First night, April 8, brother David and I provisioned along the way from the Phoenix airport camping at Forks Campground. April 9 again at Forks Campground gathering everyone in the group adding friend Tom from Georgia and son Luke from Arizona. On April 10 we left one vehicle at the Cliff Dwellings parking lot then drove to the Gila Visitor Center parking lot to begin the hike. Up the Middle Fork Trail of the Gila River about 9 miles with lots of cool morning river crossings. Day 2 of the hike was more cool morning river crossings up the Middle Fork with stunning views along the way camping about 3 miles north of The Meadows for 11 miles. On day 3 we turned left on Chicken Coop then up to Prior Trail and Prior Cabin, camping in the clearing past the cabins. Water at Prior Cabin was very sketchy but we managed to lower a bucket down the stock tank and filter enough. There was a rancid pool closer to the cabin with a dead frog floating on top. On day 4 we noticed a better water source on our hike out about 1/2 mile further down Prior Trail. We hiked 2 miles through Woodland Park then 1000 feet down on Hells Hole Trail to the West Fork of the Gila River, heading about 2 miles down the river for 7.5 miles total for the day. Day 5 was another 8 miles down the West Fork enjoying the views. It was really hard to keep Luke from bolting the final 3 miles instead of just enjoying the views. Day 6 we hiked out the 3 miles to the Cliff Dwelling parking lot. I measured the loop as 48.42 miles total. Beginning the hike on April 10 was just about perfect I think. Spring was barely beginning when we started and every day brought more green. We were watching the trees leaf out in real time so that by the end of the trip spring was full on.

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Campsites: Night 1 - 8 miles up Middle Fork from Visitor Center, Night 2 - 3 miles past The Meadows, Night 3 - Near Priors Cabin, Night 4 - Along the West Fork of the Gila River, Night 5 - 3 miles short of Cliff Dwellings parking lot on the West Fork

3 day, 2 night backpacking trip in Dolly Sods Wilderness with Ed, Kim, Jamey, Pat and Ben. Left Kim's car near Bear Rocks Trailhead. Pat drove the five of us down to Blackbird Knob Trailhead. Day 1 we hiked Blackbird Knob Trail (TR511) about 4 miles to Just before Harman (TR525) and camped on the Left Fork of Red Creek (went up TR525 about 1/2 mile then backtracked to  the Left Fork.) Day 2 we hiked Harman (TR525) to Rocky Ridge (TR524) then Dobbins Grade (TR526) about 4 miles to the Left Fork near the Beaver Pond. Day 3 took Dobbins Grade to Beaver View (TR523), Ravens Ridge (TR521), and Bear Rocks (TR522) back to Bear Rocks Trailhead for 4.67 miles. Stopped for BBQ in Morefield WV.

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Campsites: Night 1 - Junction of Blackbird Knob Trail and the Left Fork of Red Creek, Night 2 - Junction of Dobbins Grade and the Left Fork of Red Creek

Two nights at Torrey's Burnt Creek inn. Started backpacking on Saturday by taking the boat at Redfish Lake Marina. Snow, sleet and rain but beautiful views. 6 day, 5 night backpacking trip in Sawtooth Wilderness with Kim, Pat and David. 37 miles total.  Caught the boat at Redfish lake around noon on Thursday then burgers and beers at the Redfish Lake Marina. Back to Torrey's for a night after soaking in Sunbeam Springs. Hotel in Boise the last night.

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Campsites: Night 1 - Middle Cramer Lake, Night 2 - Lake Edna, Night 3 - Lake Imogene, Night 4 - Hell Roaring Lake, Night 5 - North of Decker Creek