HikeArizona.COM

Also thought I'd throw up a trans-supes post to see if we have any interest in that this year. What I'm looking at right now would be Peralta to Campaign, Peralta to Miles, or Peralta to Two Bar. Would be at least 3 days in either December or January during winter break.

Your trip may be difficult logistics wise to pick a date ahead of time in the winter. To get over the gap or fireline you may need to carry snowshoes and sub freezing gear for the nights that late in the season, or you may be able to skirt by without them. So you have to predict the weather 2 days out, otherwise you'd have to pack them in through about 20 miles of catclaw gauntlets...key would be to time it before any snowstorm.

During the 80's and early 90's I would guide older experienced Boy Scouts on five and six day backpack trips through the Superstitions during the winter break. We maxed out our crew size to fifteen and each boy had to be fourteen, a Life Scout and participate in at least two out of three Friday/Saturday pre-treks in the Sups before he could qualify. We camped in places such as Black Top Mesa, Charlebois Spring, Trap Canyon, Tortilla Ranch, Fish Creek Canyon Cave, Angel Basin and Reavis Ranch. We normally exited at the Reavis Trailhead south of Apache Lake and then met the parents at Tortilla Flat where we had dinner and a Court of Honor in the upper portions of the restaurant.

Only once did we have to change our route due to the weather and that was after experiencing a night time rain and wind storm in Angel Basin. Our plans were to head up to Reavis and spend the last night in the old ranch house but Knowing that it had rained and snowed up there the night before, we stayed at Angel Basin where we dried out our gear and spent an additional night. We then exited the Superstitions by backpacking out the Frog Tanks trail. Later we found out that the Reavis Ranch house was overflowing with backpackers and horseman with absolutely no room for another body the night we had planned to be there. It was a wise choice to not head up there but some of the boys never forgave me for staying over at Angel Basin and missing the backpack trip up Rogers Canyon and through Reavis Ranch. To bad, so sad! My choice was better than a kid with hypothermia and a lawsuit from a angry parent!

My advice to those considering this trip. GO FOR IT! Just be prepared for cold weather and long nights. We spent our nights in natural shelter for the most part and never carried tentage. The days will be glorious and beautiful and the canyons should you hike them will protect you from the cooler or cold winds. We would go through Trap Canyon and Fish Creek Canyon and often be off trail even where there were trails (you can't find anything much interesting on a trail!).

Should you want more details or suggestions just PM me. :bigth:

I was hoping someone would put this together, after reading the triplogs from previous years this is one trip i cant miss.. With proper gear and prep weather shouldnt be too much of an issue (id assume)... keep me posted on the dates, ill make it work with my sched regardless tho.

last year we did end up bailing out early at the Tortilla Trailhead due to weather, instead of getting all the way to first water, so weather can be an issue this time of year. As Steve mentioned weather is impossible to predict that time of year. I really don't think snow would be that likely though, mostly would be lots and lots of rain like last year.

The week after Christmas would be nice.

I was also thinking after Christmas, can be very busy beforehand. Also please post your suggestions for routes you might want to take if you are interested, would prefer to do a shuttle, or a long loop. And would like to spend at least 3 days out there, so keep that in mind when looking at routes.

I should be able to make the week after Christmas work as well. I'm sure Alex wants to detour down Rough Canyon again.

I'd like to see something starting out East.. Cuff Button t/h to Spencer Spring to maybe Canyon Lake.. with some miles of off-trail in there... i havent yet made it into Cedar Basin canyon (one way hike) but it might be something we can explore if we camp at the nearby Miller Spring in Cedar Basin proper..then a crescendo of sorts by finishing our hike at Tortilla Flats using the Peter's canyon route (which i still have not finished, entirely) and i think some of you guys havent done Cavalry trail yet, so throw that in there too..

So, Cuff Button TO Tortilla Flat. yep. That's my wish. ;)

that hike sounds interesting Mike, That gets in lots of trail and off trail miles in areas that I've never hiked in before. Cedar Basin canyon looks like another Rough Canyon to me...

