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I'm planning to do a bunch of backpacking in November, and I'd like to explore some new places. If at all possible, I'd like to stick to areas accessible by standard rental car, but I might push that. I have time for several trips, and Mrs. big_load will join me for at least one. Here are some general areas I've been thinking about:

1. Grand Gulch
I've only scratched the surface, and I'd like to see more, but I'm worried about snow. I don't mind cool weather, but my gear will only take me down to about 15-20F.

2. White Mountains
Same as Item 1.

3. Sierra Ancha
There seem to be a lot of good ruins. I'm worried about TH access without 4WD and having to cut brush.

4. Pinals
Drove by too many times without hiking. That's got to stop.

5. Wrightson and surrounding area
I want to do this before it gets any worse. I'm not sure about weather.

6. Other?
I'm still playing with the idea of the Galiuros West Divide Trail, if I can actually get to it. I don't want to approach Deer Creek TH again with a rental.

GG will be cold. PM me - maybe we can set something up after I get back from the Canyon.

Was just at the Deer Creek TH this weekend for a Powers Garden loop, and I think that a passenger vehicle could do just fine as the conditions are right now. The West Divide Trail does look interesting and I bet the fall color will be much better in November than it is right now.

rae-rae wrote:Was just at the Deer Creek TH this weekend for a Powers Garden loop, and I think that a passenger vehicle could do just fine as the conditions are right now.

That's very interesting. How was the creek crossing just off Klondyke Road? Or the sand hill? I spent an hour or two doing road modifications the last time I was there. I ended up parking half a mile short of the TH, finally stymied by one of the bare rock crossings. I'm looking forward to the High Creek TH reopening, which should happen before much longer, when they finish the new road.

It's cold in November if you go to far north or high. :yuck:
Why don't you consider a route in the Superstitions where you might even find the missing Jesse Capen or the Lost Dutchman Goldmine.
Begin by heading out on Peters Trail, going cross country to the head of Trap Canyon and actually find and photograph the Trap. :worthy:

Then head back on the Hoolie Bacon Trail and climb up to the Lost Dutchman Mine Jr. and return by the JF Trail to the old Tortilla Ranch site.

@SuperstitionGuy
I don't mind cold as much as some folks. Your itinerary sounds something like that I considered for my 2008 Fall Supes trip, which included a partial exploration of Trap Canyon. I came at it from La Barge, though, because Peters sounded like a catclaw nightmare (although I can't imagine it being any worse than Red Tanks turned out to be). I'd still like to fill that blank spot of my Supes exploration.

@big_load
We were actaully coming from Tucson, so our route was a bit different. I'm not sure of the conditions on Klondyke. It only took us a little over an hour to get from 191 to the TH by using the 266 to Bonita Aravaipa Rd to Deer Creek Rd. The big wash crossing on Deer Creek Rd was fine and there were only a few places where we had to be careful of where we placed the tires as we got closer to the TH. We were driving a truck, but I saw a few passenger cars in the camping spots near the TH.

I definitely agree that having access to High Creek TH will be fantastic!

I am considering a West Divide loop redo over Thanksgiving, if you're around shoot me a pm as it gets closer. Water and weather and hopefully Power's Hill will reopen as a TH access. High noon reopen will be good, but the best long loop I've hiked in there was when I finished all the trails----going in from Jackson Cabin, up Redfield , across the divide, up Rattlesnake to the East Divide then down and over Bassett Peak. Mostly in snow. A hell of a trip.