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Tuesday, June 28, 2011

DAVENPORT HILL-DOG TOWN LAKE

 Kaibab National Forest, Williams
Davenport Hill Trail

Summit

Trainspotting from  Davenport Hill

Dog Town Lake

Train whistles invoke a haunting, mournful yearning for the days when locomotives were the poster-technology of both the new frontier and old west.  Williams Arizona, with its buckskin-and-rail-tie-hybrid persona is one of few remaining places offering a serious locomotive “fix”. Home to a matrix of train depots and a main drag replete with saloons, malfunctioning neon and leather-clad, wandering “cowboys” spewing booze-addled folklore while engaging in mock shoot outs, Williams is a hot spot of activity in the middle of nowhere. Yup—it’s a loud, crowded, hokey-as-all-get-out slice of Americana anchoring the best preserved stretch of the “Mother Road”---historic Route 66.  People who like trains gravitate to this time warp of a whistle-stop (located 35 miles west of Flagstaff) for its perpetual clamber of metal on rails and diesel fumes.
Although it’s pretty easy to spend a day in town noshing at trackside joints like Cruisers Café, Doc Holliday’s Steakhouse or Pancho McGillicuddy's, a more alluring way to view the trains (and get some exercise to work off the Grand Canyon Brewing Co. beers that will have seduced you) waits 700 feet above town. To get there, just head a few miles south to Dog Town Lake where three shady trails feature easy hiking and high-altitude train spotting.
A hike up Davenport Hill trail offers aerial views of colorful freight cars gliding over expansive prairies below. Whether hauling human cargo or shipping containers bound for Wal-Mart, the trains put on a good show as they snake through town, cross the flatlands and disappear into forests of Ponderosa pines---a sight that’s impossible to see at street level.
In addition to Davenport Hill, two other routes depart from the same trailhead. Dog Town Lake trail is just a flat path used by anglers to access the best fishing spots along the shores of a pine-rimmed lake. The Ponderosa Nature Trail is a short, self-guided educational loop with signposts that correspond to information in booklets available at the trailhead, making it a good choice for kids and those who want a side order of learnin’ with their hike---or one of the amusing local brews.

LENGTHS: 
Davenport Hill: 2.5 miles one-way
Dog Town Lake: 1.8 mile loop
Ponderosa Nature Trail: 1-mile loop
RATING: easy-moderate
ELEVATION:  7,100’- 7,805’
FEES: none for hikers
FACILITIES:  restrooms, picnic tables, camping, fishing, boat ramp, site host and ranger programs
RULES: no swimming, dogs must be on leash

DISTANCE FROM PHOENIX:  184 miles one-way

GETTING THERE:
From Phoenix, go north on I17 to the I40/I17 interchange south of Flagstaff.  Go 30.3 miles west on I40 to Williams exit #165.  At the off ramp stop sign, go left and follow Railroad Ave. 2.6 miles to Fourth Street (a.k.a. Perkinsville Road, CR 73), turn south (left) and continue 3.8 miles to FR 140. Turn left onto FR 140 and go 2.8 miles to FR 132, go left again and drive 1.2 miles to the boat ramp/campground turnoff on the right.  Park in the boat ramp lot. Davenport Hill Trail begins at the Ponderosa Trail sign at the far, east end of the parking lot. Last few miles are on maintained dirt suitable for passenger cars.

INFO:  Williams Ranger District, Kaibab National Forest, (928) 635-5600

WILLIAMS RANGER DISTRICT, KAIBAB NF CLOSURE 2011

TONTO NATIONAL FOREST PARTIAL CLOSURE ORDER & MAP LINKS

East Webber Trail
Here we go folks, due to recent human-caused fires, our National  Forests are going into shut down mode. Major trails impacted by this closure include: Highline, W. Webber, E. Webber, Pine Canyon, Turkey, Geronimo, Pine View, Oak Trail, Redrock, Donahue, Babe Haught, Horton Springs, See Canyon, Derrick and Sinkhole.

Area closures on Tonto National Forest begin June 17, Fireworks prohibited at all times

Release Date: Jun 16, 2011  
PHOENIX(June 16, 2011) – Public safety concerns due to drought conditions, hot temperatures and increased fire danger have resulted in two temporary area closures on the Tonto National Forest beginning at 8 a.m., Friday, June 17--and will stay in effect until rescinded or August 31,2011 whichever comes first.  The two area closures are within the following boundaries:
1. All National Forest System Lands, roads and trails below the Mogollon Rim and North of the Control Road,  bounded by National Forest System Road 708 at the Fossil Springs Trailhead proceeding easterly along National Forest System Road 708 to the intersection with the power line road at the Southwest edge of the town of Strawberry; following the power line corridor southerly then easterly to the intersection of Forest System Road 583 at Tonto Natural Bridge State Park; continuing easterly on Forest Road 583 to State Highway 87; then northerly following  State Highway 87 to National Forest System Road 64 (The Control Road); thence easterly following  the Control Road to the Intersection with State Highway 260;  easterly along State Highway 260 to the Forest boundary at the top of the Mogollon Rim; and westerly along the Mogollon Rim and Tonto National Forest Boundary to the Fossil Springs Trailhead at Forest Road 708. 
2.  All National Forest System Lands, roads and trails within the Mt Ord, Four Peaks and Three Bar Wildlife Area,  bounded by the eastern edge of Highway 87 on the west beginning at the intersection with Forest System Road 143; on the north  along State Highway 87 to the intersection with State Highway 188; on the south along the western edge of Highway 188 to the Salt River corridor; on the west along the north side of the Salt river corridor including the north shores of Apache Lake, Canyon Lake and Saguaro Lake to Cottonwood Creek; northerly along Cottonwood creek to the intersection with Forest System Road 401, continuing northerly on Forest System Road 401 to the intersection with Forest System Road 143 and  westerly on Forest System Road 143 terminating at the intersection with State Highway 87.
Exceptions to this closure are the RV Dump site on the west side of State Highway 188 at Cholla Bay. The Tonto Natural Bridge State Park, highways 87 and 188 are unaffected by this closure, as are all county roads.
Also, most types of fire or fire-causing activities are prohibited across the Tonto National Forest. 
“Because of ongoing drought, dry forest conditions, and exceptionally low relative humidities, fire restrictions are needed to protect forest users, structures and natural resources from the increased potential for wildland fires,” said Tonto National Forest Deputy Fire Staff Officer Helen Graham. “These precautionary measures are intended to enhance our visitors’ quality recreation experiences. Most areas of the Tonto National Forest remain available for recreation activity, including all the Salt River system lakes.” 
Graham concluded:  “We continue to remind the public that all fireworks are prohibited on the forest at all times.”
Violation of these restrictions is punishable by a fine of up to $5,000 for individuals, $10,000 for organizations, and imprisonment for up to six months.  

  Click links below to view closure order and map.

CLOSURE ORDER:




  • CLOSURE MAP:
  • For more information regarding forest recreation sites and fire restrictions, please contact the Tonto National Forest at (602) 225-5200, or check online atwww.fs.usda.gov/Tonto  
    For general information on fire activity and restrictions in Arizona call toll free 877-864-6985, or visit the.Southwest Coordination Center website: http://gacc.nifc.gov/swcc or http://www.publiclands.org/firenews/AZ.php




  • Useful Websites:
    National Incident Information System www.inciweb.org
    Southwest Coordination Center:  http://gacc.nifc.gov/swcc
    National Interagency Fire Centerwww.nifc.gov
    National Fire Plan: www.forestsandrangelands.gov
    FireWise:  www.firewise.org

  • Friday, June 17, 2011

    PHOENIX MAGAZINE SUMMER HIKING GUIDE 2011


    STILL AVAILABLE BY PHONE ORDER 2011--HURRY!
    Hey hikers, pick up the JULY issue of PHOENIX magazine for some great summer hikes---not found on this blog!
    All trails have been personally hiked, photographed and reported by yours truly, and, so far (as of 6-27-11), none of these trails are on fire.
    Here’s where you can find PHOENIX magazine: Safeway, Fry’s Marketplace, Wal-Mart, Costco, Sam’s Club, Sunflower Markets, Sprouts, Borders, Barnes & Noble, CVS, Walgreens, Sky Harbor Airport, Albertson’s, Fresh & Easy, Lowe’s, Home Depot, Target, Whole Foods, Basha’s, A.J.’s, La Grande Orange, The Kitchen, Area hospital gift shops WEB SITE: http://www.phoenixmag.com/ ORDER BY PHONE (beginning 6-15-11): 480-664-3960

    Monday, June 13, 2011

    WALLOW FIRE MAPS

    UPDATE 7-28-11: Now that the maelstrom has subsided,  here's a collection of the BEST MAPS & LINKS for  Wallow Fire stats.
    JULY 1, 2011: Map shows degrees of damage.  Zoom in for excellent details!
    Latest map of the Wallow Fire 6-27-11.

