Gladiator Fire video tour

Here's an excellent video that details the progression of the Gladiator Fire near Crown King:

http://www.crownkingaz.com/archives/crown-king-gladiator-fire-day-9-update-2/

NEWS UPDATES, MAPS & PHOTOS:
http://www.prescottenews.com/news/current-news/item/19984-gladiator-fire-wednesday-26-containment-plus-maps-photos#axzz1vtiV5XM0

One trail--many loops

LOWER OLDHAM-ROCKY RIDGE-EASY OLDHAM LOOP

Coconino National Forest

Loop trails are the big thing in Flagstaff’s Elden Mountain-Dry Lakes Hills area.  Every trail connects with another making for myriad hiking options, especially on the west side which was spared from the 2010 Shultz Fire.  Oldham trail #1 is an easy-to-access route leading to some of the most scenic and heavily traveled loops—most notably, the Brookbank and Sunset trails.  Pine, fir and oak trees shade much of the area and several experimental forests and aspen regeneration projects add interest for kids and forest-loving adults alike.  With so many choices, selecting an Elden-area loop hike is a tough decision but, this day, we decided to connect with the Lower Oldham, Rocky Ridge and Easy Oldham trails.

Rocky Ridge Trail

Here’s what we did:  Begin at Buffalo Park and hike 0.5 mile straight thru to the Lower Oldham trailhead—which is also a portion of the Arizona Trail (AZT).  Hike 0.4 mile to the first junction, veer right (northeast) and hike another 0.4 mile to the second junction at Pipeline/Fatmans trail.  Continue hiking northeast (follow the AZT signs) for another mile to the third junction where a sign for Rocky Ridge Access indicates that the AZT turns west (left) here.  This will be the return part of the loop, so continue 0.8 mile north (stay straight) to the big Lower Oldham trailhead on FR557 (Elden Summit Road).  From here, cross the road, pick up Rocky Ridge trail and follow it 0.8 mile to the turnoff for Rocky Ridge Access/AZT---this will be a 3-way junction.  Your path is located slightly downhill near a giant boulder.  Heading east, hike 0.3 mile back to Lower Oldham, turn right (south) and retrace your steps back to Buffalo Park.

Mount Elden seen from Lower Oldham trail

LENGTH: 7.1-mile loop

RATING: easy-moderate

ELEVATION:  7110’ – 7580’

DISTANCE FROM PHOENIX: 146 miles one way

DOGS: dogs must be on leash in Buffalo Park

KID FRIENDLY?: yes

BEST SEASON: late April - November

GETTING THERE:

From Flagstaff, travel north on Fort Valley Road (US180) to Forest Ave.  Turn left and continue to the stop light at Gemini Drive.  Turn left and follow the signs to the park.

INFO & MAP: Flagstaff Ranger District, Coconino National Forest, 928-526-0866

http://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/coconino/recreation/hiking/recarea/?recid=55138&actid=50

MORE PHOTOS:

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.2757273549756.91572.1795269672&type=1&l=08b6254068

Bill Williams Mountain Watershed closed to entry

Hi Hikers, fire season continues to take its toll on Arizona  summer hiking destinations.

Due to extreme fire danger, Kaibab National  Forest has decided to CLOSE TO ENTRY the sensitive watershed area around Bill Williams Mountain south of Williams as of May 21, 2012. This means no access to Bill Williams Mountain Trail, Benham Trail, Bixler Saddle and other surrounding routes.The closure is bounded by Perkinsville Road (CR73) on the east, south to FR122, west to FR108 and north to I40.  Once the area has received sufficient rainfall, the forest service will consider re-opening access. CALL THE WILLIAMS RANGER DISTRICT BEFORE HEADING OUT TO HIKE. 928-635-5600
http://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/kaibab/recreation/hiking/recarea/?recid=11653&actid=50
MAP:
http://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/stelprdb5317872.pdf

Gladiator Fire closes parts of Prescott National Forest

Hikers,

You should re-think any plans to hike  Groom Creek, Wolf Creek, Poland Creek and Mt Union in the Bradshaw Ranger District.  That's because the Gladiator Fire burning near Crown King is still raging and smoke is very heavy. Review  the closure notice below and steer clear of the area!

View of the Bradshaw range from Spruce Mtn lookout

(From the National Forest Service press release:) An expanded Closure Order is in effect, as of May 20, 2012 at 6 p.m., for all Prescott National Forest, Bradshaw Ranger District land south of the following: Beginning at the southwest corner, Township 12 North, Range 3 West, Section 33; south of River Pasture, along Forest Road 72 west to FS Road 667, following Middlewater Creek to the south of Maverick Mountain, east to Forest Road 9403C and onto Forest Road 52B connecting to the Senator Highway (County Road 56). Senator Highway east continuing to FS Road 261 east of Mount Union Lookout towards County Road 58 through Breezy Pines, extending to Poland Junction. All roads leading into the community of Crown King are closed. Cleator – Crown King Road (County Road 59) is closed at Cleator. Senator Highway to Crown King (County Road 52) is closed at the junction with Poland Rd. (County Road 58). Mayer-Bolada Road (County Road 177) is closed at the Forest Boundary. Forest Road 711 is closed south of the Forest boundary at Cow Creek Forest Road 362 is closed south of the Forest boundary at Wagner. Forest Road 192 is closed. A Yavapai County fire ban is in effect across all fire ban zones. Prescott National Forest Campfire and Smoking Restrictions are also in effect. For AZ Fire Info & Restrictions Information call 1-877-864-6985 or visit http://wildlandfire.az.gov.

