5th Annual West Fork Wade (Aug11-12 2007)

What is it?: The West Fork Wade is a canyoneering adventure which begins at the top of the rim and follows the West Fork of Oak Creek 14 miles to the trailhead at Call o' the Canyon. This will be our 5th annual trek! There is a possibility it will require some short swims (hopefully), but there is no technical climbing required.

An alternative hike will also be available, which is the normal out and back beginning at Call of the Canyon. This optional hike can be extended beyond the "get your feet wet" point, which is about 3 miles in. This will be the end-point of the main WFW "day-hike". Those who can make sure that a few 'cold ones' are available at the end of the trek will be GREATLY appreciated. You will really like that end of the canyon for sure.

The Plan?: We will be rising early on Saturday morning to make the drop-in point early enough for a dusk exit at Call of the Canyon. Figure around 5:30 or 6:00 a.m. wake-up. We should hit the road for the drop-off by 7:00 a.m. If the weather looks too threatening for the top-down hike, a decision will be made whether to call the main hike, or not. Plan B will be to start the hike from the bottom, and see how far we can get before turning around. The shuttle situation will be finalized on Friday night or Sat morn.

Campsite?: Just North of I40 and exit 190. Directions: From Flagstaff, take I-40 W west about 5 miles to exit 190, A-1 Mountain Road. Go right at the stop sign onto FR 506. You'll pass by a to-be-built subdivision on the left. From where the road turns to dirt at a cattle guard (about 1/4 mile from the interstate), go 0.9 miles to a turnoff for the camping area on the left. The road is fine for low-clearance vehicles.

Directions to Call o' the Canyon - Take 89A south 17.5 miles south from Flagstaff or north 9.5 miles from Sedona to about halfway between milepost 385 and 384. Located on West side of 89A.

Directions to hike drop off - Take I-40 to exit 191 (Bus 40). Take a right and head East to Woody Mountain road (FR 231). Take that South about 15 miles to the bridge spanning Oak Creek. There is room to park a few vehicles if necessary. Mainly a gravel road, and low-clearance okay.

What to bring?: Pack light and waterproof everything the best you can. It may be wet in a few spots, and will definitely be a full day, so pack accordingly.

Food Plan: Friday night plan is to head into Flagstaff around 7:00 or 7:30. Hope to be back fairly early for bed as it will be a long day on Sat. Sat morning will be a light grazing session so we can get an early enough start. Nothing elaborate. Sat night will be the main grub night.

Saturday night food list:

Tom Treks - Brats and buns.
Hooligan - one skinless chicken wing, and 4 or 5 buckets of KFC
wanderingsoul - Potato salad, and deviled eggs
Paintninaz - grilled veggies for Sat, banana and pumpkin breads for breakfast Sun
Hikngrl - Yummy desert for Sat, and bacon for Sun morn
aspen_oaks - hummus and pitas
si na ti - chips and dips, pasta salad and brownies
IGO - chicken, ham, and tuna salads, wheat crackers, fresh wheat bread. Eggs for Sun morn
GTG - griiled shrimp, pancakes for Sun morn
outside1 - Hearty Chili
sunflowerrn - fire roasted tomato basil soup for saturday night, home roasted coffee beans and a french press for sunday morning breakfast
surfergirl - boca burgers, muffins, special southern sweet potatos

evenstar · Joined: 03 Jan 2003 Posts: 5548 Location: SCW by way of CA

Trishness · Posted: 7/24/2007, 6:53 pm Post subject:

I'll bring some shrimp and cocktail sauce for an appetizer Saturday night

Mr. Green

_________________
~~~Trish~~~

"Eastward the dawn rose, ridge behind ridge into the morning, and vanished out of eyesight into guess; it was no more than a glimmer blending with the hem of the sky, but it spoke to them, out of the memory and old tales, of the high and distant mountains." ï¿½ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of The Rings.

Tom Treks · Gear Addict Joined: 12 Jan 2003 Posts: 3347

paintninaz · Joined: 06 Jan 2003 Posts: 3515

evenstar · Joined: 03 Jan 2003 Posts: 5548 Location: SCW by way of CA

LongStoryShort · Joined: 04 Oct 2004 Posts: 402 Location: Doha, Qatar

I have to unregister guys, I'm having some hamstring issues and I'm not gonna be ready for a PR this year. Sad

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Happiness is being high on the food chain.

Hikngrl · Posted: 7/29/2007, 12:05 pm Post subject:

Suz · Joined: 27 Nov 2005 Posts: 3186

Trishness · Posted: 7/29/2007, 9:10 pm Post subject:

I have to unregister also~~~something else has come up for me that weekend.

Be safe y'all

Mr. Green

_________________
~~~Trish~~~

"Eastward the dawn rose, ridge behind ridge into the morning, and vanished out of eyesight into guess; it was no more than a glimmer blending with the hem of the sky, but it spoke to them, out of the memory and old tales, of the high and distant mountains." ï¿½ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of The Rings.

Hikngrl · Posted: 7/30/2007, 6:28 am Post subject:

Oh Trish... I am sorry you are gonna miss this. It is such a fun one. Maybe next year?
_________________
~~~Diane~~~

I want to shine!

wanderingsoul · Joined: 19 Jul 2004 Posts: 2285 Location: Gilbert AZ

Trish, I'm really sorry you won't be coming too!!! Was looking forward to your company along the way. As Diane said, maybe next year or another time things will work out.
_________________
Wanderingsoul (Michelle)

Positive Thinking Is the Spark that Makes Dreams Happen~~~Unknown

Valet2 · Posted: 7/30/2007, 6:31 pm Post subject:

I can't be there Crying or Very sad

... found out that I have to do the Drama Team thing at church that weekend and don't want to have to come back Sat. night.. even though I was just going to do the alt. route... Randy isn't sure now either...
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Learning is a life long process, schooling is only one part, an education is what I will have when I leave this place.

wanderingsoul · Joined: 19 Jul 2004 Posts: 2285 Location: Gilbert AZ

Oh my Patty you and Randy too! We will miss you too!
_________________
Wanderingsoul (Michelle)

Positive Thinking Is the Spark that Makes Dreams Happen~~~Unknown

Hikngrl · Posted: 7/30/2007, 7:07 pm Post subject:

It looks like the "dropping like flys" stage has hit early this time. Crying or Very sad

Sorry you guys won't be there....
_________________
~~~Diane~~~

I want to shine!

aspen_oaks · Joined: 15 Mar 2007 Posts: 78 Location: Avondale......

to break trend........I will be attending.........