I'm still in Tucson, but thought I'd post a quick trip report that Spencer, Maddie, Rik, or Brian can add further comments.
We flew into Phoenix and drove up to Sedona. If you haven't been to Sedona yet, picture a smaller version of Lake Placid surrounded on all sides by magnificent red sandstone towers and buttes, glowing in the morning and evening light. The "beautiful" poople discoved Sedona years ago, and while gorgeous, its being loved to death.
Sedona is set around 4,000' elevation. While high by eastern standards, it doesn't do much to acclimitize you for climbing a 12,633' peak, something I fretted over for quite a while when looking for high trailheads and prep hikes in the 3 days before climbing onto Arizona's Roof. The idea was to gradually move upward over those few days, to higher trailheads and destinations, and at the same time not wear ourselves out. On all my previous little forays out west, we've always slept our first evening higher than Sedona, and in a few days, camping at between 8,000'-10,000'. A combination of acclimitizing while at our sleeping/eating site, and spending our days gradually increasing our elevations has always made 13ers and 14ers done without altitude problems. As one of the organizers of the trip, I felt responsible for everyone having a fun and enjoyable experience.
Monday - Fly into Phoenix and drive to Sedona.
Tuesday - Climb East Pocket Lookout. While hot, the really dry conditions and a million switchbacks made the 2,000' ascent to the summit firetower fairly easy. Located at 7,200', this wooden tower was manned by a great warden, a young guy expecting his first child and looking forward to the end of the fire season. The cab had a bed, food, as well as fire spotting equipment and we received a lesson in how to spot and report the position of a forest fire. He also had an "electric chair", complete with glass insulators on each leg to sit in during the frequent summer electrical storms that shoot lightning bolts at all the mountains around him. He was also a naturalist, and is looking forward to hiking with us in the ADKs some day. He said that while it looks like the greatest job in the world, it gets lonely after a few years.
Wednesday - We drove up to the south Rim of the Grand Canyon and hiked the Rim trail for about 3 miles(average elev 7,000'). The Grand Canyon is, well, "Grand", and my ability to describe it would not do it justice. Deservedly, one of the 8 Wonders of the World. And, I almost forgot. We were treated to an aeriel display by 4-6 of worlds few remaining California Condors. One flew 20' overhead. Goosebumps, still.
Thursday - Drove up past Flagstaff and hiked up into the meadows south of the San Francisco Peaks (Humphrey's Peak and others). We brought books, newpapers, and cameras, with some of us spending the afternoon lounging around alpine meadows acclimitizing between 9,500' and above. Brian and Spence did a little higher exploration to get a glimpse of the following day's objective. A few in the group spotted an Elk on the way back to the car.
Friday - We drove back up past Flag and meet Rik and Charlene in the Humphrey's trailhead parking lot(elev 9,300'). Cool and breezy, perfect hiking weather, but you could hear the wind up high. The first couple of hours we hiked thru the forest, smooth, dry, well-graded trails, gradually switching back and forth.
As we climb higher, we pick up more views to the south, and the breeze down low becomes a stronger wind. Approaching treeline, we see Bristlecone pines, considered the oldest living species on Earth. Eventually we reach a high col, for the final 1 mile to the summit, the true top hidden. The wind becomes stronger, until the final climb up the summit cone its blowing at gale force, making it impossible to walk upright. After "Grouching walking" in between higher gusts, we each reached the summit at different times, jumping behind the rock windbreak and enjoying the views and having lunch.
Summit temps were in the low 50's, with a windchill much cooler.
The return to the cars was uneventful and the group enjoyed a final meal in Sedona that evening.
My thanks for a terrific week that included Brian, Maddie, Spencer and Rik from the Board, Charlene(Rik's wife), and my two long-time hiking buddies, Neil and Rick. It was a cordial and friendly group, and one I'd go anywhere with again. Also to Rob and Carla, our hosts, who unfortunately could not make the trip after contributing so much to its success.