Sunflower and Gladiator Fires visible from space

Gladiator Fire as seen from  I17, May 19, 2012

If you can see them from space, they must be big.
Groan.  I'm having flashbacks from last year's Wallow Fire.   Check out the NASA site below:
http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/NaturalHazards/view.php?id=77944

Barrier-free hiking on Flagstaff's McMillan Mesa

McMILLAN MESA

Flagstaff Urban Trails System/Arizona Trail

I've decided to call this one a sandwich hike. Like the great American lunch staple, the good stuff of this trek happens in the middle while the scenic equivalent of white bread bolsters the fringes.   The hike takes off near the main entrance of Buffalo Park, swinging south onto a route that's now part of the most urban passage of the Arizona Trail where there's a large sign with a tribute to Flagstaff educator and trail founder, Dale Shewalter.  Within a few yards, the trail crosses over Cedar Avenue on Matt Kelly bridge--which is named for a young bike rider who was killed by a drunk driver.

Past the bridge there's some serious ugly---a power plant and quarry. Still, this is billed as an urban trail, so I guess I don't have a complaint coming. Farther along, the wide, gravel route crosses McMillan Mesa-- the good stuff-- a grassy ridge sandwiched between downtown and the upper eastside of Flagstaff.  Sparsely populated with junipers, pines and firs, the view to the southeast is surprisingly lovely.  To the northeast, the busy city sprawls and carries on below. The trail is suitable for strollers, wheelchairs and walkers, making this a popular choice for multi-generational families.  Also, benches are placed at scenic spots along the way, including one that's perfect for train-spotting the BNST railroad that parallels Route 66. 

LENGTH:  1.5 miles one-way

RATING: easy, stroller-friendly, barrier-free

ELEVATION: 7,040'

DOGS: leashed dogs allowed

KID FRIENDLY?: yes

GETTING THERE:

Buffalo Park (North):

From Flagstaff, travel north on Fort Valley Road (US180) to Forest Ave.  Turn right and continue to the stop light at Gemini Drive.  Turn left and follow the signs to the park.

Hemlock Way (south):

From Flagstaff, travel east on Route 66 to Switzer Canyon Road.  Turn north (left) and go 0.6 mile to Turquoise Drive, turn right, go 0.3 mile to Ponderosa Pkwy, turn right and go 0.5 mile to Locust, turn left and go 0.1 mile to Apple, turn right and go 0.1 mile to Hemlock, turn left and continue 0.1 mile to the trailhead.

INFO: City of Flagstaff

http://flagstaff.az.gov/index.aspx?NID=1812

Arizona Trail Association

http://www.aztrail.org/passages/pass_33.html

MORE PHOTOS:

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.2703277919899.90622.1795269672&type=1&l=ed5248c36a

Sound off on how AZ recreation dollars should be spent

Help improve Arizona's outdoor recreation by participating in the Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan (SCORP) Survey. 

 The survey seeks to learn about the preferences and needs of people--like hikers--who recreate on Arizona's public lands. Results will be used by outdoor recreation managers on policy and funding matters. 

It takes about 25 minutes to complete.

Take the survey at http://surveymonkey.com/s/SCORPpub
(Note: The survey closes May 31, 2012) 

For more information on SCORP and the planning process, visit http://azstateparks.com/publications/#SCORP2012. 

InciWeb--your source for wildfire updates

Mazatzal Mountains south of Payson

We all knew this was coming---wildfire season.  With 5 blazes already in progress on our public lands, my head is spinning.  Some of these fires will actually do some good for forest health, others, not so much.
Right now it appears that the Sunflower Fire is the one closest to a major hiking trail---the Saddle Mountain and Mazatzal Divide passages of the Arizona Trail.  It's burning west of AZ 87 north of Mount Ord and south of Mazatzal Peak.  If you hiked in there, you know how remote it is---and, back in 2005, the Cave Creek Complex Fire also torched parts of this same area. Moving forward---its always a good idea to check for wildfire activity before heading out on a summer hike.  InciWeb is an excellent resource with maps and is updated frequently.
Here's the link to the Sunflower Fire:  http://www.inciweb.org/incident/2861/
Here's the link for ALL current AZ fires:
http://www.inciweb.org/state/3/

Legions of lizards on Ledges Trail #138

LEDGES TRAIL

Mormon Lake near Flagstaff

Short in length but long on scenic beauty, this easy trek climbs to a stone outcropping overlooking Mormon Lake. For fans of wildlife viewing, the "ledges" are a terrific platform for spotting elk, waterfowl, raptors and other large game.  In addition, legions of leapin' lizards, loquacious loggerhead shrikes, screeching Stellar's jays and butterflies a plenty keep things interesting along the trail.

The hike begins at site #25 in Dairy Springs campground, ascending gently but with loose rock underfoot.  Alligator juniper-framed first views of the lake emerge near the 0.3-mile point where the route levels out amid lava-boulder-strewn fields of wildflowers.  This environment is prime lizard habitat---they are everywhere. At one point, so many of the little creatures were darting across the path, I though I had interrupted some sort of reptile fly catching convention or something. Lucky for me, lizards can be excellent photo models--they freeze when cornered.  The path meets the "ledges" at the 0.6-mile point.  Here, lake vistas are breathtaking.  I saw a wandering herd of elk waaaay in the distance and chided myself for not bringing binoculars.  From the ledges, the trail heads left and downhill along a quagmire of footpaths passing several private homes.  Just pick a path---they all lead to Mormon Lake Road where you can return the way you came or hang a right and walk back to the parking lot.