Rough Canyon was fun and a little easier than expected, can't wait to tackle another new canyon.

A big loop with Cedar Basin and Peters Trail might be interesting? Peter's Canyon is fun too, I'd do that again, I know of a good campsite just dying for use.

If we really want to go off the beaten path, how about Cottonwood canyon? Or...Has anyone ever followed Reavis Creek all the way to the lake?

Cavalry is easy but I have some 'splorin to do around there too.

Can't wait for the cooler temps to arrive.

Pine Creek?

rally_toad wrote:Cedar Basin canyon looks like another Rough Canyon to me

did you notice, there is a saddle north of Cedar Basin that could connect us to Tortilla Canyon, take that back to Hoolie Bacon and over to Peter's trail using the traditional means, or come back out of Cedar Basin and go south to a saddle at 33.47 -111.288 to connect us with the flat area east of Kane spring..

on the old Topo map it shows some of the pack trails coming and going from Cedar Basin - wonder if anyone has thoughts about that area and if Miller Spring is reliable.. Owen?

te-wa wrote:

rally_toad wrote:Cedar Basin canyon looks like another Rough Canyon to me

did you notice, there is a saddle north of Cedar Basin that could connect us to Tortilla Canyon, take that back to Hoolie Bacon and over to Peter's trail using the traditional means, or come back out of Cedar Basin and go south to a saddle at 33.47 -111.288 to connect us with the flat area east of Kane spring..

on the old Topo map it shows some of the pack trails coming and going from Cedar Basin - wonder if anyone has thoughts about that area and if Miller Spring is reliable.. Owen?

Those pack trails were out of use many many years ago. I tried to follow one once that kind of paralleled Tortilla Creek and had to give it up and boulder hop the rest of the way up Tortilla Creek. The group I was guiding was not very happy! Unless there has been a good burn in the area recently you can expect a lot of overgrowth and difficult route finding. But I would still consider the hike as most of you are experienced in this type of terrain and know how to handle it. I would recommend adding a day or two to your trip so you can explore these almost never traveled areas. Each of you should carry the newer small walkie talkies, fan out through Cedar Basin and see what you can find, photograph and report on. We will be looking forward to your photosets and trip reports.
:thanx:

PS - I also once hiked up Pine Creek but had to back out the next morning because I burned up my boots in the middle of the night. You can read all about that by searching for "burned boots" under the HAZ Forum. I ended that story as follows: "Ah the joys of backpacking! Joe you need to create a catagory called "And I learned about backpacking from that?"."

nonot wrote:Rough Canyon was fun and a little easier than expected

Ok, now you're just trying to show off...

I'll be getting some of them new kevlar gaiters. I haven't given blood in a while so I'm overdue. This is starting to sound like fun.

rally_toad wrote:

nonot wrote:Rough Canyon was fun and a little easier than expected

Ok, now you're just trying to show off...

It was a physical day but there wasn't the catclaw I was expecting there to be, although somehow Kurt did manage to tear his pants in half...

Bushwhack/Pistol canyon on the other hand was harder than expected...

te-wa wrote:

rally_toad wrote:Cedar Basin canyon looks like another Rough Canyon to me

did you notice, there is a saddle north of Cedar Basin that could connect us to Tortilla Canyon, take that back to Hoolie Bacon and over to Peter's trail using the traditional means, or come back out of Cedar Basin and go south to a saddle at 33.47 -111.288 to connect us with the flat area east of Kane spring..

on the old Topo map it shows some of the pack trails coming and going from Cedar Basin - wonder if anyone has thoughts about that area and if Miller Spring is reliable.. Owen?

I've collected a GPS tracklog from someone who did a loop as you describe already.

please post that info, if you can

So I'm getting ready to post this as an event doing te-wa's described route. Starting the week after christmas. If anyone has any problems with this route, or dates... speak now! Its going up there today if possible.