Eight hikers showed up at 9:00 AM at the dirt parking lot to begin the hike across the road at the intersection of South Cherry Creek Road and the General Creek Trail. Two new members, Lisa Levin from Flagstaff and Robert Goodman from Phoenix, joined us on Trail No. 64 in an easterly direction through scrubby range land backed by views of the Bradshaw Mountains.

The sandy path passed through drainages and washes with large cairns marking the way. This trail was once a historic wagon road, in addition to being a pathway for sheep flocking from winter crazing lands around Bloody Basin to summer pastures near Flagstaff and the Mogollon Rim.

As mentioned in a previous description, while sheep still pass through the area, hikers are more likely to encounter domestic cattle, coyotes, and javelina. At the 1.2 mile point, the General Crook Trail intersected the newly constructed section of the Black Canyon Trail and proceeded in a southernly direction.

The hike leader cautiously led the group to a fence and cattle guard, because no trail signs had been installed. Construction is still taking place in a southernly direction to hook up with the Russian Well Trailhead. The group proceeded down a wash and began an ascent to the high point of approximately 3,828 feet, where grasslands and juniper forests could be viewed in the distance.

A local female rancher rode a friendly brown horse eating grass who enjoyed being photographed and petted. In addition, five hikers from the Trilogy Hiking Club were encountered. The group then approached another fence and cattle guard, where a large water trough was visible, with several grazing black and white curious domesticated cattle with tags in their ears.

At the five-mile point, the hikers turned around and enjoyed a short lunch under a shady bark juniper tree. Twelve courteous mountain bikers passed by in the opposite direction. It took two hours to return to the trailhead. The hike ended with a graphic view of a dead cow in a drainage ditch that was obviously resting in peace. The hikers thanked the leader for her efforts and took off in their respective cars.

Total Distance Hiked: 10.02 miles
Minimum Elevation: 3,525
Maximum Elevation: 3,828
Total Ascent: 699 feet
Total Time: 4:24:39
Car Pooling distance from meeting site to trail head: 60.2 miles
Car Pooler Drivers: Michael Humphrey, Jacki Hunt