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

[desertgirl]

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
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Photos: http://www.pbase.com/desertgirl/galleries
Life is but a dream ...there is no end to what you can dream!

[evenstar]

I'll be staying at nearby RV Park, same as last year, and be doing the hike in from Call of the Canyon.
Will be joining group Friday night.

I'll probably bring BBQ'd Pre-cooked shortribs.
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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

[IGO]

You're durn toot'n thanks to Tom. And thank you Ambika for keeping this thing alive. You guys just don't know how special this event was for me last year.....even though I was the last one in.
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"Surely all God's people, however serious or savage, great or small, like to play. Whales and elephants, dancing, humming gnats, and invisibly small mischievous microbes - all are warm with divine radium and must have lots of fun in them." John Muir

[desertgirl]

[azhiker96]

I'm signing up although I don't know what my schedule will be. I'll even slow down and be sociable this year.
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It is far better to grasp the Universe as it really is than to persist in delusion, however satisfying and reassuring. -- Carl Sagan

[IGO]

I'm fat and grey....but I did swim all the holes.
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"Surely all God's people, however serious or savage, great or small, like to play. Whales and elephants, dancing, humming gnats, and invisibly small mischievous microbes - all are warm with divine radium and must have lots of fun in them." John Muir

[Hikngrl]

Looks like we are gettin the usual crowd in here! Where is Stan? This is gonna be fun! Colin? Tony? Bill?
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~~~Diane~~~

I want to shine!

[outside1]

Easy, Easy Diane, the post has only be up for 16 hours, 8 of which most people had ben sleeping.
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Tony

[outside1]

You do know what sleep is don’t you?
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Tony

[Hikngrl]

[kurthzone]

[JW]

[azhiker96]

[IGO]

Bite.....Hooli!
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"Surely all God's people, however serious or savage, great or small, like to play. Whales and elephants, dancing, humming gnats, and invisibly small mischievous microbes - all are warm with divine radium and must have lots of fun in them." John Muir

[evenstar]