Fall hike - Arizona Trail

imported
#1

I’m looking for a trail to hike this fall, Oct-Nov. It seems everyone hikes the Arizona Trail in the spring… how about the fall?

Pace

#2

I haven’t done it, but I sounds like some have. Late September/early October seems to be a good time to beat the snow out of the high country and hit cooler weather in the desert. Look at Fred Gaudet’s water page via the ATA website for historical water data at that time of year. Some years are dryer than others. Seasonal streams will probably be dry, but wells and springs might be there depending on the summer monsoon.

Garlic

#3

A couple did a thru hike last fall and seemed to do ok with it. If you want to get in touch with them let me know.

Shawn

#4

Do it!

Pace from PCT '07? Look me up in Flagstaff when you come through that area. You can totally treat my home as if it were the Anderson’s or Saufley’s. I’m on the Appalachian Trail right now, but will be back in Flagstaff for the fall semester at NAU. My number is (760)914-9109 give me a call when your heading in.

Nights will be cool in the northern 1/3 of the state. The days will be nice though. You will have an awesome time that time of year. True alot of sources will be dry, and you will have to rely on stock tanks more, but there will still be plenty of water, if you plan it out and carry a bit. You did CDT, so the AZT won’t be bad at all for you. It’s a beautiful trail for beautiful people!
:cheers
Guino

Guino

#5

Arizona’s State Centennial is 2012 so AZT is celebrating with a fall Centennial Adventure http://www.aztrail.org/ It looks like many trail users will be out on the trail between 9/15 and 10/31. I am sure that the water cache at Freeman road will be stocked for all the travellers.

We hiked in May-June and had the entire gorgeous trail to ourselves so I think seeing bikers, equestrians and hikers on the trail would be interesting and fun.

Shawn, did your friends keep a journal of their fall hike? If they did, I would love to read it.

GottaWalk

#6

Pace, regardless of time of year, you’ll probably want to use the cache at Freeman Road. It’s a long way N or S to water.

bowlegs