Accomplished! Another 13 miles of the Arizona Trail done! Fourteen Arizona Trailblazers made this trek on a warm Saturday with some clouds to shade the sun. Everyone made it in great shape, even though some were questioning their sanity along the way.

The next morning Dave, with lots of help, cooked his traditional blueberry pancakes and sausage (yes he can actually cook something else) and Cecilia brought wonderful fresh berries. We took a photo and then headed to Target in Flagstaff to meet five others that had driven up from Phoenix that morning, and Melody (a new member), who lives in Flagstaff.

We loaded into four cars and drove north on US 180 about 21 miles to FR 514 at Kendrick Park, then drove east for 3 miles to the AZT crossing. All the hiking gear and the non-drivers were dropped off and the four cars headed north on US 180 for another 12 miles, then 5 miles east on FR 417 to the trailhead and the end of passage 34 near Cedar Ranch. We left three cars and returned to the starting point in one car.

At the suggestion of Allan, we had brought four gallons of water to leave in metal boxes provided by the Arizona Trail Association for through hikers. We left two at the starting point and two and the ending point. There appeared to be plenty of water already in both boxes. Allan (a new member) had hiked much of the Arizona Trail earlier this year, so he knows to appreciate provisions left along the way.

We started the hike at 10 AM. For the first three miles, the trail is a single track through a forest with reasonable shade despite the space between ponderosa pines. We did spot a deer in the distance. After that, we hiked along an old road and the trees became mostly pinon pines that provide a lot less shade. Fortunately, some clouds built up that helped us without threatening us with thunder and lighting. We stopped for lunch at the 6 mile point and found some shade but not much to sit on besides the ground.

After lunch and some rest, we trudged onward. A couple of the hikers were feeling the heat and needed to rest a few times. The temperature was in the low 80s but most of the trail offers little shade. As we left the Coconino National Forest and entered Babbitt Ranch (about mile 11), we saw a group (not quite a herd) of cattle. We were very happy to finally see the end of the trail and the three cars we had left there earlier.

Knowing the length of the hike and the tendency of some Trailblazers to take off and leave the group behind, I requested from the beginning that we are a group and we stay together. Everyone cooperated very nicely. Thank you, Trailblazers.

North end of passage 34. [photo by Billie]

We finished the 13 miles just before 4 PM, in 5 hours 50 minutes, averaging over 2 mph including a lunch stop and a few other breaks. Our starting elevation was 7721' and the ending was 6380'. The first 8 miles were relatively flat and the down slope was mostly between miles 8 and 11. FR 417 to Cedar Ranch is in excellent shape and you can drive 40 miles an hour as long as there are no cattle on the road (as there often are). FR 514 at Kendrick Park has a few dips in it and a cattle guard. There was a big puddle in the road but we could drive around it. That puddle was not there on Wednesday when I scoped out these roads. The rainy monsoon continues in northern Arizona.