Andy and Bill represented the Trailblazers in a joint effort with the Sierra Club. The goal was to rid the Rim Trail #139 from overgrowth and fallen trees.

We met Jim, Carol, Gary, and Dan at Home Depot near Power at 6:15. After signing the Forest Service release form we were on our way.

It was Bill’s second attempt to visit the Rim Trail. On March 8^th, Bill and Eileen joined Jim’s efforts but were turned back. The Forest Service had not opened the gate on Workman Creek Road for access to Aztec Peak and Moody Point Trailhead.

Open. At 9:30 we were headed down Moody Trail #140. We stepped around a fallen tree at “DT”. Jim said we would clean it up on the way back.

Escobaria vivipara - Spinystar

The trail was clear and required little effort until we reached “LT”. Things changed. Downed trees were extensive. We hunted and scouted for remnants of a trail. A close-up of the GPS map looks more like as etch-a-sketch. Jim spotted a cairn pile nearly buried between two down trees.

We got to work clearing a path toward “E”. It was warm. A 14" curved saw can cut through a good tree. It just needs muscle. The two-person saw was put to work on the larger trees. We took frequent breaks.

After clearing the way to “E”, Bill spotted a distant cairn. He followed a well-cairned clear trail back to “LT.” Did we just spend several hours creating #139B?    B was for boo-boo.

We tossed branches to disguise and create a block across the trail we just worked on. It was like covering the Mona-Lisa smile and all with spray paint.

Success today was measured in the company we kept, the fresh air we breathed and the Arizona wilderness we saw.

Anyone interested in going back for a campout in the fall?