6

To get to the Gapgage Road use Camino Rio from the north side of Mammoth.

X is finished we still need to hike from Tucson Wash Spur to Mountain View Tank then Gapgage Road and from Camp Grant Wash to Antelope Tank!

255 / 800 Miles Complete!

The Housholder Family Saunterers with their trusty Arizona Trail Dog Fenix had another fun sunset hike on Passage 14: The Black Hills, out north of Tucson Wash yesterday. We first stopped at the Oracle Patio Cafe and bought a giant, deliciously homemade Peach Pie before they closed at 3PM. Next, we headed out to the Tiger Mine Trailhead and saw many of the Oracle Rumble Ultra Runners passing through. Then we drove out to Tucson Wash and hiked a beautiful track just one short mile north over to the next wash in order to help shorten another longer segment towards Mountain View Tank, that we would finish at a future date. Lastly our hangry family celebrated enjoying the Peach Pie treat back at Tiger for sunset!

March 10, 2019

256 / 800 Miles Complete!

The Housholder Family Saunterers together with Fenix and Bianka’s friends Abby and Melanie had a fun Saturday in the Black Hills north of Oracle hiking around the Mountain View Tank area up past Gapgage Wash an out and back total of three miles but only one trail mile.

This quick haircut hike will help shorten a longer segment for the next time out. We have one five and one seven mile piece of this beautiful passage 14 yet to finish. Afterwards, we ate yet another delicious pie from the Oracle Patio Cafe: Almond Blueberry Cheesecake Supreme! Delicious way to end the fun day!

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3 archives

Jan 28 2017

Tortilla Mountains - AZT #15

Guides 3
Routes 3
Photos 3,641
Triplogs 16

57 male

Joined Mar 02 2004
San Tan Valley,

Tortilla Mountains - AZT #15

Globe, AZ

Hiking		Jan 28 2017
		BACKROADER • Triplogs 16

Hiking	16.00 Miles	2,448 AEG

Hiking	16.00 Miles
	2,448 ft AEG

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Saturday November 28, 2015

This is an excerpt of our first adventure working on the final couple miles of Passage 15 from the FKTH to the Kelvin Bridge....

The Arizona Trail Section 16 Gila River Canyons, actually starts at the end of the Florence Kelvin highway at the Kelvin Bridge. Our plan of attack started at the Florence Kelvin Trailhead actually located inside segment 15 just a few miles before section 16 starts. Our kiddos can easily hike 6 to 7 miles now so we choose this as our starting point, leaving a second truck shuttle ending bug out point just east of the beautiful A-Diamond Ranch parked a safe distance away from yet alongside the railroad tracks, a couple miles from the Trailhead (see the attached picture map).

Hiking from the Florence Kelvin Trailhead was great from the get go! We were a little worried about the reported "Wasp Nest" in a Saguaro Cactus near the start heading towards Kelvin but saw what seemed to be only remains of their former colony.

Late October to Spring is a fantastic time to hike this section because of the cool crisp morning and perfect temperatures. After crossing a few ridges the trail switchbacks down lower to the 1773 foot level near the Kelvin Bridge (Mile 265 from Mexico)as it makes it's way across the Gila River. Cooler winter temps had only begun to change the green leaves to golden brown as we made our way across the Gila River taking plenty of pictures along the way! Not far from the bridged crossing we arrived at the brand new giant Arizona Trail Gila River Section parking lot which would make another fantastic Boondocking base camp for anyone hauling in a camping or staging a horse trailer! There was actually only one other party that overnighted in a fully contained truck camper, when we passed through. There is also a porta potty about a quarter mile down river from the parking lot. We took a set of sweet family pictures at the brand new AZT Gate!

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January 28, 2017 Scouting Trip to Passage 15

Bianka and I decided to jump in the car and go exploring with Fenix the Arizona Trail Dog. We enjoyed taking a trip to the Florence Kelvin Trailhead to explore a backroad that leads from the east side of the trailhead a couple miles into the beautiful Sonoran Desert landscape. Using this backroad will help to cut the main hike down to just 8 miles from just west of Ripsey Wash to this car shuttle point. At a parking spot that was two miles in we quickly were able to access the AZT but there were way to many Teddy Bear Cholla and cactus fragments that stuck into Fenix's paws so we had to cut the hike short and head back to the FKTH for some super nice sunset pictures!

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March 11, 2017 - Trail Magic

Had a great time out at Ripsey Wash surprising some Ultra-Pedestrian friends Ras and Kathy Vaughan who were on their first week of a planned Yo-Yo of the Grand Enchantment Trail. Snuck out in the middle of nowhere and enjoyed a great evening of stories and some yummy trail magic eats! I enjoyed taking pictures of the Big Hill as I hiked into Ripsey form the West Side backroad vehicle shuttle, before bidding them Happy Trails. Little did I know this fun two mile hike would be my last one for a few months as a vehicle accident on 23 March twelve days later would seriously injure my right foot, breaking 9 bones!

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167 / 800 Miles Complete! November 24, 2017

Lift and Pull Dad Up

The Housholder Family Hikers had a fantastic Campsgiving weekend with friends enjoying a nice sunset hike on the AZT Passage 15 - part of the Tortilla Mountains!

We scouted out the 4X4 “Old Florence” Backroad which became bumpingly rough and pinstripingly bad just before Horse Ranch the halfway point to Ripsey Ranch, so we temporarily abandoned our effort to take on parts of Section 15 around that area and instead ended up hiking a couple miles out and back from the south side of Florence Kelvin Trailhead (pictured here) as well as another two mile remote piece south of Ripsey Wash. These four miles will help break up and shorten longer segments including the “Big Hill” and South towards Freeman Road for later.

The hike from Florence Kelvin TH was with our great friends Maci Winder and her 3 boys. Maci took some sweet photos of Karolien and I during sunset that are top notch! We enjoyed a fun Campsgiving Weekend with them back at the Boulders Boondocking Base Camp just off the Cochran Road.

A total of four more miles are now in the books!

These were great places to test my recovering foot with plenty of elevation gain and loss up to 300 feet worth. The foot is slowly getting stronger between physical therapy, work and trail hiking now up to two miles with elevation gain or four flat miles maximum. I find it very hard to enter and exit the sometime steep river washes and crossings but my two strong sons Ben and Bryce help to lift and pull dad up when the going is rough! Thanks Boys!

167 / 800 Miles Complete! November 25, 2017

Pinstripingly Remote Adventure Tensions

The Housholder Family Hikers enjoyed our second remote adventure knocking out two short yet all important miles of the Arizona Trail Passage 15 as it makes its way towards Ripsey Wash east of the Florence-Kelvin Highway this past Campsgiving weekend.
These short few miles between 252.7 and 254 were an important test of endurance for my recovering foot. Including a 300 foot elevation decline!

After staging a bumpy and pinstripingly remote vehicle shuttle (due to overgrown Sonoran Desert sagebrush and various sharp bushes needling our Sequoia’s paint job near the wash leading to AZT MP 254), we then circled another wagon back around on a second 4X4, deeply rutted backroad that got us as close as possible to MP 252.7. By then our family’s emotions were all rattled and tensions were extremely high! After quarreling with one another for over 30 minutes and nearly calling it off, we regained our cool and set out on the short journey.

Once we hit the trail one quarter mile away from our Tacoma smiles quickly returned to our children’s faces. In no time at all switchbacks leading lower into then across dry, dusty river beds and one or two shady canyons took over as we slowly made our way closer to Ripsey Wash. I pointed out the distantly menacing switchbacks of the BIG HILL that will challenge the Housholder Family Hikers on our next journey as we arrived at our two mile ending vehicle destination and it’s refreshingly cool Air-Conditioning!

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October 6, 2018:

234 / 800 Miles Complete!

AZT IN A DAY was a BIG challenge for the Housholder Family Saunterers as we conquered the BIG Hill, knocking out another 10 Hot and Very Heatstroked Miles. It must have been at least 90 degrees at points on the way up bagging the BIG Hill (elevation over 3500 Feet). At times we scrambled to find shade as this passage is 99.9% exposed to sunlight with very little... really no shade!
Hiking NOBO we traversed through Ripsey Wash and up a 700 foot ascent of the BIG Hill. Once we successfully negotiated the numerous switchbacks finding our way to the top, Bryce and Bianka celebrated by addeding another round of decoration to the heart

.

The best thing about being on the top was the ridgeline winds cooling us down especially when we had no choice but to rest with the sun directly hitting us, thankfully there was this constant cool breeze when we needed it most!
The biggest challenge for us actually came next; the sharp 1500 foot descent back down hill towards the Florence Kelvin Trailhead when we were already tired and wiped out! There was even one few hundred foot scramble down then back uphill in what I call the horseshoe portion of the ridgeline that had us a bit worried.

With a couple miles to go, we lucked out and happened upon the only one great, mostly shaded rest spot on our way down hill, certainly it was an answer to our prayers. There we sat for about an hour, cooling off our cramps and enjoying snacks, with the all important salt and other nutrient tablets to replenish what had already lost due to sweating.
It was perhaps one of the toughest pieces of the AZT that our family has yet experienced ,but we carried plenty of water and made it safely back to our vehicle shuttle! I am super proud of our kiddos for toughing it out!

