Passages 18 and 19

imported
#1

Hiked passage 18 1st week of March and P19 this week. All creeks were flowing well, including some not on the water chart. About a mile north from Roger’s Trough there is a stinky dead horse in the creek. There was water flowing after Reavis Saddle all the way to the ranch. Just north of Walnut Spring, there is a campsite to the left- the whole top of the hill is covered with old walls and artifacts. Cottonwood flowing well after the spring on and off until you cross it for the last time on FR 341. Everything is covered in green and the wildflowers are putting on a good show at lower elevations.

Have a great time out there 2009 hikers!

Sirena

#2

Just finished hiking this section. All the W1 waters sources are good, so no real need to tank up right now.
Be forwarned that this section turned out to be physicaly tougher than We all expected and the miles seemed kind of long. If your starting from the border You might plan doing A.T. milage and not P.C.T. milage as the trail is A.T.-like…

roni

#3

I haven’t walked anywhere else in the US except the AzT, Roni.
What’s the difference between “AT mileage” and PCT mileage?

kingmancruiser

#4

I think Roni, Apple Pie, Ken and I ave all hiked the AT, PCT and CDT so we all have a comparison in our minds.

The AT is an up-and-down trail without switchbacks. The trailbed is very rough with roots and rocks which make awkward, slower footing. Those factors mean that a hiker usually doesn’t hike as many miles per day as on the gently graded switchbacks of the PCT. The trail very often seems smoother on the PCT so you can cruise along faster. The difference also causes a hiker to think in “long” mileage because his pace is slower. I just about answered Roni here to say I agree with his assessment of the AZT.

The third part of the equation is CDT route finding which the AZT has some of too. A hiker can choose to try to follow the sparse flagging or perhaps instead go up the drainage.

What the AZT has that is unique, and extremely slow, is the bushes in Four Peaks Wilderness. Roni hasn’t been there yet and I am waiting for his comments!
:eek:

Marcia

#5

Ahhh!!! The Four Peaks and the Mazatzals ( I really need to check the spelling on that one)… I did warn Roni about those. It seemed some of the Four Peaks was cleared last fall though. It started to get really bad just around Buckhorn (it is Buckhorn right? My memory is awful). I liked the part where you just had to muscle yourself through the bushes, add some snow and ice to it and you’re in for a real treat! Yay! we’re done! :happy

Apple Pie