White Tanks

[dennisbench]

I just got back from a stroll through the White Tanks. It was the first time I have been there. Hooli, since you live out that way, I was wondering how often you go there? Also I saw from the trail map that only a portion of the park has trails. What's the deal with that? It says to please stay on the trails, I assume that means no off trail hiking? It seems like a large place, but only that east part is hikeable. The reason I ask so many questions is that I'll be moving out to El Mirage this May, so i will probably go there often, once I move.
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"In the first place you can't see anything from a car; you've got to get out of the goddamned contraption and walk, better yet crawl, on hands and knees...When traces of blood begin to mark your trail you'll see something, maybe."
-Ed Abbey

[evenstar]

Dennis, I've hike every trail out there at least once. Done a Ford Canyon, Willow Canyon, Coat Camp loop several times. Same with the Goat Camp, Ford Canyon, Willow, Goat Camp loop. When I first moved here in April '01 and was looking for someplace to hike, White Tanks was all I knew about. Haven't been there for a while 'cause found the hiking areas around Sedona, Payson, and of course the Canyon, which is hard to beat.
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John Richardson and Richie Rich, El Perro de Playero
http://members.tripod.com/~evenstar/index.html
http://www.arizonahikers.com
When the Man waked up he said, "What is Wild Dog doing here?" And the Woman said, "His name is not Wild Dog anymore, but the First Friend, because he will be our friend for always and always and always. Take him with you when you go hunting."
--Rudyard Kipling, from Just So Stories, 1902

[dennisbench]

Yeah, right now I live near the Phoenix Preserves, so when I don't have a lot of time I go to a trail there. I figure it will be nice to have the White Tanks so close, so I can go there if I don't feel like driving far. I just wonder why there aren't trails on the west half of the park.
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"In the first place you can't see anything from a car; you've got to get out of the goddamned contraption and walk, better yet crawl, on hands and knees...When traces of blood begin to mark your trail you'll see something, maybe."
-Ed Abbey

[evenstar]

I'm not sure how far west the park boundry is. If the trail map shows the whole park, then the western sections of the Goat Camp and Ford Canyon trails aren't very far from the western boundry.
_________________
John Richardson and Richie Rich, El Perro de Playero
http://members.tripod.com/~evenstar/index.html
http://www.arizonahikers.com
When the Man waked up he said, "What is Wild Dog doing here?" And the Woman said, "His name is not Wild Dog anymore, but the First Friend, because he will be our friend for always and always and always. Take him with you when you go hunting."
--Rudyard Kipling, from Just So Stories, 1902

[dennisbench]

Well I just called over and asked why. The guy said that it is basically because it is harder to get to because there aren't really any roads going on that side. I asked if off trail hiking in that part is allowed and said that they "prefer" you stay on the designated trails. Although he did say at times hunters go on that side, so I took that to mean that you could got to that side if you really wanted to without going against the rules. He basically said that with the amount of visitation, especially with families and people who don't hike much that its better for the park, so theres not tons of people over there getting lost or whatever. Also its about 7 miles east to west, and the ford canyon and goat canyon go about half way east to west. Thats seems to me to leave a good amount of space to explore.
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"In the first place you can't see anything from a car; you've got to get out of the goddamned contraption and walk, better yet crawl, on hands and knees...When traces of blood begin to mark your trail you'll see something, maybe."
-Ed Abbey

[Canyon Dweller]

I have been curiouse about the white tanks. I just think that if I was going to do then i would not be able to resist the temptation of getting off the trail and heading up to the top of one of the peaks.
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Mountains are there to be climbed!

"Meaningless! Meaningless," says the teacher, "Utterly Meaningless, Everything is meaningless."-Ecclesiastes 1:2

[ck1]

Syd Hays might have some knowledge of the western half of the park...I wondered the same thing, about why there aren't trails over in that section...glad you asked about it...
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-Colin

"The Journey is the Destination"