LENGTH: 1.5 miles one-way

RATING: easy

ELEVATION: 7,237' - 7,400'

DOGS: leashed dogs allowed

KID FRIENDLY?: yes

BEST SEASON: April-November

DISTANCE FROM PHOENIX: 167 miles

GETTING THERE:

From Phoenix, take I17 north to exit 339 for Lake Mary Road (FR3) located south of the I40 interchange just before entering Flagstaff.  Follow Lake Mary Road south (right) 20.6 miles to Mormon Lake Road (milepost 323.6), turn right and drive 3.7 miles to the turn off for Dairy Spring campground.  Turn right again and go roughly 0.2 mile to the "trailhead parking" on the right or continue another bumpy/rocky 0.1mile to the Mormon Mountain trailhead.  Trailhead parking areas are free, but if you park in the campground, you'll be subject to fees.  Hike begins in the campground near site 25.

INFO: Flagstaff Ranger District, Coconino National Forest

http://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/coconino/recreation/hiking/recarea/?recid=55008&actid=50

MORE PHOTOS:

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.2703166037102.90620.1795269672&type=1&l=092d127684

Six stock tanks and a herd of elk near Happy Jack

SHUFFS TANK

Happy Jack, AZ

Where there’s water, there’s wildlife and because of its numerous stock tanks, natural pools and soggy drainages, animals tend to congregate on the Happy Jack passage of the Arizona Trail.  Running 31.2 miles from AZ87 near the Blue Ridge ranger station to Lake Mary Road near Allan Lake, this mild section of trail is a beautiful mix of pine-oak forests and wide-open meadows.  Hoping to spot roaming elk and deer, we made an easy “stock tank” themed out-and-back day hike on the northern part of this passage.  Beginning at the Gooseberry Spring trailhead (head southeast--right when facing the sign), the trail passes by six watering holes.  All but two will likely vaporize by summer, but the two big ones should survive the season.  The first water appears to the left of the trail in under a mile of hiking and is little more than a natural shallow bog cluttered with water buttercups.  Tank number two is a bulldozed depression dug out where the trail briefly follows a dirt road.  Third water shows up as a tiny grass-choked pond shortly before the trail encounters Maxie Tank---one of the big ones.  Less than a mile farther, we met a local woman sitting near a deer blind on the far side of tank number four.  She is an avid wildlife watcher and says that the best time to spot animals at the tanks is between 7 a.m and 9 a.m. As it was nearly 10 a.m. when we arrived at tank four, we wrote off seeing any elk on this trip.  At the 4-mile point is Shuffs Tank.  Ringed by fragrant Ponderosa pines, wet meadows full of wildflowers, and hundreds of animal footprints, this was by far the biggest of the six tanks on our hike.  Here, thousands of Rocky Mountain irises are popping through the mucky swamplands south of the tank---they should start blooming in next few weeks. We decided to take a lunch break on the northwest shore, still hoping to spot animals.  Up until then, our only sightings had been the back end of a coyote, a mountain bluebird and thousands of gopher burrows. (Do butterflies and ants count?) Then, on the way back, about 2 miles from the trailhead, we hit pay dirt---a herd of 5 elk roughly 100 yards ahead of us.  By some miracle, Shortie the hiking dog had not spotted them and his handler was able to leash him while I camera stalked.  Click on the “more photos” link below to see the beasts (and Shortie) in action.

First water hole

LENGTH: 8 miles out-and-back

RATING: easy

ELEVATION: 7,500’- 7,555’

KID FRIENDLY: yes, excellent choice

DOGS: water, wildlife--chasing!

GETTING THERE:

Gooseberry Spring trailhead:

From Phoenix, travel north on I17 to Camp Verde.  Connect to SR260 east (Payson) and go 33.6 miles to SR87 (Beeline Hwy).  Turn north (left) and drive 10 miles to Lake Mary Road (FR3) which is just past Clint’s Well.  Turn northwest (left) and follow Lake Mary Road 21.1 miles to FR 935 (signed Gooseberry Spring), turn right and drive 0.2 mile to the signed AZT trailhead.  Paved up to the last 0.2 mile. Passenger cars okay.   For alternative directions, see "Four Gates" hike below.

INFO: Arizona Trail Association

http://www.aztrail.org/passages/pass_29.html

MORE PHOTOS:

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.2691639348942.90411.1795269672&type=1&l=b36e320876

GOOSEBERRY SPRINGS TRAILHEAD

Arizona Trail Passage #30 
Coconino National Forest

First gate

Four gates plus 15 minutes = 10 miles.  That’s the crazy equation we developed for a pleasant, easy hike near Allan Lake.

Second gate

Third gate

We did this by following part of passage #30 of the Arizona Trail (AZT) with a GPS to measure our mileage and we determined that all one really needs to do to gauge a 10-mile out-and-back hike is count gates. Here’s the plan.  From the trailhead, begin hiking northwest (go left from the sign crossing the road) through a meadow following the AZT sign posts.  You’ll come to GATE #1 at the 0.5-mile point. Pass the gate, hike a few yards and cross Lake Mary Road (FR 3) where GATE #2 greets you at 0.51 mile on the west side of the road.  From here, the trail parallels FR 3 for a short distance before meeting GATE #3. Here, the signage is a bit confusing. The AZT sign points away from the gate, as if instructing you to go left. However, the correct route goes through the gate, (not around as the sign seems to indicate), and you’ll encounter another AZT sign near a dirt road. Cross the dirt road, hang a right after a few feet and follow the old railroad bed heading north.  This section passes the marshy headwaters of Allan Lake. You won’t see any AZT signs for a while, but they will appear again at critical junctions, so stay alert.  Once we passed GATE #4, we hiked for another 15 minutes or so to make an even 5 miles. As with all gates on forest lands--close them behind you --unless signage instructs otherwise.