Afterwards, at the Florence Kelvin Trailhead we had the pleasure to visit with Legendary Trail Angel Carol from Kearney and tell her about our heated hike as the hangry kids scarfed down an end of trail stash of fresh fruit and two footlong overstuffed sub sandwiches. We signed into Carol's Old Time Pizza Trail Book and shared stories to end a fantastic day!

#AZTINADAY

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Campsgiving 2017 The Most Recent Picture Additions!

The Housholder Family enjoyed Campsgiving 2017 together with the Winder Clan at the Boulders. The children had a great time climbing atop the boulders and Fenix and Riley loved exploring as well. During this weekend we had the opportunity to introduce the Winder Family to the Arizona Trail by hiking a nice Sunset Out and Back from the Florence Kelvin Trailhead SOBO for a few miles then back.

More pictures to follow. From Freeman Trailhead to the Old Ripsey Ranch!

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5 archives

Nov 26 2016

Guides 3
Routes 3
Photos 3,641
Triplogs 16

57 male

Joined Mar 02 2004
San Tan Valley,

Alamo Canyon - AZT #17

Alamo Canyon - AZT #17

Globe, AZ

Hiking		Nov 26 2016
		BACKROADER • Triplogs 16

Hiking	8.00 Miles	1,292 AEG

Hiking	8.00 Miles
	1,292 ft AEG

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Arizona Trail Passage 17 Alamo Canyon - November 26, 2016

The Housholder Family Hikers had an awesome time Four Wheeling and hiking this segment of Alamo Canyon during Thanksgiving Weekend of 2016. To start with we were warned by Arizona Trail steward Wendy that Forest Backroad 4 was one tough one! We bumped our way out in our 4X4 Sequoia to see how far we could slowly get, and we found a nice place by a ridge at a camping spot, just past raised cattle guard a mile or two in.

As we were getting our gear together we could hear some Jeepers coming. I said to the kids quick some Jeepers might be able to hitch us out to Telegraph Canyon, hurry hurry! Sure enough there was barley enough space to add a family of five, but they managed to squish us in! Our Happy Thanksgiving wishes and a big hats off to Bill and Becky Dunn owners of the General Kearney Inn. They not only knew exactly where we were going they also were very familiar with the Arizona Trail, because of their Gateway Program with the partner towns like Kearney. Bill and Becky are ranchers out in the Telegraph Canyon area south of Picketpost Mountain so they were on a business trip to check some water tanks for their cows! Thankfully they picked us up because our rather large Sequoia would have been really pin striped with desert Palo Verde varnish as "the Four" narrows upon entering Telegraph Wash. with barely enough space for smaller Jeeps to get through! Bill knew the road well and negotiated the hard boulder laden spots with expert precision! In no time at all we had arrived where the AZT crosses Telegraph Canyon backroad, as we shook hands and were off running!

It was already getting close to 13:00 so we needed to bust out the 8 or so miles before it got dark needless to say dad was a little worried we would be hiking in the dark! All in all we made great time. The trail rises out of Telegraph Canyon high above the backroad along ridge lines to the west. Just as Bianka was getting tired in the first couple miles, the trail topped out and started luckily downtown all the way towards Picketpost Mountain. Before long we got close to the Alamo Canyon Turnoff when I realized I left my iPad with GPS maps a mile behind up a ridge after taking some pictures with it and setting it down while eating a late lunch! Bryce really saved the day by running back cross country Roadrunner fast and retrieving it! Both Bryce and myself increased our pace almost double time in order to catch up to Karolien, Ben and Bianka. By the time we were west of Picketpost Mountain coming up out of Alamo Canyon, we had caught up to them! They said they were walking slower so we would catch up. The sun had already set by the time we had crossed over the Picketpost Summit Trail and we did have barely enough moonlight to make it back to the Picketpost Trailhead before it got really dark.

Hats off once more to the Dunn Family for getting us quickly out to the trail junction in good enough time for us to make it back to Picketpost safely! We hope you enjoyed your dinner in Florence and we look forward to visiting once again! Now that is the definition of Happy Trails!

The next day, Bill and Becky Dunn told us about a beautiful canyon off on a side backroad from where our Sequoia was parked. Bianka and I hiked in to get the vehicle and took time to drive out to an incredible viewpoint! Here is what I said about it in a post the following day!

With a 4X4 there are some majestic sights on the eastern slope of Picketpost Mountain. This is Telegraph Canyon as it merges into Arnett Creak just off Forest Route 4. The end of this spur route has a cliff side camping spot and an incredible view some 500 feet lower...down far below! Thanks too for the awesome tip Bill and Becky!

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Our next time here we will need to finish linking the section starting on the south side of the Telegraph Canyon backroad all the way towards Cochran Corner, where we have already hiked from before! Roughly 12 to 13 miles, which for us might include a very long day or better yet a fun overnight camp!

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2 archives

Oct 29 2016

Guides 3
Routes 3
Photos 3,641
Triplogs 16

57 male

Joined Mar 02 2004
San Tan Valley,

Oracle - AZT #13

Oracle - AZT #13

Tucson, AZ

Hiking		Oct 29 2016
		BACKROADER • Triplogs 16

Hiking	8.60 Miles	759 AEG

Hiking	8.60 Miles
	759 ft AEG

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Arizona Trail Passage 13 Oracle

The Housholder Family Hikers finished segment 13 on two separate occasions. First enjoying a Saturday Lunch at the Oracle Cafe then visiting Oracle State Park and afterwards hiking from the American Flag Trailhead only a short couple miles over to Webb Road at the O shaped turnaround where we staged one truck at. Here was our review for the Oracle Patio Cafe, which has become a favorite of ours!

"Be Pie Partisan!" October 29, 2016

One of the greatest things about Segment Hiking the Arizona Trail are all the fun, State Parks and nearby attractions like deliciously awesome "partner" restaurants we would have never known existed had it not been for the AZT.

The Oracle Patio Cafe and Food Market is one of these hidden gems where some of the best gourmet breakfast and lunch dishes are served up for our "Hangry" kids to enjoy before hitting the open trail.

Ben and I scarfed down the Homemade Corned Beef Hash. As seen on their menu: "Literally homemade, we start with fresh Certified Angus Beef brisket, brine it in our special brine for ten day then roast it long and slow. Hand diced and mixed with potatoes, carrots, onions and herbs it makes great hash. We bake it up and serve it with two eggs over the top and a side of fresh fruit."

Bryce jumped all over the Biscuits and Gravy – "Freshly baked biscuits with an original chorizo gravy. A little spicy!"

Karolien throughly enjoyed the panini styled "Monte Cristo – Ham and swiss between two pieces of French toast grilled to melted goodness. Served with fruit or potato and syrup."

Bianka had the kids giant grilled cheese panini which was HUGE! It even came with a side order fruit bowl. I wonder if she will try the "Ultimate Grilled Cheese – Cheddar cheese, smoked bacon and ripe tomatoes on grilled bread with pesto aioli", on our next visit.

The food market was stocked with plenty of natural foods and things a starving hiker would surely enjoy.

Arrive early on Saturdays this place closes early, around 3:00 PM. We wanted to get a fresh homemade pie to-go but didn't make the close after a long day on the AZT. Here were some of the yummy choices we will be eagerly awaiting on our next return visit:

Cream Pies, Fruit Pies, Key Lime, Lemon Meringue, Carrot Cake, Cheesecake, Coconut Cake, Fresh Apple Cake and even a Chocolate Torte!

Thanks for the great service, we would highly recommend a drive to the Oracle Patio Cafe it is well worth it!

oraclepatiocafe.com/

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After the hearty lunch we headed over to the Oracle State Park Visitors Center to quiz the ranger on the AZT Passage. He mentioned there was a turn around spot where we could park a vehicle along the Webb Road, because we had only a few hours before needing to get home for a friend's birthday party. So off to that car park we went staging our truck, and then straightway to the American Flag Trailhead. The AFTH was a fantastic place to take those old ranch looking photos, in face after the hike we returned and there was a Tucson photographer there taking some wedding shots. I was able to get some nice pictures of Bianka and the kids around the trailhead before departing home.

We enjoyed the two or three miles of AZT towards Webb Road as it was very flat and easy going. There were some boulders with mostly desert shrubs in a transition zone as this is around 4000 feet in elevation. In no time at all we were back at our vehicles and our first visit to the friendly town of Oracle was complete.

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January 7, 2017

Webb Road to Tiger Mine Trailheead

Our second visit to Oracle was just as fun as the first. This time we started hiking from the Webb Road O turnaround after staging a vehicle up at Tiger Mine Trailhead. This is a very nice desert transition zone from 4000 feet mostly flat with some moderate hills. We were able to bring our new puppy "Fenix" on her first AZT hike and Bryce's friend Danny on his second hike with us! Fenix was super excited and very spastic all along the way and the cool January weather naturally helped. After a few small hills we found ourselves enjoying lunch at the Windmill before attacking the upward sloping newly constructed ridgeline trail. Recently finished by AZT workers this trail was in great shape and quite enjoyable, Thanks!

From the ridge we could see for miles and miles, including the Catalina Mountains and much more! After what seemed like an endless steady climb we approached the summit and began the downhill push towards the highway. Once we arrived to the highway we enjoyed a fantastic snack before crossing underneath the road and heading up the other side road towards the Tiger Mine Trailhead. About 6 miles of hiking all together!

The reward for a day's hiking was a couple of the Oracle Cafe's Homemade Pies! I remember scarfing down the Blueberry it was to die for. The kids loved getting their after hike award. Remember to get to the Patio Cafe early as they close around 3 or 4 o'clock on Saturdays!

