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Trailblazers set out for Fossil Springs. [photo by John]
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Standing: John, Dottie, Jim, Rebecca, Carol, Funyung, Nancy, Jessica, Tamar, Michael,
Kim Z, Dave, Alice, Arturo | Kneeling: Kim B, Monika H., Lin.
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Sixteen trailblazers and guests met in Fountain Hills at 7:00 AM, loaded into 4 cars
and headed north on SR 87. We stopped at the Carl’s Jr on the NE corner of
SR 260 in Payson instead of the overcrowded Mickey D’s on the SE corner.
Worked out very well.
We continued to Strawberry where we met one other hiker and proceeded down
Fossil Creek Road to the trailhead.
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Things have changed somewhat. I was told we had about 4 miles of unpaved road
and that the trailhead is at the end of the road (where the NFS blocked it off).
Well, now there is less than a mile of unpaved road to the turn off to the trailhead
and the road continues at least another half mile.
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You had better pay attention! [photo by John]
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We went through the usual of getting our gear on and plenty of warm clothes
because it was about 40 degrees, but bright sunshine and little wind.
After the group picture and introductions, we headed down the trail.
There were numerous huge signs cautioning hikers to take plenty of water because
there are usually 200 rescues in the canyon each year.
I can imagine that in the hot part of the year, this can be a hot hike.
But today, some hikers had gloves and coats with hoods at least at the start of
the hike.
The trail was largely in shade or filtered sunlight due to the low angle of the sun.
In the middle of the year, there is probably not a lot of shade.
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Yes, we’re going all the way down there. [photo by Dave]
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We can figure this out. [photo by Lin]
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Fall color in the canyon. [photo by John]
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Fall color. [photo by Lin]
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