Troop 818 is planning to hike Mount Baldy in northeastern Arizona over the Labor Day weekend. It was explorer James White who supplied the moniker for these peaks–which soar 10,000 feet higher than nearby Phoenix and stay 30°F cooler year-round.
Overall Plan:
Depart: St. Bernadette Catholic Church at 6:15am on Saturday, September 3rd. Drive to the East Baldy Trailhead #95 (see driving instructions below, approximate drive is 4.5 hours with no stops).
Saturday afternoon: We will depart from the East Baldy Trailhead #95 and hike the easy 3.5-mile Crossover Trail #96 to the West trail #94 which is along the trout-laden West Branch of the Little Colorado River. Pitch a tent near a big meadow four miles up trail. Scout will have the later afternoon and evening to recover, do some trout fishing and make dinner by Patrol.
Sunday: Breakfast in camp (no cook preferred), break camp and hike the 2.5 miles to the West Baldy Trail and a saddle 200 feet below Baldy’s 11,403-foot cone. The summit itself, on the White Mountain Apache reservation, is off-limits. Lunch will be at the saddle, and we will start our decent down the East trail. At some point on the East Trail, we will make camp for the night.
Monday: Breakfast in camp (no cook preferred), break camp and return to the East Baldy Trailhead, where are vehicles are waiting for us. Load up gear and return to St. Bernadette Catholic Church, expected return is between 3pm and 5pm.
Details:
- Expect some rain, average highs in the and lows in the high 30s-low 40s at night. PLAN ACCORDINGLY. Check online as we get closer to departure.
- This is a moderate hiking outing, and Scouts should plan to pack all necessary gear, so Patrol and gear coordination is essential for a successful outing.
- Meal Plan
- Saturday Breakfast – before you arrive for departure
- Saturday Lunch – at a stop on the drive to the Trailhead
- Saturday Dinner – by Patrol in the Campsite
- Sunday Breakfast – by Patrol in Campsite (prefer non-cook)
- Sunday Lunch – by Scout during hike at the Mount Baldy saddle
- Sunday Dinner – by Patrol in the Campsite
- Monday Breakfast – by Patrol in Campsite (prefer non-cook)
- Monday Lunch – at a stop on the return drive to Church
- Water: Scouts should have a durable (preferably Nalgene) water bottle, water is available in streams and springs along the route. We will have water filters available and if Scouts have their own or other water purification tools, they are encouraged to bring them.
- A good topographical map is online here.
- Cost is $25 for driver gas reimbursement plus reimbursement to Patrol Grubmaster for Patrol food.
Driving Instructions:
- Leave Phoenix via Highway 87 towards Payson, Arizona.
- In Payson, take Highway 260 to Show Low
- From Show Low, drive south and east on AZ-260 for 40 minutes, past Hon Dah and McNary.
- Turn right on 273 as if you are going to the Sunrise Ski Resort.
- Drive on 273 for about 8 miles, past the entrance for Sunrise. The pavement soon ends and 273 turns into a well-maintained graded dirt road passable by most 2WD passenger cars.
- West Baldy Trail #94 starts at Sheep Crossing Trailhead. The turn off is well-signed on 273. Another 4 miles down the road, you’ll see the Phelps Cabin Trailhead, the beginning of the East Baldy Trail #95 and the Crossover Trail #96.
Adult Leaders and Drivers that are planning to attend, should sign up at: http://www.signupgenius.com/go/30e0c4daba62ba75-drivers
Other:
Scouts planning to attend should inform their Patrol Leaders for submission at the Monday, September 22nd Troop Meeting. Patrol Leaders will inform the Senior Patrol Leader who will inform Mrs. Finigian.