    Saturday, June 11, 2011

    BASELINE TRAIL


    BASELINE TRAIL
    Estrella Mountain Regional Park
    Ahh, June in Phoenix. The heat is on, the monsoon rains are a month away, wildflowers have gone to dust and our beautiful desert hills look like parched moonscapes. So what’s to see on them thar hills during this dreaded month? Beans. Lots of beans. Most desert trees, including mesquite, palo verde and ironwood are in the legume (bean/pea) family. They paint desert washes and slopes with brilliant yellow, pink and white blooms from March through May—gradually transforming from things of beauty to sources of wildlife nutrition. Of course, this smorgasbord of protein brings out the rodents and birds that feed upon the arboreal buffet. And, where there are lil’ critters, snakes position themselves at the top of the food chain. One good place to see the bean show is Estrella Mountain Regional Park. With over 30 miles of trails ranging in difficulty from short and barrier-free to long and difficult, the park has something for everyone. Today, a friend with a shoulder injury suggested we hike the Baseline Trail because it appeared to be innocuous. The route proper is well-signed, but there are dozens of unofficial paths blazed in all directions---just watch for the “BA” signs to stay on course. A short distance in, the trail comes to a “Y” intersection. The right spur leads to a short (0.4 mile) sub loop with a nice vista point over looking the green farmlands of the Gila Valley, then swings around a pyramid-shaped mound to reconnect with BA. From here, the path undulates along the shoulders of boulder-strewn hillsides, dipping into a scenic valley before taking on its one steep climb before coming full circle back at the trailhead. Turns out, this trail was steeper and rockier than anticipated, but we still made it through without incident. Although we saw hundreds of rabbits, Harris Antelope squirrels, turkey vultures, lizards and a scrawny coyote, not a single snake crossed our paths.
    LENGTH: 2.8 miles (3.9 with connector & viewpoint spur)
    RATING: easy-moderate
    ELEVATION: 900’- 1,050’
    GETTING THERE: From Phoenix,go west on I10 to the Estrella Parkway exit. Turn south (left) and go 4 miles south to W. Vineyard Ave. (watch for the brown park signs). Turn left onto Vineyard and continue to the park gate. To get to the Baseline trailhead—follow the main road (Casey Abbott Dr. North) less than 0.25 mile and take the first right past the Nature Center (Casey Abbott Dr. South). Continue about 0.2 mile to Ramada #6 (just before the amphitheater) and park there. Trail access is across the road.
    FEE: $6 daily fee per vehicle. Free maps are available at the gate.
    PARK HOURS: Sunday – Thursday: 6 a.m. – 8 p.m., Friday – Saturday: 6 a.m. – 10 p.m.
    INFO: Estrella Mountain Regional Park, Goodyear
    MORE PHOTOS:

    Friday, June 10, 2011

    FRED HAUGHT TRAIL

    Fred Haught Cabin
    Water pools in General Crook Canyon
    Descending into General Crook Canyon

