Mazatzal Divide Trail - AZT Passage #23 Backpack

Come backpack the Mazatzal Divide Trail - the premier hike in the Mazatzal Wilderness. This trail stays on or near the crest for its entire run from Mt Peely TH to City CreeK. This also forms Passage #23 on the Arizona Trail!

When: March 27 Friday - March 29 Sunday. We will be leaving at 9:00 am from My Peeley TH. Shawn, Ambika, Dave will be camping at the TH.

Rating: Strenuous. Long miles (~ 28 miles) , sketchy sesaonal water, 3600ft elevation gain with rolling elevation profile.

Trip Leads: desertgirl & Shawn. This will be a loosely organized group of Solo Hikers... So you need to do your homework, know the details and assess your abilities before you sign up.

Details: This will be a shuttle hike with 2 nights on the trail. We will be camping at 6000ft + elevation. Water should be generally availaable along the trail at the different springs/seeps. 2 vehicles (Shawn/Ambika) will be staged at the City Creek TH for shuttle back to Mt Peeley TH.

Trail Information:
AZT Passage Info: http://www.aztrail.org/passages/pass_23.html

Dayhikes: There are options for some loop day hikes and for joining in partways. Access to the Divide trail is possible via Y Basin #44 (6 miles); Barnhardt #43 (6.2 miles); Rock Creek #42 (3.3 miles)

desertgirl · Joined: 19 Jan 2003 Posts: 3350 Location: Chandler, AZ

azhiker96 · Joined: 05 Jan 2003 Posts: 1419

Shawn, thanks for the weather update. I don't know why but I was thinking the LOWS would be in the 50 degree range, not the highs. I swapped out my summer sleeping bag for my winter one.

Pack is ready and feels like a ton since it's been awhile since I've backpacked. See everybody at the TH.
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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

desertgirl · Joined: 19 Jan 2003 Posts: 3350 Location: Chandler, AZ

I am outta here --- Multi

If some one gets me a small latte you get Hug

and reimbursed for the beverage.
See ya all at the TH at 9:00 am --
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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!

Hikngrl · Posted: 3/26/2009, 4:59 pm Post subject:

I am packed and ready to go!!!! Waiting, waiting.....
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~~~Diane~~~

I want to shine!

Suz · Joined: 27 Nov 2005 Posts: 3186

Ya'all be sure to stake your tents down....extra securely! Be safe & have fun!

Shawn · Posted: 3/27/2009, 6:15 am Post subject:

I intended to camp at the trail head after setting up the shuttle, but the group decision was to find a flop house here in payson for the night, hearty campers that we are not! Smile

Super 8 is fine, getting ready to go find breakfast and then make our way to the trail head.

Not too windy up here, but cold, this is my first exposure to winter this season.
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The bear went over the mountain to see what he could see.

Shawn · Posted: 3/27/2009, 6:16 am Post subject:

snip double post
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The bear went over the mountain to see what he could see.

Hikngrl · Posted: 3/27/2009, 6:41 am Post subject:

I was wondering about you guys! Glad you are all comfy! Did anyone check and see if there were any Super 8 on the trail for the rest of the weekend?
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~~~Diane~~~

I want to shine!

threedogz · Joined: 06 May 2005 Posts: 668 Location: Chandler

Some preview shots of the group from our dayhike to Mount Peeley.

My friend Aelisa and I just went to Mount Peeley summit then hiked a few miles more (10 miles total). We departed at the turn-off for the summit and took these photo's.

Group shot

Shot of Aelisa (left) and me, Heidi.

It killed me not to be able to backpack this weekend, but priorities must come first.
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You can never eat too much candy...

Suz · Joined: 27 Nov 2005 Posts: 3186

Great shots, thanks Heidi!

Glad to hear everyone is grounded...and good! Welcome home!

desertgirl · Joined: 19 Jan 2003 Posts: 3350 Location: Chandler, AZ

I am back home. My cold acted up so I hiked out ( back to start) and headed home. Tony & George also hiked out and are back home.

This was truly a loosely organized group of Solo Hikers...
Plans changed: Diane/Todd/Tracy/Tom are camping out at Bear Springs an extra night and will be returning to the start tomorrow ( Sunday). We met the Trail steward and some work crews at Bear Springs. This group was planning on assisting with some trail work for the day and just staying at Bear Springs tonigt as well.

Shawn and Dave have pressed on to finish the hike as planned. Trail reports indicate the next 2 sections have significant blowdowns and are not cleared yet.

This is a beautiful trail with absolutely stunning views inspite of the fire damage. We did 9.7 miles each way for 19.4 miles RT hike. Very Happy

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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!

azhiker96 · Joined: 05 Jan 2003 Posts: 1419

Well, since the gallery is not cooperating with me, I posted some photos here.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/34349028@N06/3395904310/
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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

Suz · Joined: 27 Nov 2005 Posts: 3186

Nice to see pictures! Looks a wee bit chilly in a couple of those shots. We had 40 degrees here so I imagine you had a slightly lower temp.

desertgirl · Joined: 19 Jan 2003 Posts: 3350 Location: Chandler, AZ

http://desertgirl.myphotoalbum.com/view_album.php?set_albumName=album55
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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!

Shawn · Posted: 3/29/2009, 5:48 pm Post subject:

Home safe and sound here. Thanks everyone for coming out, and I'm sure the Arizona Trail Association appreciates the extra help.

Dave and I made it out about 12:30 Sunday, the trail is pretty tough in places but not totally, as some reports might lead one to believe. Often times the trail is right through that bunch of brush in front of you. From Bear Springs to Windsor Spring was tough-lots of blow down etc. From there to beyond Chilson was ok, some blowdown and brush but not terrible. From a little north of Chilson Camp to the ridge past Hopi was pretty rough going. We didn't go to Hopi but the area has been nuked: I was there a couple times pre-fire. From the Park to City Creek was fine. Not recently maintained but very little blow down.

Garmin said 32.6 for the whole thing.

So, what's next?
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The bear went over the mountain to see what he could see.