Humphreys Peak

Canyon Dweller · Joined: 06 Jan 2003 Posts: 712 Location: Denver, CO

on June 14 I headed up Humphreys Peak. I got there at 7:00. We started up the ski slopes instead of emediatly catching the main trail. We soon caught the main trail and headed into the forest. Living in Phoenix for a year had me worried how I would do in the high country. I did fine until I hite 11,400 feet. I started to slow down then. Before I knew it we were on the saddle and we only crossed 2 small ice patches that were easily avoided. We then headed up to the summit. in some spots where the trail follows the ridge there was snow fallowing the ridgeline just feet below us. there still is a conciderable amount of snow up there, just NONE on the trail. We got to the top about 10:00 and the breeze was comming through making things a bit cold. A little while later the breeze lessened and it warmed up a bit. The bugs were out and i had wished that i brought some bug repelent. The sun also kissed me, making me wish i brought some sun screen. The sun is very intence on top of the mountain. It feels cool, but the sun will get you all the same. There was not a cloud in the sky, making for the perfect hiking day. Smoke from nearby fires restriced the view, but the Grand Canyon was still visable.

On top I met MDowney a fellow Summitpost.com member from Colorado. That was really neat meeting him on top of the mountain. I also met a few people from Hikearizona.com on the mountain. The summitlog was full, so I could not sign it. Sad

I'd recommend that somebody brings a note pad to put in the summit log for in case it is still full.
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Mountains are there to be climbed!

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

nasbond · Joined: 20 Jun 2003 Posts: 24 Location: Winslow, Arizona

Thanks forgot about the bugs.
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sam_hikes · Joined: 07 Apr 2003 Posts: 383

no bugs or snow this Friday or Saturday...suspect the wind kept them away Question

Canyon Dweller · Joined: 06 Jan 2003 Posts: 712 Location: Denver, CO

yes the wind will keep them away. did you get on the summit? that is where the problem lies.
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Mountains are there to be climbed!

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

sam_hikes · Joined: 07 Apr 2003 Posts: 383

yup... no problems on the summit... strange for you to run into pest problems at 12,633 ft where there's so little growing...what sort of pests Question

Canyon Dweller · Joined: 06 Jan 2003 Posts: 712 Location: Denver, CO

bugs, many bugs. Nats, flys, unindenified bugs, lady bugs, bees, types of bees and flys you'll only see at high elevations. The bugs are countless!!!! Crazy

Alot of the bugs fly in the jet streams. They use very little energy to travel that way.
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Mountains are there to be climbed!

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

nasbond · Joined: 20 Jun 2003 Posts: 24 Location: Winslow, Arizona

I am going to climb Mt. Humphrey is Saturday. At least I am going to try. If I do I wll try and indentify the little folks up there and will report back next week. The next question is what is the temp in the upper reaches of this hill.
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sam_hikes · Joined: 07 Apr 2003 Posts: 383

Canyon Dweller · Joined: 06 Jan 2003 Posts: 712 Location: Denver, CO

figure 3.5 degrees less for every 1,000 feet elevation change. You can get a pretty good guess what the temp will be like.
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Mountains are there to be climbed!

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

sam_hikes · Joined: 07 Apr 2003 Posts: 383

maryphyl · Posted: 7/7/2003, 3:17 pm Post subject:

nasbond · Joined: 20 Jun 2003 Posts: 24 Location: Winslow, Arizona

When I got uparound 12000 ft it snowed. Or I should say you could see snow flakes in the air with a few landing on the ground. I did not seem cold at the time even with the wind blowing.

On todays climate off the mountain it is quite hot and I need to find another mountain.
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plummer150 · Posted: 7/9/2003, 8:38 am Post subject: re:

Sounds like an awesome trip! Can't wait to make it up Humphreys myself here someday!
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"IRONMAN" cometh, hiketh, destroyeth

nasbond · Joined: 20 Jun 2003 Posts: 24 Location: Winslow, Arizona

Been to your county before. Good hiking there. Lots of water and green. Here no water. In the interbasin the Peaks have water. On the outside nothing. Water here is a major concern even more so in the summer. In most case's you carry all your water for the hike. On the hike up Mt. Humphreys I carried eight quarts of water. I had one-half quart left when I came down.

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maryphyl · Posted: 7/10/2003, 9:59 pm Post subject:

WOW!! That's a lot of water. I would drink a quart before I left the car and take two or three quarts with me. Is it possible you drink when you have dry mouth and are not necessarily thirsty?
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Shikekeh hozhoogo naasha.
I walk in beauty.