HikeArizona.COM

[ How far in advance do you plan most ... ps? ]

Surprised this isn't already a topic. Anyway ... 6+ months:

f 3/12 - NE - McDowell Mountain Regional Park (7.0 mi, 450 AEG, 4.0 Hrs) (2023-11)
f 3/19 - SW - Estrella Mountain Regional Park (9.0 mi, 350 AEG, 5.0 Hrs) (2022-12)
f 3/26 - N - Lake Pleasant Regional Park (5.5 mi, 720 AEG, 3.5 Hrs) (2021-12)
f 4/2 - NE - H26-Maricopa FR 1058 to Bronco TH (9.5 mi, 2000 AEG, 6.0 Hrs)
f 4/9 - NE Cave Creek #4 to Spur Cross TH (12.2 mi, 950 AEG, 7.0 Hrs)
4/16 - {no hike}
V 4/18 - B MD Cumberland to Frostburg (32.0 mi, 1500 AEG, 4.0 Hrs)
4/23 - {no hike}
/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\
+ 4/29 - Safford / Maverick Hill (7.3 mi, 1500 AEG, 5.0 Hrs)
+ 5/7 - RIM-W Quien Sabe Draw (7.5 mi, 800 AEG, 5.0 Hrs)
? 5/14 - prescott
+ 5/21 - {no hike: Mission Viejo}
+ 5/28 - {no hike: Marana}
+ 6/4 - H14 General Crook (7.3 mi, 325 AEG, 4.5 Hrs)
+ 6/11 - RIM-E Porcupine Ridge (7.0 mi, 500 AEG, 4.5 Hrs)
+V 6/18 - B FLG Observatory Mesa Loop (12.2 mi, 680 AEG, 3.5 Hrs)
6/25 -
+ 7/2 - RIM-M Sandstone Canyon (9.3 mi, 600 AEG, 6.0 Hrs)
? 7/9 - prescott
+ 7/16 - LEM Sunset #90-Aspen #93 (6.6 mi, 1400 AEG, 3.5 Hrs)
+ 7/23 - FLG Munds Mountain Trail (6.2 mi, 1250 AEG, 4.0 Hrs)
+ 7/30 - RIM-E See-Drew Loop (10.1 mi, 1900 AEG, 3.5 Hrs)
8/6 -
8/13 - BACKUP: H14 General Crook
+ 8/20 - SYC Kelsey #3 - Dorsey #7 Loop (7.1 mi, 1400 AEG, 5.0 Hrs) + 3 Hr drive
V 8/27 - RIM-E bike FR 9505
+ 9/3 - Johnson Canyon Railway Tunnel (6.1 mi, 450 AEG, 3.5 Hrs) + 3 Hr drive
9/10 - prescott
9/17 -
9/24 -
10/1 - RIM-M: Dane Canyon: fall color (9.0 mi, 650 AEG, 5.5 Hrs)
10/8 - FLG

I have two main categories:

1. Local day hikes - spur of the moment to a week in advance, depending on whether my wife will join and how far the trailhead is.
2. Backpacking - two to six months, because it usually involves air travel or long road trips and deconflicting schedules for partners from around the country. Last year I did two week-long backpacks with four days driving each way, one in UT and the other in AZ.

@big_load Four days driving is all the way cross country!

@kingsnake
Them big loads can only go so fast I suppose!

kingsnake wrote: ↑Mar 13 2025 5:57 am @big_load Four days driving is all the way cross country!

Yep, and I did it twice and back last year and twice the year before. Those four trips account for more than 80% of the mileage on my 4Runner.

@big_load
Makes a lot more sense when I remember you're all the way out in NJ...

For me, I pretty much plan things a couple of days in advance. For larger trips, it might be a week or two if it requires travel or I'm going with someone else. I'm mostly solo, though, so it makes that aspect easier. The only trips that get planned further out are international ones but those are still pretty much winging it, as well. I do keep a list on a whiteboard and in gaia of trips/treks/routes with water sources/potential camps/miles per day/etc that make it easy when I unexpectedly get some extra time I can piss off from work to just pick something and go.

xsproutx wrote: ↑Mar 13 2025 5:06 pm @big_load
Makes a lot more sense when I remember you're all the way out in NJ...

Hopefully not for too much longer. I'm just waiting for Mrs. big_load to get ready.