Leading this hike came as a surprise. I hadn’t planned it nor expected to lead it, but as the old adage says, “Some people aspire to greatness and others have it thrust upon them.”

The thrust in this case was a pinched nerve. The original leader had one and I didn’t. So rather than cancel the hike I agreed to take over.

My predecessor had planned the weekend as a camping trip but it’d been years since I slept in the great outdoors and I completely lacked the equipment. Debbie and Rudy were the only campers, though, and they were experienced, and so they kind of managed themselves.

Saturday morning the rest of us drove up from Phoenix and formed a contingent of twelve.

Jim, Debbie, Sandy, Lance, Florence, Rudy, Funyung, Nancy, Monika, Karen, Linda and Quy all ready to go.

We started from the Inner Basin trailhead, which was of course very close to the Inner Basin campsite. From there we took (what else?) the Inner Basin Trail southwest for a couple of miles through a beautiful forest of Aspens.

Monika and Nancy show the way.

I’ve always liked the way the white bark and green leaves of Aspens highlight the blue sky but usually I see aspens near the edges of a clearing and not in a forest of their own. But this stretch of the hike certainly proved that aspen forests are not only possible but beautiful. The trail was mostly uphill but we all just looked forward to the downhill return trip.

Green leaves and white bark against a blue sky. A stand of aspens is always a joy. [photo by Lance]

Rudy checks out the aspens.

Nancy, Rudy, Karen, Monika, and Linda wait at an intersection.

Debbie and Florence head toward the Watershed Cabins. [photo by Quy]

Aspens truly embrace the sun. [photo by Quy]

Linda, Monika, and Nancy await the group at the Watershed Cabins. [photo by Lance]

Our initial leg ended at the Watershed Cabins, a collection of modern-day log buildings that house water-pumping machinery for the City of Flagstaff. The considerable water flow from the San Francisco Peaks feed underground springs here and provide drinking water for the city. The original plan was that anyone wished to turn around at this point would take the Waterline Road back the campsite and trailhead, forming a loop. That road, however, is abandoned, no longer marked, and certainly not obvious from the Watershed Cabins. As a result, those looking for a shorter hike simply returned the way they’d come, on the Inner Basin trail.

Debbie conceals a No Camping sign.

The group continues past the Watershed Cabins and toward the Weatherford Trail junction.

The rest of us continued southwest and soon encountered a broad and beautiful alpine meadow. After a couple of miles we reached another well, pump house, and small rest house. This was planned as the turnaround point for the longer hike but the meadow was so pleasant that we kept going with the Weatherford Trail junction as our new goal.

Past the Watershed Cabins the forest opens up for some lovely views.

Quy and Lance pursue nature separately, yet together,

Solitude among the spruces.

A bee and a butterfly share space on the same plant. [photo by Quy]

An antelope squirrel enjoying a tasty morsel.[photo by Quy]

This area was cleaned out by fire but is now growing back.[photo by Lance]

Nancy, me, Linda, and Karen on our way back to the traNancy, me, Linda, and Karen continue past the meadow. [photo by Quy]

A butterfly perched on a flower of choice.

A damaged forest area struggles to regrow. [photo by Lance]

This was our originally-planned turnaround point. The cabins are for pumping equipment and a rain shelter for hikers. [photo by Quy]

The City of Flagstaff draws water here from springs in the San Francisco Peaks. [photo by Lance]

This is some of the pumping equipment that provides municipal water. [photo by Lance]

Once we reached the meadow’s end, however, the trail became considerably steeper and rockier. We continued on a while, but eventually too many people kept getting too separated. So eventually, and knowing we were committed to more than the hike’s announced length, we stopped for lunch and then turned around short of the Weatherford Trail for the trip back.

Monika pursues a tiny creature for posterity. [photo by Quy]

Rudy and Nancy ascend toward the Weatherford Trail. The going gets steep and rocky.[photo by Quy]

Florence pauses among the spruce. [photo by Quy]

Rudy takes a break and a bite. [photo by Quy]

A bee fly and a butterfly draw nectar together. [photo by Quy]

When we reached the Watershed Cabins again the Waterline Road still wasn’t obvious and so, just like the earlier group, we returned on the Inner Basin Trail. That made the hike an out-and-back rather than a loop but oh well, at least we knew where we were going.

Florence takes a breath on her way back to the trailhead. [photo by Quy]

After reassembling at the trailhead the non-campers headed back into Flagstaff for dinner at the Timberline Tavern and Corner Café on Route 89. This looked like a cool old place from the outside but inside the food, the décor, and the amenities were average at best. But oh well, we were hungry and the companionship was great. See you next time!

Everyone enjoys after-the-hike refreshment at the Timberline Tavern and Corner Cafe in Flagstaff. [photo by Quy]

A beautiful sunset provides the perfect ending of a great day. [photo by Quy]