I was also thinking of a thru hike of the AZ Trail in April. I’m just now making my plans, since I got Tom Jones’ book a couple of weeks ago. Still need to make reervations.
Rocco
Spring 08 Thru-Hikers?
system
#3
Mid-April. Not more than 20 miles per day on average. In 2001 I did the PCT in 21 miles per day. In 2004 I did most of the southern half of the AT in 18 miles per day, but the northern section was much slower.
Rocco
system
#4
Well you folks who are planning a thru hike might want to start looking at the closure of the trail out of Phantom Ranch… I just came back from 3 weeks in the canyon and there are a # of trail closers in the Park, including 2 north of Phantom Ranch. The first was up about 4 miles in the “swamp area” where the trail fell into the marsh but it was almost compleated til last week when a big rock slide took out the bridge a few miles up. It was so large the debries was sitting on top of the main water pipe to the whole south rim. When i was there last monday rocks were still coming down and no idea when it will stop so work can be done on it.
Tanner trail is still closed but should be open for Spring Break. I came up the Hermit yesterday and the entire top section of Catherial stairs had mud and large rocks covering the trail. It took me an extra hour and a half to climb out with lots of new rocks all over the trail.
I would suggest called NPS to see when the trail to the north rim will be open.
It may even be past the 15th of May before the road from the north will also be open.
Meadow Ed
meadow ed
system
#5
Go to the web and you can see an updated news report. They are letting some folks go by this slide as already yhey have done some repair work but still subject to closures so maby by the time you get there it will be passable…
meadow ed