What a fun day!

We had fourteen hikers on the trail. Sandy, Flo and Linda came from the west side of town and 9 others met at Target on the east side of town. Eileen’s side drove up to McDonald’s in Payson where we picked up Rudy and then we all convened at the Blue Ridge Ranger Station and hooked up with David, who had camped out in the woods the night before.

We started on the trail by 10:30AM, through the forest on fairly flat ground for about a quarter of a mile before coming to our first downhill trek into Maverick Canyon. Up another hill and then down into another canyon and up another steep hill, this time following the ridge line with Merritt Canyon below us.

Along the way we encountered an old dilapidated deer stand.

It was intermittently raining with thunder clapping in the distance. We would put on our rain gear and then it would stop. The minute we would take off our rain gear, it would start up again!

But how wonderfully cool compared to the heat down in the valley.

We had a picnic by Merritt Springs, then continued on down the meadow to a dirt road that took us back up to FS Road 139, where we connected with the Houston Brothers Trail #18, hiking along a fenced in meadow and amongst tall ferns.

After hiking on the trail for approximately 2 1/2 miles we veered to the right and bushwhacked back to the cars arriving at 3:35 PM.

We had lunch at the Long Valley Cafe in Happy Jack, where most of us partook of the Saturday dinner special of Prime Rib!

Thanks to the great group of hikers who were able to join us and make this such a fun day!

Thanks to Sandy for leading the hike!