Arizona Trailblazers Hiking Club
Humphrey's Peak Day Hike
| when? |
Trip Report: August 5, 2006
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Trip Report: June 30, 2001
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Trip Report: April 13, 2000
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Trip Report: June 26, 1999
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Trip Report: December 28, 1998
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Trip Report: October 17, 1998
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Trip Report: July 5, 1998
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Trip Report: October 4, 1997
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| 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.
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| 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.
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| 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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