Willow Valley/Verde Hotsprings September 27th/28th

[pfredricks]

Would anyone be up for willow valley in the morning with some relaxing for tired muscles and perhaps cocktails/high tea at the Verde Hot Springs afterward?



Pete, I edited this post a little (a lot actually) because it didn't make any sense when I split the topic off of the other willow valley one. Feel free to edit this out and change your message to say anthing you want
-Matt

[pfredricks]

Matt- please read my trip report of Willow Valley
sorry I didnt make it by 0730
It was more like 0830
-Pete

[mttgilbert]

I knew that would happen, I left at around 8:20, I probably passed you on the highway. I ended up getting to clints well at 6:30 (I was up already). Honestly though, after spending the night up there I was a little weary of going down the canyon. It was damn cold. That water would have been frigid. Fortunately having the day free gave me the opportunity to explore almost all the side roads between clints well and strawberry. There's some really nice stuff back there.

I also got the chance to stand in the middle of a forest fire! The Forest Service was doing prescribed burns all over the rim, so I followed a couple roads towards the smoke. There wasn't a lot of flame, quite a bit of smoke though. The smoke actually came up through the layer of dead pine needles, almost as if from the ground itself. Here and there flames would shoot up from little crevaces in the duff or from some unlucky shrub. None of the trees were burning, it was a low intensity fire to clear the undergrowth. But it did warm up significantly in the general area of the burn.

[pfredricks]

Ya-
we saw the fires all over the place too

[mttgilbert]

You'd think there would be someone over-seeing the process right? I didn't see one forest ranger anywhere near the burn areas.

[woopitup]

how was the trip? any pics? I picked up a replacement suv on Saturday! So, I'm in business once again

Very sorry I missed the hike!! still. . . . .

sophia

[pfredricks]

Ya matt- no ranger in sight- but everything seemed well under control
I saw several burning stumps-wished that I had marshmallows.
I did post some pictures but, few and I havent seen them be released yet

Sophia- You do know we didnt make it right?

read this

http://hikearizona.com/decoder.php?ZTN=614


By the way , the water couldnt have been any colder than the "liquid pools of ice" in woods canyon

Hey maybe we could plan a group hike for willow valley!!!!! :twisted:

[woopitup]

Ow my God, , , I just read your message. All I have to say is . . !@%$ :pois: I CAN'T believe this hike turned into "THAT" What a shame all the way around!! Matt, how was your camping? did you hike? I still really want to do the Verde Hot Springs, the pics looked just too relaxing to pass up.

I hope you all will keep me on your list of invites for another trip.

Sophia

[mttgilbert]

Most of the 'hiking' I ended up doing was walking down the road a little ways to see if my jeep could make it. Self-spotting I like to call it. I camped at kinder spring the first night, and at milk ranch point the second. I did some hiking around at the bottom of the rim around the upper east verde.

Mostly though I just wheeled down the back roads. It was a good time, I've always wanted to be able to check out some of those roads. Out of curiosity does anyone know which turn takes you to wildcat springs? the sign indicated a south turn but then immediately there is a split one trail goes south east the other south west. I went a mile or so down both before I didn't trust my wheelspin in the muck. (I was all by myself after all...)