Three hikers were able to get to Munds Park early afternoon. Dave took them on a 4.5 mile hike from the FR 240 trailhead to Crystal Point and then continued down to Lake O’Dell, across the dam and back to his place. That evening we went to Pinewood Country Club for dinner and then returned and started a nice campfire in the fire pit. Four more hikers arrived that evening and joined in the camaraderie at the fire pit.

The next morning Dave cooked blueberry pancakes and sausage for those that wanted it. Four of us then left in two cars to drop one at Shultz Tank. We then met all the hikers at Aspen Corner. The other four that stayed in Munds Park drove straight to Aspen Corner. Five hikers drove up from Phoenix and met three others at Target in Flagstaff and then proceed in two cars to Aspen Corner. We ended up with four cars at Aspen Corner and one at Shultz Tank. The one car was sufficient to transport the four drivers back to Aspen Corner at the end of the hike. That was the primary reason for limited this hike to 16 hikers.

After quick introductions and a group photo, we got underway by 9:15. From Aspen Corner we followed the trail into the trees and turned left on an old road that descended for about 0.1 mile to intersect the Arizona Trail. We turned left (technically south on the Arizona Trail) and continued a rapid descent through a beautiful Aspen grove and then mixed with conifers and then mostly conifers. The lead hikers sat a rapid pace since it was all downhill and the trail is in good shape and easy to hike on. At the first break point my GPS said we were averaging three miles an hour. We kept that pace up most of the time. I call in “hauling asparagus” or something like that.

One hiker was not feeling well and fell behind. Three of us dropped back and escorted him to the crossing of Snow Bowl Road, which is approximately 5.5 miles of hiking. He decided he could not make the rest of the hike, so another hiker elected to stay with him and wait for us to pick them up after the hike. Fortunately the location was right by the road, had shade and logs to sit on, and lots of other hikers and mountain bikers passing by. With the delay to regather, this became our primary lunch spot.

The remaining 14 hikers proceeded across Snow Bowl Road and across a meadow and into a much more sparse forest. Perhaps the forest had been thinned for fire control, or the lower elevation simply does not support a thicker growth. The hike started at almost 9000 foot elevation and the crossing of Snow Bowl Road is about 7500 feet.

We continued the hike at a brisk pace. I was particularly looking for the Dog Food junction that was noted in the Arizona Trail website. Unfortunately it was not signed, so we blew through it. The next signed junction was the split between AZT 34 and AZT 33, which is the urban branch of the Arizona Trail that goes more directly south through Buffalo Park and Flagstaff. We stayed on AZT 34. From Snow Bowl Road south, we crossed several roads and other trails but the AZT was well marked and easy to follow. We reached Shultz Tank about 3:15 PM, or six hours after we left Aspen Corner. Not bad for 12.5 miles and a little delay for the hiker not feeling well. The 500 foot climb from Snow Bowl Road to Shultz Tank was hardly noticeable since it was so gradual. We were all very happy to see the last turn to Shultz Tank and the parking lot.

The four drivers got into the one car parked there and were driven back to Aspen Corner. That car picked up the two hikers that stayed at the Snow Bowl Road crossing and took them directly to Buster’s for some much-desired drinks. The four drivers drove back to Shultz Tank and picked up the hikers and proceeded to Buster’s. Two hikers decided to depart so 14 of us had drinks and eats. Buster’s is located just south of the Target that we often meet at in Flagstaff.