desert hiking!

[JoelHazelton]

In anticipation of the temperature in the deserts becoming more bearable within the next couple months, I've been getting really excited about what trails and areas I'll be exploring this winter.

Does anybody have any particular areas they keep thinking about? For me, it's all of the desert northwest of Phoenix (Hassayampa wilderness, Hells Canyon Wilderness, Wickenburg Mountains, Harquahala Mountains.) There seem to be a few sparsely scattered peaks that are documented on this site, but the canyons and longer hikes seem largely unexplored.

Anyone else having this same itch about certain areas as I? I suppose new seasons and fresh terrain just excite me.

[Jeffshadows]

Topos of the Hells Canyon wilderness have been next to my bed the past couple nights for bedtime reading material.

This is the kind of excitement I live for, anticipation is almost as good as the hike!

Whereas newbies plan out what will be fun, the thrill of what can I do without dying rules!

Agreed!!

[JoelHazelton]

Yup! Running my finger along drainages and attempting to connect various points of interest for huge off-trail loops, studying ridgelines and peaks and wondering what will be scaleable, and spotting springs and imagining what they will look like...

[ssk44]

Topos of the Hells Canyon wilderness have been next to my bed the past couple nights for bedtime reading material.

I am an obsessive trip planer. Computer software topo maps, route profiles, TerraServer black & white satellite images, and books. I have actually lost sleep at night thinking about some remote location that I want to explore. I have a file with enough fully pre-planned backcountry trips to last for the next two years. I have all of my trips preselected and completely researched clear through spring and caught myself already starting to plan my summer trips for 09. I think I am a little nuts.

[Jeffshadows]

Topos of the Hells Canyon wilderness have been next to my bed the past couple nights for bedtime reading material.

I am an obsessive trip planer. Computer software topo maps, route profiles, TerraServer black & white satellite images, and books. I have actually lost sleep at night thinking about some remote location that I want to explore. I have a file with enough fully pre-planned backcountry trips to last for the next two years. I have all of my trips preselected and completely researched clear through spring and caught myself already starting to plan my summer trips for 09. I think I am a little nuts.

...If that's crazy then I don't want to be sane!!

[big_load]

Careful trip planning pays off. The more you stare at a map, the more you understand when you see the landscape. Being able to predict water sources, campsite locations, time intervals, and expected effort from a map is something that less hiking-obsessed partners come to appreciate, especially when the chips are down.

[ssk44]

Careful trip planning pays off. The more you stare at a map, the more you understand when you see the landscape. Being able to predict water sources, campsite locations, time intervals, and expected effort from a map is something that less hiking-obsessed partners come to appreciate, especially when the chips are down.

That is so true. Your "lets just wing it buddies" all of sudden really appreciate your thorough obsessive planning when the realization kicks in that there in the middle of nowhere and out of there comfort zone.