Trust me I did the poor college student thing not that long ago. I also worked in restaurants when I was at Penn St. and got food from there oftentimes. As to the zeroes I have no idea, didn't really care to figure it out. I wasn't posting in regards to that, I was just startled at the groceries num...

50 bucks a month for food, WOW!! Now thats a hardcore ramen diet if I ever saw one! I spend for my fiance and I, about 250 a month. And that isn't eating gourmet or anything, although I do love to cook.

Speaking for myself, I wouldn't want to wear my glasses hiking because they get sweaty, slip around on my face, inhibit wearing regular sunglasses, and have more of a chance of breaking. Not to mention that you need to clean them constantly and they mess with hats, bandanas, and the like. I usually ...

The rangers at Saguaro told me they really don't even collect the fee at most of the trailheads, with the exception of the main entrance. If you want to get around the fee depart from one of the other trailheads. The parks pass includes this obviously, and if you go to the Canyon once or twice per y...

montezumawell wrote:These creeks are going ballistic!

Nice!! Coming up to one year to the day of my arrival in Arizona, and its nice to see some rain and snow. Every bit helps!

Has anyone been to the top of all four? Can it be done in one long day, and also do the other three have names?

Sorry man, but it is incurable. I contracted the disease a few years back. The positive thing is that the disease causes those who have it, oftentimes to be in great shape. This is both physically and mentally speaking. A weekly or daily dose of wilderness solitude can help keep the disease tolerable.

I saw the summaries and comments on Victoria Mine and Arch Canyon posted on the site. I was hoping to get some general feedback from anyone who has been down to that area. A buddy and I are going down to do some cross country hiking for three days in the beginning of January and wanted to get any ad...

Welcome to AZ, I am pretty new myself. I also moved from Pittsburgh earlier this year from near Monroeville. Where in Pitsburgh did you move from? I went to Penn State, so although i am from there I don't have much love for U of Pitt....lol.

I was up there about a month or so ago. There was still a good flow of water running through there when I was there. I drove in at the Bloody Basin Rd. I just sorta hiked around the mesa and to the river. I believe that if you get off at Badger Springs you can hike down to the river fairly easily. T...

I surely had a wet adventure this morning. I drove up to the Mazatzal Wilderness, off of FR201 at about 8am. The clouds were looking a little dark the closer I got to the turnoff from 87, but I wasn't ready for a downpour. Unfortunately I only have an old 2WD Sonoma, which can take some rough roads ...

Being new as I am to the area I was wondering about Agua Fria National Monument. What type of hiking is there, are there hikes listed here that are there? It seems with its proximity to the metro area that it could see a lot of usage. Either way I was hoping for all your thoughts good or bad on that...

Let's see, gotta go with Dylan, Woody Guthrie, Neil Young, Leadbelly....Also listen to a lot of different blues and such, but those four are the ones I listen to most frequently. Every once in awhile throw in a little Frank Zappa.

I am now reading "The Serpents of Paradise." Its an Abbey reader. I read Motorcycle maintenance years ago and thought it was a very engaging book. It is one I would want to read again. It is one of those philosophical books that you can get a new meaning each time you read it, as you are i...

Currently I'm about to finish up Abbey's "The Journey Home: Some Words in Defense of the American West." I actually had heard of Abbey reading about him in Backpacker magazine, but never having been to the Southwest before I moved here in April I'd never read his work. In my opinion his wr...

Yeah, I have 3 1/2 year old German Shepherd named Chunga. Back in Pennsylvania where I'm from he did lots of hiking with me. I'm not quite sure how much he will do here though. I'm still so new to the area I'd like to get a feel for the trails before I start taking him. But he sure does love a swim ...

Well, if your gonna go with a filter I have to recommend the MSR Miniworks filter. Its very easy to use, cleans in the field, and has been very reliable. I also have friends with the Miniworks, and they have not had any problems either. I think it runs about $70. Well thats my 2 cents.

For me I'd have to say peralta and up around the needle. Although I say that since i just moved here and that's all I've done. Hehe.

As far as ramen goes my favorite brand has to be Top Ramen. On overnighters I like to take Mountain House, beef stroganoff is my favorite. Those meals are suprisingly good, although ramen, and mac and cheese are tasty alternatives. I remember the first time I tried a power bar it was like chewing my...

I would have to say that a history book is my fav thing to take and read, as boring as that may sound. The peace of the wilderness and also the fact that your closer to the actual habitat of some of those you are reading about.