West Baldy Trail #94

kurthzone · Posted: 5/28/2003, 12:48 pm Post subject: West Baldy Trail #94

On Saturday the 24th of May 2003 my daughter Candice and I hiked most of the West Baldy Trail #94. The West Baldy Trail is a great one. The trailhead used to be at Sheeps Crossing, but I think they moved it back up the hill to avoid all the congestion caused by fishermen and hikers converging in the same area. As a result the trail is now 8 miles to the reservation boundary not 7 (you cannot go to the summit as it is sacred Apache land). We promised the sisters back at camp that we would be back by 3. We were on the trail by 9:30 and got back to the trailhead about 2:30. It was a wonderful trek; the scenery was awesome. About half of the trail winds along side of the West Fork of Little Colorado. I have never seen it as full as it was. There were numerous smaller tributaries all along the trail feeding into it. And as you can see by the pictures there was quite a bit of snow still on the upper slopes of Baldy and plenty at the top. The air was fresh and filled with the aroma of damp fur and spruce forest. This hike was definitely a SPOONFUL.

http://www.extremezone.com/~kurth/BaldyWestforkTrail/
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sam_hikes · Joined: 07 Apr 2003 Posts: 383

Stan,

Great report/pics. Miss Baldy even more now. Very Happy

Climbed it 2 different times last summer as loop hikes up east/west side.

Official top is very strange as there was no sign or fence warning people. Forest Service reports of people getting their gear taken by police and sometimes even by the locals for trespassing. Evil or Very Mad

I remember when 20+ years ago Baldy Peak was open to all.

Nealz · Joined: 06 Jan 2003 Posts: 131 Location: Alpine, Arizona

Very nice Stan. The residual snow is a nice touch too. I was in Alpine and hiked Escudilla Mtn over Memorial Day and saw some leftover snow as well. It sure is pretty up around there. So far, the eastern White Mtns. are still fairly wet from winter snowfall and they've had some summer rains already too. Should help during fire season.

-Nealz

kurthzone · Posted: 6/3/2003, 8:15 am Post subject:

k9hiker · Joined: 09 Jan 2003 Posts: 390 Location: NW Phoenix

Is the milage 8 miles on way or RT? If it's one way then you did 16 miles in 5 hours?? You and your daughter rock Stan.
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Canine Hiking Club of AZ
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kurthzone · Posted: 6/6/2003, 8:07 am Post subject: