Camping, backpacking, hiking, et al

[Popeye_Card]

Can I come along?

Ass, grass, or cash for gas. Nobody rides for free.

[Freed Roger]

Lord I'm jealous about that trip Popeye.


I'm getting closer (Mid June) to our Rocky Mtn Natl Park trip - car camping in Moraine Campground.

We have a motley family crew going -3 dads/brothers, a family friend, 4 daughters (ages 6-11) and the biggest outdoors/nature lover I know - my 68 y/o Mom.

I've set tentative hiking agenda -since we have this crew, and our time is less than a week. Not sure if you are familiar with any of these -I hope to drag the group on - A short one to Dream Lake to catch the fever and acclimate. Fern Lake to the Pool-Cub Lake loop. Calypso Cascades/Ouzel Falls. (these all have somewhat flexible destinations - so we can turn back without completing the whole deal and still be able to see a lot)

Just the dads hope to do a lengthier loop hike to Flattop Mtn-Hallet Peak- and weather permitting, slide down Andrews Glacier.

This stuff is the [expletive]. I've barely scratched the surface on places I'd like to visit. as much as I overplan trips like these - my expectations are always exceeded -even when we've had vehicle problems. Maybe a rolled ankle, hospital visit, or stuck in T-storm will change my attitude.

[Popeye_Card]

Lord I'm jealous about that trip Popeye.


I'm getting closer (Mid June) to our Rocky Mtn Natl Park trip - car camping in Moraine Campground.

We have a motley family crew going -3 dads/brothers, a family friend, 4 daughters (ages 6-11) and the biggest outdoors/nature lover I know - my 68 y/o Mom.

I've set tentative hiking agenda -since we have this crew, and our time is less than a week. Not sure if you are familiar with any of these -I hope to drag the group on - A short one to Dream Lake to catch the fever and acclimate. Fern Lake to the Pool-Cub Lake loop. Calypso Cascades/Ouzel Falls. (these all have somewhat flexible destinations - so we can turn back without completing the whole deal and still be able to see a lot)

Just the dads hope to do a lengthier loop hike to Flattop Mtn-Hallet Peak- and weather permitting, slide down Andrews Glacier.

This stuff is the [expletive]. I've barely scratched the surface on places I'd like to visit. as much as I overplan trips like these - my expectations are always exceeded -even when we've had vehicle problems. Maybe a rolled ankle, hospital visit, or stuck in T-storm will change my attitude.

I did some hiking in RMNP last fall, and it was wonderful. I've done the Flattop mountain hike several years ago. We backpacked to Spruce Lake (near Fern Lake) last fall when the aspens were in full glow.

The one thing I'll warn of is to do the more popular hikes during the week. The weekends can get really crowded if the weather is nice.

My trip is slated for mid July. I'm counting down the days.

[thrill]

When I first started my job (I work for a large General Contractor Corporation), I was hired as a favor to my dad who has worked here for 20+ years and even though I had no specific qualifications they found stuff for me to do while I slowly work through school.

Since then, I've made my niche and no longer have to do a lot of the menial tasks that I did at first just to stay useful. I have held on to one of those tasks though. The task of delivering job proposal marketing packages. I kept it because I love it. I get to drive all over the state just to drop off a box. Not only does it get me out of the office, but it allows me to do three things I love. Drive, listen music/podcasts and see beautiful scenery.

Well yesterday I had a delivery to a small town called Camp Verde. It's a pretty nondescript little town that is building a new Fire Station apparently. What it does have going for it is it's proximity to some awesome scenic destinations. Sedona is 10 minutes away, Flagstaff about 30 and the Mogollon Rim is about 30 minutes up the road.

The Mogollon Rim is the southern edge of the Colorado Plateau. So basically, it's a giant cliff, miles and miles long. It has the best drive-up camping I've ever seen. I go there as often as I can during the summer, but it's been over a year since I got a chance.

I thought that since I was so close and didn't feel like going back to work yet, what better place to kill some time? So I bought a sandwich at Subway and had the best lunch I've had in a while, sitting on the edge of a cliff, watching some storm clouds roll in on the high desert. I took some scenery pics with my phone.

[Popeye_Card]

Second coolest lunch in Arizona ever.

After karp's encounter with Aaron Miles, of course.

[Hungary Jack]

Those are some nice views Thrill. It took me 10 years to learn the pronunciation of Mogollon rim (Muh-gee-on), but it's pretty much as you describe. Where the rim is eroded away you get the incredible rockscapes of Sedona.

Do your tasks ever task you into the southeastern part of the state? I think it may be the coolest part of AZ. I love the isolated high ranges that punctuate the desert--the Catalina, Gailuro, Pinaleno, Chiricuahua, Huachuca, and Santa Rita ranges have some really amazing spots tucked away inside them.

[thrill]

Those are some nice views Thrill. It took me 10 years to learn the pronunciation of Mogollon rim (Muh-gee-on), but it's pretty much as you describe. Where the rim is eroded away you get the incredible rockscapes of Sedona.

Do your tasks ever task you into the southeastern part of the state? I think it may be the coolest part of AZ. I love the isolated high ranges that punctuate the desert--the Catalina, Gailuro, Pinaleno, Chiricuahua, Huachuca, and Santa Rita ranges have some really amazing spots tucked away inside them.

Yeah, very rarely though. Not very populated so not much significant construction.

I love eastern AZ, in the White Mountains down into the Salt River Canyon.

[Hungary Jack]

Those are some nice views Thrill. It took me 10 years to learn the pronunciation of Mogollon rim (Muh-gee-on), but it's pretty much as you describe. Where the rim is eroded away you get the incredible rockscapes of Sedona.

Do your tasks ever task you into the southeastern part of the state? I think it may be the coolest part of AZ. I love the isolated high ranges that punctuate the desert--the Catalina, Gailuro, Pinaleno, Chiricuahua, Huachuca, and Santa Rita ranges have some really amazing spots tucked away inside them.

Yeah, very rarely though. Not very populated so not much significant construction.

I love eastern AZ, in the White Mountains down into the Salt River Canyon.

You should check out a place called Aravaipa Canyon near Winkelman. It's awesome. It was ravaged by a massive flood in summer 06 (the same monsoon that destroyed Sabino Canyon), but is still a must-see. Try to spend a night or two in the canyon.

[Freed Roger]

Before - trip out to the Rockies next week, we knocked the cobwebs off with a little hike west of St. Louis

Hiking pole seems to help Freedette along - after this test run, I decided we'll be taking them to Colorado.


Forest is enchanted and lush with all the rain. Gnats and bugs are a bother, but not so much when you keep moving.


Big Galoot made the hike too. With temps in the mid-80s - he did a lousy job of pacing himself. At the moment of this pic he was vulnerable to predators, had wiped himself out after a gallivant off somewhere in the woods - boning mountain lions coyotes and such. It wasn't until he found a mud puddle to cool himself in later, that he regained his prowess.


The canopy of trees is very thick now, long views only come in glimpses - but very well worth the hike. Freedette was tired and done after hiking -but was disappointed to find out we only went about 3 miles - she said "Oh man, now I'm not going to be in the paper like that one girl." who hiked the grand canyon.

Question : is there some difficulty with using a compass that I'm unaware of? there's one on top of the hiking pole, and it seems easy enough - just let it settle and viola - there are the directions. pick a point of in the desired direction and head that way.

when reading about hiking, they always mention knowing how to read a topo map, and use a compass -
I am almost always on a well-traveled trail, so maybe I need to get lost and try route-finding so as to understand the challenges of compass/map use.

[Fat_Bulldog]

Awesome pics.