Reavis/Campaign Loop Jan 3-4

[te_wa]

This trip will start at the Roger's Trough Trailhead. Many of you know the trails leaving from this tough to reach trailhead, one of the most popular is the Reavis Ranch Trail. We are going to follow the trail to Reavis Ranch and stop there (6 miles) for lunch, and re-fill our water. Continuing on to the Fireline trail we will climb alongside the moderate slope of Mound Mountain (highest point in the Supes) until we reach the spur trail to Circlestone. Time permitting, some or all of us can take the walk up the hill to the (possibly astrological?) Indian structure found on top. This would be a 1.5 mile side trip.
Continue along the Fireline trail as we start to take it downhill into the Campaign Creek drainage. Once at the intersection, we will cross the creekbed and make camp amongst a nice pocket of Ponderosa pine trees.
This area is about 9.5 miles from the start of hike.
Camping amongst these trees we will find the spot is well equipped with existing fire ring, pools of water in Campaign creek and some old log "benches" to sit on.
The return hike will take us out of the drainage along the Northern slopes of Pinto Peak, another fine Superstitions landmark, and up and over Pinto Pass. We will drop down into the drainage of West Pinto creek before once again climbing to the base of Iron Mountain, where I have spotted red-tail hawk nests. Once over the saddle, we drop back into Roger's Trough (and spring) to complete the 20 mile loop.

this is your chance to test all the new gear you got for the holidays. morning could be in the mid-twenties so prepare for that.

[SuperstitionGuy]

it will pro'lly be in the mid-twenties so prepare for that.

It was 11 degrees one morning at Reavis Ranch during the Christmas Break of 1988/1999.

[te_wa]

cool... literally
i woke one December morning at Charlebois with 19°
i have a down quilt that works down to 25° and im going to bring some Driclime bottoms, an Icebreaker merino mid weight top, a Moonstone jacket and a pair of fleece gloves. Now I just have to make my down balaclava. Im working on the pattern lately. I can then sleep warm down into the mid teens. Bring it on, January!

[wallyfrack]

It was 11 degrees one morning at Reavis Ranch during the Christmas Break of 1988/1999.

11 years! That was one long Christmas Break!

[SuperstitionGuy]

OOPS, 1988/1989............

[rally_toad]

Well we probably wont run into you as we will be hiking to the Ranch on Sunday. But I will make sure to look for HAZ scribbled in the sand at the ranch...

[drewboy]

Hey Te-Wa, I may not be able to get Monday 1/5 off work for the Superstitions through-hike, so I could be interested to jump in here. From your description, it sounds like a good hanging spot along Campaign Creek. Hmmm... if it hits the 20's overnight I may need to haul along a CCF pad to supplement my Nest underquilt. What's your plan for under insulation?

[te_wa]

Sure, jump in on this one. It is certainly a nice option for those that cant make the trans-supes thing.

Im going with one layer reflectix full length, and a 3" loft underquilt in 3/4 length. The UQ itself is good to (estimated) 25°
the pad + UQ should be safe bet into the low teens.
I have also had discussion with some of the HF members about how they take refletix down to the 20's with ease. Im not sure if that will work for me, id rather err on the side of warmth!

and yes, there are great hanging spots in camp. id estimate at least 6-7 hammocks could be strung up there as there is about 35 trees in one spot. of course, it is the south side of the drainage so little sunlight will reach us in the morning and its looking like 42° estimate for the area so im calling it 32.
Im going to watch weather patterns and if i can, I'll leave the pad in the truck. only bring it if it is indeed going to reach 20's.

I have a truck that will fit 5. get in on this one, folks.

[rushthezeppelin]

Hmmm I have my REI 20+ bag but from alot of the reviews of people that have taken it down to those temps they said it didn't work so well. It did fine last weekend though in about 45 degrees. Hmmm if I bring my thermals, a good heavy jacket, gloves and then maybe buy something for my legs, think that would cover me in temps that low? Perhaps get a ski mask too to keep my face warm. I'll make sure to bring my gear with me to Kentucky when I go for Xmas and I should see temps that low at night and I can camp out in my parent's back yard. I think I get back on the second too from there so this would fit in just perfectly before I go back to school.