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1 archive

Sep 03 2016

Guides 3
Routes 3
Photos 3,641
Triplogs 16

57 male

Joined Mar 02 2004
San Tan Valley,

Blue Ridge - AZT #27

Payson, AZ

Blue Ridge - AZT #27

Payson, AZ

Hiking		Sep 03 2016
		BACKROADER • Triplogs 16

Hiking	12.00 Miles

Hiking	12.00 Miles	8 Hrs	1.50 mph

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Arizona Trail Passage #27 - Blue Ridge Ridge - Labor Day Weekend 2016

The Housholder Family Hikers worked finished 12 out of 16 miles of passage 28 over the Labor Day Holiday Weekend 2016. Bianka and I first arrived early Thursday night to secure a great RV Boondocking Base Camp on the edge of the Mogollon Rim very near Kehl Springs Campground. See the GPS Map Marker. The camp was truly incredible, you could see for many miles in fact, as far as the eyes could see! Down into Payson, across the entire Mazatzal Range, Four Peaks, Milk Ranch Point, and much more. There was even it's own secret trail down to a small memorial resting bench and beautiful sunset ridge line slightly below the rim! From our base camp we could easily venture out towards many nearby attractions including our favorite Potato Lake! Some of the best things about segment hiking the Arizona Trail, are the many stunning attractions nearby the AZT that we love to explore! Karolien, Ben and Bryce drove up in the midst of holiday rush hour traffic and were bumper to bumper Friday night coming up the hill into Payson, but knowing we had a great spot for the long weekend made it all worthwhile!

Saturday September 3rd, morning we took off towards the General Springs Cabin to stage a vehicle, our end destination. This area is beautiful as well, and there is a very nice shady campsite near the parking area by the cabin. After dropping off our truck loaded with goodies for a rewarding picnic after completion, we then drove another vehicle shuttle to the Battleground Ridge area setting up a nice hike in-between! Parts of Battleground Ridge were recently burned due to a lightening strike so we kept to the roads rather than getting all black with ashes and soot. On the west side of Forest Road 123 was burnt bases yet on the east side there was no damage. The same held true for Forest Road 123 A that runs due north into a ridge atop a trail downtown into Blue Ridge Reservoir. Which we would spend the next day hiking back towards our car shuttle in the middle.

From the corral at the junction of FS 123 and 123 A milepost 491 we staged our vehicle, then hiked back along Battleground Ridge towards the Switchbacks into General Springs Canyon. Coming down the switchbacks inside mile 487 was easy and well constructed. The scenery was absolutely beautiful and even-though it were another Holiday Weekend we had very little traffic at all until we entered GS Canyon. General Springs Canyon rewarded us with incredible scenery as the creek was flowing alongside us. There were a couple easy crossings to be had and plenty of very scenic camping spots as well. In no time at all we started leaving the canyon behind and ended up at milepost 484 the General Springs Cabin for a plentiful lunch for some hangry kiddos!

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Sunday September 4, 2016: Blue Ridge Reservoir to Forest Road 123 A Corral Junction. Miles 495 back to 491 COMING SOON!

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Jul 04 2016

Guides 3
Routes 3
Photos 3,641
Triplogs 16

57 male

Joined Mar 02 2004
San Tan Valley,

Anderson Mesa - AZT #30

Anderson Mesa - AZT #30

Flagstaff, AZ

Hiking		Jul 04 2016
		BACKROADER • Triplogs 16

Hiking	17.80 Miles	703 AEG

Hiking	17.80 Miles
	703 ft AEG

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Arizona Trail Segment Hike - Anderson Mesa # 30 - July 4th and 5th, 2016 - Milepost 554 to 564

We had a great time on this visit setting up camp just off the Ashurst Lake road past the 129 turnoff which is really close to the Horse Lake and Anderson Mesa Trailhead. From our fantastic camp at the Gravel Pits off the 9480 Road, we day hiked around exploring the area all the way up to Mormon Tank Lake then back, before making our way into Flagstaff for 4th of July Fireworks!

The next day was the best! Our family took off from Marshall Lake TH south towards Lakeview Campground and the brand new spur trail that leads downhill from the rim to Lakeview Campground! This trip was fantastic because WE TOTALLY LUCKED OUT!

The Housholder Family Hikers enjoyed an awesome, open-dome tour of Lowell Observatory's 72 inch / 1.82 meter Perkins Telescope thanks to Mr. Ralph Nye "The Telescope Guy!"

Luck was on our side as we were hiking segment 30 of the Arizona Trail from Marshall Lake southeast of Flagstaff towards Lakeview Campground's brand new access route, which passes the observatory's array high atop Anderson Mesa, when we met Ralph who was finishing some routine maintenance. He was generous enough to let us in and gave us a "custom-deluxe" tour of two scopes including the giant Perkins!

Thak You BIG-TIME Ralph!

Yeah! What an awesome opportunity we had to see these giant telescopes up close and personal. After the visit with Ralph we headed further south on the AZT 30 past the Prime Lake Refuge and onto the edge of Anderson Mesa looking down towards Upper Lake Mary and our first sight of Mormon Mountain in the far distance, near Mormon Lake which. It was an impressive lunch time viewpoint, that we enjoyed lots! Treking on we passed over 100 cows grazing and through a few fenced and gated ranch boarders,there was little shade along this stretch of Anderson Mesa. In no time at all we arrived at the AZT Milepost Marker UTAH 243 and MEXICO 558. This marker was real close to the brand new trail down off Anderson Mesa switchbacking into Lakeview Campground. What a nice trail this was full of great scenery and rugged canyonesque feel as we made our way downtown towards the campground. The only thing we did not like was they did not let any AZT hikers park their cars in the campground without paying for a space overnight, which added another half mile to our day's journey making our way across the street from the Lakeview Campground entrance, next to Lake Mary.

Totals official miles for the two days were 10 but we hiked a few more from the out and back and the new route down to Lakeview Campground which was also a highlight because the trail was so well constructed!

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Arizona Trail Segment Hike - Anderson Mesa # 30 - Milepost 554 to 548

May and June 2020:

The Housholder Family Saunterers enjoyed a wonderful weekend working on miles and camping high atop Anderson Mesa south of Flagstaff inside Passage 30. We were told by AZT Trail Angel Bruce aka Sequoia about a super nice and secluded camping spot which we thoroughly enjoyed and we finished a section of the AZT along Forest Service Road 129A from Mormon Tank Lake past Horse Lake and down the brand new Lakeview Campground Connector trail as well as the short scramble downhill from Camp Sequoia to Highway 3. This same connector trail we used four years ago to segment the other side coming in from Marshall Lake.

Horse Lake was incredibly remote and we had the place all to ourselves as we skirted the north shore. Here is what was posted on Facebook about the outing: "348 / 800 Miles Complete!

The Housholder Family Saunterers or as the kids would call us “The Misfits” we’re able to finally book another eight mile segment of the Arizona Trail over the past weekend high atop Anderson Mesa that we had initially started four years ago when we were invited inside the Perkins Telescope array from the Lowell Observatory by caretaker Mr. Ralph Nye.

The Horse Lake area of the AZT south of Flagstaff is now finished to Lake Mary Road joining a piece of trail we worked on from Marshall Lake to the fantastic new Lakeview Campground Connector Route, which we once more utilized this time around as the middle point to connect this very remote and super rocky area. Without this brand new middle connector trail we would have needed to do an overnight backpack to finish this area.

We are now continuing to gain traction, building upon a large chunk of the AZT that extends south from Kelly Tank high up north in Passage 34 at mile 612 down to the Lake Mary Road. We are needing to complete roughly thirty miles in between coming up from the town of Pine near its named Creek located at mile 460 in order to link the two together!

Previously we had done an “Exploratory Saunter” of this area up to Mormon Tank; a small lake on the way towards the much larger Horse Lake which is pictured here with the television and radio towers of Mormon Mountain as the back drop, that we are making our way towards. Also pictured in a telephoto zoom looking back north are the distant San Francisco Peaks which keep getting further away as we continue SOBO from Flagstaff.

We are super proud of our High School Senior Ben and his ALA Graduation Class of 2020 and look forward to many more hikes with him in the coming years ahead as he makes future technical and workforce plans, this time spent together as a family on the AZT will become all the more rare and precious... we are learning to cherish every moment we now have together!

Next time out we will be hiking South from Highway 3 towards Mormon Lake! In due time we will connect a segment from Pine up to Blue Ridge Reservoir that we have also been diligently working on!

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2 archives

May 28 2016

Guides 3
Routes 3
Photos 3,641
Triplogs 16

57 male

Joined Mar 02 2004
San Tan Valley,

Highline - AZT #26

Payson, AZ

Highline - AZT #26

Payson, AZ

Hiking		May 28 2016
		BACKROADER • Triplogs 16

Hiking	12.00 Miles	4,729 AEG

Hiking	12.00 Miles
	4,729 ft AEG

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Arizona Trail Passage 27 - The Highline Trail - Memorial Day Weekend - Saturday May 28, 2016

The Housholder Family Hikers enjoyed this AWESOME Highline Trail AZT Passage 27 a lot! To start with we had a great time Boondocking along Weber Creek a couple weeks earlier last May to scout out the AZT. There were plenty of great places to set up our trailer which we hauled in from the Houston Mesa Road and took the Control Road to Webber, just don't try and set up shop during a holiday weekend along Weber Creek as camping spots go fast!

