AZT HELP - Arizona Trail

imported
#1

I want to hike this beastie as soon as possible. Is it possible to hike the AZT during winter? Seriously. I know it may be hard, but is it crazy hard. You know, is it like so hard that I would probably die or something.

mark

#2

You’ll be fine Mark. Go for it. You won’t die. You might have to carry a bit more clothes and drink tea to warm up in camp but you won’t die. Sounds like fun to me.

matterhorn

#3

Wow, thanks guys. You are all so nice. I’m thinking that I’ll need some snowshoes probably. What do you think?

mark

#4

I have not hiked the Arizona Trail, but there should be quite a bit of snow on the north rim of the grand canyon, as well as the san francisco peaks, at the very least. If you’re starting this month or november, common sense says go southbound.

Duct Tape

#5

Ok, I want to hike the trail, but there is still so much i need to know. i have so many questions. Where should i leave my car? are there a lot of places to resupply? what kind of places are they? is the trail hard to stay on, or are they a lot of bushwacking spots? do i need to get a permit? where do i get it? I mean, is there someone i can talk to or a place to get info? Please help if anyone can. thanks.

mark

#6

Mark - Two good starting places are www.aztrail.org and Arizona Trail: The Official Guide by Jones and Sieve. The website provides general info plus access to a data book. The book provides detailed trail descrips (although there have been some recent re-routes), maps, town descrips, trailhead info, etc. I’d also suggest you read some of this year’s trail journals for an up-to-date idea about current trail conditions.

Matt

#7

Matt, I checked out both of those information sources and stil do not know the answers to my questions. Neither places even mention a permit. I’m sure there is somewhere you have to go to get it. Also there is no info on parking your car. I heard there are shuttles but should I just leave my vehicle abandoned for 5 months at the border? So those are my 2 most important questions. Thru hiking Parking and Permit. if anyone can answer these I will give you my gratitude and a a great big gooey chocolate chip cookie. Anyone?

Mark

#8

If you’re really serious about this hike, you have a lot of research to do. I suggest you buy the book and start reading. But to answer your specific questions, you need a permit from the Arizona State Land Department to cross various public lands along the trail. And I would not leave my car at the trailhead for 5 months (among other reasons, because the hike should only take about 2 months). Start researching available shuttles. Two that have been suggested in the past are Arizona World Shuttle Express out of Tucson and Canyon Country Outback Tours out of Kanab, Utah.

Matt

#9

yeah, i am serious. i just can’t find the information i need. how would i go about getting a permit from the Arizona State Land Department? is there some building in Arizona that i must go to in order to obtain it? are they expensive? and you gave some shuttle businesses. do i drive to their headquarters and leave my car with them while they take me to the start of the trail? these questions may seem stupid but honestly i don’t know. i mean how in God’s name does everybody else do it? thank you for helping. if anyone can help i would be so happy. :cheers

mark

#10

Mark,

Call the government office or offices you’ve been referred to for the information you desire. Within a few phone calls you’ll have all your answers. Also, probably some free maps and brochures on their way in the mail to you.

Write out your questions in advance so you don’t forget anything. Then, prioritize them.

Conan

Conan

#11

In a month you can write Arizona Senator McCain for an inquiry to the permit process to hike the AZ Trail. He won’t be busy, he’ll be sulking and may even invite you in to one of his several hostels…Got access to a Computer? Duh? Contact the good people of Arizona and leave your car at home. Just wing it, bring a good winter sleeping bag.

fishngame

#12

AFAIK, a permit for crossing state trust land is no longer needed, as long as you remain generally along the AZT corridor. So cross that item of the to-do list, maybe.

blisterfree

#13

hey Mark,

I am winter-hiking (December 23-January 18) southbound from Flagstaff (hopefully finishing around Tucson). Are you already on the trail? if not, when do you plan in starting? are you going SoBo or NoBo? I have a good bit of experience thru-hiking (1000 miles last summer on the PCT), and maybe we could meet up for a few hundred miles.

happy trails!

Wild Child

Wild Child

#14

i meant to write Dec twenty-third through January eighteenth. i don’t know how that funny smiley-thing got there!

Wild Child