Humpherys summit trail 11-21-08

[MartinG]

Me and some friends are planning on hiking the Humpherys summit trail tomorrow. We are prepaired for cold weather hiking but I have not been able to find much info about hiking there at this time of year. I called the ranger station to find out about trail/weather conditions but they didnt seem to have much info at the moment. Would any one have any info on the trail/weather conditions for this time of year. Any one who would like to join us is more than welcome.

[Al_HikesAZ]

You should be able to talk with the Rangers when you pick up your backcountry permits.

From the Coconino National Forest Website
"Back-country permits are required in the winter for the Kachina Peaks Wilderness. They can be obtained (no charge) from the Peaks/Mormon Lake Ranger Districts from 8:00 to 4:30, Monday through Friday and they are available at Snowbowl when they are open at the Agassiz Lodge between 9:00 am and 11:00 am on Saturday and Sunday. For avalanche information please visit the Kachina Peaks Avalanche Center's website at kachinapeaks org"

[hikeaz]

Me and some friends are planning on hiking the Humpherys summit trail tomorrow. We are prepaired for cold weather hiking but I have not been able to find much info about hiking there at this time of year. I called the ranger station to find out about trail/weather conditions but they didnt seem to have much info at the moment. Would any one have any info on the trail/weather conditions for this time of year. Any one who would like to join us is more than welcome.

No snow on the trail.

Forecast from NWS = NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FLAGSTAFF AZ 955 AM MST THU NOV 20 2008 .
SYNOPSIS...DRY AND STABLE CONDITIONS WILL PERSIST THROUGH THE WEEKEND. EXPECT MILD DAYTIME TEMPERATURES AND LIGHT WINDS WITH OCCASIONAL PERIODS OF HIGH CIRRUS CLOUDS MOVING ACROSS THE NORTHLAND. FORECAST MODELS INDICATE A LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM COULD MOVE INTO THE SOUTHWEST BY THE MIDDLE OF NEXT WEEK WITH CHANCES FOR PRECIPITATION STARTING NEXT TUESDAY.

Further....... from Snow Bowl hour-by-hour forecast

Date Time Temp Wind Speed Sky
11/21/2008 09:00 38 7 ISOCLOUD
11/21/2008 10:00 44 6 ISOCLOUD
11/21/2008 11:00 48 5 ISOCLOUD
11/21/2008 12:00 50 5 ISOCLOUD
11/21/2008 13:00 51 4 ISOCLOUD
11/21/2008 14:00 51 4 ISOCLOUD
11/21/2008 15:00 51 4 ISOCLOUD
11/21/2008 16:00 50 5 ISOCLOUD
11/21/2008 17:00 45 6 ISOCLOUD

[Hoffmaster]

You don't have to get a permit now, do you? I thought it was only when Humphrey's is covered with enough snow for skiing, or when Snow Bowl is open. None of the info I read has specific dates; it only says that a permit is required in the winter, which it is not yet. I'm just trying to save the guy some time and hassle if a permit is not necessary yet.

[MartinG]

Yea I had seen that and took it to mean Dec 21st?

[Al_HikesAZ]

I called the Peaks Ranger District 928-526-0866. No brightline test for when permits are required, but they are not yet required for this winter. The rule is when they get a couple of inches or snow or threat of snow. It's really a proactive policy to prevent problems and make life easier on their SAR teams. So it's not December 21st or when the Snowbowl opens. If there is snow or threat of snow, it's a good idea to check with the Ranger District. The penalties for being caught or rescued without having a permit can be expensive.

You can check it by googling "coconino/passes/index"
This free permit is designed to help inform backcountry snow recreationists about travel hazards, and to assist the Forest Service and the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office with search and rescue should that become necessary. Permits are only required for accessing the backcountry from Arizona Snowbowl and the Snowbowl Road.

Backcountry permits are valid for the entire winter and are designed for snowshoers, cross-country skiers and snowboarders using the Kachina Peaks Wilderness. Permits are required to be displayed in the front windshield of the permit holder’s vehicle if the vehicle is parked at the Lamar Haines trailhead, the entrance of the Freidlein Prairie Road (Forest Road 522) or the Arizona Snowbowl Ski Area.