Fast Forward to Memorial Day Weekend 2016. Yes we had to roam around a bit to find an unoccupied camp before setting up shop along the East Verde River above Verde Glenn just north of the T Junction Whispering Pines where the Houston Mesa Road and Control Road meet. There was a turnaround spot slightly uphill at a rock quarry that made for a great camping location to squeeze our trailer in, because the East Verde River was flowing and down below us was a real ZOO of packed campers! The kids had a blast as they would run down to the river, splashing and playing in the cool water flow!

Let's Get Hikin'

Saturday we took off early driving over to Webber to stage a truck at Geronimo Trailhead. The morning sun was perfect for some before hike pictures, afterward we headed to the town of Pine and grabbed the after hike reward firs! We stopped in at the Pine Creek Fudge and Ice Cream Store to sugar up! This place had everything a family full of kids would crave! Just take a look at that fresh homemade delicious fudge! Mmmmm!

In no time at all the kids were ready to run from the Pine Trailhead starting off at 10:00 AM. Our goal was to make Webber Creek towards the late evening sun. Starting from this trailhead at Mile 464 is the best choice because the warmer evening sun would be at our backs once we rounded Milk Ranch Point and Red Rock Spring at Mile 467.5 There are horse corrals and restrooms at the Pine Creek TH which we snapped a few pictures at then took off running! The trail is easy going the first mile or so then starts to climb sharply higher from 5800 to 6250 in no time at all, thanks to the newly constructed switchbacks, which add about a mile more to the end goal of about 9 miles, which we called 10 after running around and exploring a bit.

We were the only hikers after the junction with the Milk Ranch Cutoff Trail called The Donahue, until some campers around Pine Springs on the other side, this was great because it is always nice to escape any Holiday Crowds! By 12:30 we were at that Donahue Junction, taking pictures of the new AZT Hardware Signage Installed, with kids you take a few rest stops especially uphill! The views west towards Pine were fantastic and in no time at all we were rounding the corner and looking out towards Payson and points east as we made our way into Rock Springs by 2:00 PM.

From Rock Springs to Geronimo Trailhead, the sun was at our backs and cool breezes were very much enjoyed. Pine Spring had no water last year, but there was great shade thanks to plentiful Ponderosa to enjoy a big meal of yummy eats and at least a 45 minute break! After a late lunch we made quick time mostly downhill towards Webber Creek and the end destination of Geronimo Trailhead. The late day sun made for perfect picture conditions as we entered into the Webber Creek greenery. There was a few nice and flat tent camping spots near the creek that were very inviting as we pulled in around 6:00 PM to splash our feet in the cool clear water! Beware and careful though, there are some patches of poison ivy near this area, make sure to have long pants or socks on!

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1200 FEET DOWNHILL!

May 29, 2016: AZT 27 from the Mogollon Rim 7250 Feet High, near General Springs Cabin downtown towards Washington Park at 6000 Feet in elevation!

The kids would mutiny me if I were to take them from Washington Park up topside so we decided to stage a truck at Washington Park TH and drive around to the top of the Mogollon Rim and hike downhill. Talk about crazy steep. This was some sharp boulder hopping with much calf breaking needed as we quickly made our way lower. Must be about 1000 Feet lower in the quick span of one and a half miles! We started at 12:30 and by 1:30 we made it to where we were leveling off a bit. That downhill part was super steep and needed concentration with loose rocks along the way so as not to face plant by tripping and falling forward. The half mile or so down to Mile 483 is like taking a staircase from a skyscraper all the way downtown!

One of the best parts about Segment Hiking the AZT is we get to pick and choose which way we tackle the trail and the kids were thankful we did this roughly 2.5 mile stretch higher to lower! They call this the Colonel Devin Trail up towards the Tunnel Trail, which is frequented by lots of weekenders. It makes for a challenging uphill workout scramble from Washington Park, and we saw lots of traffic from the holiday weekend. Really soon after the plunge water creeks started coming out of the cliff sides and then it turned into a gentle flowing creek that we enjoyed a late lunch beside a small oasis of shade! There was a giant flume water pipe that carries run off from Blue Ridge Reservoir downhill into East Verde River along this portion of trail, in no time at all we were running into the roughly 6000 foot level of Washington Park Trailhead and the end of our journey some 1100 or so feet lower in elevation! To make things even more special our family splashed around in East Verde to cool off and relax! :y:

This downhill debacle set up our next segment where we need to work on connecting Washington Park with Geronimo roughly 9.5 miles!

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3 archives

Feb 13 2016

Guides 3
Routes 3
Photos 3,641
Triplogs 16

57 male

Joined Mar 02 2004
San Tan Valley,

Reavis Canyon - AZT #18

Reavis Canyon - AZT #18

Globe, AZ

Hiking		Feb 13 2016
		BACKROADER • Triplogs 16

Hiking	10.00 Miles	4,099 AEG

Hiking	10.00 Miles	7 Hrs	1.43 mph
	4,099 ft AEG

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Reavis Trail Canyon #509

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February 13, 2016: Legends of Superior Trail Fest!

We started this segment with our Housholder Family Hikers attending Ras and Kathy Vaughan's inspirational talk titled: "Across Arizona As One, Twice!" The Yo-Yo hike from Mexico to Utah and Back was fantastic to hear about first hand. It helps give our small band of hikers some perspective on our segment hiking. We got it easy to say the least. After the program we were able to meet and chat with Ras and Kathy taking pictures together with Sirena and Wendy and came away with some fantastic stories! Thanks Everyone :y:

The next item on the agenda was to go scouting and take the backroad number 4 out to Telegraph Canyon. Since we have two high clearance vehicles a 4X4 Sequoia and a Toyota Tacoma Pre-Runner non 4WD we decided to take the Sequoia. The road leaves Superior south west of town into the rugged area on the southern side of Picketpost Mountain. AZT Trail Steward Wendy had warned us about the rough 4X4 conditions of her section she manages and she was right! We decided after a few slopes and rocking and rolling to turn back because even if our 4WD Sequoia made it back to Telegraph Canyon, our shuttle Tacoma would not have done well without 4WD! What that meant is we would have to hike the Telegraph Canyon to Picketpost Section another time!

Enter Back Up Plan 1: Hiking from Picketpost north 2.5 miles to the tall powerlines starting what we were planning on a three segment hike of AZT Section 18: Reavis Canyon! It was getting too late in the day to do much more after having to back track from our Four-Wheeling adventure. We can only day hike up to 8 miles with our six year old Bainka so we plan these segments around her and in doing these 2.5 miles it would break the remainder of section 18 into two 8 mile segments later on. (See attached pictures).

Crossing north over the 60 Freeway just west of where Queen Creek crosses the 60, turn right by the parking lot and current construction onto the what is Forrest Service Road 650. Locals call it the Montana Mountain Trail or the road through the water in Happy Camp Creek! In a short distance FS 650 crosses the RR Tracks and you will find the powerline road to the left or West. We followed it a short distance and parked at the corner of a dirt track off right that lead north. (Pictured) From here we hiked a short distance west to the AZT, then south to Picketpost. FS 650 gives access to the Reavis Trail Canyon TH and later on winds up over Montana Mountain at elevations over 5000 feet towards Rogers Trough Trailhead. There are many hairpin curves, nice tight moguls, and a few sweet boulders for Jeepers ONLY after the trailhead access points in north of Whitford Canyon and into Wood Canyon.

Earlier in the morning we already left the truck at Picketpost Trailhead, so we headed next out to the Powerlines shown on the pictures with a GPS Label. We parked the Sequoia and hiked over a short distance along the powerline service road to the AZT 18. From this point it was easy going all the way to Picketpost Trailhead. After passing underneath the Large Powerlines you cross under the lower phone lines and over the railroad tracks. Ras and Kathy used the Railroad Tracks to walk into Superior as their re-supply route, when they did their 93 day Yo-Yo hike from Mexico to Utah and back! Once across the RR Tracks we hiked easterly through a few cattle gates and away from some ranches, through some washes and over some ridges until the trail comes downhill and underneath the US 60 Freeway. This shaded double tunnel made for the perfect spot to take our snack break and cool off from the unusually hot 85 degree mid February sunshine! After a quick 30 minute break we hit the remaining half mile or so back to the Picketpost Trailhead and our truck shuttle. The entire desert area was a VERY LUSH GREEN from the extra 4 days of rain received back in January 2016, so we really enjoyed it. There will no doubt be a blanket of wildflowers in the next couple weeks ahead!

Whitford Canyon aka Reavis Canyon Trailhead to Powerlines: Scouting trip Saturday, February 20, 2016

The next Saturday saw us back again at AZT #18....this time it was to scout out the backroad to Reavis Canyon Trailhead. Here are the directions:

North from the US 60 just west of Queen Creek.

Turn right immediately after the parking lot to the right. Head north east across the railroad tracks.

I set my trip to zero here.

The first thing you come to after crossing the tracks is the road off left we took along the main power lines which gives access to the AZT section where we just hiked.
Second is a fantastic Boondocking spot real close to the location marker off right before crossing under the tall power lines. This free camping location sits on a ridge and is big enough for a couple rigs. Only thing is it is a little bumpy getting them back to the spot. The sunsets here are fantastic. See the three pictures!

