Desert nights

[Kathryn L]

A friend and I are planning a short trip in the Superstition Wilderness in mid-May. Given the need to carry water, I’m trying to keep everything else as minimal as possible. Can anyone with experience tell me if I need to carry a light puffy for the evenings? I’m expecting the days to be quite warm, of course. I’ll have a wind shirt and a 50 degree down quilt. Do I need something like my Ghost Whisperer puffy or am I safe to leave it behind? (We won’t be above ~5500 feet). I’m an East Coaster & have little desert experience outside a 3 day hike in Joshua Tree a few years ago.

[Marcus]

If you only have a light/day shirt, windbreaker and 50* quilt, do you have a backup layer if the temp is lower than expected? Under any circumstances, I think 8-10 oz of puffy jacket is the best weight I can carry.

Thats the equivalent of 1 cup of water, but a GW will provide a lot more comfort for a lot longer than 1c water (assuming you’re not dangerously dehydrated). I vote bring it. But that’s just my standard answer regardless of conditions. I love my puffies and am never, ever cold. I value that so its easy weight to justify in my book.

[Kathryn L]

That’s the question I’m asking — might it get cold enough to need it? I wouldn’t bring it in, say, July or August in my neck of the woods, even in the mountains. It would never ever be cold enough. Looking at the historical weather for that area, I doubt I’d ever need it, but was hoping someone with local knowledge would weigh in. I’m not usually such a gram weenie.

[John L]

This is a new area to you… Control the variables you can control….bring the jacket!

you are obviously concerned enough to ask the forum so for peace of mind and maybe for the unexpected cold night bring the jacket …..

[Amber]

+1

I’ve found, more often than not, that if I have to ask, I already have my answer. My experience is limited, but here in Arkansas, at the end of April, it’s chilly enough for a jacket when the sun isn’t out. Mid May is just a couple of weeks away. Desert nights are notoriously chilly, and with no prior experience in that environment, I’d rather be safe than sorry if it were me.

[Kathryn L]

Returning to my original question, is there anyone with *local knowledge of the Superstition Wilderness* who can weigh in? : )

[J-L]

I’m a local and would not willingly backpack the Superstitions in Mid May. Do you understand the level of heat and sun exposure you are in for?

That said, my experience has been that nights in the Superstitions can be quite chilly. This year for example, I had an overnight low of 24F when the point location forecast predicted a low of only 39F.

[Kathryn L]

Thanks, John. I know it will be hot! I’ve deliberately planned less mileage than we’d usually do so we can take things slow. And from reading, I think we’ll have stretches of Ponderosa pine cover so not in the open the whole time every day. I found a local hiking forum where folks post photos, and have see some recent pics of sections of this trail since the last wildfires. And it’s entirely possible that we’ll be miserable and hate it! I do think our plan is such that we’re not being foolhardy (there is at least one reliable spring on our route and we can always just cut the trip short.)

As for ask questions I know the answer to — not sure why that’s the universal response! Last time I asked a similar question of an experienced Maine guide, I was surprised by his answer — and he turned out to be right. Doesn’t seem nuts to me to check with the locals about local stuff.

[Amber]

Didn’t mean to offend, honest! I only meant that if I find myself weighing two options and ask for a second opinion, it’s usually just for confirmation of what I already feel I should do. Due diligence in researching an unfamiliar area is always a good idea. It was only meant in the context of questions such as, “should I bring sunscreen or a long sleeve shirt?” or “do you think I should bring the microspikes?” In fact, I asked that last question, myself, a few months ago, and I got the answer that I’d already felt to be right – no, I shouldn’t bring the microspikes.

[J-L]

Sounds like you are going to the area around Reavis Ranch. So yes, there will be about 3 miles of trail with tree coverage.

I would still not recommend the Superstitions to anyone in May, much less a non-local who is not very experienced with desert hiking. There are many more pleasant places to go backpacking in the Southwest US in May.

[Kathryn L]

Yes, reavis Ranch. A lollipop from the northern trailhead. The timing is due to external factors (the other possibility was mid June or no trip at all). I haven’t found a trip that anyone would recommend as ideal that isn’t also at elevation (like the Mogollon Rim). I get sick at elevation and driving straight to 6000 feet is a recipe for known disaster for me. If you have other thoughts, I’m all ears! As I said, maybe we’ll regret this! But we’re well under our physical capacity, pretty tough, and have solid skills (including wilderness first aid as well as being nurses and ultra runners).  If you do have ideas for hikes that aren’t at >6000 feet and are within a reasonable drive of Phoenix, I’d be delighted.

Amber, I wasn’t offended. Just clarifying it was a real question, not an attempt to valid what I already secretly knew.

[J-L]

Well a 6000 foot elevation limit certainly reduces your options in Arizona. My other ideas would all hover at or just below 6000 feet and would involve a longer drive:

• Blue River in Eastern Arizona: will still be hot and exposed, but you’re near/in water frequently so it’s pretty nice. There’s a hot springs out there as a side trip. Extremely remote and hard to reach, navigation and trail conditions could be challenging.
• Middle/West Forks of the Gila River: in Western New Mexico, would be especially pretty in May. Jordan Hot Springs is crowded now, the rest of it not so much.
• Escalante/Death Hollow: in Southern Utah. Longer drive from Phoenix, but completely worth it. Could add in the Boulder Mail Trail depending on how hot it is.

