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Ok, I'm just dying of curiosity. Precisely where does the AZT cross US 60? I know it's somewhere near Superior, and I pass that way often on my way to and from Yuma. There are definitely NO SIGNS! I have looked and looked.

Also, where does it cross I-40? (Between which offramps? Does it go over a bridge on a road, or under a bridge in a canyon? I'm assuming hikers don't run across it like a bunch of immigrants! )

Is there a reason there are no signs on 60? Is it to protect the trail, etc? There are signs for quite a few other trailheads along 60, after all.

Also, and most of you probably won't know the answer to this: it is extremely hard to figure out where the CDT crosses US 60 near Pie Town, New Mexico. I believe at that point it is following a county road. There are no signs anywhere. There is a sign for the Continental Divide, but I happen to know the trail doesn't follow the Divide exactly, and not at that point. The CDT would be a hard row to hoe. It is not finished and supply points are few and far between.

Thru-hikers on the PCT told me last summer that they don't agree with the new trailbuilders' notions of making these trails really far from towns. It creates logistic problems, adds greatly to the miles they have to walk to re-supply, and in many instances they have to cache food ahead of time or have a family member meet them from time to time. I heard that the AZT was recently re-routed to go through Summerhaven on Mt. Lemmon for just this reason, someone was listening to the thru-hikers' needs!

Most of the PCT thru-hikers I met last summer when I was backpacking in the Sierras had already hiked the AT, so they were accustomed to resupplying and also to have easy access to showers and a bed. They said it really beats you up after a few weeks, you need to take a break. They all loved the AT for that reason--it is a thru-hiker's dream as it goes right down the main streets of many small towns, past bakeries, pizza parlors and pubs! These towns cater to the hikers, and have many amenities just for them. Of course, the AT has been there for many decades, whereas the western trails are all much newer.

On the other hand, they said the PCT is a real bear, but there are people they call "trail angels" who volunteer their time every summer to help the hikers, especially in crossing the Mojave. They deliver water to a resupply point, and also are there along the way to give people rides to town if needed. It is extremely hot during that crossing, the hikers follow the canal at night across the desert. Many do not finish because of this stretch.

I met one gal (at Rock Creek backpacker camp) who decided to quit in the Mojave and caught a ride to the Sierras. She said she was now going to "section hike" and would go back and do the Mojave in the fall. By the way, she was a young Korean immigrant who barely spoke English and was soloing. Talk about tough cookie! Gee, I'm going to move to a foreign country where I don't speak the language and then spend half a year hiking 2700 miles! Admiration doesn't even cover it--I was in awe!

azbackpackr wrote:Ok, I'm just dying of curiosity. Precisely where does the AZT cross US 60? I know it's somewhere near Superior, and I pass that way often on my way to and from Yuma. There are definitely NO SIGNS! I have looked and looked.
Is there a reason there are no signs on 60? Is it to protect the trail, etc? There are signs for quite a few other trailheads along 60, after all.

This Passage 18 runs from the Picketpost Mountain TH to Rogers Trough TH. Just west of Boyce Thompson Arboretum and just past MP 222 (about 4 miles west of Superior) look south for FR231. Take it to the Picketpost Mountain TH. The AZT crosses under US60 in a culvert. I've been there, but I consulted Arizona Trail - the Official Guide by Tom Lorang Jones to double check this info. In the Phoenix Mountain Preserves we have a lot of underpasses. And they are fairly large to accomodate bikers and horses. When I did an Arnett Creek hike in this area, we simply ran across 60.

There are signs at the TH. I'm an AZT member so I have the GPS waypoints if you need them.

Also, where does it cross I-40? (Between which offramps? Does it go over a bridge on a road, or under a bridge in a canyon? I'm assuming hikers don't run across it like a bunch of immigrants! )

I-40 separates Passage 31 (Marshall Lake to Cosnino) and Passage 32 (Cosnino to Schultz Pass) at the Cosnino Exit I-40 exit 207. There is no official parking area. The book says "At the Frontage Road South of I-40, the trail will use an underpass under I-40 and another underpass under the railroad."

...a trail that goes through downtowns

Sounds like a mall!
I avoid those all together

Thanks you guys! And Joe, the PCT hikers' arguments sounded reasonable when you heard their hike stories. And boy, do they have stories! Anyway, I don't think they meant they wanted big cities, but every week or two they just wanted a restaurant (large buffet-style was discussed at length--I think these guys think about food most of the time), a motel, a post office, a grocery store and a telephone. And maybe a few beers! And they didn't want to have to walk 20 miles to reach these things, and then have to trek 20 miles back to the trail after resupplying. See what I mean?

azbackpackr wrote:Also, and most of you probably won't know the answer to this: it is extremely hard to figure out where the CDT crosses US 60 near Pie Town, New Mexico. I believe at that point it is following a county road. There are no signs anywhere. There is a sign for the Continental Divide, but I happen to know the trail doesn't follow the Divide exactly, and not at that point. The CDT would be a hard row to hoe. It is not finished and supply points are few and far between.

I'm planning a CDT thru for 2008 so I may be able to answer this. Or not answer it, actually. The problems is that you are looking for a specific route, w/ trail signs and designated tread. This is a difficult question to be specific about, as much of the CDT route is uncertain, particularly in NM, where much of the divide is on private land. In addition to that, there are two CDT organizations, the older, grassroots CDTS, whose goal is to build the most scenic, backcountry route possible, and the CDTA, more recently formed, which is working to build a compromise route that the USFS, BLM and NPS will support. In addition to that, many CDT thruhikers choose to do a roadwalk in the area from Grants to Pie Town, as the CDTA route is waterless, and the CDTS route follows the Zuni-Acoma trail, which winds across lava beds through El Malpais National Monument. This is very difficult walking, so many thruhikers just roadwalk north on the highway from Pie Town through the Monument to Grants. What this all means is that there are at least three different routes (plus variations) heading through the Pie Town area. You won't find a specific designated route in this area yet. It depends on who you ask.

Hope this helps (or not Imagine trying to plan a hike across 3000 miles of this mess!!)

Lizard