Yes it is January 27 and we are still in flagstaff. No we are not being lazy. As mentioned in the previous post, we hiked to the Arizona Snow Bowl (ski area) and hitched a ride the last 15 miles into town since we were low on supplies. During our few day layover we did major food shop for the next 13 days plus 6 days (going into a box and shipped to Roosevelt Lake Marina to be picked up around March 1st). We had also decided to switch to a tent rather than the tarp and bivy sacs. We found that when it is below freezing the breathable bivys don't breath, the condensation just freezes, inside, making our sleeping bags wet. Also the tarp, while being good shelter, does not keep out the wind. Tarps and Bivys are great when its warmer but not below freezing. So we purchased a new light weight tent (4 lbs, about the same as two bivys and a tarp). Also the day before we were going to hit the trail again, Bob did an equipment inspection and found the frame sheet in his pack to be snapped in two. Not sure when or how, but still not good. So we also purchased a new pack.
Feeling quilty about hitching a ride and skipping the 15 miles from Snowbowl to Flagstaff and with the second big storm of the winter coming we dicided what better way to have a shakedown hike and test the new equipment, than to hitch a ride back to snowbowl for a two day hike in a storm back to Flagstaff. Yes we intentially tried to camp in a major storm. But the storm was a day late and we had beautiful skies and temperatures for the whole two day affair. The warmer temps did make the already laid down snow wetter making for slower snowshoeing (you know those big Fenderbergs of ice that build up in your tire wells , picture those on the bottom of the snoeshoes). We still made good time with 5 miles the first day around the mountain and 10 miles the next day, down the mountain and through the hills back to Flagstaff.
The tent worked wonderfully and added just enough warmth (we still boil a nalgene bottle full of water to put in our sleeping bags). Plus set up time went from 1/2 hour to 5 minutes with a lot less cussing. The only draw back is we went from a 12 x 12 foot tarp shelter to a 3 x 7 foot tent. Can you say claustrophobic? Bob loves his new pack, which is working out better than his last one anyway.
So the late major storm. We arrived in Flagstaff to a beautiful sunset and spent the night at the James again (we might have to start pitching in on rent) hoping to get up the next morning and start hiking out of town in the morning. We awoke to a snowstorm with the biggest wettest flakes you ever saw and it just turned to rain. 100% chance of snow and rain today and tonight. Tomorrow goes down to 40% chance, so we will start hiking tomorrow.
Flagstaff usually doesn't get major snow until february and march if any at all. Some years Snowbowl is only open for a week. So all this feets of snow is really a trip for us. About two more weeks of hiking and we should be dropping off the Mogollon rim into warmer temps and little snow exept for the few mountain ranges we go up and over.
Hopefully tomorrow we head south of Flagstaff to Walnut Canyon (a sweet canyon with indian ruins and such) and make our way over the next 5 days to Mormon Lake for a qick bite to eat and a "we're OK" check in with the family and then 8 days to Pine for another big food shop resupply.
Google earth users should go to our map page for a link to google earth AZT.
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