LENGTH: 10 miles roundtrip

RATING: easy

ELEVATION:  7,450 - 7,500 feet

THE RULES: non-motorized use only

DOGS: leashed dogs okay

KIDS:  good choice

DISTANCE FROM PHOENIX: 130 miles one-way

GETTING THERE:

ALLAN LAKE (a.k.a. Gooseberry Springs) TRAILHEAD:

From Phoenix, go 75 miles north on AZ87 (Beeline Highway) to Payson.  At the intersection of AZ87/260, continue north on AZ87 to Clint’s Well and turn left onto Lake Mary Road (FR 3).  Continue 21.1 miles on FR 3 to milepost 312.2, turn right (east) onto a gated dirt road for Gooseberry Spring (FR 935) and drive 100 yards to the signed parking area on the right.  Hike begins across the road--head northwest toward the campground following the AZT signs. For alternative directions, see Shuffs Tank. 

INFO: Arizona Trail
http://www.aztrail.org/passages/pass_30.html

Hiking Flagstaff's plateau lakes

HORSE LAKE

Mormon Lake Arizona Trail Passage 30

Elk skeleton in Horse Lake: April 28, 2012

Pinion pines and junipers on Anderson Mesa

Triple digit heat has arrived in the Valley and with it comes the annual hiking exodus to higher elevations.  From October through April, we desert dwellers tend to frequent hiking trails in an elevation range of 1,000-4,000 feet.  Come May--we migrate.  I don't know about you, but my first few high elevation (7,000'+) hikes of the year leave me more breathless and more tired than expected.  That's why I like to do a couple of easy ones first.  The mostly flat "plateau lakes" section of the Arizona Trail-- commonly known as “Horse Lake”--fits this objective perfectly.  Part of 33.9-mile passage #30 of the Arizona Trail (AZT), this easy-to-access route wanders past three ponds (Vail, Prime and Horse) on the pine-pinion-juniper shaded meadows of Anderson Mesa northeast of Mormon Lake. These fugitive "lakes" vacillate between hip-deep pools and soggy swales in sync with rainfall.  Regardless of water levels, the mesa manages to stay moist enough to support plenty of flora and fauna.  In late April, the meadows begin blooming and yesterday, we found lots of Woodhouse phlox, stem-less daisies and yellow spiny daisies. Most hikers prefer to do this as key-exchange trek, parking vehicles at both the Marshall Lake and Horse Lake trailheads meeting in the middle for a 10.5-mile one-way hike.  For our one-car day trip, we began at Horse Lake trailhead, hiked out to Horse Lake and then doubled back.  Easy. 

Hazy view of Flagstaff's  San Francisco Peaks

LENGTH: 7.6 miles roundtrip (as described here)

RATING: easy

ELEVATION: 7,090' - 7,142'

DOGS: leashed dogs allowed

BEST SEASON: Mid-April thru October

DISTANCE FROM PHOENIX: 160 miles one way

GETTING THERE:

Horse Lake (south) trailhead:

From Phoenix, travel north on I-17 to exit 339 for Lake Mary Road located south of the I-40 junction

just before entering Flagstaff. Turn right and continue to the bottom of the off ramp where there's a Circle store.  Turn right again and go 16.3 miles south on Lake Mary Road (FR3) to milepost 327 and turn left on FR82E (Ashurst Lake/Pine Grove).  The Horse Lake trailhead is 0.7 mile ahead on the left.

Marshall Lake (north) trailhead:

From Phoenix, travel north on I-17 to exit 339 for Lake Mary Road located south of the I-40 junction

just before entering Flagstaff. Turn right and continue to the bottom of the off ramp where there's a CircleK store.  Turn right again and go 10.5 miles to FR 128 on the left (signs say observatory--it's easy to miss).  Follow curvy FR 128 2 miles to the big Marshall Lake sign/fence, turn left and continue less than a mile to the signed AZT parking area.

INFO:

Arizona Trail Association:

http://www.aztrail.org/passages/pass_30.html

Coconino National Forest, Flagstaff Ranger District: 928-526-0866

Hike with bikes on Prescott's Circle Trail

COLD SPRINGS-POTTS CREEK-TRAIL 9401J

Prescott

April 21, 2012

Hikers beware, this Friday April 27 -Sunday April 29, 2012 is the weekend of Prescott's famous Whiskey Off-Road Bike Race.  This year, 1,750 mountain bikers have registered and as the route follows busy downtown streets and popular hiking trails alike, you may want to steer clear of the area if you prefer hiking with less traffic.  We hiked a section of the course this past weekend and encountered dozens of athletes practicing for the race.  These trails are part of the City of Prescott’s Circle trail system—a collection of national forest, county and local trails, strung together in a 50-mile loop. From the Aspen Creek trailhead, we began hiking on Cold Springs #393 which starts out with an immediate uphill haul, then flattens out, wandering through  forests of Ponderosa pines with many sunny clearings.  Soon, views of Prescott's Thumb Butte area pop out over the trees.  Cold Spring--a damp rocky depression---appears on the left just before the trail ends at the Potts Creek #327 trail.  Trail 327 has lots of ups-and-downs, staying close to the stream at first, but soon dives into the woodlands through shady canyons, sun-washed meadows and a short burnt section.  A three-way junction for 327-391-9401J presents many options.  Continue on 327 to access myriad trails near Thumb Butte or (as we did) take trail 9401J (unsigned, but it's the trail on the left denoted by a path of logs) for a moderately strenuous, mostly exposed uphill haul to Sierra Prieta Overlook