[SuperstitionGuy]

Hmmm...and then maybe buy something for my legs,.

Zip up your jacket, pull the arms inside and pull the jacket up over your feet outside of your sleeping bag. If you tend to roll around a lot at night secure it with a large safety pin. It will add a great deal of warmth to your night under the stars and give you a good nights .

[rushthezeppelin]

Hmmm...and then maybe buy something for my legs,.

Zip up your jacket, pull the arms inside and pull the jacket up over your feet outside of your sleeping bag. If you tend to roll around a lot at night secure it with a large safety pin. It will add a great deal of warmth to your night under the stars and give you a good nights .

Interesting tip. I'll probably make this one then.

[drewboy]

OK, I'm in!. I'll probably go with my Nest underquilt. supplemented with the NightLight pad I use for pack frame support if necessary. I know what you mean about the higher elevation Supes though. It always seems colder than any weather predictions. I generally use the NOAA weather page, with pinpoint location capability but it doesn't seem to work well.

[Hoffmaster]

Hmmm I have my REI 20+ bag but from alot of the reviews of people that have taken it down to those temps they said it didn't work so well. It did fine last weekend though in about 45 degrees.

I have the REI 20°down bag (Sub Kilo I think) and the Sea-to-Summit Reactor Thermolite Mummy Bag Liner. I have used the 2 together in temps into the low teens and stayed perfectly warm. I usually wear a Mountain Hardwear fleece hat also.

[te_wa]

It always seems colder than any weather predictions. I generally use the NOAA weather page, with pinpoint location capability but it doesn't seem to work well.

right. thats the one i use too. its nice to use when you otherwise wouldnt expect those rain clouds to move in at 2am...

RTZ, the rei kilobag ratings might be a little optimistic but not terribly so, id use it without any reservations down to 30. The REI bags are decent enough for the money. We pro'lly wont see temps dip below 30° but i like to make up for a 10° "cushion"

[rushthezeppelin]

I have the polar pod with polyester filling not the kilo one.

[te_wa]

ok so the good news is that as of late the road crossing Queen Creek is dry, and even if it rains again it should remain passable. (unlike Dec. of last year)
We are going to meet Sat morning at 7am ~ Lowe's on Higley and US 60 to carpool. I can fit 5. There are 10 going as of now... maybe more?

look for a red Montero Sport with a Hike Arizona sticker on rear window. PM me if you need my telephone #. Mike

[rushthezeppelin]

I don't know if this is a super accurate test of how it would do overnight but I just spent about an hour and a half or so out in 25ish weather with my bag, thermals and a wool toboggan and I was pretty toasty. Only problem I had was when wind blew across my face but that seems to be easily fixed by pulling my toboggan all the way over my face. Granted we are still 11 days off of the trip but weather.com was saying Roosevelt should be in the lower 40s on friday the 2nd so I doubt well see anywhere below the 20s but who knows with the elevation we will be at that night. Either way it seems if it does drop into the 20s or lower I can just throw some layers on and I should be golden.

[rally_toad]

If you hike fast,(and I know you do Mike) we may see you at Reavis Ranch or on the Reavis Trail if we do end up being at Reavis Friday night/saturday morning.

[te_wa]

I really hope i dont see you at Reavis, cause then you will be talked into camping with us on the Campaign trail. Then, you can take the W. Pinto trail to Rogers Trough and down the hill to Angel Basin. After all, Two Bar to Reavis is a really short day.
There will be hangers hangin' at the camp I chose, and some (7-8) folks from the Arizona Backpacking Club that I joined on Meetup
Drewboy, me, and possibly Tyler will use trees and free up tent spots if we can talk you's into camping with us. That way, everyone is happy and we are all on the same team, see Im already talking you into it. Yea!

[rushthezeppelin]

Forcast is now showing possible rain for Roosevelt starting early sunday morning through the night. I'll be bringing my tarp now it seems....and stringing it up in the trees this time around How is the ground at our scheduled camp.....better than Charlebois to stake into?