Fossil Creek

Blake Merrell

Life Elevated - Rising Higher
Joined
Feb 25, 2013
Messages
600
My goal was to backpack into Fossil Creek before I needed to get a permit, so a friend and I decided to make the trip happen the last Friday-Saturday of March. With the COVID-19 restrictions, we tried to access the lower parking lot, but like many areas, the Forest Service had closed the gate. So, we tried the back door and drove to Strawberry to see if the upper lot was still available. To our delight those gates were open and when we arrived there was only one car in the parking lot. The trip was looking promising. The only real change to our plan was that we would have to hike the 5 miles up to the top trailhead at the end of the trip instead of at the start. oh well.

The trip started off with us defending into the wilderness area and watching in awe as a snow flurry swept through the area. We just stood in wonderment as we watched nature do her thing. A little good ol' Arizona fire and ice!

I had recently converted a Costco down throw blanket into a hammock UQ and a top quilt. This trip would be the first time to use them. Either I would freeze or be ok.... when morning came, I had endured a below-freezing night and my upper body was warm, but my feet were uncomfortably cold. gotta find a way to keep the feet warm!

Once we warmed up and headed down the trail, we found that we pretty much had the whole place to ourselves. we didn't see another soul in the area the whole day! I couldn't believe it!

One of my favorite stops along the trail was the Spring. That thing pumps out a serious amount of freshwater! and it was "warm"!

The whole place was beautiful and I can't wait to come back with my family to play more in the waterfalls.
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"We just stood in wonderment as we watched nature do her thing. A little good ol' Arizona fire and ice!"
TARA NA! (I had to look that up...)

That first photo is incredible! Couldn't match better what's happening right now- and there's light at the end of the tunnel.
Thanks for sharing.
 
"We just stood in wonderment as we watched nature do her thing. A little good ol' Arizona fire and ice!"
TARA NA! (I had to look that up...)

That first photo is incredible! Couldn't match better what's happening right now- and there's light at the end of the tunnel.
Thanks for sharing.

Yeah, I was delightful just to sit there in awe and take it all in for a moment.
 
Great first photo, I also like the one of the spring. How "warm" is warm?

Warm feet in a hammock, down socks and the overbootie

 
Great first photo, I also like the one of the spring. How "warm" is warm?

Warm feet in a hammock, down socks and the overbootie


Thanks for the sock recommendations! I will check those out :)

The water is roughly about 70 degrees year-round.
 
Great share!
For my toesies, I use the HotHands toe warmers, insanely thick socks (I think they are Hothands brand too), and then put down booties on top. I just bought a cheap pair off Amazon and they really help. I am not saying you need to do all 3 of those things, haha I just get really cold.
 
Great share!
For my toesies, I use the HotHands toe warmers, insanely thick socks (I think they are Hothands brand too), and then put down booties on top. I just bought a cheap pair off Amazon and they really help. I am not saying you need to do all 3 of those things, haha I just get really cold.


Thanks for the insight. :) my goal is to keep my base weight at 10lbs, so I am hoping to find a way to keep the feet warm without adding a lot of weight, so the down booties might be the trick! RIght now my Top and Bottom Quilt with Hammock weigh in at 5 lbs. so my goal is to get the rest of my gear in my pack under 5lbs (clothes, first aid, stove, etc)
 
Oh dang! Nice base weight. I am usually at 13lbs or just under for my winter setup. I don't think I have weighed for my summer set up, but I can't imagine that I go under 12lbs.

The down booties are probably a good choice though! I love them.
 
Oh dang! Nice base weight. I am usually at 13lbs or just under for my winter setup. I don't think I have weighed for my summer set up, but I can't imagine that I go under 12lbs.

The down booties are probably a good choice though! I love them.

Yeah, it is just a goal right now LOL. I have some work to do to get my regular pack down to that weight.
 
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