HikeArizona.COM

The endless chatter of weather.

I see a storm passed through Arizona yesterday, mostly producing wind and dust (sharing in the wealth I see), but also some rain. Tucson got lots of modest totals, except for one 4/10 of an inch report at the mouth of Pima Canyon. I wonder if that was accurate or wide spread on the Pusch Ridge? 57/100ths reported near the Lost Dutchman, and 64/100th and 89/100ths up north of Payson. Don't know how widespread these amounts ended up being, but you can't beat early April rain in Arizona. We just seem to have dust, which blew north, for the most part. Producing an interesting sunset through the haze created by the White Sands dust.

We're having instant summer in NJ. It's quite a change, since March averaged 10 degrees colder than last year.

Only 4/100th of an inch of rain in N Phoenix

We had mud raining on us till we almost reached Payson then came down heavy enough to clean off the windshield (had to use the washing fluid a couple of times because of the mud raining on us) Then had about 1/2- 1 inch of snow this morning...

May have to plan another location on my camping trip this weekend.

We woke up to snow all over everything. It's all gone in town now, but I'm sure some still remains up on the mountain.

Jim_H wrote:but you can't beat early April rain in Arizona.

You can if you're in the middle of your first solo backpack ever!!! The Phoenix metro may not have gotten much, but I can almost guarantee that the Woodbury TH got almost an inch! Poured all night long, into this morning... 60 MPH gusts of wind from Sunday night thru Monday. Wind quit, and the deluge started. Saw on the drive back to my car today that Four Peaks got some snow.....

@Outdoor Lover
I would have rescheduled that one!

@Outdoor Lover I thought you parked your car at the Tortilla TH at Hwy88/FR213 on Sunday AM.. how did you end up at the Woodbury TH on Tuesday..

@RWStorm
It was supposed to be a 20% chance of A thunderstorm, not a gully washer lasting 12 hours....

@Grasshopper
And you already have all the details homer!!!

I've been planning an overnight backpacking trip for April 13-14 on the Mogollon Rim. Tonto Fish Hatchery to Knoll Lake via Babe Haught Trail to be specific. Forecast for Payson this weekend is lows of around 45, so im guessing lows around 35 at the lake which matches temps we experienced last year in April.

Just curious if anyone know whether there is any residual snow up there that is likely to cause a problem on the trail? We encountered some pockets of snow on our trip last year, but nothing we couldn't pass. The weather has been freakish these last few weeks with the hot/cold/hot/cold swings. Not sure what to expect.

Thanks.

The rim received as much as 8" of snow on Monday. While the ground is warm and it will most surely melt in exposed areas by the weekend, I would be very surprised if you don't find snow in some of the shaded areas or sheltered ravines. I wouldn't expect it to be an impediment to your weekend though.

April has a tendency to be volatile up there. It can be warm and pleasant or wintry. Last year on April 14th, I got caught in a mini-blizzard during a day hike on the cabin loop. (See http://hikearizona.com/photo.php?ZIP=253286). Not sure what dates you were up there in April last year, but it is always worth paying attention to the forecast at this time of year up there!

8:30 AM in Denver, Colorado. The U-Haul is loaded and ready to go but the temperature is still 22 degrees F and the roads are covered with ice and frost. We are on hold for departure to our first overnight stop which is Albquerque with our final stop and destination being AJ, AZ.

We hope the wind subsides along our route and that El Sole does it's job on the highway surfaces.

Be safe SG.

We could see snow on Four Peaks, Mazzies, and the Rim on the way home last night but was melting fast...

@SuperstitionGuy
I heard they got some snow. They were predicting 8-16" from the same storm in Cascade Co., but it was a big dud. My wife said we got a dusting and the roads were completely dry in Ute Pass and on the way to work in the Springs today. Be safe with the trip to Az.

4 PM Thursday - arrived in AJ via Albquerque, Holbrook, Payson and Bush Highway. No problem. Good weather with lots to see and good company at the Microhotel and truck stops along the way.

Now I am enjoying reading the various postings about attack beavers and how not to backpack in the rain to Woodbury.

FYI - Rim area before dropping off and passing the 260 trail head white, wet and muddy. Road was dry but there is still snow in under and around the trees. Lots of standing water and the little lakes along the road are full as well. Nice to see but be not encouraged to experience via the USFS roads or trails. Nice for holding off the fire season but not nice for rim top activities.

http://www.srh.noaa.gov/graphicast.php?site=epz&gc=1

Check out this image of the dust in NM today. Straight out of Olde Mexico. Or is it Mexico Viejo?

As the ole saying goes in NM. That ain't dust, it's enchantment....