Trailblazers hiking to the top of the Mogollon Rim. [photo by Cindy]

Seven Trailblazers gathered at the crack of dawn in Fountain Hills to carpool to Payson for a morning excursion into See Canyon. After a quick stop in Star Valley, we reconvened at the trailhead 1.5 miles on a good dirt road outside of Christopher Creek and were some of the only cars at the trailhead.

Stream crossing. [photo by Cindy]

On the trail. [photo by Stephen]

We started on our way in the serene quiet of the forest, listening to the bubbling creek and immediately missed a junction, requiring a creek crossing in a more hoppy spot and a bushwhack across the forest to the real trail. We all made it to the trail mostly unscathed and continued on our way. We noted some high dewy grass, which was cool in the 50 degree weather and was enough to dampen legs and boots.

There is a trail here some where. [photo by Stephen]

After the junction with See Spring, we started the long trek up and up - there are definitely some areas up rocks and roots that required a consultation of the trail route in order to stay on the trail and not hit dead ends. This trail can be narrow , steep, rocky and slippery at times, so it was nice to be by ourselves on the trail- we didn't see any other hikers until we reached the top. Of note, there were also at least 5 huge fallen trees on the trail that required some delicacy of balance to get over.

Christopher Creek. [photo by Cindy]

Great view. [photo by Stephen]

Once we made it to Rim Road 300, we stopped for a snack - a few of the hikers swore they saw some rambunctious ostritches running through the trees- may have been exhaustion, who knows? We started back down again, quickly losing the trail on and off and cursing the rocky steep downhills at times (just me).

At the top. [photo by Stephen]

Some color in the forest. [photo by Cindy]

We reconvened near the trailhead and found the last half mile now full of families, people with loud music blasting as they played in the creek, a few mountain bikers and an extremely full trailhead with cars waiting for parking- We left as soon as we could and headed to the Landmark restaurant in Christoper Creek.

Across we go. [photo by Cindy]

Tamar on trail. [photo by Cindy]

We had a nice outside table for 7 and ordered a variety of beer and post trail lunch. Unfortunately for me, I ordered a simple salad with chicken and a swarm of hornets were more attracted to plain chicken pieces than all the delicious hamburgers, soups, chili and french dip. On the suggestion of our server, a piece of chicken was offered to the bees, wasps, hornets and they told their friends and spent more time with the chicken piece than on my lunch after that. A little National Geographic nature observation with our lunch.

Bee picture. [photo by Robyn]

We headed back to the Phoenix September heat having had a nice morning hike and lunch in the pines.

One of the See springs. [photo by Michael]

Memorial tree by springs. [photo by Michael]