LENGTH:  11.3 miles out-and-back

Cold Springs #393:  1.6 miles one-way

Potts Creek #327: 2 miles one-way

Trail #9401J: 2.3 miles one way

RATING: easy-moderate

ELEVATION: 6,200’- 6,940'

GETTING THERE:

Aspen Trail trailhead:

From the AZ69/89 junction in Prescott continue 1.25 miles west on 69 (becomes Gurley St) to Montezuma St. Turn left (south) on Montezuma (turns into AZ89/White Spar Road) and go 1 mile to the light at Copper Basin Road.  Turn right and go 4.6 miles on Copper Basin (turns to good dirt after 1.6 miles) to the trailhead on the right---signed Aspen Creek Trailhead. 

MAP: http://www.cityofprescott.net/_d/2011recmap_web.pdf

http://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/prescott/recreation/hiking/recarea/?recid=67311&actid=50

BIKE RACE INFO:

http://www.epicrides.com/index.php?contentCat=6&contentId=61

http://www.cityofprescott.net/events/index.php?year=2012&month=4&id=5657

MORE PHOTOS:
http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.2631304960620.89333.1795269672&type=1&l=c36be5cd6e

Hike an underrated Flagstaff volcano

SADDLE MOUNTAIN

Flagstaff

Snow at 8,500', April 20, 2012

Trails like this one "don't get no respect". In the grand promised land of Flagstaff-area hiking, it's easy to understand why a perfectly decent destination like Saddle Mountain would get lost in the fuss of more showy trails . Visible from US 180 just north of the Kendrick wildlife viewing area, the extinct cinder cone volcano rises 700 feet above woodlands recovering from the 2000 Pumpkin and 1996 Hochderffer fires.  In fact, several hiking books and online sources focus soooo much on the wildfires when describing this trail that they fail to fully respect its headliner attraction: fabulous views. Therefore, its B-list status persists. Certainly, unfortunate proximity to much more impressive mountain hikes (Kendrick Peak, Humphreys Peak) doesn’t help visitation either.  Get over it---I’m going out on a limb to highly recommend this trail. The hike itself is a moderate trudge on a service road that twists up the hill candy-cane-style, revealing sweeping, 360-degree landscape vistas that stretch all the way to the Grand Canyon and Painted Desert.  To the north, geological landmarks Red Mountain and Red Butte stand out on the flat plains of the Colorado Plateau while massive San Francisco Mountain commands the southern flank. On the summit, a visual spectacle of eroding cinder cones can be seen in northern Arizona’s volcanic field while communication transmitters hum in sync with alpine breezes. 

Volcanic field as seen from the summit

LENGTH:  5.8 miles roundtrip

RATING: moderate

ELEVATION: 8,100' - 8,800'

GETTING THERE:

From Flagstaff, go 21 miles north on US 180 to FR 514 located at milepost 236.5 (at the now defunct White Buffalo place).  SET YOUR ODOMETER---trust me. Turn right and travel 2.5 miles east on FR 514 (stay straight, ignore all side roads) to FR 550, turn left (north) and drive 1.9 miles to where there’s a small loop turnaround road on the left. This is FR 550A, but it’s not signed.  The road climbing the mountain on the left is the trail.  Park anywhere along the road, or, there’s also a small (one car) dirt turn out roughly 0.2 mile up FR550A if you want to shorten the hike.

INFO:

Flagstaff Ranger District, 928-526-0866

MORE PHOTOS:

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.2623412003301.89096.1795269672&type=1&l=dc163cf965

Urban wetlands hiking

GILBERT RIPARIAN PRESERVE at WATER RANCH

The sound of waterfowl is deafening.  Even with its proximity to US60 and a busy community center, a hike in this wetland complex of 7 ponds and a fishing lake mimics a stroll in a wilderness marsh.  These created groundwater recharge basins are surrounded by massive, green riparian vegetation attracting thousands of shorebirds, making for a cool, shady hike, even in warm weather.  Great blue herons, Snowy egrets, Long-billed dowitchers, mallards, grebes, killdeer, warblers and hummingbirds are extremely easy to spot.  Short loop trails with interpretive signs weave among flower gardens, mesquite bosques, nesting sites and feeding grounds.  For hard-core birders, viewing blinds are set up along the shores.  In addition to the hiking trails, the site features a kiddie playground with educational (dinosaur dig, anybody) opportunities, an observatory and a hefty events calendar.

LENGTH: 1.7 miles one-way

RATING: easy,barrier-free

ELEVATION: 1,200’

DOGS:  dogs MUST be on leash

KID FRIENDLY?: yes, very

HOURS: open daily dawn to dusk

GETTING THERE:

From Phoenix travel east on US 60 to Greenfield Road. Go south on Greenfield to Guadalupe, hang a left and continue less than a block to the preserve parking areas on the right.

