The day was pleasantly cool and cloudy as eleven enlightened Trailblazers set out from Rim Top Trailhead to troop the Meadow Trail Loop. A few wildflowers were blooming along the trail. Although there had been spring rains, we saw only a few wet spots and no pools of water.

“It was flooded here one time,” Ted explained as we traversed a basin with depression contours. High and dry today.

Soon we arrived at the first overlook of the Mogollon Rim. The Rim Lakes Vista Trail isn’t aptly named, because you can’t see any lakes from the trail. But it sure has vistas!

Twisty alligator juniper on the Rim.

The General Crook Trail is marked with chevrons tacked to trees – yellow near Rim Top Trailhead where it follows the historical route, and white where the hiking trail has been rerouted. The trail is distinct in a few places. We soon found ourselves in a place where no one could see the next white chevron.

Ted took us east along the road, to the Military Sinkhole Trail crossing. From there we walked north to the junction with the General Crook Trail, where we should have been in the first place.

The rest of the hike was a pleasant walk in the woods with chevrons tacked to trees to guide us. Clouds filled the sky. A cool breeze refreshed us and smelled like rain, but it never rained.