AZ - Big Lake Camping Trip - Memorial Day Weekend

[MaxPF]

Todd and I plan to leave for Big Lake at around 7AM on the morning of Thursday, May 26th. Tentative return plan is Sunday, but we could be persuaded to stay until Monday We have enjoyed wheeling with Alex, Jerry, and the rest of the AZ crew, so we hope some of you can make it.

If you have never been there, Big Lake is located in the White Mountains at an elevation of 9000'. Temps during the end of may are high 60's - low 70's in the day, mid 30's at night. Most of the lake is surrounded by meadow, but there is plenty of tree line to camp in, and lots of forest roads heading off to different areas to explore. Since i tend to avoid campgrounds we will most likely be camping a little ways from the lake.

To find the lake and look at some pics, open Google Earth and put "Big Lake AZ" in the search bar.

Anyone who wants to leave Thursday morning are welcome to convoy with us. hope to see some of you up there

[alrock]

Hmm, sounds tempting! I would probably not get up there until late Friday as I assume I would be working Friday.

As long as I stay out of the San Carlos Apache Nation, I'll be good.

[Jerry S.]

I think it's a great idea. I need to take some vacation time, so mabybe I can leave Thursday also.

[MaxPF]

Sounds good! If either of you are able and/or willing to go Thursday morning you can follow us up. Otherwise, I will let you know where we are setting up camp when we get there (and find cell service).

[Seth]

As long as I stay out of the San Carlos Apache Nation, I'll be good.

Now that sounds like it has an interesting story behind it.

[crawler]

As long as I stay out of the San Carlos Apache Nation, I'll be good.
You can see jerry and alrock on the San Carlos post office wall.

[alrock]

Jerry's fine with them, he paid up.

Just because we rolled across their land they nailed us for not having a permit. We had been on the rez for five hours, and hadn't seen a building in six hours, and we got nailed about 15 minutes from the edge of the rez. Note that it must've taken them at least 45 minutes to reach us - that was the closest road/building. They really wanted to nail us with fines.

[MaxPF]

There has been concern about Memorial Day weekend at Big Lake being too crowded, and it has been suggested that either the weekend of the 11th might be better. If that weekend is chosen instead, departure (for Todd and I) would be the morning of the 9th (Thursday) and return Sunday afternoon.

We are both pretty flexible. If Memorial Day weekend is chosen we will simply camp away from the crowds, otherwise we will camp closer to le lake. Let us know if you guys have a preference and we will go with whatever the majority decides

[alrock]

I'm better with Memorial Day weekend.

Besides - what the heck dates are you talking about? The 9th is a Monday, the 11th a Wednesday.

[MaxPF]

Oops, sorry, I should have been specific. I was talking about June 9th and 11th.

Anyway, I'm good with Memorial Day weekend as well. Just figured we would bring up an alternative and see what you guys preferred.

[crawler]

Ok,who is going?

[alrock]

It looks like you can count me in, but I don't know the days yet. I may get there Thursday night, maybe Friday morning.

[MaxPF]

OK, we got you on the list. Where's Jerry?

[alrock]

Jerry's working on a permission slip.

[MaxPF]

From work or from April?