Next the road crosses underneath the large power lines and a bit further look for the split onto Forrest Service Road 650 pictured...turn Left and continue northward.
After crossing some small hills and climbing up a nice ridge the road drops down into beautiful Whitford Canyon!
I snapped a couple pictures of the AZT crossing in Whitford. There is nowhere to stage a vehicle at this crossing, perhaps a little further north.

A little bit further you arrive at Happy Camp with a windmill and corrals off right. The road enters Whitford Canyon and follows Wood Camp Creek with some easy fords for our HCV 2WD Tacoma Prerunner truck. The final rocky slope leading out of the creak is your biggest and in my opinion bumpiest obstacle. After climbing up out of the wash there is a marker for Reavis Canyon Trailhead aka the 509. Here the AZT crosses and leads down an easy hill to the trailhead. The Reavis Canyon TH has a brand new shinny cool AZT Trail interpretative sign and parking for two or three vehicles. I snapped a bunch of pictures along the way. The next time out we will be hiking this section from Reavis TH back to the power line crossing, roughly 8 miles south

Friday March 4th, 2016: Total Miles: 4.5

We decided to break the Reavis Trailhead to Powerline car shuttle point into two shorter day hikes! Friday we staged a truck back at the powerlines full of ice cold drinks to inspire us. Then we traveled back up the 650 to the AZT Whitford Canyon trail crossing point. There is parking off road just east of this crossing where we staged our other truck. This turned into quite a surprising Friday late evening "Rush Hour" special

After starting at 4:30 PM, we had the trail all to ourselves and I thought it was a great thing not to be sitting in traffic back in Phoenix!

Whitford Canyon was exceptionally beautiful during late evening rays of sunshine which helped to enhance the red rocks and surroundings. There were verdant green shrubbery from January's 2016's nonstop four days of rain as well as abundant wildflowers that Bianka and Karolien loved! I was very impressed with the beauty of Whitford Canyon including it's remaining patches of water crossings. There were great photo opps all along the way.

The first couple miles were super easy hiking south along Whitford, crossing what I think is Wood Camp Creek three or four times. After crossing over the Barnett Camp mining access road the AZT started to gently climb topside up to a beautiful ridge line sunset at the Gate! We enjoyed exceptional scenery and cooler temps since we decided to hike after they peaked out at 90 degrees in the 3 o'clock hour. In no time at all we were breaking out our flashlights finishing the final mile under starlight, back underneath the powerlines and the short distance east where we parked the Sequoia loaded with goodies.

Sunday March 6th, 2016: Total Miles 3

Reavis Canyon Trailhead to Whitford Crossing was an enjoyable and short 3 quick miles that we made into a great after church, Sunday family picnic activity. First of all we loaded up our picnicking supplies at Chompies Deli Saturday afternoon. This was a super delicious choice from their famous sliders to a mile high Brooklyn fully loaded with corn beef, brisket and pastrami...toss in a side of potato salad some yummy coleslaw and a mixture of fresh fruit and to top it all off a gently flowing creek side to enjoy it all beside! Life's Good!!!!

After scarfing down the good eats we hit the trail with plenty of energy. Bryce's friend Danny came along for his second hike with us and as we were leaving the Reavis Canyon Trailhead parking lot climbing up a ridge or two we came across Aaron from Pennsylvania who was through hiking the AZT making good time at around 20 miles per day. He started around February 18th, and was at this section 18 by Sunday March 6th, 2016. Aaron was hiking what he called the Big 4, Appalachian Trail, the Pacific Crest Trail, the AZT and one other. Happy Trails and may the wind be at your back Aaron!

In no time at all we had hiked up ridge from the 509 trailhead south towards the AZT road crossing just 3 miles away. The scenery was fantastic, with an overcast sky and gentle breeze from a cold front cooling us down. There were nice Sonoran Desert scenery all along the way and a Giant Saguaro pictured pointing in every direction. Camp Creek Cattle Ranch was down below and remote Picketpost Mountain in the distance looking South. We were hit with a fast moving downpouring of rain that lasted only a few minutes and the kids decided it best to quickly put on their ponchos mostly for fun, as the skies quickly cleared and the chances of more rain were minimal.

After passing a couple gated cattle crossings we enjoyed some photo opps, including plenty of wildflowers along this stretch of trail. There was one other group a couple guys on Spring Break from Massachusetts that were hiking from Picketpost to Roosevelt Lake that we passed near the 3 mile crossing point. In no time at all we knocked out the three miles arriving at our truck shuttle for the ride back to the Reavis Trailhead, where we enjoyed some more snacks and drinks creek-side before heading back to the valley.

The concluding hike from Rogers Trough to Reavis Canyon Trailhead coming soon!.......

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4 archives

Jan 17 2016

Gila River Canyons - AZT #16

Guides 3
Routes 3
Photos 3,641
Triplogs 16

57 male

Joined Mar 02 2004
San Tan Valley,

Gila River Canyons - AZT #16

Globe, AZ

Hiking		Jan 17 2016
		BACKROADER • Triplogs 16

Hiking	24.67 Miles	4,850 AEG

Hiking	24.67 Miles
	4,850 ft AEG

no routes

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Tortilla Mountains - AZT #15

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This is Arizona winter hiking and Boondocking at it's best!

For Thanksgiving weekend 2015 we decided to explore the Florence Kelvin Highway area that boarders AZT Section 16 called "The Gila River Canyons." To start with I have visited almost every corner of Arizona yet I had never heard much about this area. A friend told me about the Ghost Town of Cochran on the Gila River and I decided that it was time to discover this hidden gem!

The first trip out was a quick one to search for potential places to set up our Boondocking base camp east of the Town of Florence and to plan for a Boy Scout Troop outing. The Florence Kelvin Highway leads east of town paved all the way to it's turnoff to the 12 mile easy going dirt road to Cochran. There were 4 to 5 great places to camp with a trailer along the way to Cochran. The well graded road is easy going up to around the 8 mile point. Then it gets rougher very scenic as it climbs a ridge and starts to descend down towards the Gila River and Cochran Ghost Town site. I would NOT recommend hauling any large trailers past the 8 mile wash! Just east before arriving at the Ghost Town of Cochran you see the Coke Ovens across the Gila River in the distance. The only thing left in Cochran are the Railroad tracks and foundations of a couple buildings, perhaps one of them was the old general store and town post office? There are mature trees providing abundant shaded tent camping and we were able to get a small supply trailer filled with the Boy Scouts equipment in, yet it is somewhat four wheelish at the very last wash entering Cochran.

We decided to enjoy a nice Boondocking spot found nearby a four wheel drive mountain at the beginning of the Cochran Road and named it appropriately as; "The Boulders" because of the huge granite boulder field it sits on the edge of. The kids had a blast enjoying the wonderland of boulder climbing just outside our front door! Sunset was stunning and made for a fantastic base camp to explore the area from.

Saturday November 28, 2015

The Arizona Trail Section 16 Gila River Canyons, actually starts at the end of the Florence Kelvin highway at the Kelvin Bridge. Our plan of attack started at the Florence Kelvin Trailhead actually located inside segment 15 just a few miles before section 16 starts. Our kiddos can easily hike 6 to 7 miles now so we choose this as our starting point, leaving a second truck shuttle ending bug out point just east of the beautiful A-Diamond Ranch parked a safe distance away from yet alongside the railroad tracks, a couple miles from the Trailhead (see the attached picture map).

Hiking from the Florence Kelvin Trailhead was great from the get go! We were a little worried about the reported "Wasp Nest" in a Saguaro Cactus near the start heading towards Kelvin but saw what seemed to be only remains of their former colony.

Late October to Spring is a fantastic time to hike this section because of the cool crisp morning and perfect temperatures. After crossing a few ridges the trail switchbacks down lower to the 1773 foot level near the Kelvin Bridge (Mile 265 from Mexico)as it makes it's way across the Gila River. Cooler winter temps had only begun to change the green leaves to golden brown as we made our way across the Gila River taking plenty of pictures along the way! Not far from the bridged crossing we arrived at the brand new giant Arizona Trail Gila River Section parking lot which would make another fantastic Boondocking base camp for anyone hauling in a camping or staging a horse trailer! There was actually only one other party that overnighted in a fully contained truck camper, when we passed through. There is also a porta potty about a quarter mile down river from the parking lot. We took a set of sweet family pictures at the brand new AZT Gate!

In no time at all the AZT climbs up into the mountains overlooking the Kelvin area and the Sonoran Desert scenery takes the center stage! Please enjoy the multitude of pictures we snapped along the way. I was very impressed with our six year old Bianka and our other children Ben and Bryce as there was very little complaining as they took the elevation gains as if they were nothing hard at all! It was awesome to look back down towards the Gila River and see what we had accomplished in climbing up nearly 500 feet in elevation! Just as the kids started thinking they could go no further, we started descending sharply lower towards the AZT "Dale Shewalter" Completion Marker and our planed bug out Railroad Bridged Gila River Crossing point! All in all six and one half more miles in the books!

January 2nd, 2016 Happy New Year!

Our plan of attack for the next segment started a month ago by exploring the area by truck from the Florence Kelvin Highway turnoff to the radio towers. First we took in the 360* degree views from the radio tower peak. We could see the entire Gila River AZT section 16 we would eventually be hiking down below. This included the dominant Greyback Mountain to the west as well as Battle Axe Butte across The Gila following Walnut Canyon, Copper Butte Mine and The Spine inside White Canyon Wilderness were also standing out.

