Arizona Backpackers Club (ABC)

We’ve done this trip several times on New Moon nights and they’ve been memorable. Last time the clouds parked themselves on us for the night blocking out our view. Better luck this time! I can't think of anyplace better in Arizona to gaze at the star packed night sky than up on top of Kendrick. The view up on the peak is vast, you can see the north rim of the Grand Canyon and for many miles in just about all the other directions. This is my all-time favorite Flagstaff area backpack and gets us spending the night above 10000'! It's going to be chilly and maybe windy up here overnight so be prepared 🥶 I would say 30F-40F.

This is a hard trip but its not as bad as it sounds. The hike is on a well built and maintained trail with a grade that isn't very steep. The Kendrick Peak trail #22 climbs over 2400' in a little over 4.5 miles to the summit which has a fire lookout (10423'). Not far below the fire lookout and along the trail to it, is a cabin located in a meadow where some in the group will camp 🏕️

You'll have to carry your water up the mountain 😟 There is a spring kind of near the cabin but the times that I've seen it, its been a muddy bog or dried up. We'll have a late start so it would be beneficial to hydrate prior. The temperature shouldn't be hot (low 80's max) so water consumption shouldn't be excessive. I took 5 liters last time and had a little left at the end of the trip.

I plan on bypassing the cabin and sleeping on the helicopter pad next to the lookout tower with no tent, wind permitting. There's room for 4 or 5 more people but no tents, it’s under the stars. The pad is a concrete slab and not very big, there's no way to stake tents. The stargazing is indescribable up here, I feel like a bird when here 🦅

However, the camp fire 🔥 will be in the meadow near the cabin, you can't have one up top. So you'll have a choice of camp spots. Those that head back to the cabin will find the meadow a great place to camp. There's a nice fire ring with a whole forest of dead trees to burn. Although this wilderness area is heavily scared from fire, the trail goes through the only surviving forested part of the mountain. In the morning we'll all meet back up by 10AM and head down the mountain.

The plan is to meet in the Flagstaff area at 12 noon on Saturday. I plan on camping near Flagstaff on Friday night, let me know if you'd like to join. After meeting we'll then drive to the trail head (TH) on forest roads (FR). These roads have always been in good shape and I've been able to drive them in a small passenger car 🚗 with no problems. Last time, they were rough and now I'd recommend a medium clearance passenger car.

A $2 cash donation would be appreciated to help Greg pay the meetup fee

I'm not a professional guide but have spent hundreds of nights out on backpacking trips. I like to lead trips not for financial gain but instead to bring backpackers together and create some lasting friendships. Most of the places that I venture to are remote with help being many hours and sometimes days away. When you attend my trips you must realize that you are responsible for yourself and bad things can happen. I intend on using good judgement when leading but will not be with you at all times. In an event that something bad happens, I will attempt to get help and/or give help as soon as its safely possible. I expect the same in return, we all watch out for each another.

Your invited to join me on all or some of the dates at our cabin in the Big Burro Mountains SW of Silver City New Mexico. We will be doing daily training hikes often joining up with the Continental Divide Trail. Saturday and Sunday afternoon we will head to town for the free Silver City Blues Festival. We have a couple of bedrooms and plenty of room to camp inside and 10 acres to camp on outside. Well behaved dogs are okay but are not allowed into the Blues Festival.

I will provide dinner Thursday and breakfast Friday morning. We can figure out how we want to do the rest of the meals and carpooling once the group in established. I am not a professional guide but I do know the area well. I am happy to host you but can not be liable for your safety.

Memorial Day Weekend! Let's bag these 2 peaks about 40 minutes north of Las Vegas. This is a BACKPACKING TRIP and not for beginners! This loop is about 18+ miles roundtrip with 5,000'+ of elevation gained. Hikers could do it all in 1 day but that will be really hardcore; instead, I prefer to break it into 2 days. We will meetup at 6 am for carpooling and drive to the South loop TH inside Spring Mountains Recreation Area. I am hoping to start our hike adventure around noon on Friday. We will hike up to the saddle, find a nice place to camp and proceed to hike up to the summit of Griffith Peak. We will then return to our campsite to enjoy some of the best views of Las Vegas and the surrounding area. Saddle is usually windy and cold although I am hoping for good weather in late May, yet be prepared in case is still cold at night. Next morning, we will hike to the summit of Mt Charleston, highest peak in Clark Co, Nevada, then descend via the north Loop trail back to parking lot. I have reserved a large group campground site nearby for us to spend Saturday night. Site has picnic tables, grill, fire ring and vaulted toilets but no running water. I will be bringing brats, burgers to grilled. If we all bring something to share, we can have a nice cookout. Sunday morning we will drive back to AZ with 1 stop at Willow Beach (Colorado River) where we can dip and refresh at the cold waters of the Colorado (get rid off the hiker trash smell), optional kayak/ paddle to Emerald cave. Peaks are covered in snow now, but by late May, snow is usually gone and springs are running nicely providing valuable water sources to filter from. I will provide updates for weather and water as we get closer. When you sign up, you will be place in "waitlist" until I receive payment. $10 to cover for campsite reservation. I prefer Zelle, my phone is 623-297-8574. Send me a message once you send payment.

WAIVER, RELEASE, AND ASSUMPTION OF RISKS
All hikers/ backpackers show up at your own risk.
Neither this group nor myself take any responsibility for any health risks that might happen during this event. When you RSVP you are accepting these terms upon yourself. By attending any group hike you agree to the following:

I hereby waive, release, and discharge the Meetup Group and its Administrators, moderators, volunteers, organizers, sponsors, members, and participants from any and all claims for personal injury, property damage, or death resulting from my participation in any of this group's events. I acknowledge that hiking can be a high-risk sport. I realize there are certain dangers inherent in hiking, and I assume these risks with the full understanding that injuries may result from my participation in any event. I intend this release to discharge the above named from any and all liability arising from or connected in any way with my participation in any event, even though that liability may result from the negligence or carelessness of the above named. I certify that I am in good physical condition, and that I am able to participate in the event.

I have read this waiver and release and fully understand its terms and agree that it shall be binding on my heirs and assigns. I consent to emergency transportation and care at my own expense if I become injured or ill. My RSVP and/or participating in this event is my signature on this waiver.