GHOTM February 22 (Sunday), Hells Canyon Wilderness

Shawn

UPDATE 1/4/09

The desert is looking great with the recent rains-green abounds! The mountains along the route are quite impressive.

Where we need to leave the cars is in the Regional Park, and they want $5 / car. The first park entrance is said to be open by 7 so we can decide who's going to leave cars in the park and they will have to get a sticker, or risk the ticket.

The GPS software I've been playing with changes its mind on distance. If a couple miles more or less matters, I'd plan on as much as 12 miles. We'll only know for sure after we walk and track the actual hike, rather than scribing the line on the computer map.

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The polls are closed, sorry if your date didn't prevail; there is no greater tyanny than democracy. Maybe some of the Saturday workers can make this one!

Those coming from the east, let's meet at Denny's parking lot on the SW corner of Bell and I-17. I'm open to suggestions for those of you living in East LA; if there is a better meet-up spot speak up, no sense in you driving east to get west.

The Hells Canyon Wilderness is located northwest of Lake Pleasant. If you've driven past Castle Hot Springs, the Wilderness is the pile of mountains to the west. This hike celebrates the BLM acquisition of the last private land in-holding in this designated Wilderness Area. We may have some of the BLM people who made this happen with us.

This will be a through-hike so we'll need car tricks. We'll leave a car or two on the east end where Garfias Wash flows into Lake Pleasant, then pile into others and drive around to the west end. Regular street cars are OK for the east end, the west end takes high clearance.

We need a recommendation for Mexican food place in the northwest end of town for afterwards. I'm fine with Te-Wa's recommendation but open to local preference.

http://www.arizonahikers.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=7609

The route is down Garfias Wash from North Castle Hot Srings Road almost to Lake Pleasant. If you go to Google Maps , click "Terrain," and search for "Garfias Mountain" the wash is just north (up) from there and this will start to make sense. Scroll around and you'll see the route down the wash.

And thanks to Todd, a TOPO map is in the gallery:
http://www.arizonahikers.com/forum/modules.php?set_albumName=albwb11&id=Hell_s_Canyon_Hike_001&op=modload&name=gallery&file=index&include=view_photo.php

Come on everybody, this is not quite an amble but it's not a butt kicker either, and it's on the west side!
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The bear went over the mountain to see what he could see.

Suz · Joined: 27 Nov 2005 Posts: 3186

Shawn, I remember reading about your involvement in this area. I'm looking forward to it! Thanks for putting it together.

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

I'm going to sign up for the thinking thinking column for now. Will need to look at my schedule (like I have such a busy life ---good grief) and I'll go look at the trail description and Topo first... We'll see what I think. But it sounds Fun.
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Wanderingsoul (Michelle)

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

Hikngrl · Posted: 1/2/2009, 7:59 pm Post subject:

I'm in!!! I am on call on the 13th so I am good for this one!! Multi

YAY!!!!
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~~~Diane~~~

I want to shine!

Shawn · Posted: 1/2/2009, 8:30 pm Post subject:

How does this get on the calendar? I don't see it on the "Board" page.
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The bear went over the mountain to see what he could see.

Shawn · Posted: 1/2/2009, 8:31 pm Post subject:

How does this get on the calendar? I don't see it as an "Upcoming Event" on the home page.
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The bear went over the mountain to see what he could see.

GTG · Posted: 1/2/2009, 8:58 pm Post subject:

It needed a start date and time to get it to register as a scheduled event.

GTG
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Good things come to those who walk.

Suz · Joined: 27 Nov 2005 Posts: 3186

Let's go later in the day........ as late as reasonably possible, okay?

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

If my daughter doesn't have a soccer tournament that day I will be able to go.
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You can never eat too much candy...

oliverr99 · Joined: 04 Jul 2006 Posts: 632 Location: Glendale

So is this trail off of Castle Hot Springs Road, just past the cattle guard? If so, I hiked that today and had an angry cow follow us. It sure was a beautiful day for it.
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Anne
"Don't cry because it's over, smile because it happened" -- Dr. Seuss

Suz · Joined: 27 Nov 2005 Posts: 3186

Hey Shawn----any decisions about a start time for this? 12 miles will make a full day.

I'm wondering if you expect any pools water in the wash area---I'm trying to decide which shoes to wear Wink

---I might be losing my big toenails again (I know TMI)

Al_HikesAZ · Joined: 21 Jun 2005 Posts: 263 Location: Scottsdale, AZ

I'm in.

I've got a 4Runner - high clearance 4wd.

Looking forward to meeting folks in person. My first GHOTM so I guess I'll have to put up the the initiation and razzing. Silly

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Anyone can make a hike harder. The skill comes in making it easier. Dosatéhigo nasádo

Shawn · Posted: 1/31/2009, 7:43 am Post subject:

Suz · Joined: 27 Nov 2005 Posts: 3186

7am!! That means I'm leaving at 6am in the dark....... Crying or Very sad

Looking forward to the exploration! Hiking

and the post hike Margarita

Shawn · Posted: 1/31/2009, 9:17 am Post subject:

I'm game for a later start if you like . . .
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The bear went over the mountain to see what he could see.