[Nick Gatel]

40+  year desert dweller and hiker here.

Most of the Superstition Wilderness is high desert.

On average, I would expect daytime highs between 85-95 F in mid May in the upper elevations (above 4,000). Nighttime lows generally drop by about 30F, but occasionally can go a little lower — I have occasionally seen a 50 degree variation.

[Kathryn L]

Thanks, Jim.  These seem like amazing hikes!  They seem to require more technical skills than the hike I was planning (at least both Blue River and Escalante).  Am I reading that right?  So the difference between those hikes and the Supes is water access?

 

Nick, thanks!  that’s helpful information.

[Marcus]

If you’ll have extended stretches in direct sun, consider bringing a Zpacks, Gossamer Gear, Six Moons, or similar solar/silver top umbrella. They all weigh about 7oz but due to the shade they provide I think they provide the equivalent reduction in water needs of >1L/day in hot/sunny/exposed conditions.

The silver sun umbrellas are 10-20* cooler under them and make a huuuuge difference in perceived skin temperature. Also the felt ‘solar loading’ is much less. (i dont know if its UV, IR, or both, but when I spend a day in the sun it wears me out regardless of activity level. The solar umbrella’s shade reduces this solar fatiguing effect dramatically).

[J-L]

They seem to require more technical skills than the hike I was planning (at least both Blue River and Escalante).  Am I reading that right?  So the difference between those hikes and the Supes is water access?

There’s nothing technical about the Blue River. It’s just remote, rarely visited, has wades/river-crossings, and doesn’t have a well defined path all the time. For Escalante/Death Hollow, as long as you stick to the lower section of Death Hollow downstream of where the Boulder Mail Trail crosses it, there’s nothing technical there either. There are a lot of sections where the trail is the creek, which makes hot weather much nicer.

[John L]

Bring the jacket

[John L]

Here the options I use in southern Utah this time of year…. either one will serve you well

[John L]

[Kathryn L]

Thanks — I have a silver EuroSchirm (is that the right brand name?  The one GoLite sold but not purchased from GoLite).  I used it in Joshua Tree and it made a stunning difference.  The wind was sometimes a problem but I’d put it up and down as needed.  Maybe more mountainous terrain is less windy?  (I also use it in my parts when I can’t bear rain in my face but it’s too warm for rain gear).

 

Thanks for the jacket advice.  I was planning on something with sequins but hear they’re not leave-no-trace approved.

[John L]

Kathryn….. I love you

[Kathryn L]

as an update … my friend and I went on our trip.  We started at Reavis Trailhead … or tried to.  I thought 88 was closed north of the trailhead (and it was!  The actual rockslide is about 10 miles north of the road to the trailhead, the road is closed about 2 miles south  of the turn off.)  We tried to sweet talk a ranger into letting us through, but no luck!  So we added 5 miles and 1500′ of gain to the beginning and end of our hike.  We had intended a lollipop passing by Angel Basin and Reavis Ranch.  Given the extra miles, we altered our plan and headed toward Reavis Ranch first.  We slept our first night near Plow Saddle.  Our second day, we hiked a while, and decided to make our hike an out-and-back rather than a lollipop — so we hiked through the lovely terrain through the ranch and past (so many wild flowers!  I assumed given the lack of rain and heat, we’d miss the wildflower season.)  We turned around before the big descent into the canyon, and returned to camp at Reavis Ranch.  The next morning, we hiked up to the Circle Stones, then picked up more water and headed back.  We slept at Windy Pass & got up early the next morning to head back.  We were at our care by noon on day 4.

To answer my original question — I took the ghost whisperer.  I  used it some, but I’d also have been ok without it.  (It does make a great adjunct to my pillow!)  It was warm during the day, but not unbearably hot.  We could definitely feel the difference between the lower altitude and the higher.

I’m not great with heights.  The ridge walk behind Castle Dome was stressful for me.  There were a number of gullies with loose sand/rocks that my short legs found challenging to get past.  Just putting this out there in case another height-nervous person stumbles on this post.

Overall, it was beautiful.  We saw a sweet bear near Reavis Ranch (and a good amount of  bear poop).  Mule deer were exciting for us East Coasters.  Beautiful raptors, a couple of hummingbirds, a zillion lizards, some small rodents that were too fast for me to identify, and zero scorpions.  Of course, the saguaro cactus were spectacular (and amazing!  Despite looking scorched, they had beautiful blooms.)  I slept under the stars in a bug bivy each night.  The nights were cool and windy, but a 50 degree quilt was warm enough for me.  It was a lovely trip.

 

[Roger Caffin]

Photos of the cactii blooms would be nice ???

Cheers

[Arthur]

Roger, this is the Saguaro cactus flower, about 3-4 inches in diameter.  The fruit is very nutritious and each flower/fruit produces about 3000 seeds.  Every few years, one seed may germinate if conditions are absolutely perfect.   The rest of the seeds sustain the birds, rodents, and other wildlife.  They are all over the Superstitions, part of the Sonoran Desert. 

[Roger Caffin]

Gorgeous stuff. Thank you.

Cheers

[Author]

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