INFO & MAP:

Town of Gilbert, 480-503-6200

http://www.riparianinstitute.org/riparian.cfm

MORE PHOTOS:

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.2594447959218.88410.1795269672&type=1&l=b93d42e8c3

Canyon Creek's amazing recovery

CANYON CREEK

Near Young

Issuing from the base of the Mogollon Rim, Canyon Creek is  a top Arizona fishing and hiking destination.  Back in 2002, the Rodeo-Chedeski fire torched parts of the forests surrounding this beautiful perennial stream while leaving other sections intact. Since the fire swept through, the forest service, game & fish and other agencies have been working to restore and stabilize  the waterway.  Vegetation has been replanted and fencing keeps resident wildlife from browsing sensitive saplings.   In between the blackened trunks and  barren knolls, pockets of lush pines, alders, locusts and willows frame sprawling green pastures that burst with color in summer wildflower season (May -September). The hike is a combination of stream side bushwhacking, meadow strolls and--where the brambles are too thick to stay near the water---adjacent FR 188 serves as a detour.  Beginning at Airplane Flat campground (which was untouched by the fire) the hike portal is a wooden gate near campsite #10.   Narrow paths blazed by anglers head toward the water and sometimes are obscured by brush and dead tree fall. Also, be prepared to crawl under barbed wire and pass various gate contraptions put in place to protect newborn riparian vegetation. (Please do not cut or otherwise alter these fences). At roughly 1.25 miles, OW Bridge leads to a private ranch.  Here, informative signs with maps, fishing rules and insight into the creek restoration project mark a popular stop for anglers trying for  coveted brown trout.  Continue hiking south along the stream---there's no definitive way to go, just head in the direction of the the water, crossing back and forth at low flow points or on primitive log “bridges”---expect wet feet if you really want to get the most out of this trek. Numerous signs along the road herald additional access points and you'll probably run into people fishing along the banks on your way to the 5-mile point where the trail ends at the Fort Apache Indian Reservation.

LENGTH: 5 miles one way

RATING: easy (some route-finding)

ELEVATION: 6,200' – 6,600'

KID FRIENDLY?: yes

DOGS: leashed dogs allowed

DISTANCE FROM PHOENIX:  140 miles one way

FACILITIES: outhouses, non-reservable camp sites, site host in season, picnic tables

FEE: none.  Some hike reports state that a Tonto Pass is required.  It is not.

GETTING THERE:

From Phoenix, travel north on AZ87 (Beeline Highway) to the AZ260 junction in Payson.  Turn east (right) and continue 32 miles on AZ260 to Young Road (FR 512) between mileposts 284-285.  Turn south (right) and go 3 miles to FR 33 (Canyon Creek Recreation Area) located just past milepost 330.  Turn left and go 5 miles on FR 33  to Airplane Flat campground.  The last 5 miles are on a winding, precipitous, but good dirt road suitable for sedans in dry weather.  Do not park in designated campsites---use the dirt turnouts.

INFO: Pleasant Valley Ranger District, Tonto National Forest, 928-462-4300

http://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/tonto/recreation/camping-cabins/recarea/?recid=35645&actid=29

MORE PHOTOS:

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.2562441759083.87588.1795269672&type=1&l=7f977b4dd1

Sedona "Peanut gallery" hike

MARGS DRAW

Munds Mountain Wilderness

Lucy and Snoopy rock formations

Hiking in wilderness areas is always a treat.  Motorized vehicles and even peddle-powered bikes are not allowed, making for an exceptionally quiet experience. Munds Mountain Wilderness is one of the  easiest to access wild places in the state.  Located just yards beyond a bank of private residences along Sedona's busy highway 179, one might wonder just how “out there” this trek would feel. Surprizingly,  the trail does offer a refreshing  escape.  Massive blood red-and-buff colored sedimentary stone cliffs rise along the route's north flank  absorbing the din of civilization while inspiring a million photo opportunities.  It's along this  pinion pine and cypress-shaded trail where two of Red Rock Country's most beloved sandstone formations live.  At around the mid-point of the hike, look up to spot “Snoopy Rock” and “Lucy”.  The profile bust of Peanuts character, Lucy sits in the middle of a high ridge, while her canine cartoon companion, Snoopy can be seen laying on his back on a ledge just below her  with Woodstock the bird perched on his nose.

LENGTH:  2 miles one way

RATING: easy

ELEVATION:  4,285' – 4,480'

FEE: $5 Red Rock Pass required at the Schnebly Hill trailhead

http://www.redrockcountry.org/passes-and-permits/index.shtml

DOGS: leashed dogs allowed

KID FRIENDLY?: yes

BEST SEASON: year-round, but primo October -April

DISTANCE FROM PHOENIX: 125 miles one way

GETTING THERE: (3 TRAILHEADS)

Schnebly Hill (north)  trailhead:

From Phoenix, go north on I-17 to exit 298 for AZ179/Sedona-Oak Creek.  Travel west (left) on AZ179 to the traffic circle just before entering Sedona (near Talaquepaque center), veer right into the circle, make and immediate right onto Schnebly Hill Road and continue 1 mile to the Huckaby-Munds Wagon  trailhead on the left.

Sombart Lane (middle)  trailhead:

From Phoenix, go north on I-17 to exit 298 for AZ179/Sedona-Oak Creek.  Travel west (left) on AZ179, turn right onto Sombart Lane—located between mileposts 312 and 313--and continue 0.2 mile to the trailhead.  Here, there's a 0.4-mile connector trail leading to Margs Draw.