Along the road to the Radio Towers is a turnoff to the west just underneath some power lines that leads to a substation where you open and close a gate behind you then take the rough dirt road to the north of the substation about a quarter mile later the river access road that leads due north past the east of prominent Greyback Mountain down to the opposite bank from Walnut Canyon. The worst section of this backroad is from the substation for about the next mile until it joins the wash. Just take it slow and easy through the rutted out section that is not quite four wheel but close! From the wash to the Gila River it is very easy going and smooth. Upon reaching the Gila River and train tracks on our first exploration we continued on east along the railroad tracks to a horse corral (one mile) and the road continued underneath the tracks to a Jeep Crossing. This area was shallow and there was a Jeeping Club enjoying lunch after coming in from the Battle Axe side across the river. This area makes for a fantastic tent camp with shady trees on the north side of the Gila, as it is easily accessible from the Arizona Trail. Furthermore it makes for the best location to stage a car shuttle as it is shallow and can be easily crossed during the winter months.

We however chose to stage our truck on the south side of the Walnut Canyon / Gila River Crossing underneath the railroad tracks. This area was a mile closer to Cochran where we would start our hike! Seemed like a good idea at the time but we found out later that our planned 6 mile hike would turn into an 8 miler some of which by moonlight, because the river crossing at Walnut was too deep and swift flowing. Bottom line consider the Battle Axe crossing your shallow and safe bet!

We started our days hike from the Ghost Town of Cochran a bit late around 11:00 AM after staging our truck earlier. The Gila River Crossing was only knee deep so we took off our shoes and I carried Bianka across while Ben, Bryce, and Karolien followed. After drying off our feet and putting our dry shoes back on in no time at all we bushwhacked up to the AZT Red Hills corner junction and set our sights eastward after a couple pictures. The first cool thing we reached was a small mining cave and then there were the many Saguaro Cactus photos. In no time at all we were climbed up to a very nice overlook where we could look down on the river and see from whence we came! Around 1:30 to 2:00 we ate lunch at a shady and rather green wash slope which was a little over half way. Around this time a heard of 20 bikers made their way by us, saying they started at the Picketpost Trailhead earlier. The route seemed to me to be rather technical at places so I have great respect for anyone who does these passages on mountain bikes!

After a relaxing lunch we picked up the pace and were impressed with some granit boulders and beautiful vistas lined with plenty Saguaros as we made our way towards Walnut Canyon. The late evening sun made for some great pictures and set as we arrived at Walnut Creek. We quickly arrived at our planned river crossing and could see our truck under the tracks on the other side, yet the water was somewhat deep and swift flowing so we decided to play it safe and go to the shallow crossing. We hiked back a quarter mile to the AZT which is a double track old 4X4 Jeep trail trekking east a mile further east then back down to the river we followed the Jeep tracks to (Mile 274.8 from Mexico) After making the successful ford we still had to back track yet another mile or so to our truck following the railroad tracks by moon and starlight. The crossing was easy and shallow, I carried Bianka and this time we kept our shoes on for better traction since it was dark outside. The final mile back was tiring yet the kids handled it without complaints. In no time at all we were back safely at our truck after logging in about 8 miles on the extended day. This would leave us with just the section at the shallow Battle Axe Crossing (Mile 274.8 to 268.4 from Mexico) at where the train bridge crosses the Gila River near the A-Diamond Ranch as our last 6 to 7 miles left to finish on our next journey!

January 16th, 2016:

Today's journey started with a six mile, two truck shuttle out to the Battle Axe Butte "Safe Shallow Crossing" (See picture # 211 of my map marked X....Located on the "Official AZT Maps" as roughly Mile 274.8 from Mexico). The map is slightly incorrect where it places a blue dot nearby a ATV Barrier, this barrier is located in the next wash WEST of the one on the map. We took a picture at sunset by this barrier!

Recently we had 4 days of rain in early January 2016 so we knew the crossing would have a bit more water but it was very minimal compared to the ankle deep water we experienced here on January 2nd's hike. After a couple quick pictures of the crossing's condition we staged one truck on the north side of the crossing so that after our hike we were not going to get wet, and then made our way back one mile alongside the Rail Road Tracks and then back up the most westerly road to the power substation following the power lines east to the well graded Radio Tower side road and finally back on the Florence Kelvin Highway (a total of six miles). We then headed to our first and original "Bug Out Spot" east of the A-Diamond Ranch, parking along-side, yet a safe distance from the Rail Road Tracks.

Hitting the rails at 11:00 AM we slowly stepped our way across the Train Bridge one by one until we could see a couple of Equestrians coming down the AZT Completion Ridge on the other side. A small trail off to the NE side of the bridge leads directly over to rejoin the AZT. There is a shallow river crossing just south of the bridge and a small scramble down from the tracks to the north before you reach the bridge walking from A-Diamond. That scramble goes underneath the bridge to the south shallow Gila River crossing point pictured.

Once back on the Arizona Trail were able to greet the two Equestrians who moved from Colorado to near Patagonia on their horses named Sugar and Spice, and Bianka loved petting them! They made the early morning ride starting at the Florence Kelvin Trailhead and were at the train bridge six miles later approaching noon! From the train bridge they were going to turn around and hoof back. We continued hiking west uphill where the train bridge took center stage in pictures. The kids liked playing on Granite boulders and around the corner hiking northwards we found literally thousands of Saguaro lining a ridge which I thought was called "The Spine" but that would come up later on. After making our way over to the saddle turning back west we enjoyed a shady, green grassy snack break of 20 or so minutes.

Once back on the trail west we climbed in and out of a few washes and underneath the power lines over some ridges and then down into yet another very nice shaded lunch location inside a rather large river wash, located just east of "The Spine." Here we enjoyed Karolien's Gourmet Lunch! Cheese and Crackers with Summer Sausage, Avocado. and more! Hiking back out of the river wash we started up hill entering "The Spine" and into the short Gila River Canyon section. I call it this because of the Topographical Relief shaded areas being rather steep and "Canyon Like" here! (See the panorama picture). Bianka and I took the lead far ahead of the rest here and enjoyed the views along the way, setting a small Geo-Cache for Karolien and the boys to find when they passed by! The late afternoon sun was moving towards sunset so we picked up the pace and in no time at all we first ascended towards river level then back up sharply before the Gila River Canyon area opened back up to beautiful sunset views as we entered Battle Axe Jeep Trail wash towards our truck shuttle at the river crossing! (Located on the "Official AZT Maps" as Mile 274.8 from Mexico). The map is slightly incorrect where it places a blue dot nearby a ATV Barrier, this barrier is located in the next wash WEST of the one on the map. We took a picture at sunset by this barrier! It is that wash that leads to the safe shallow crossing and nice tenting riverside location.

This linked together our January 2nd, 2016 and our hike from late November 2015 thus completing our journey along the Gila River from The Florence Kelvin Trailhead to Cochran Corner! We are currently planning on coming back in late February or March or later on in Spring. Access to this section from Cochran Corner leading north towards Picketpost for our family will be segmented at Telegraph Canyon. From Telegraph Canyon to Cochran Corner requires an overnight for our young hikers who are only up to 8 miles maximum so breaking this next one up camping under the stars should be fun! The distance is only 12 or 13 miles yet there is limited access points other than Telegraph Canyon, so we will plan a pleasure hike with packs for the first time and overnight camping...........coming soon! :y:

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7 archives

Sep 05 2015

San Francisco Peaks - AZT #34

Guides 3
Routes 3
Photos 3,641
Triplogs 16

57 male

Joined Mar 02 2004
San Tan Valley,

San Francisco Peaks - AZT #34

Flagstaff, AZ

Hiking		Sep 05 2015
		BACKROADER • Triplogs 16

Hiking	35.60 Miles	2,734 AEG

Hiking	35.60 Miles	18 Hrs	1.98 mph
	2,734 ft AEG

no routes

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Bismarck Lake Trail

Aspen Nature Loop

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We hope you enjoy our Housholder Family adventure hiking the 800 mile Arizona Trail from Sonora Mexico to the Utah state-line. We are hiking it together as a family attempting to finish 20 to 30 miles each month; normally taking a two truck shuttle and usually camping overnight for free along the way in our RV trailer (Boondocking).

Our 4th segment is in the Beautiful "San Francisco Peaks AZT #34!" We had a fantastic time over the Labor Day Weekend Holiday camping out Boondocking Style along the Bismarck Trailhead Road #627. Our camping spot on the south side of the road even had a rock wall for the kids to climb and was large enough for our South African friends to park their rigs also!

DAY 1: Total Miles 6.5

We used the Bismarck Lake trail-head access point and first made the trek with friends to the "Cow Puddle" of a Lake? After snapping a few pics around Bismarck Lake we headed out to join the AZT section 34 going north from the Bismarck Junction where a cool sign points the way to Mexico and Utah! From there it was all downhill to Forest Service Road 418 near White Horse Hills. This part of the trail was fantastic and had numerous gentle switchbacks leading into a GIANT stand of Aspen Trees near the end! We enjoyed this ending section very much and were looking forward to the next day's adventure!

