Trailblazers are ready to start Granite Mountain Trail.

Nine sturdy hikers, including 4 guest hikers from Sun Lakes, trekked to the oldest Juniper Tree in Arizona, called the Champion Juniper. With a 27’ circumference and 52’ height and 70’ canopy the tree is truly amazing to behold. This tree was saved by the Granite Mountain Hotshots with a fire break during the Doce fire, about a week before 19 tragically lost their lives in the Yarnell Hill Fire on 6-30-2013. A bronze memorial at the base of the tree commemorates their heroic effort to save this legacy tree, purported to be over 2500 years old. We took a slightly longer route to the tree starting at the Granite Mountain Trail (#261) to the White Rock Trail (#39), and then a short, unmarked trail to the Champion Tree. We observed a moment of silence as we paid our individual respects at the memorial which is adorned with many mementos from visiting fire agencies and others who wished to honor the memory of the young fallen heroes. After returning to Prescott, we toasted the Hotshots memory with our beverage of choice at the wonderful El Gato Azul.

Warren, Michael, Terry, Greg, Brian, Gene, Marilyn, Mei-Mei

Warren, Bud, Gene, Marilyn, Michael, Brian, Mei-Mei, Greg

Part of the group at the tree.