Where to go when Flagstaff gets hot?

[Jim]

Its not 115 degrees, but it is supposed to be 90 up here the next few days. It will no doubt make this smoke fog that just rolled in that much easier to love. I wonder if it is from the Cross Fire? We do have a west wind.

Most people probably leave low elevations and head to higher terrain to escape the 100+ degree heat that is common in AZ this time of year. With high temps up here being forecast to be oppressive (for us), where do we go? What should I hike this weekend? Its been oddly hot this year (I think) for us. For the last few weeks I have needed to spend Sunday nights in Cottonwood to make a 630 am start time at the VVMC. I had planned on going to Sedona to hike for most of Sunday afternoons, but with highs over 100 last Sunday and near 100 the previous Sunday, I have skipped the hike and gotten to Cottonwood as late as I could. I might take advantage of the heat this Sunday and check-in to the hotel earlier to use the pool in 105 heat.

But what of this Saturday to recreate and hike? I can't think of much else, and I might just end up doing Elden to keep in shape and gain altitude. What would other folks do if they lived up here and thought 90 was too hot to hike in?

[joebartels]

It was 111 at 7pm on Squaw two days ago with no breeze. I'm not qualified to answer

I know you have to have your beauty sleep so that blows the morning option for you.

[Jim]

Yeah, I don't like to hike early, though today I did start Humphrey @ 820am. Plus, I like to go out in the middle of the day and do something in the sun. I'll probably just end up doing Elden. Most things around here I've done a lot lately, and/or I don't want to do again for a while, or they might be really hot. I had thought about going out to Williams to do Bill Williams Mt, which I have not done for a very long while, but I don't want to risk being smoked out on the hike.

111 degrees is just insane.

[dysfunction]

Wasn't too bad on Wrightson this weekend with an 0530 start


Then again, I was never a morning person till running outside began to suck after 6am too.

[Jim]

I might be a morning person, but its hard to get up early when you can't fall asleep because its 90 in your bedroom.

[dysfunction]

wow, I'd never get to sleep then!


I do feel for you though, I used to suffer when it was over 80 at night as a kid in WI.

[PaleoRob]

Alaska. Never gets too warm there on the North Slope.

[Jim]

Thats not really a Saturday destination.

[Sredfield]

If Flag is too hot, maybe that's the weekend you stay home and clean the garage, count the socks, etc. . . .

[Vaporman]

You could go do a creek hike down along the rim or go over to the Blue Range, that seemed to stay pretty cool.

[SuperstitionGuy]

Lava River Tube? Take a pick and shovel along and extend it beyond the pinch point maybe?

[azbackpackr]

It's been in the 90's over here in the White Mtns., too. I kind of like it. But going up higher is definitely what I'd do if it bothered me. And an earlier start to the hike.

As for the hot bedroom, how about installing one of those little window AC units, or investing in one of those freestanding evaporative coolers? Or is there somewhere else you could sleep? Like outside, for instance?

In Tucson in the old days, before electricity and swamp coolers, they used to have sleeping porches, and they had big burlap curtains they'd keep wet, etc. Must have been tough, especially since back then ladies and gents did not wear shorts and tank tops! I can only imagine how difficult and miserable it must have been for those folks, probably causing actual illness at times.

[Hikergirl81]

Hmmm, maybe canyon hikes?... Shade + Mandatory swims = Burr!!

[JoelHazelton]

Yeah, I agree with some of the others about water. It seems that when it gets uncomfortably hot everywhere in Arizona, even the higher elevations, hiking through a creek is the only way to go. You're pretty close to upper West Clear Creek, maybe check that out?

[nonot]

Problem with canyons now is flash floods...be careful out there fellow canyoneers.

[PaleoRob]

The Abajos are nice, different from The Peaks, and only about 4 hours away, or so, if driving isn't an obstacle. Same distance to Bryce from Flag (4 1/2 hours), though they've got a fire at the moment.