Deadman Canyon Waterfalls Mazatzals

[te_wa]

March 28-29th
This hike will start at the Barnhardt trailhead and follow 6 miles to the junction at Barnhardt Saddle. We stay straight (west) passing Chilson Spring on the Mazatzal Divide trail before dropping into an unnamed canyon that will lead us, offtrail, to the North Fork Deadman Canyon.
Once we slowly navigate into the bottom of this twisting, towering, remarkable canyon we head upstream to the "grand show". The waterfalls here at the head of this canyon are almost 250 feet tall. We will camp at the base of these falls, on the bedrock there are some flat spots. Nobody that I know of has ever camped here before. I searched the web for any info on this area and Todd mentions rappelling the falls from above. It is my understanding from pouring over the maps that the falls can (and will!) be reached from the bottom. However, there will be hell to pay.

I dont even know if the loop hike i plan to make is even possible, as it looks as if there is a 40-80 feet waterfall preventing travel on the second day of the loop. Retracing our steps back the way we came in is highly likely.

The first day is straightforward and includes 8 miles on trail, and about 2 offtrail.
day two might be much more demanding (but we'll get an early start) wherein we should have up to 4 miles of unknown territory to navigate and then another 7 miles of trail to travel.

This is the Mazatzal range. Not for the timid. If you have not spent time here - this is not the time to make your first attempt! There is no other area I have hiked that is so demanding, requiring extreme navigation skills and hands-on canyoneering. Half the wilderness is burned. Even the trails shown on the maps are hard to follow. Please beware!

The HAZ wrecking crew should have no problem getting back home safely. Care to join me, you masochistic nuts?

the te-wa will fly
check out this pic of Deadman canyon from the top: http://hikearizona.com/phoZOOM.php?ZIP=60324

[JoelHazelton]

I'm excited to see tripologs and photosets next week.

[rally_toad]

Any news on the water in the area? Hopefully the falls are flowing since we're putting some effort in to get to the bottom of them.

[te_wa]

water reported last week in the drainage from Windsor saddle, which is normally dry. The falls are usually just a light shower anyway, but should be a decent ~1-2 gallon per second flow. There is pro'lly still mucho underground water from snowmelt.

and even if there is just a trickle, the canyon is neat even when dry. Ive been in August and there was a nice flow.

[deserttarheel]

Unfortunately, my wife has "other plans" for us this w/e so I can't go. I have a score to settle w/ the western Mad-as-Hells, so sometime I would love to hike some of the trails that start at the Verde with you.

BTW, Te-Wa, let me know when you want to hike the Chiricahuas if you want a (slow-ish but getting better) partner.

[te_wa]

Steve, Chiricahua Crest in June. Keep ears peeled. ;)

[Sredfield]

Any news on the water in the area? Hopefully the falls are flowing since we're putting some effort in to get to the bottom of them.

As of 3/28/09 there was a moderate flow at Horse Camp Seep, which I believe goes over the falls, also, still some flow at the very north end of Deadman Creek. Most major drainages north of Chilson had flows.