I just went over the Peaks this weekend. An unofficial but extrememly reccomended alternate route. Go up the Peaks trail from Snowbowl (Burger and Fries $8.99, 24 oz beer $6.50) hit the ridge tag Humphries Peak then follow the ridge South toward Doyle saddle. From Doyle it’s around 4 miles down to Schultz Tank (nice deep pond, great water) and the AZT is a minute beyond.
The trail up from snowbowl was icey but fine. Once you start heading toward Doyle saddle there was quite a bit of hard packed steep snow with a really bad runout. This lasted on and off for a mile. Then just a snowy though wide nice trail to Doyle saddle. No snow after this. I imagine the conditions will improve greatly in the coming days if there isnt a storm coming in. I highly reccomend this route over the San Fransisco Peaks. I did this NorBo this weekend. Then I SoBo’d the Kachina Trail as a night hike. This is a nice great trail too. Not official AZT. Though I have yet to do the official (alternate till a new trail is built).
I moved and need to find out if my new roomie minds hikers coming in to my place in Flag. My old ones were a little nasty to the two hikers that came by two weeks ago, so Ive moved from those jerks and stuck it too them rent wise. I think this guy will be cool, though now im much farther from the trail unfortunately. Hopefully next season I’ll be able to get my own place here in Flag and not housemates. Give me a call if your thru hiking and dont want to pay for a hotel or hostel and dont mind walking an extra 1.5 miles. (760)914-9109 Truthfully the hostel is in a lot better of a location, but whatever you know.
Guino
Guino