Broken Arrow (south) trailhead:

From Phoenix, go north on I-17 to exit 298 for AZ179/Sedona-Oak Creek.  Travel west (left) on AZ179 and turn right onto Morgan Road—located between mileposts 311 and 312--and continue 0.6 mile to the trailhead on the left.

INFO: Red Rock Ranger District, Coconono National Forest, 928-203-2900

http://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/coconino/recreation/hiking/recarea/?recid=55206&actid=50

MORE PHOTOS:
http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.2562605443175.87593.1795269672&type=1&l=7f2d4290bc

A hike survival tool that helps American veterans.

SURVIVAL STRAPS

Marketers love bloggers these days.  I know this because hardly a day goes by when I don't receive inquiries offering free product in return for  blog reviews.

Although I receive an average of 15 offers for free products each week, I accept only when a product is highly relevent and would be of interest to hikers. (And I don't write about it if it sucks!) Survival Straps are worth knowing about.  These  American-made, rugged bracelets and accessories are constructed of super-strong knotted paracord that can be unwound for use in emergency situations.  An effortless (and fashionable) addition to your hike survival kit, the straps can be used for:

• water rescue

• building a shelter

• fix broken packs, boots

• improvise a sling or splint

• emergency dog leash

• string-and-stick fire maker

• fishing line

• control bleeding

• belt

• tent/food bag rigging

• towing

• make a trap

But, the real clincher is this: when you purchase a strap, a portion of the proceeds go to the Wounded Warrior Project—a program set up to support injured soldiers returning home from the military.  The project focuses on providing education,employment services, emotional support and physical well-being.

Also, if you deploy your strap and have a good story to tell—send it in to the manufacturer and you'll receive a replacement for just the cost of shipping.

SURVIVAL STRAPS

http://www.survivalstraps.com/

800-971-3360

WOUNDED WARRIOR PROJECT:

http://www.woundedwarriorproject.org/

DISCLOSURE: I received several free product samples but was not obligated to provide a blog review.

Free AZ birds of prey seminar

Sedona’s premiere hiking store “The Hike House” announces free educational seminar featuring Arizona birds of prey with Jean Rigden of Liberty Wildlife

Sedona, AZ (April 14, 2012) - The Hike House located in the Hozho gallery complex on State Route 179A in Sedona Arizona, opened its door to hikers and outdoor enthusiasts in 2010.  Owner’s Greg & Gracie Stevenson have created a store that captures the essence of the Total Hiking Experience.  “It is a journey, a journey of the mind, body and soul that elevates one understands of themselves and of the magnificence in nature that surrounds them” says Stevenson. In the ongoing process of that journey, The Hike House brings a series of lectures and educational seminars to further the hiking experience. On April 14th they will present wildlife activist Jean Rigden with the Liberty Foundation and their collection of live species of birds of prey of Arizona.

Liberty Wildlife is a wildlife rehabilitation, conservation and education foundation in Scottsdale Az.  Since 1981 Liberty Wildlife has been taking in sick and injured native and migratory wildlife with a primary goal of releasing them back to the wild. The organization specializes in birds of prey, and always has hawks, owls, falcons, and eagles in its care, along with the occasional California Condor.  The Education Program at Liberty Wildlife trains non-releasable  birds of prey into ambassadors for their species, providing education programs to schools and to community groups and events.

This free lecture will be held on the patio of The Hike House’s Energy Café.  Jean  will have a variety of falcons, hawks and owls on display.  Join Jean and The Hike House on April 14th at 11 AM for this informative seminar.

The Hike House is located at 431 State Highway 179A #B-1 at Hozho’s. Visit www.thehikehouse.com or call 928.282.5820

Contact: Greg Stevenson

 (DISCLOSURE: Mare is not associated with The Hike House.  This is not a paid endorsement.)

Payson's peachless Peach Orchard hike

PEACH ORCHARD TRAIL & PEACH LOOP

View of the Mazatzal Mountains

Payson

So bring on the peaches, already.  Given the fruity name of these two south Payson trails, I was certain we'd be wandering among groves of  fragrant blossoming trees.  Nope.  Although the eponymous peach trees were nowhere to be found, we did discover other points-of-interest along the way.

The route was developed as a cooperative project of the USFS and the City of Payson Area Trails System (PATS).  Existing 4x4 roads were lassoed into a cohesive “lollipop loop” open to hikers, equestrians, mountain bikes and motorized recreational vehicles.  Anchored by two  trailheads, we decided to begin this trek at the rodeo grounds, hike 3 miles on Peach Orchard to the Peach Loop and then double back for a 8.2-mile trip.  

From the trailhead, the rocky route begins as an easy climb to a scenic ridge.  Here, first views of the Mazatzal mountains peek out over thick  juniper-scrub woodlands.  Next, the trail dips into a yawning green valley passing the stone foundation of an  abandoned building and  a tiny riparian area (low point of the hike at 4,594')  before entering a sun-drenched basin where it connects with the Peach Loop trail.  At first glance, the loop--which PATS rates as strenuous---looks innocuous enough.  However, it ascends 340 feet (4,765' - 5105') in about 0.2 mile without mitigating switchbacks--so it's tougher than it appears. This makes for a good excuse to pause and enjoy views of the Mogollon Rim that grow more spectacular with each foot of elevation gained. We were glad to hike this section as an uphill, because going down would certainly tax the knees.   After this short grinding climb, the loop winds among agave-studded hills before re-connecting with Peach Orchard trail.

