A Prerequisite
Trails & Terrain
Following the Route
Resupplying
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Snow Travel
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Precautions
Snow Travel

Spring season hikers may occasionally encounter snowpack in forested terrain above 8000 feet in elevation. Although a potential concern over only a limited portion of the full route, this residual winter snowpack can occasionally be deep and prevalent enough to warrant careful consideration before attempting to negotiate it.

In heavier snow years, the best strategy may be to delay the start of your thru-hike in order to allow the snowpack more time to coalesce and melt, which will decrease both its depth and area of coverage, making any snow travel less laborious and time consuming. Consider starting eastbound from Phoenix in early April, and taking a full 2 months to complete your trek. Don't begin too late, though, in order to avoid prolonged stretches of hot, dry conditions in the low country.

The following table shows where along the route you may encounter snow when thru-hiking eastbound during spring seasons of average to somewhat above average snowpack.

Tr. Segment
Range
Area of Potential Concern
Elevation
Prevalence
of Snowpack
Bypass / Detour
Worthwhile?
10
Pinalenos
10-12 mi
to 10,100'
more continuous
sometimes
20
Mogollons
10-15 mi
to 10,770'
more continuous
often
23, 24
Black Range
0-10 mi
to  9,800'
less continuous
rarely
28, 39
San Mateos
0-13 mi
to 10,300'
less continuous
rarely
31
Magdalenas
0-5 mi
to 10,400'
less continuous
sometimes
35
Manzanos
0-12 mi
to 10,100'
patches
rarely
38, 39
Sandias
0-7 mi
to 10,650'
patches
rarely

Snowpack coverage map - click to view
With the exception of the Pinaleno Range, note that the Arizona G.E.T. would be expected free of snow concerns during a springtime, eastbound thru-hike. Only in the high country of New Mexico could snow again become a factor, and then generally diminish in concern as you proceed east and the snowpack continues to melt.
Detouring to Avoid Spring Snowpack

When considering whether to skip a snowy section of the route, keep in mind that all snow isn't necessarily a problem. By its nature, melting spring snowpack is a ready source of drinking water. It feeds creeks and springs on the mountain ranges, and can itself be melted over a campfire or stove to provide drinking water. In this respect, snow can be your ally in an otherwise arid land, in addition to providing a wonderful contrast in scenery and experience.

Discernable only as a corridor through the trees, trail at 9500' in the Mogollon Mtns lies buried in 2.5 feet of hard, sloping snow, late April '05

Snow becomes an issue wherever it is deep, steep, or prevalent over a large area. Spring snowpack in the Southwest tends to be inconsistent in its ability to bear loads, and deep snow can sometimes cause you to posthole laboriously. Where hardpacked or frozen snow occurs in steeper terrain, exposure to sliding accidents may become a concern, particularly in open forest environments (cirques and headwalls are not present in this region, nor is avalanche danger in spring). In addition, most forest trails that the G.E.T. uses are not marked for winter use, and you may have trouble following them in untracked snow.

The guidebook describes specific snowpack concerns and alternate routes to take in each region. Suffice it to say here that you probably will only need to consider detouring around portions of two ranges - the Pinalenos (Seg 10) and Mogollons (Seg 20) - and a mile of trail on the north slope of South Baldy in the Magdalena Mountains (Seg 31). All other regions you can ordinarily expect will be passable, with only short snowbound sections or patches of snow that can be circumvented if necessary.

Use of Crampons and Ice Axe

Spring thru-hikers should consider bringing lightweight instep crampons or "ice walkers" when heading into snowbound segments of the route. These will improve traction on steep, hard snow, and allow you to follow a trail's line as it switchbacks or contours along steeper slopes. Unless snowpack is determined to be minimal, carry crampons over the Pinalenos, Mogollons, and Black Range. Consider mailing them home from Monticello, or at Magdalena if South Baldy may pose a concern.

An ice axe would only be warranted if traversing the snowbound Mogollon Range (guidebook segment 20), rather than detouring around it. Unless you have prior experience with high altitude snow travel and routefinding, this is the one range to strongly consider avoiding in a snowy spring. The Mogollons are tall, rugged, and remote, and you will need to rely on map, compass, GPS, and guidebook to determine where the snowbound trail in fact goes. Due to the steepness of mountain slopes, you will face some moderate exposure and should be practiced in self-arrest techniques. Mail an ice axe to Glenwood, and carry it as far as Monticello, for a total distance of about 150 miles. (Or divest yourself of it at Gila Hot Springs if you can find someone willing to mail it for you.) Otherwise, walk around the worst of the snowpack and come back to enjoy the Mogollons later in the season.

Current Snowpack Conditions

The USDA National Resources Conservation Service maintains snowpack data for western states including Arizona and New Mexico. "Snotel" sites monitor snowpack conditions in real time, and this data is made available on the NRCS website, offering a snapshot of regional conditions at given elevations. In particular, Silver Creek Divide snotel offers an idea of what to expect in New Mexico's Mogollon Mountains, while McKnight Cabin and Lookout Mountain offer perspective on the Black Range. Use this information to get a feel for the type of snow season (and in turn water season) that is unfolding across the region.

Old snow patches pose minimal concern at 10k on Manzano Peak, mid-May '05

 

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