Arizona Trailblazers Hiking Club
Humphrey's Peak Day Hike


when? Trip Report: August 5, 2006
Trip Report: June 30, 2001
Trip Report: April 13, 2000
Trip Report: June 26, 1999
Trip Report: December 28, 1998
Trip Report: October 17, 1998
Trip Report: July 5, 1998
Trip Report: October 4, 1997
where? Flagstaff
the hike
    We will be hiking Arizona's highest peak. Prepare yourselves as this one will be tough. Only the physically fit can come. We will start from the trailhead at the Arizona Snow Bowl Upper Lodge. Make our way through mountain meadows and finally up through steep switchbacks among pine trees. Soon, the pine trees will give way to tundra and you will have a 360° view of the surrounding area. On a clear day, you may even see the Grand Canyon from the summit of Humphrey's Peak at 12,633 feet above sea level. At these elevations, the air will be thin, so remember to breath hard and deep. We will have lunch at the peak, enjoy the scenery and relax. We will slowly make our way back down the same way we came.
    We are in the middle of the monsoon season. The weather may be sunny or not. Be prepared for extreme mountain weather. Bring some warm clothing and rain gear in your backpack, just in case.
    The Mt. Humphreys Trail, starting at 9,300 feet and ending 4.7 miles later at the summit (the longest 4.7 miles on Earth), is deceptively easy at first, carrying hikers about a quarter mile over a relatively flat meadow into the edge of the forest.
    Entering a thick old-growth forest of aspen, Douglas and white fir, Englemann spruce, and ponderosa pine, the trail now begins a gradual but steady climb up the sloping side of Mt. Humphreys in a series of long switchbacks, so long in fact that one is almost unaware they are even switchbacks at all in the beginning. It's three miles before you emerge from this forest primeval.
    The trail becomes more and more rocky, traversing several more rockslides along the way (actually several of the switchbacks meet a long rockslide encountered earlier). Beyond 11,400 feet the familiar treeline, or what's left of it, slowly begins to disappear altogether, and the only tundra found in Arizona gradually starts to emerge in its place.
    Finally, after struggling through several more ever-steeper and tighter switchbacks, you emerge – at 11,800 feet – onto the ridgeline, commonly known as the saddle, where you catch your first glimpse of the majestic Mt. Humphreys, still looming in the distance another 870' higher and a little over a mile away.
Required:
Sturdy hiking boots
At least 3 liters of water
Rain poncho
Hat, sunblock, sunglasses
Lunch/snacks
Toque, mitten gloves, light sweater or jacket
Recommended:
Camera
Binoculars
distance 9.4 miles round trip
time 6 hours hiking time plus 6 hours R/T driving time.
EC +-3,300' elevation change
elevations 9,300' (trailhead) to 12,633' (Humphreys Peak)
hike rating "A" [tough]
on trail 100% — Humphreys Peak Trail
dogs? Dogs are allowed as long as they are leashed. Please pick up after your pet.
cost There is no charge to hike to Humphrey's Peak. Parking at the Upper Lodge is free. The club accepts voluntary contributions of $1/member or $3/non-member. Riders, please share gas expenses with the drivers.
weather Flagstaff
meet     6:30 AM by the M&I Bank on the southwest corner of I-17 and Bell Road, across the driveway from Denny’s. See map.
    Carpooling arrangements will be made here. For those leaving their vehicles behind, please park them by the east or north curb.
    We will leave for Flagstaff promptly at 6:45 AM.
drive     Take I-17 north to Flagstaff. Follow US 180 north 7 miles out of Flagstaff and turn right onto Snow Bowl Road. Drive uphill 7 miles and turn left into the Upper Lodge parking lot (a.k.a. second ski area parking lot). At the end of the parking lot is the well-marked trailhead. All roads are paved.


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updated August 6, 2006 © Copyright 2006, Arizona Trailblazers.  All rights reserved.