Day 2: Total Miles 5.5

What an exciting day! The plans were to hike from Snow Bowl Ski Resort along the Aspen Loop Access trail north towards our Boondocking spot along the Bismarck Lake Road. Some awesome friends from South Africa were our trail support crew and taxi drivers setting us down at the Snow Bowl ski area while they went off to hike the Lava River Tube. There were fantastic photo opps from the parking lot where we got a huge group picture of our three families and then set out for the Aspen Loop Access Trail right next to the Humphrey's Peak trail-head. A ranger was there with displays and stickers for the kids and we hit the trail running downhill through some beautiful Aspen Trees until we junction-ed with the AZT #34 once more. I loved seeing as far as the eye can see west towards Bill Williams Mountain and Kendrick Peak! The trail was gentle and enjoyable. Once on the Arizona Trail we could see back towards the Snow Bowl ski lifts and after a mile or so north of the Aspen Loop junction there was THE VERY BEST STAND OF ASPENS EVER! We ate our snacks and took plenty of family pictures, I feel when the entire 800 mile hike is finished this will rank right up there as the best of the best gems. The kids and Karolien loved this section as much as I did to! After the Aspen Adventure a little further north were those sweeping views westward across Hart Prairie and Fern Mountain underneath us where I shot some landscape panorama pictures. A short mile or so after that the trail crossed a nice meadow and then joined up with the Bismarck Lake Trail at the Utah/Mexico sign. It was an enjoyable mile and a half back to our camp from there.

Day 3: Total Miles 6 - Saturday October 10, 2015 - Snow Bowl Ski Resort to Snow Bowl Road:

We started the day taking some more family pictures with both of our Grandma's in them, they make for the best Trail Support Team! From the Snow Bowl parking lot at 9400 FT. we hit the trail, there were beautiful changing leaves all around especially as we made our way along the Aspen Loop Trail. In no time at all we were once again at the AZT Junction roughly 9000 FT. this time we turned left and left the crowds behind as we hiked downhill to the south, our end destination was the Snow Bowl Road crossing 6 miles from the parking lot and roughly 1,600 Feet elevation decline.

It was still very, very, very busy with the swift moving mountain bikers but we only had one near run in with Ben listening to his headphones too loud when a biker closed in from behind! Around one and a half miles we came upon a fantastic grove of Aspens in Golden Fall mode at the Alfa Fla Tank junction. This grove was not as good as the one a mile or so north of the AZT / Aspen Loop junction but never the less it was impressive, and just after entering the stand there were logs downed inviting us to rest upon them, it made for the perfect snack stop.

After scarfing down some yummy GORP we made our way in no time to a 2 mile junction where hikers were coming up from the 151 road and down from the Snowbowl Road. There were great views out across Hart Prairie just before the stand of Aspens and at this trail junction. After a few quick pics we headed further away from the crowds of Leaf Chasers into what was the thickest and shadiest part of the forest. Contouring along at 8600 to 8400 feet this made for a relaxing stroll. A couple miles further we started hiking slightly uphill before coming around the corner and then sharply downtown we went starting at MP 606 to 604 we declined some 1100 feet! This ridge line had some nice views below of Fort Valley our eventual destination. Our brakes were worn out by the time we arrived at the power-lines and we made out way another half mile to the Snow Bowl road while listening to the mobs of Fall Leaf Chasers driving home! All in all the kids had fun but our breaks were so worn out by the steep decline in elevation from 9400 to 7600 ft. that we decided to rest it easy the next day planning on hiking our close the gap segment from the Snow Bowl Road to Schultz Creek AZT 33 junction some 4 more miles away the next time!

Day 4 Snow Bowl Road to Schultz Creek July 7, 2016

A year later we were back in Flagstaff take on this missing middle segment from the Snow Bowl Road towards Schultz Creek that would connect us to the Flagstaff Resupply Route which we had already finished!

We started out staging our truck at Schultz Creek where the AZT Resupply Route passes over the backroad. There is enough space to park a couple cars there. After staging our truck we headed out towards the Snow Bowl Road. We last hiked to where our vehicle was staged cross country off Forest Road 6051 at Forrest Valley. To get there slow down just before arriving at the Snow Bowl Road and take a right onto FS 6051. There are some good Boondocking spots perhaps two or three on this road for camping at large. The 6051 ends in about a mile at a large spot as there is a T Junction. This is where we parked and hiked due north until reaching the AZT at near Milepost 603 marked Rocky Moto. From here we hiked east towards our truck and Schultz Creek. This hike covers the segment between Milepost 603 to 600 and a bit more towards Schultz Creek, only 4 miles from where we staged vehicles. This was an extremely enjoying segment completely flat the entire distance, with views of the Peaks looking over the tops of pine trees. Ben read a book, Bryce and Bianka enjoyed finding a friendly lizard and we had some great family pictures taken at sunset before arriving at the junction with the Equestrian Route and the Resupply Route. From there it is downhill all the way rather sharply back to the Schultz Creek Backroad, and our snacks.

Day 5 Schultz Tank to Schultz Creek July 8, 2016

Our next hike was to start segment 34 and complete Milepost 596 to 599 at the Resupply Route another easy hike this time we treated our visiting relatives Bob and Chase from Alaska. The start of Passage 34 was easy going by Schultz Tank, there were logging operations happening along the first half mile or so, then the trail started heading downhill with great views along the way. We were following above the Schultz Backroad in and out of some side drainage or two then alongside a ridge towards the junction with the Equestrian Bypass Signage and Flagstaff Resupply Route, and easy sunset three and a half miles!

Day 6 Forest Road 418 White Horse Hills to Kelly Tank 7/9/16 Total Miles 3.25

This segment was awesome! Well I love the Aspens so for me it was top notch! There is nearby camping at White Horse Hills for our Trailer so this makes the location all the more better!

We started by driving our truck up to Kendrick Park then out east a few miles to Kelly Tank. Then we drove back to the 418 and hiked it together as a family. Another option would have been to drive up to Kelly and swap keys in the middle. All in all this hike was downhill from the 418 almost all the way. There were fantastic views of the San Francisco Peaks and thousands of Aspens in the beginning! Hardly any others out here as well, we saw only a couple other mountain bikers and that was it, compared to the trails around the Peaks where the mountain bikers are running rampant! This trail heads due north past Walker Lake's Cinder Cone Mountain and joins a double track for awhile, then climbs gently up on a ridge line where you look west towards Kendrick Peak and NW towards Saddle Mountain Fire Lookout Tower, before it curves NE towards Kelly Tank. There were some off road campers with a prime location we found along the way. Their views towards the San Francisco Peaks was fantastic. We might have to find out how they got out there, but it must have been accessed via Kelly Tank somehow????

The next time back to this area we will start at Kelly Tank and continue north!

Culture

Culture [ checklist ]

[ checklist ] Camp-fire Campsite

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7 archives

Jul 11 2015

Guides 3
Routes 3
Photos 3,641
Triplogs 16

57 male

Joined Mar 02 2004
San Tan Valley,

Flagstaff - AZT #33

Flagstaff - AZT #33

Flagstaff, AZ

Hiking		Jul 11 2015
		BACKROADER • Triplogs 16

Hiking	17.00 Miles	1,927 AEG

Hiking	17.00 Miles	13 Hrs	1.31 mph
	1,927 ft AEG

no routes

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no linked trail guides

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After some snacks we set out in search of "Tibber's Cave", which all 5 of us could not find? Hey Tibber any more clues? We then hiked up Walnut Canyon to a discriptive sign and found a smaller second cave on the south wall. The kids had great fun searching and hunting but were a little bummed they didn't find the gem!

Day One: Starting out on the AZT # 33 in a northwesterly direction towards Flagstaff was flat and enjoyably easy going. The noon day sun was our only concern. We had lots of water with us and made the most of shady snack breaks. There were plenty mountain bikers we would yell out "Biker!" So that the kids would step aside. Many of these mountain biking trails converged at a crossing where we rested enjoying lunch at. Shortly after wards the trail did a big "Zig Zag" due east then back due north. The San Francisco Peaks and mount Elden were now visible and getting closer. The trail started up hill gently then sharply downhill towards the confluence with the Rio de Flag River (water treatment plant) where ducks were swimming to great us! Interstate 40 passed high overhead and paved sections of the Flagstaff Urban Trail System started. The kids enjoyed their tunnel echos underneath the freeway and started getting hungry after passing the Taco Bell and all out "HAngry" along Route 66 where we neared the Dog Haus and our car shuttle with Grandma. It was 2:30 PM and we couldn't treat Grandma to Hot Dogs, so we made hast to Brandy's Restaurant (Breakfast and Bakery) which was featured on the Food Network with host Guy Fieri: foodnetwork.com/res ... html Grandma and our HAngry kids absolutely loved the comfort food and I scarfed down my Giant Guacamole Apple-wood Bacon Cheeseburger! Brandy's is a stones throw from Buffalo Park, super close to this AZT hike....please note they close early around 3:00 PM on Saturdays and sadly just breakfast and lunch menu. The "to die for" dinners are gone, but not forgotten!

Day One Total Miles 7

Day two: We started with a car shuttle downhill near the Dog Haus, where there is a Fry's and another grocery store to stock up on all sorts of trail treats and mixes, Beef Jerky fresh fruit, energy bars, plus other delicious eats for the thru backpackers! Our other car was shuttled to Buffalo Park where we started by taking pictures with the Buffalo and at the memorial tribute to Dale Shewalter Flagstaff teacher and AZ Trail Dreamer who put his plans to action in the early 1980's so that we might enjoy the fruits of his lifelong labor! Thank You Very Much Dale :y:

The memorial sign and resting bench is located due east of the entrance gate as the AZT winds around the large water tank.

