Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board Humphrey's Peak

Has any done Humphrey's Peak in Arizona lately? I did it last May 6 and it was almost free of snow and brutally *hot*. I want to try it next week, thinking April temperatures will be kinder. I've never felt so warm at 12,000+ feet. Any info on the weather there or recent trail conditions would be much appreciated.

It has been hot already in AZ. We did some hiking around Tucson two weeks ago (3/21) and it was already in the 90's. We hiked Mt. Wrightson and actually had a very pleasant day. It was slightly overcast and cool enough at the top for a light polypro top. There were patches of snow on the trail from about 8500ft up. I'm going to guess you'll run into some snow also on Humphreys.

If you don't get any other responses, check on http://arizonahikers.com/board/portal.php.

Only tried Humphreys once, in late October a few years back. Cold and snowy, then a lightning storm started as we reached the ridge between Agassiz and Humphreys. Had to beat a hasty retreat, so will have to go back some day.

There's a <a href="http://www.sfpeaks.org">webcam</a> that shows live pix of the area. From the webcam's location in Flagstaff, you can't see Humphrey's, itself...it is behind Agassiz from that angle.

(Humphreys and Agassiz are part of the same huge volcanic caldera that is collectively referred to as the San Francisco Peaks complex.)

You can get first hand info by calling thePeaks District Rangers Office at (928) 526-0866. Ask for Steve Jenner or another ranger who has been up the trail in the last week.

By the way, take the live images found by following the link above with a grain of salt--the image shows the South-facing slopes of the mountain, whereas most of the trail is in deep forest on West and NW-facing slopes.

Hey Candace,
I am in Flagstaff right now for college and it is raining right now. About 4 weeks ago it was very warm here in Flagstaff and the snow up on Humphrey's was melting fast. When I drove back from spring break about 2 weeks ago the west/north facing slopes still had spotty snow above 10,000ft and I know more has melted in the past 2 weeks. Tonight the forcasts are predicting 6-10 inches of snow here in Flagstaff and I would say the mountain will get about a foot plus. I'm going on a 6 day backpacking trip starting tomorrow for my college class, so I won't be able to keep you updated on conditions into next week. But the forcasts are sometimes right and wrong here. I don't think we will get 6-10 inches of snow, but it is allways unpredictable.
Matt

Humphrey's has a lot of snow on it right now and it is not melting very fast. I would say the snow level starts around 9,000 and the snow is constant all the way up. The temps have been cool and rainy off and on for the last two weeks here in Flagstaff and I don't think the snow is going anywhere soon. I hope the snow begins to clear up since the college semester is coming to an end and I want to summit Humphrey's again before I head home for the summer.
Matt