Arizona or New Mexico in January

The Gila Wilderness is awesome but I don’t know about January. How about you split a ticket, fly you to Texas and do Big Bend?

Edit or fly your friend to Nevada…

The Guadalupe Mountains are nice too. You get a Rocky Mountain feeling without a mountain winter. Not big enough for a long trip but you could hit Big Bend for 3 says then the Guads for an overnight.

Thanks Luke for the recommendation

We thought about flying but we both have small kids at home and want to avoid because of COVID. Big bend was our first choice! But it’s a good 20 hour drive from Reno. ..

The Sky Island ranges in southeast AZ are great for starting at low elevations (and warmer Winter temps) and then doing some SERIOUS ascents. The Basin and Range portion of SE AZ provides the steepest elevation gains in the state. (The north rim of Grand Canyon gains 6000′ in 14 miles, but the Ash Creek trail in the Pinalenos (Grahams) gains 6’000′ in 8 miles). Also the Chiricahuas, Santa Ritas and Galiuros all have steep elevation gains of 4,500 to 5,500 feet. You might get snow on top of some of the peaks in Jan because elevations reach 9,000′ to 10,5000′ ,however, your hikes start at low elevations and hence have milder Winter climates. Of the 3 major regions of AZ (Colorado Plateau, Transition Zone and Basin and Range) the Southeast Basin and Range provide for the best Winter hikes IMO, at least if you want some real elevation gains. The Sky Island ranges are the most underappreciated mountains in the state, but they are my favorites. It would be a much further drive for your bud in Austin to meet you half way than you from Vegas, however. the speed limit is 80 in west Texas and drivers cruise 90 all the time. I can;t speak for New Mexico backpacking though.

Thanks Monte! I’m coming from Reno, so we’re about equidistant to Phoenix or so.

Those recommendations look great, and I will check out sky island based on it.
Thank you.

The Sky Island Ranges are described as very tall isolated ships in of sea of desert. The views atop some of the peaks looking down into the basins are incredible. Only in Southern California and SE AZ  do you see such contrasts between low desert and 9,000′ plus mountains, at least in the Southwest. The Santa Catalinas east of Tuscon are also a Sky Island Range as well as the Dragoons.

One warning are the mountains of Arizona get cold.  Tucson AZ has a downhill ski resort on top of its mountains and it’s pretty far south for the state.

Another place to look at is the Superstition Mountains near Phoenix, though you’d have to get a map to plan it.

One neat area is Reavis Ranch trail with a sample of 3 major Arizona ecosystems as you climb from desert to forest. Our three day trip is Reavis Ranch trail from a dirt TH to the old Reavis ranch site (spring should be good) for a decently cold camp (20°F when we camped it one MLD holiday in mid-Jan).   The next morning backtrack halfway, but find the unofficial trail leading into the Reavis Falls running perpendicular to the Reavis trail.  Set up camp at the relatively warmer bottom, and then figure out when to see the falls.  The next day we went out back to the TH for a 3-day trip, but iirc there are other trails that offshoot.  REIs a plenty in the Phoenix area with a good local shop too if needed last minute stuff.

New Mexico tends to be higher in elevation than Arizona so it’ll be colder.  Still plenty of loops in the Gila if you can time it right using the visitor center as a sort of base (they have a serious weather radar if the virus hasn’t closed the center down.   The last major outfitters are in Tucson (REI and Summithut), though some camping supplies are in Silver City at the Hike n’Bike.  Grocers for food too.  New Mexico has a serious virus shutdown just starting but hope it’ll be finished by January.

Not sure of the exact amount, but a great deal  of the Superstitions burned in the last two seasons.  This includes the Reavis Ranch area mentioned by HkNewman. And, it has been terrifically dry and water will be scarce outside of several perennial springs.  The Woodbury fire alone burned 60% or more of the Wilderness and there were several more.   Not much press because there are few human structures there.

Start from the South Rim of the Grand Canyon and traverse the Tonto Plateau in the Grand Canyon?  If it’s not Christmas-New Years, my understanding from the backcountry office is that in normal years, while the main trail corridor (South Kaibab, North Kaibab and Bright Angel) can be be impacted; other trails have lots of availability in the winter (and, seeing I was Alaskan, they’ve commented that they get a lot of Canadians and Alaskans in the winter).

Generally, you’d be below the snow, and have lows in the 30s, but you’d want to be prepared to be dusted and for nights in the 20s.

Grand Canyon has been my most common January trip for the last decade.

Last I saw, due to covid, you needed to get your permit online, but if you had your printed out permit, that was all you needed.  (And, yes, backcountry rangers are still checking for permits).

Not too much elevation gain in the Superstitions though. Lots of people in Winter since it’s so close to metro Phoenix. And Safford AZ for example is almost exactly halfway between Austin and Reno. If you decide on SE AZ be sure to drive down to Bisbee and check it out. Everyone who visits the old copper mining mecca comes away very pleased.

Many backpackers who have hiked virtually everything in Arizona will tell you that the Chiricachuas contain the best scenery in the state. The geology and landscapes are unbelievable. I’d say that would be my first choice, however, if a gut-busting brutal slog is what you’re looking for the Pinalenos are unsurpassed. The trails aren’t as well maintained though. The Pinalenos (Grahams) are the best kept secret in Arizona.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pinale%C3%B1o_Mountains

the Superstitions burned in the last two seasons.  This includes the Reavis Ranch area mentioned by HkNewman. And, it has been terrifically dry and water will be scarce outside of several perennial springs

Oh no.  Disregard my recommendation until its present condition can be verified.  That area was so nice but yeah, somewhat popular on the weekends judging from the backpacking groups (scouts, university outing groups, etc..), though we were always alone at camp.

Speaking if burns, the western part of the Gila burned too, although that is away from the visitor center I mentioned if you are still looking at that.  The western trails are cleared but FS estimates it’ll be a few years before the trees regrow to choke out thorn bushes like Devils claw they’ll snag clothing and skin.

And a quick comment on David’s recommendation of the South Rim Grand Canyon. Even if most of the canyon is lower and snow-free, the first mile or so of trail can have snow and ice on it. And you need to be prepared for that, or prepared for slipping on the ice on the edge of the Grand Canyon and perhaps a swifter descent than you might have otherwise chosen…

Thank you all for the great contributions.  I have been to the Canyon in April, and micro spikes seem like a good idea. Would I ever need to go as far as snowshoes? I think we will consider David’s recommendation of the south rim and Tonto traverse, and I’ll have to look into the Chiricachuas and Pinalenos. Thanks again all.

We mailed in our permit request to traverse the Tonto plateau starting at the South Kaibab trail, and working our way  east until we get to Tanner trail, which is where we will make our ascent up. We plan to spend three nights in the canyon, and this should be about 58 miles. Plus a little more for visits down to Phantom Ranch and other areas. If we don’t get the permit we will have to try the Chiricachuas. I don’t think we have the option of going to the backcountry office for a last minute permit with current covid restrictions, so keeping our fingers crossed! We tried to keep the mileage conservative as this is the first major trip for my friend and in quite a number of years, since we got back into backpacking, but this time “ultralight”.