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If you are snowshoeing in an area where there are cross country ski tracks, please make your own tracks, and don't destroy the nice ski trails.

A pet peeve of mine at Pole Knoll...

Same goes for dogs. If you like to play/hike/snowshoe (or even ski) with your dog (as I do) please respect those who don't and keep your puppy out of the ski tracks.

Elizabeth - thanks. I'm a greenhorn when it comes to Cross country skiing or snowshoeing. I would have never thought about this without your heads up. I will be conscious of this.

azbackpackr wrote:A pet peeve of mine at Pole Knoll...

I don't have pet peeves, I have obsessive hatreds. --George Carlin

Heh heh! Well, it's a pet peeve, anyway.

I didn't say that a few areas, such as Williams Valley, are groomed by the Forest Service, and then anyone can go on the groomed trails, since they are already packed down. However, that sort of defeats the purpose of snowshoeing, which is to be able to walk on top of the deep soft snow without sinking up to your eyeballs.

Speaking of groomed areas, I find I don't prefer them, although I don't especially avoid them, either. The Springerville RD made a big deal about having bought a groomer for Pole Knoll, but they hardly ever go out and groom it. And when they do, they just do one little loop. Fine with me, anyway. If I want groomed trails I just go up a little further to the sledding hill or over by Green's Peak, where there are snowmobile tracks everywhere. They are almost as good as a groomed trail.

I'm planning a big group outing for snowshoeing at the end of Feb - so this is all good to know (also being a newbie to the whole frozen white powder sports thingy) Does anyone know if there are many good opportunities around Happy Jack / Blue Ridge area? We have a contact with a cool cabin in that area - but originally we were looking more at Greer and that area...

writelots wrote:I'm planning a big group outing for snowshoeing at the end of Feb - so this is all good to know (also being a newbie to the whole frozen white powder sports thingy) Does anyone know if there are many good opportunities around Happy Jack / Blue Ridge area? We have a contact with a cool cabin in that area - but originally we were looking more at Greer and that area...

Baldy?

writelots wrote:also being a newbie to the whole frozen white powder sports thingy

One thing I did as a new setup(I read about it somewhere)...wool sock then 2mm neoprene booties($15-20 from a dive shop)then trailrunner/ light boot (without the insole) depending on temps you can also get a neoprene overboot made for snowshoeing but they are a little more expensive. I haven't snowshoed in AZ yet...but did on the east coast with the old tennis rackets. I bought a pair of closeouts last march and will prob try them this weekend...can't wait.

writelots wrote:Does anyone know if there are many good opportunities around Happy Jack / Blue Ridge area? We have a contact with a cool cabin in that area - but originally we were looking more at Greer and that area...

You can snowshoe just about anywhere, but well-marked hiking trails are obviously a better choice. Though I find that hiking trails are MUCH more difficult to follow in the snow, so be prepared if you're out breaking your own trail.

As for more developed areas, the Mormon Lake Lodge offers both groomed snowshoe and cross-country ski trails, and is only 30-45 minutes from the Happy Jack area. Most of the forest roads off of FH3 are closed in winter and are much easier to follow than hiking trails.

If you're in for breaking your own trail and a nice little climb, I recommend the service road to the lookout and antenna towers at the twin peaks of Hutch Mtn. If you're lucky, it will have been packed down by snowmobiles. The views are obstructed by trees, but if you illegally climb either of the towers, its really beautiful up there! (I've heard...)
http://hikearizona.com/location_g.php?L ... =13&M=6&G=

Edit: By "breaking trail" here, I mean snowshoeing where nobody has previously packed down a trail, not literally going cross-country, though that would also qualify. Snowshoeing up a closed I-17 after a 3-foot snowstorm and no snow-removal would still be breaking trail in my book.

Forest Lakes area gets a lot of snow. Hannagan and Alpine get more than Greer, usually. However, who knows how the snow blows next month? Right now, from my house, I would head for Baldy foothills. You get there by taking the turnoff to Sunrise off 260. At the Sunrise store, head left on 273 toward Big Lake. Park where that road is gated off, and start snowshoeing or skiing. That area up against the hill does hold the snow longer.

Thanks for all the intel. I do know that it's going to depend a lot upon the weather in the coming weeks. Heck - I'm such a neophyte, though, I'd be happy with three inches of powder that I can kick through in my boots ;)

Since so many of you are going snowshoeing these days I am putting this back up at the top of the forum. The Forest Service volunteer at Pole Knoll recently put up some little tiny signs that indicate in pictures to snowshoers that they are supposed to stay to the side of the ski tracks. The signs are not very noticeable, and I am still seeing ski tracks that are messed up.

The good news is that the snow has been on the ground for so long now that it will hold your weight and so you can easily break trail and go wherever you please without it being a whole lot of work. So a skier can easily avoid both the snowshoe tracks and the groomed trails. This is usually my preference, anyway.