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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

Tempting. What is the time frame as far as start and finish?

In response to pfredricks' reply: This all sounds good. I'm up for a hike and for some relaxing. Have we boiled this down to an exact day?
sophia

In response to woopitup's reply:

It doesn't actually sound like there would be all that much time for relaxing, I think the description said it was over six miles one way.

Despite that I might be interested in this trip also, depending on what weekend you decide to go.

Keep us informed Pete.

well, I would like to do this as a shuttle hike
I havent exactly even examined the hike as such, but, I imagine it would be do-able. Going down, then back up can be hard on a body (ask Joe about woods canyon upper)
I would love to hike with you again Matt.
Saturday AM of the 27th would be good for me since the boys weekend thing fell flatter than flat.
Me thinks a group thing would be terrific, and like I said a nice relaxing evening of hot springs and flask tipping might be nice for Sat night (since its in the area) then stay over and leave early SUnday.
lemme know what u think.
-Pete
easy going hikers only please

Well now, that does sound relaxing!

I'll get back to you about the 27th, I'm not sure right now...

I've never hiked near the Verde Hot Springs. I checked out the recent pics and it looks like a great spot also. Count me in.

Does the trail from the first hike lead into the area of the hot springs?

I would be available for this on the 27th. Count me in also. And an overnighter at the springs sounds like great therapy after a good hike. Load up the "Wineback" Matt and I'll bring the Absolute.

Well I've been checking out the maps and I thinkd I have a pretty good idea of how this would work out if we want to do the hike and go the verde hotsprings. The drive down into willow canyon, including the distance to drop off shuttle cars and drive back to the trailhead is a little under 11.5 miles (the trail description gives over 20 miles of driving just to the trailhead : ) Hike through willow valley is 6 miles long, I figure thats going to take at least 4.5 hours to get through the canyon (thats based on the speed we moved through tonto canyon and that was with full packs so I consider this to be a very conservative estimate). The drive back out, down the highway and then down into childs is approximately 45 miles (but about 15-20 of those are off-highway) that drive will take at about an hour and a half (conservative estimate again). Then things start to get a little fuzzy. Do we intend on packing down to the hotsprings and camping there (can we do that?)? If so it will probably take 45 min to get to the springs. If we leave from pheonix at 6am that puts us at the springs (and probably exhausted) around 4pm. If not, then time from that point on becomes irrelevent those who want to hike, hike, those who want to camp, camp.

Sorry if this all sounds like some nightmare word problem from math class (thats kind of how I felt when I was writing it. I think this is a reasonable itinerary. Of course, I'm not one for following itinerary but it at least gives us an idea.

So how does that sound to everyone?

Funny, I was considering starting a new forum thread, so thanks to whoever did that.

I went to the hot springs before woods canyon and it was such a relaxing night, that I cant turn my back on it. Man I slept so great after that. Watching the sun set while sitting in an outdoor hot springs. Fantastic!!! Basically, we would do the willow hike, then drive over to the camp at Verde Hot Springs(VHS). Dont even think of VHS as a hike, its a stroll from the campground to the springs proper and very very relaxing. Hot water on sore muscles, sleeping next to running water in a valley, around a campfire with fellow hikers who accomplished a fabulous hike sounds perfect. It was just an idea. I thought the sites were fairly close, so threw it out.
I am game and I hope a few others are. Even if you skip the hot springs, do the willow with me as a shuttle hike. I really want to do it. It'll be like old times!!!

I changed the topic (check the first post)

and your welcome

I'm still down for the hike and the overnight. As long as we're camping by the spring and not car camping at the road.

If anyone is interested I have a couple extra frame packs (this is so short I think a big rucksack would do). but if you want one I'm happy to lend it.

well, realistically, we would be car camping, but it is a pretty neat little area right on the river, next to the pumphouse. There are all kinds of little waterfalls and stuff there. I dont think that there really is a spot to camp at the hot springs proper. I am sure it is possible to camp away from the car, but, I think it will be great. Do you trust me??

This link will refresh your memory-should be an awesome short canyoneering venture-
http://hikearizona.com/decoder.php?ZTN=614


I mean even if people want to skip Verde, who would like to do the WIllow portion.????

Joe did you hike this on THursday?? How was it and how long did it take?

thanks Pete

Id really like to join you guys on this trip. Id just rather not drive I was right there on control road 300 this weekend camping with some freinds. Some 40 mph winds moved in overnight and I swear I saw a witch on a broom flying around the tent. Wow it got pretty cold overnight maybe 40 degrees or so.All these trips really racking up miles on my jeep. If anyone has room thats great I think I can still recruit a friend to drive though.

Count me in for the hike and a little R&R at VHS. I don't think I'm spending the night . . . it sounds like our vehicles won't be to far from where relaxin, so I think I'll drive out later in the evening?? :A2: . What time do we leave and do you ya'all have a meeting place?

We may as well meet up in strawberry or clints well. Let those who are carpooling work out their own meeting places in town. I'd say we should be in clints well by 7:00 or 7:30. Hows that sound?

Well it looks like I'm taking AnthonyPowell. He and I will figure out where I pick him up. ummmmm. I look forward to meeting AK and woopitup Do you know exactly where the start point is for the willow valley hike? It looks like the start is only three miles from the shuttle drop off (end of hike.) so setting up shuttle should be very simple.
Is Clints the town at VHS??? Because it is not a convenient drive off of the main hiway at all. We could probably either meet up at the starting point, or probably better yet at the McDonalds at the Camp Verde exit or something like that, then to proceed to the figurative TH. I figure we leave the vehicles there, then when we get done whoever wants to head to Verde Hot Springs can drive over-those that are really tired can head home.

I must not have been getting enough sleep lately because for some weird reason I was thinking this was just a couple days off, but hey, we still have a week.
Peace out from the space/time continuum.

Childs is the town at VHS. Clints well is the last town before the turnoff for the TH (its about 7 miles before the turnoff). Its on highway 87. The only reason I don't want to meet at camp verde is because its way out of the way for me. Strawberry would be a good meeting place also. I'm assuming that everyone is driving up via the beeline? thats the quickest route from the valley I think.

In response to matt gilbert's reply: If you are on the north side of town near I17 the Camp Verde way is the best. If on the east side Payson way is the best. There is a good place to eat at Clints Wells (Long Valley Cafe) That area is a good meeting place.... There is also a little store and gas station for any one that has forgotten anything...

Ok I'm in for sure! But like woopitup, I'm in for a little relaxing at the springs but probably won't do the overnight portion. When somone irons out the times and meeting places let me know.

Hey woopitup. Since your not overnighting either would you mind a car pool partner if you have the room? I'll chip in for gas.

pfredricks wrote:Joe did you hike this on THursday??

no, I night mountain biked out by Apache Lake and did a reverse hike on the Cave Trail instead