Peakbagr
We flew into Phoenix and drove up to Sedona. If you haven't been to Sedona yet, picture a smaller version of Lake Placid surrounded on all sides by magnificent red sandstone towers and buttes, glowing in the morning and evening light. The "beautiful" poople discoved Sedona years ago, and while gorgeous, its being loved to death.
Sedona is set around 4,000' elevation. While high by eastern standards, it doesn't do much to acclimitize you for climbing a 12,633' peak, something I fretted over for quite a while when looking for high trailheads and prep hikes in the 3 days before climbing onto Arizona's Roof. The idea was to gradually move upward over those few days, to higher trailheads and destinations, and at the same time not wear ourselves out. On all my previous little forays out west, we've always slept our first evening higher than Sedona, and in a few days, camping at between 8,000'-10,000'. A combination of acclimitizing while at our sleeping/eating site, and spending our days gradually increasing our elevations has always made 13ers and 14ers done without altitude problems. As one of the organizers of the trip, I felt responsible for everyone having a fun and enjoyable experience.
Monday - Fly into Phoenix and drive to Sedona.
Tuesday - Climb East Pocket Lookout. While hot, the really dry conditions and a million switchbacks made the 2,000' ascent to the summit firetower fairly easy. Located at 7,200', this wooden tower was manned by a great warden, a young guy expecting his first child and looking forward to the end of the fire season. The cab had a bed, food, as well as fire spotting equipment and we received a lesson in how to spot and report the position of a forest fire. He also had an "electric chair", complete with glass insulators on each leg to sit in during the frequent summer electrical storms that shoot lightning bolts at all the mountains around him. He was also a naturalist, and is looking forward to hiking with us in the ADKs some day. He said that while it looks like the greatest job in the world, it gets lonely after a few years.
Wednesday - We drove up to the south Rim of the Grand Canyon and hiked the Rim trail for about 3 miles(average elev 7,000'). The Grand Canyon is, well, "Grand", and my ability to describe it would not do it justice. Deservedly, one of the 8 Wonders of the World. And, I almost forgot. We were treated to an aeriel display by 4-6 of worlds few remaining California Condors. One flew 20' overhead. Goosebumps, still.
Thursday - Drove up past Flagstaff and hiked up into the meadows south of the San Francisco Peaks (Humphrey's Peak and others). We brought books, newpapers, and cameras, with some of us spending the afternoon lounging around alpine meadows acclimitizing between 9,500' and above. Brian and Spence did a little higher exploration to get a glimpse of the following day's objective. A few in the group spotted an Elk on the way back to the car.
Friday - We drove back up past Flag and meet Rik and Charlene in the Humphrey's trailhead parking lot(elev 9,300'). Cool and breezy, perfect hiking weather, but you could hear the wind up high. The first couple of hours we hiked thru the forest, smooth, dry, well-graded trails, gradually switching back and forth.
As we climb higher, we pick up more views to the south, and the breeze down low becomes a stronger wind. Approaching treeline, we see Bristlecone pines, considered the oldest living species on Earth. Eventually we reach a high col, for the final 1 mile to the summit, the true top hidden. The wind becomes stronger, until the final climb up the summit cone its blowing at gale force, making it impossible to walk upright. After "Grouching walking" in between higher gusts, we each reached the summit at different times, jumping behind the rock windbreak and enjoying the views and having lunch.
Summit temps were in the low 50's, with a windchill much cooler.
The return to the cars was uneventful and the group enjoyed a final meal in Sedona that evening.
My thanks for a terrific week that included Brian, Maddie, Spencer and Rik from the Board, Charlene(Rik's wife), and my two long-time hiking buddies, Neil and Rick. It was a cordial and friendly group, and one I'd go anywhere with again. Also to Rob and Carla, our hosts, who unfortunately could not make the trip after contributing so much to its success.
Peakbagr
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