Date: Sunday, November 19, 2006
Team: TalusMonkey, USAKeller + father (Fred), Wyo_MtnMan + Tanya
Route: Arizona Snowbowl (elevation 9,300)
Humphreys Peak is located in northern Arizona, approximately 20 miles NW of Flagstaff, and is the state highpoint, as well as the highpoint of Coconino National Forest.
From Phoenix, approach Humphreys Peak by traveling north on I-17 until its terminus in Flagstaff. Proceed north on 89A and then turn left on US Hwy 180. After 7.2 miles, turn right onto the Snow Bowl Rd. Drive 6.7 miles to the Humphreys Peak Trail parking area. Trailhead coordinates: N35deg 19m52.6s, W111deg 42m42.1s.
I flew into Phoenix on Thursday night and Wyo_MtnMan and Tanya picked me up at the airport. We made an early night of it and crashed at their apartment in Tempe. Friday I met USAKeller's dad (my future father-in-law) for breakfast and went to the Tempe Sports Complex to watch USAKeller's third pool-play game (University of Colorado Women's Club Soccer) at the Women's Collegiate Club Soccer Nationals tournament. After the game, we had lunch and hung out until USAKeller had to prepare for the quarterfinals game that evening. Wyo_MtnMan and Tanya picked me up at USAKeller's hotel and we returned to watch the first half of the quarterfinal game. Then we proceeded to Wyo_MtnMan's graduate geography department party. We had a great time and it was nice to meet some of Wyo's colleagues.
On Saturday Wyo, Tanya, their friend Rachel and I headed north to Sedona for a short hike. We did an easy, short hike to Vultee Arch - a natural arch near Sedona. The weather was fantastic - suitable for shorts and a T-shirt.
TalusMonkey and Rachel on Vultee Arch:
Tanya, Wyo_MtnMan, Rachel and TalusMonkey on the arch span:
After the arch hike, Rachel drove back to Tempe, while Wyo, Tanya and I continued north to Flagstaff to check in at the Days Inn. Later, after dinner, USAKeller and her father (my future father-in-law) checked in at the hotel and we all called it a night to prepare for hiking Humphreys Peak together on Sunday.
We met in the lobby at the hotel at 0715 on Sunday morning. After a light breakfast, we caravanned two vehicles to the Humphreys Peak TH. The weather was fabulous. Although the temperature was about 30 when we arrived on trail at 0820, it was sunny, clear and calm.
A view of Humphreys Peak (left) from near the trailhead:
Wyo_MtnMan, Tanya, USAKeller and her father (my future father-in-law), and I hiked the easy trail toward Humphreys from the TH. We soon reached the Wilderness registration log at a trail junction at N35deg 20m04.4s, W111deg 42m13.8s. At this junction, follow the left trail marked for Humphreys Peak and the Weatherford Trail.
The Humphreys Peak trail continues at a gentle grade through timber. Finally, reach the saddle between Humphreys Peak and Agassiz Peak (12,356) at about timberline near 11,800. Saddle coordinates: N35deg20m06.9s, W111deg 40m54.7s.
A view of the saddle signage with a view south:
Our team on the saddle, with Humphreys Peak (right) in background. Left to right Wyo_MtnMan, TalusMonkey, USAKeller's dad (Fred), Tanya and USAKeller.
From the saddle follow the marked Humphreys Peak trail toward the summit. There are three false summits along the way.
A view of Agassiz Peak (12,356) from above the saddle on the Humphreys Peak trail:
USAKeller and her father ascending toward the summit of Humphreys Peak:
We made the summit in 3 hours and 10 minutes (with a lot of photo breaks). The summit coordinates are: N35deg 20m47.0s, W111deg 40m40.0s. The weather was fantastic and we spent 40 minutes or so on the summit enjoying the sun and friendship. It was sunny and warm - perhaps upper 40s or more.
All of us on the summit of Humphreys:
Whipped cream fun on the summit:
For our friends CODave and Kate, who couldn't make it on this trip:
After enjoying the long summit break we all headed back down the trail and returned to the parking area. We said our goodbyes and USAKeller and her dad returned to Phoenix. Wyo_MtnMan, Tanya and I stopped for lunch at Subway and then headed back to Tempe. Once in Tempe, we had a relaxing evening watching movies. USAKeller, her father and I flew back to Denver on Monday.
It was a great weekend among friends. The weather was perfect for a late November summit of Humphreys. We're already making plans to get together again soon in New Mexico or Arizona!
Note: This hike is 9 miles RT with about 3,300 feet of vertical gain. It makes a great late season (by Colorado standards) highpoint trip. Backcountry permits are required in the winter – once the Snow Bowl ski area opens.