We enjoyed our easy two mile hike downhill from the memorial as it joined Turquoise St. Passed the YMCA a and transitioned into Switzer Canyon. The abundance of wild game we saw along the way to the Dog Haus were quite impressive. I remember they were called some exotic names like Mercedes, Tacomas, Avalanches and Buicks!

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Day 3 From Buffalo Park to Schultz Creek Trailhead. August 22, 2015:

We arrived in Flag at 12 noon, first hitting our favorite Crystal Creek Sandwich Co. for some delicious eats. We love the Grand Rapids and have been coming here for the past 24 years! Our goal was to enjoy lunch at the shaded Dale Shewalter Memorial in Buffalo Park, before we hit the open trail. Second we had to park our car shuttle at the Schultz Creek Trailhead, then we made our way over to Buffalo Park. After scarfing down our Grand Rapids under the shady tree by the memorial we hit the trail around 2:00 PM. Buffalo Park was soon behind us and the pine trees became our companions the rest of the way! The kids enjoyed some boulder hopping literally, and we made it in no time to the junction with the Elden Peak Lookout Forest Service Road. This marked the halfway point and the kids once more were climbing all over the huge granite boulders. The Rocky Ridge Trail is rightfully named for it's many, many rocks and beautiful scenery. We could see far off into the distance, including the NAU Sky-dome in Flagstaff. This was the most beautiful section of the trail from Buffalo Park to Schultz Creek. In no time at all we arrived at our truck shuttle waiting for us at Schultz Creek Trailhead and after logging another 5 enjoyable miles on the AZT, we drove back to Buffalo Park then headed out for a delicious dinner at the Arizona Highways Best Restaurant 2013 issue, award winning eatery Pizzicletta! After grabbing some great to go dinner eats we made our way to one of our favorite FREE Camping/Boondocking spots which was thankfully unoccupied and enjoyed the award winning pizza besides our campfire.

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Day 4 AZT #34 start to Schultz Creek Trailhead (Downhill) August 23, 2015: We jumped into our trucks and drove around the north east side where the AZT 32 trail follows the 556 Mount Elden Springs Forest Service Road. As we arrived at Schultz Tank Trailhead there were a hundreds of mountain bikers having a race on the AZT 32 section luckily, because we were set to hike the rest of AZT 33 which was the other way! The thunder clouds were building as we parked our truck at the Schultz Creek Trailhead and made our way back up to the AZT 33 ending point as it crossed the Schultz Creek dirt road where we parked the other truck. There is nearby room for 4 vehicles. Two at the trail crossing and two just a bit further north of the crossing. The thunder clouds rumbled and then started an hour long downpour that we waited out safely inside our truck. Then things quieted down enough with just some intermittent sprinkles which enabled us to hit the remaining 4 easy trail miles down hill all the way back to where our other truck was at the Schultz Creek Trailhead. This was our first section of Aspen mixed with pine trees and it was thoroughly soaked from the 10 o'clock thunderstorm. The kids were great spirits along the way and the storms helped to clear out only the die hard mountain bikers and few hikers we passed along the trail. All together these 4 miles were hiked downhill in just around 2 hours which was very good for us! Ending the AZT section 33 and sending us off to the Flagstaff Train Station for a tailgate party! WOHOO!!!

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11 archives

Jul 04 2015

Guides 3
Routes 3
Photos 3,641
Triplogs 16

57 male

Joined Mar 02 2004
San Tan Valley,

Walnut Canyon - AZT #31

Walnut Canyon - AZT #31

Flagstaff, AZ

Hiking		Jul 04 2015
		BACKROADER • Triplogs 16

Hiking	20.00 Miles	1,660 AEG

Hiking	20.00 Miles	20 Hrs	1.00 mph
	1,660 ft AEG

no routes

Linked

linked

Sandys Canyon Trail #137

Flagstaff - AZT #33

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Happy 4th of July, 2015

Our next adventure on the Arizona Trail is segment # 31 Starting from Marshall Lake to Walnut Canyon including Fisher Point located in the cooler Coconino National Forest at 7000 feet near Flagstaff.

The best thing about the AZT is you can either hike the entire length of 800 miles in order or pick and choose from the 44 or so segments, as to which trail is best for the current time of year! Since this is our second hike on the AZT we decided to keep cool on the 4th of July in the beautiful pines south east of Flagstaff.

The night before our planned hike of 13 miles, there was a huge down pouring of rain at our Boondocking base camp east of Walnut Canyon National Monument's access road. The previous nights rain made for slow going and very muddy shoes, at least one inch at a time was sticking to every step along the Marshall Lake route towards Walnut Canyon and our car shuttle at the 303 Trail-head. This slowed our times but the kids had fun slogging along. No worries as the sunny day started to quickly dry out the trail and we were on our way!

It is hard to judge how many miles the kids can hike as this was only our second time out, so we ended up slowing the pace down, enjoying lunch along the eastern rim of Walnut Canyon taking it easy before descending down to the canyon floor. Upon arrival to the canyon bottom hikers are treated to a brilliant red rock view of the canyon's walls including a mini alcove or shaded cave! We took lots of family pictures here including a couple panoramas and chatted with six other hikers that made their way in from the closer Canyon Vista Campground and the Sandy's Canyon access trails. The beautiful "Red Rocks" are roughly 5 miles from the Marshall Lake Trail-head.

Since the kids wanted to see the 4th of July fireworks that evening in Flagstaff....Canyon Vista Campground was our "bug out alternative" and we took it as the going was too slow earlier back at Marshall Lake with the mud bogging in the first few miles (our other choice was to hike out Fisher Point but we would have had to hike by night to make it back to the car shuttle at the 303). It is always good to have a back up plan and we enjoyed the hike up Sandy's Canyon access and finished the day with roughly 8 miles logged. We were proud of our kiddos for their endurance and had a great time telling stories and singing songs along the way. Also a big shout out of thanks to a friendly camper staying at Canyon Vista, who helped shuttle me back to our car at Marshall Lake TH.

The next few days we were able to enjoy exploring around the 303 and hiking out to beautiful Fisher Point and the following week we made the trek from Fisher Point into Flagstaff along the AZT section #33. Completing what we would have originally planned for.

Hope you all enjoy the photos.

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Monday July 15, 2019:

282 / 800 Miles Complete!

Fenix and Riley enjoyed a couple miles with us yesterday between beautiful Fisher Point and the Hassel Trailhead located of Coconino Forest Road 301 overlooking Walnut Canyon National Monument some 500 feet down below!

Although a very short hike, this walk in the woods of just two miles completed help to make the next segment an easy five miles. This couple miles is super scenic with overlooks down into Walnut Canyon, where many Agave Cactus were in bloom. My heart skipped a beat when Fenix snuck right up to the edge of a cliff for her own scenic view below!

Forest Road 301 connects the Trailheads and is rather bumpy and slow going with minimal clearance issues if driven in dry weather.

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Tuesday July 16, 2019:

285 / 800 Miles Complete!

The Housholder Family Saunterers with Fenix and Riley added another three miles hiking around Walnut Canyon National Monument on the Flagstaff Equestrian Bypass Route. We hiked from the Old Walnut Canyon Road Trailhead over to the Monument Road junction. The trail was super easy going through mixed Ponderosa Pine Forest with a cool steady breeze behind our backs! The dogs loved their walk and so did we!

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Wednesday July 17, 2019:

290 / 800 Miles Complete!

This morning we had a fantastic saunter from the Hassel Trailhead off Forest Road 301 over to the Old Walnut Canyon Road Trailhead, Forest Road 303.

There were more scenic overlooks into Walnut Canyon and the AZT passed through a really cool side canyon, where there was a huge shaded alcove which could have been home to prehistoric Anasazi natives many hundreds of years ago, it made for the perfect lunch spot!

After switch backing out of the canyon we enjoyed a nice trail all the way back to the 303 Road. There was an AZT Wildlife Camera we happened upon. After adding in the short distance from the Hassel Trailhead the overall hike was around 5 easy and enjoyable miles!

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Thursday July 18, 2019:

292 / 300 Miles Complete!

Passage 31 - Walnut Canyon

It took our family six segments over a four year span to complete Arizona Trail Passage 31 - Walnut Canyon.

We first started at Marshall Lake when Bianka was six years old on our second AZT hike and after a down-pouring rain shower the night before we had up to one inch of mud on our shoes back then. It was slow going down into Walnut Canyon and it’s beautifully red cliffs were all around us as the trail dried out. Due to time constraints, we bailed on the Sandy Canyon Trail, connecting us to the Canyon Vista Campground so that we could get to Flagstaff in time for the Fourth of July Fireworks! A day later we hiked to Fisher Point, perhaps our favorite places on this passage followed by a run into Flagstaff via the Re-Supply Route Passage 33.

Fast forwarding to this week, we were able to finally finish Passage 31 by hiking from Fisher Point over to Hassell Trailhead and on to the Old Walnut Canyon Road Trailhead. We set it up to do easy morning miles over a week so that we could play the rest of the day at places like the Aquaplex in Flagstaff.

To complete this beautiful passage we needed to hike from the 303 Road further to the Walnut Canyon National Monument Road and finally, this morning we knocked out a quick two mile piece to the Cosnino Interstate 40 Tunnel Underpass which is the start of Mount Elden Passage 32.

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3 archives

Jun 27 2015

Huachuca Mountains - AZT #1

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Joined Mar 02 2004
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