Mogollon Rim on the horizon

LENGTH: 8.2 miles (as described here)

Peach Orchard trail: 3 miles one-way

Peach Loop: 2.2 miles

RATING:  moderate

ELEVATION: 4,594' – 5,105'

BEST SEASON:  year-round, best spring & fall

DOGS: leashed dogs allowed

KID FRIENDLY?: yes, although the loop might be too tough

FACILITIES: none

DISTANCE FROM PHOENIX: 90 miles one-way

GETTING THERE:

Gila County (a.k.a. Rodeo Grounds) trailhead (described here):

From Phoenix, go north on AZ87 (Beeline Hwy) to Payson.  Turn left onto Green Valley Parkway at the first traffic signal before entering town (across from the Mazatzal casino) and continue 0.2 mile to the trailhead.

Payson Golf Course trailhead:

Use this option to begin on the Loop:

From Phoenix, go north on AZ87 (Beeline Hwy) to Payson. Turn left on Main Street which is the 2^nd light as you enter town.  Follow Main St. 1.7 miles to the clubhouse, then make an immediate left to the trailhead.

INFO: Payson Parks & Recreation, 928-474-5242 EXT 7

http://www.paysonrimcountry.com/MountainRecreation/HikingTrails/PaysonAreaTrailsSystem/EventCenterGilaCountyTrail.aspx
MORE PHOTOS:

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.2510099570561.86290.1795269672&type=1&l=2a7232a7c8

Prescott slickrock hiking

WILLOW DELLS SLICKROCK TRAILS

City of Prescott

Thank goodness for guys like Jerry.  He's one of the volunteers with the City of Prescott's parks & recreation department that help maintain the “white dot” trails in the granite dells-area parks.  Without those spray-painted little directional beacons, it would be impossible to stay on course. We ran into Jerry in the middle of his weekly trail inspection and he was kind enough to share some history and interesting facts  about the surrounding landscape  and also coached me through a slightly scary slickrock section---which was not as treacherous at it looked after all.

Hiking in Prescott's granite dells is like getting lost in a stone labyrinth hazed with an absorbing “one-with-the-rock” kind of feeling.  The network of paths on the north shore of Willow Lake coil through hulking quartz-studded granite buttes squeezing in-and-out on the paths in heaving accordian style. 

The rugged meandering loop trails move seamlessly from claustrophobically tight spaces to  airy exposed promintaries with unobstructed vistas. Don't be put off by the short hiking distance---the trails are a varied, complex mashup with high steps, cagey twists and surprises around every bend.

LENGTH: 3.3 miles (7 connected trails)

RATING: easy-moderate, sturdy shoes/boots with good traction required

ELEVATION:  5,080' – 5,180'

KID FRIENDLY: older kids

DOGS: must be on leash/pack out poo

FEE: $2 daily parking fee

GETTING THERE:

From Phoenix, travel north on I17 to Cordes Junction  exit 262 for Prescott  AZ 69.  Turn west and follow AZ 69 32 miles to Prescott.  Just outside of downtown, pass Walker Road and begin looking for Prescott Lakes Parkway---located across from the Prescott Gateway Mall where there's a huge Cadillac dealership. Turn right (north) on Prescott Lakes Pkwy and continue  north (crossing AZ89) to Willow Lake Road.  Turn left (west) and go  to Willow Creek Road.  Turn right and continue to Heritage Park Road (Across from Embry-Riddle U and heading toward the zoo). Turn right and then make an immediate right onto Heritage Park Creek and follow the signs to the to the trailhead.

INFO & MAP: City of Prescott

http://www.cityofprescott.net/services/parks/trails/?id=45

MORE PHOTOS:

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.2392943641736.83330.1795269672&type=1&l=92edd93b6f

Hikers are a waste of venom

RATTLESNAKE PREPAREDNESS

Encounter at Camp Creek

It's that time of year again—the beginning of rattlesnake season.  A report today on KJZZ stated that so far this year, there have been 7 documented rattler bites in Arizona---none of them were fatal.  Springtime warmth brings these  reptiles out of hibernation, and when they first wake up, they are both hungry and full of venom.  They are looking for rodents—not your ankle.  Venom is very expensive for snakes to produce so they don't want to waste it on anything that's not food.  That's why they rattle and warn first and strike only when stepped on, surprized or provoked.  Amazingly, many bites are the results of people intentionally handling the snakes. (as in, "Hold my beer; watch this...")

Black-tail rattler: Parson Springs

You can greatly reduce your chances of getting serpent stung by observing a few simple rules when hiking in rattlesnake territory (virtually all of AZ):

•  Never step or put your hands anyplace where you cannot see.

•  Loose the headphones; you'll want to hear that rattle!

•  Snakes are most active in morning and late afternoon.  They seek shade (beware the brittlebushes) during the heat of day.

•  Rodent holes=rattlesnake buffet. 

•  When you encounter a snake, simply walk around it.  There's no need to harass the beast.

•  If you are bitten, seek medical help by calling 911.  Do NOT, cut, use a tourniquet or ice the wound.  Your “treatments” can contribute to tissue necropsy and infection.  If you are out of phone range, you can walk slowly toward help.

•  It is not necessary to kill or capture the snake; hospitals will know how to treat you.

Sighting in Sycamore Canyon

ARIZONA GAME & FISH RATTLESNAKE INFO:

http://www.azgfd.gov/w_c/arizona-rattlesnakes.shtml

BANNER HEALTH SNAKE BITE ADVISE:

http://www.bannerhealth.com/Locations/Arizona/Banner+Good+Samaritan+Poison+and+Drug+Information+Center/Desert+Critters/Rattlesnakes.htm