North ridge of Humphrey's Peak

Regional discussion and conditions reports for the Great American Southwest. Please post partners requests and trip plans in the Southwest US Climbing Partners section.
User Avatar
ChristopherFranklin

 
Posts: 136
Joined: Sat Jul 28, 2012 4:44 am
Thanked: 6 times in 5 posts

North ridge of Humphrey's Peak

by ChristopherFranklin » Thu Aug 23, 2012 4:32 am

Just curious if anyone's done this route? Any info would be appreciated.

User Avatar
surgent

 
Posts: 545
Joined: Wed Aug 20, 2003 2:45 pm
Thanked: 143 times in 80 posts

Re: North ridge of Humphrey's Peak

by surgent » Thu Aug 23, 2012 4:17 pm

It technically may not be legal. Generally, once above tree line you are supposed to remain on the trail in order to protect the alpine biota up there (the same reason Agassiz is closed when not snow-bound). On a more practical matter, the slopes up high are very steep, loose and rubbly. Remember, this is an extinct volcano. That being said, no one will be patrolling those areas so you may be fine there. You might try it from the east's inner basin.

User Avatar
lcarreau

 
Posts: 4226
Joined: Thu Sep 06, 2007 10:27 pm
Thanked: 1898 times in 1415 posts

Re: North ridge of Humphrey's Peak

by lcarreau » Thu Aug 23, 2012 5:49 pm

You know .... those "biotic plant" restrictions have been in place for the past THIRTY YEARS. Seems like that plant would be THRIVING by now ..

What is the REAL reason for closing Agassiz and the northern routes on Humphrey's ?????? :?

Why not side with the greater opinions (of the climbing community) and REOPEN those routes :?:
"Turkey Vultures always vomit when they get nervous."

User Avatar
surgent

 
Posts: 545
Joined: Wed Aug 20, 2003 2:45 pm
Thanked: 143 times in 80 posts

Re: North ridge of Humphrey's Peak

by surgent » Fri Aug 24, 2012 12:01 am

I'd be all for a hiking route to Agassiz. You can do it in winter when it's snowed in.

I think the restrictions are partially due to appeasing the Navajo, the peak being its traditional western boundary. Given all the controversy about making snow with treated water up there, it's easy to assume by extension they don't want people up there in principle, and the trail is a compromise.

Just eyeballing the north slope of Humphreys, it looks unpleasant. It's steep and a slope of ball-bearing cinder nuggets. It would seem to me to cross that fine line between challenging and exasperating.

User Avatar
lcarreau

 
Posts: 4226
Joined: Thu Sep 06, 2007 10:27 pm
Thanked: 1898 times in 1415 posts

Re: North ridge of Humphrey's Peak

by lcarreau » Fri Aug 24, 2012 3:59 am

Don't mean to sound confrontational, but another reason why it's NOT OPEN is because the U.S. Forest Service manages the land, (even though it belongs to the Navajo), and they're a government agency faced with a reduced budget and several ongoing "liability" issues.

If you happened to slip under the radar, the chances of getting caught would be SLIM to NONE. 8)
"Turkey Vultures always vomit when they get nervous."

User Avatar
Andrew Rankine

 
Posts: 135
Joined: Sun Oct 18, 2009 4:11 pm
Thanked: 25 times in 18 posts

Re: North ridge of Humphrey's Peak

by Andrew Rankine » Fri Aug 24, 2012 4:51 am

If you're really adventurous, you could do a San Francisco Peaks traverse... all 6 peaks. I've always wanted to do that.

If you want to give a "dicey" one a go...try the Four Peaks Traverse.

User Avatar
ChristopherFranklin

 
Posts: 136
Joined: Sat Jul 28, 2012 4:44 am
Thanked: 6 times in 5 posts

Re: North ridge of Humphrey's Peak

by ChristopherFranklin » Sun Sep 16, 2012 5:02 pm

I ended up not being able to go to my friends made it 3/4 of the way up and turned back due to a thunder storm. Rute might be easier in snow insted of scree.



facebook.com/TheSummitBaggers

User Avatar
Alex Wood

 
Posts: 317
Joined: Thu May 22, 2008 11:45 pm
Thanked: 18 times in 14 posts

Re: North ridge of Humphrey's Peak

by Alex Wood » Sun Sep 23, 2012 12:44 am

I remember seeing a sign at the end of Abineau Canyon saying that access further was restricted. If you did the Traverse up to BearJaw, Abineau and Rees I guess one could say that they "didn't see the sign"...The closure to do the groundsel is silly and that policy needs to be revised..or hey, maybe they should put in some more trails above tree line to concentrate the impact

User Avatar
lcarreau

 
Posts: 4226
Joined: Thu Sep 06, 2007 10:27 pm
Thanked: 1898 times in 1415 posts

Re: North ridge of Humphrey's Peak

by lcarreau » Sun Sep 23, 2012 3:45 am

Alex Wood wrote:I remember seeing a sign at the end of Abineau Canyon saying that access further was restricted. If you did the Traverse up to BearJaw, Abineau and Rees I guess one could say that they "didn't see the sign"...The closure to do the groundsel is silly and that policy needs to be revised..or hey, maybe they should put in some more trails above tree line to concentrate the impact


It's not all about protecting the Groundsel. There's some kind of "cover-up" here.

Word from the streets is they can't afford to build any more trails .... monies tight enough to maintain the ones they have.
"Turkey Vultures always vomit when they get nervous."


Return to Southwest (AZ, NM, NV, TX)

 


  • Related topics
    Replies
    Views
    Last post

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 0 guests