On our June, 2018, Clover Creek hike we encountered a heavy downpour well before we hit the Payson area and were beginning to wonder about the sanity of attempting the hike at all that day. But on this Saturday morning in early August the skies are mostly clear, with only a few non-threatening clouds sitting on the distant horizon. However, during Arizona’s notoriously fickle monsoon season we never know for sure just what Mother Nature actually has in store for us.

The weather forecast might only call for a 20% chance of rain showers with light breezes. But we’re barely out of the starting gate before a full-blown rainstorm starts to slam us. And those light breezes suddenly morph into full gale-force winds. On the other hand, the forecast might call for an 80% chance of thunderstorms with high winds, but all we encounter on the trail are light showers at most or no rain at all and only light breezes. Predicting Arizona’s monsoon weather is often little more than a crap shoot at best. Despite state-of-the-art forecasting models and an armada of weather satellites circling the globe, Murphy’s Law often prevails when it comes to Arizona’s weather.

Seventeen hikers in five vehicles arrive at the Clover Creek Trailhead, about five miles south of Clints Well, on a warm Saturday morning in early August. We gather in a circle for introductions and an accurate head count, since the numbers kept changing literally up until the last minute on this hike. Those formalities out of the way, we hit the trail and begin hiking at 9:30 AM.

Last June, under solid, heavy overcast and a light mist, it was a cool 53 degrees at the trailhead, and we never saw the sun once on the entire hike. Today, under full sun, it’s a warm and muggy 80 degrees right out of the starting gate. Only in Arizona.

The first part of the Clover Creek Trail passes through open range, with cattle roaming everywhere and leaving their ripe calling cards along the trail. So we carefully maneuver our way around and between the numerous fresh cow pies. Slipping and falling into one of these huge pies would be a major disaster to say the least. And the poor victim would most likely have to hike in the far rear of the group and perhaps even suffer the indignity of being transported back home, strapped to the top of the vehicle they rode in.

From the trailhead we pass through a heavy brown metal cattle gate and then shortly afterward enter the West Clear Creek Wilderness, accessed by a second gate through barbed wire fencing. Most of the Clover Creek Trail lies within the West Clear Creek Wilderness area, and Clover Creek eventually empties its waters into West Clear Creek.

Unknown to most Rim area hikers (and scoffed at by a few), this very elusive creature, similar in size and appearance to the famed Sasquatch, or Bigfoot, of the Pacific Northwest, has been seen more frequently in recent years as he roams the Mogollon Rim area in search of food and shelter. Perhaps one day we Arizona Trailblazers might cross paths with him on one of our Rim hikes. Don’t believe me and just assume that I’m spinning tall tales here? Google Mogollon Monster and see for yourself.

Anyway, this will mark our turnaround point, and we decide to head back to the trailhead from here. The hike back is noticeably cooler since we have cloud cover and a nice breeze from time to time. About a half mile from the trailhead, that 20% chance of rain starts to catch up with us, as a brooding thunderstorm begins to close in. The loud sonic boom of distant thunder hastens our pace.

We cap off the hike at THAT Brewery & Pub in Pine, which has become our Go To place to imbibe after Pine area hikes.