In addition to having a permit, backcountry campers, skiers and snowboarders who launch their trip from the Ski Area or the Snowbowl Road also need to enter information in one of three trip registers. The Coconino National Forest added a new trip register location at the Lamar Haines trailhead on Snowbowl Road last year. The others are at the ticket window at the Hart Prairie Lodge and near the top of the Agassiz chairlift.

The Forest Service wants people to enjoy backcountry winter activities—but with a high degree of safety. The information we’re asking for is intended to help people avoid dangers associated with avalanches and hypothermia. When someone reads the hazard warnings on the permit, it usually makes them stop and think for a few moments, and this is often exactly what is needed to introduce the element of caution that can save a person’s life.

Backcountry permits, which are free of charge, are available at the Peaks/Mormon Lake Ranger Station and the Supervisor's Offices during the week. Once the Arizona Snowbowl opens, permits may also be obtained at the ticket window at the Agassiz Lodge on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays from 9:00 AM until 11:00 AM. For more information, call the Peaks/Mormon Lake Ranger Station at (928) 526-0866.

Rules and Regulations of Backcountry Permit

KACHINA PEAKS WILDERNESS ACCESS PERMIT
THE ATTACHED PERMIT IS REQUIRED BY PERSONS ACCESSING THE KACHINA PEAKS
WILDERNESS FROM THE ARIZONA SNOWBOWL SKI AREA AND TWO LOCATIONS ALONG
SNOWBOWL ROAD (LAMAIR HAINES TRAILHEAD AND FREIDLEIN PRAIRIE ROAD JCT),
DURING WINTERTIME OPERATIONS.
The following are terms and responsibilities of the Kachina Peaks Wilderness Access Permit System:
1) Each individual is required to have a current permit which is valid the duration of the ski season.
2) Permit holders are required to have this permit and a picture ID on their person while in the
Kachina Peaks Wilderness.
3) Persons under 18 years of age will require a parent or legal guardian to be present for permit
issuance.
4) Permit holders are required to register each time they access the wilderness through the ski area.
Register boxes are located at the Hart Prairie Lodge ticket windows and at the top of Chair #1
(Agassiz Lift).
5) Persons accessing the wilderness for periods longer than the ski area’s daily operational period are
required to leave a copy of this permit clearly visible in the windshield of their vehicle.
6) This permit allows the holder to park a vehicle and access the Kachina Peaks Wilderness at the
Lamar Haines Trailhead (milepost 4.0) and at the junction of Forest Road 522 and the Snowbowl
Road (milepost 2.5). Parking at these two areas is limited and does not allow any persons to park on
the Snowbowl Road. This permit must be clearly displayed in the windshield of the vehicle.
7) The permit holder is responsible to be knowledgeable of the hazards associated with travel outside
of the ski area.
The permit does not allow uphill or downhill travel within the ski area including ski runs or slopes
except within designated routes.
Permit holders not following the terms and responsibilities will be in violation of the Code of Federal
Regulations. The fine for the first offense is $50. Violations of this prohibition is punishable by a fine of
not more than $5000 for an individual, or $10,000 for a person other than an individual, or imprisonment for
not more than 6-months, or both.
The following are some items that all individuals using the backcountry should be aware of:
A) National Forest lands beyond the ski area permit boundary are not patrolled and hazards are not
identified.
B) 13 essential equipment articles that each person should carry include matches, extra food, water, first
aid kit, extra warm clothes/hat, map & compass, pocket knife, flashlight, rain gear/shelter,
sunglasses/goggles, shovel, avalanche beacon, probe.
C) Knowledge to evaluate snow stability; past weather history, current weather – (accumulation,
temperature, wind direction & velocity/duration), slope aspect, slope angles, and slope profile.
D) Knowledge of unstable snow conditions and their warnings.
E) Knowledge of FirstAid / CPR.
F) Don’t travel in the backcountry alone.
G) Let someone know as to your specific travel plans and itinerary, and adhere to them.
H) Be willing to turn around and come back another day.
There are many areas on the San Francisco Peaks that are very susceptible to unstable snow conditions and
avalanches are a regular occurrence. Some of these areas are directly adjacent and within the Arizona
Snowbowl Ski Area boundary. The Forest Service recommends that individuals using the backcountry in
winter are instructed by certified instructors in avalanche and snow stability recognition, evaluation, and
rescue techniques prior to traveling outside of the ski area boundary.