    FRED HAUGHT TRAIL
    a.k.a. Arizona Trail Passage 28
    One of many early Anglo settlers on the Mogollon Rim, Fred Haught (died 1938) ran cattle in the bucolic pastures of General Crook Canyon. Skeletal remains of his one-room cabin make for an interesting side trip while hiking the trail he and others once used to move livestock and market commodities between Camp Verde and Fort Apache. Today, trail #141 (aka #22) is a much quieter place--open only to hikers, horseback riders and dogs on leash. From the south trailhead, the route begins behind (north side) old General Spring Cabin. The first 3 miles are shared with Passage 28 (Blue Ridge) of the Arizona Trail (AZT). Along this segment, AZT posts mark the way. About a half-mile in, the trail gets sketchy as it passes over slabs of limestone---look carefully for strategically placed cairns to stay on course. Just beyond the stone maze, the trail begins its descent into General Crook Canyon. Three easy switchbacks flanked by striated limestone cliffs and clusters of wild strawberries transport hikers to the canyon floor. Here, pools of water and intermittent streams foster wide swaths of green. The canyon’s girth yawns and contracts accordion-style, moving from steep, V-shaped shady gorges to broad, sunny meadows. At the 3-mile point, AZT branches off to the northwest while trail #141 continues due north. Roughly 0.3 mile from this junction, a wooden sign marks the turn off for Fred Haught Cabin. To get to the ruins, slide down the dirt bank into the meadow and hike 0.5 mile due east (stay to the right of the water and head up a low slung embankment) and follow a faint trail marked by (really ancient) tree blazes until an old fieldstone fireplace comes into view off to the left. After visiting the ruins, head back to the main trail. Because the path is not maintained beyond this point, route-finding skills are needed to stay on track. Carins and “Cabin Loop System” signs mark the route on its way up to Pinchot Cabin at the northern trailhead.
    LENGTH: 6 miles one-way
    RATING: easy up to AZT junction, moderate after that (route-finding)
    ELEVATION: 7,045’- 7,390’
    GETTING THERE:
    SOUTH (General Springs) TRAILHEAD as described here: from the intersection of SR87/260 in Payson, continue 28 miles north on SR87 to FR300 (Rim Road) near milepost 280. Turn right and go 12.2 miles to FR705 where there’s a Battle of Big Wash Monument on the NE of the intersection. Go left (north) onto FR705 and continue 0.5 mile to the General Springs/AZ Trail trailhead. Roads are maintained dirt and passable by sedan, although high-clearance is a better idea.
    NORTH (Hay Meadow) TRAILHEAD:
    From Phoenix, go north on I17 to Camp Verde. Connect to SR260 east (toward Payson) and travel 31 miles to the SR87 junction. Turn left (north) and go 9 miles on SR87 to Clint’s Well. From here, continue 8.3 miles to the turnoff for the Moqui campground (FR138). There will be a “Moqui” sign a few hundred feet before the road on the right. Turn right onto FR138 where a sign located roughly 50 yards in from SR87 reads: "Blue Ridge Campground/Moqui Campground/138". The trailhead is on the left about 100 yards from SR87. All paved roads up to the last few yards.
    ALTERNATE: From Phoenix, take Loop 202 east, connect with SR87, continue to the SR87/260 junction in Payson and then follow the directions for the south TH above. It's a few miles longer this way, but the scenery is nice.
    INFO: Coconino National Forest, Mogollon Rim Ranger District, (928) 477-2255
    MORE PHOTOS:

    WALLOW FIRE IMAGES FROM SPACE

    Photo on the left shows the Wallow Fire on June 8, 2011. For more amazing looks at the astonishing magnitude of this blaze, click on the link below.
    http://earthsky.org/earth/june-2011-arizona-fires-seen-from-space

    Tuesday, June 7, 2011

    WALLOW FIRE 2011 UPDATES & MAP LINKS

    MAP TO THE LEFT IS FOR WED. JUNE 8, 2011

    Escudilla Mountain is officially up in flames. Tragically, two favorite hiking trails—Escudilla National Recreation Trail and Government Trail are, by now, in ashes. Photos are from my last hike up the mountain. Follow the links below for frequent updates & fire progression maps.

    InciWeb UPDATES: http://www.inciweb.org/incident/2262/

    http://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/stelprdb5305116.pdf

    Friday, June 3, 2011

    WALLOW FIRE 2011 UPDATE & MAP LINKS


    My heart is breaking. One of my all time favorite hiking spots--Bear Wallow Wilderness Area---in the White Mountains is on fire. The links below have the details and current progression maps. These photos are from my last hike in the Wallow....
    FOREST CLOSURE NOTICE
    Springerville, Alpine & Clifton Ranger Districts, Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest
    Date(s): Jun 2, 2011
    Pursuant to 16 U.S.C. 551, and 36 CFR § 261.53 (a), the following acts and omissions are prohibited on areas, roads, and trails described in this Order, as further described and depicted on the attached map, which is hereby incorporated into this Order as Exhibit A.
    Click here for the complete closure order and map.