“There will be cool forests ...” I’d read it in the hike description. Well the forests were cool, in the sense that they are picturesque and well worth visiting. On the drive up to Flagstaff I kept watching my car’s thermometer, gleefully anticipating its dip into the 70s as central Arizona baked in the summer sun.

Not this time.

When we get to Flagstaff it’s in the 80s with a light breeze and nary a cloud in the sky. I thought of suggesting the easier route from Schultz Creek Trailhead to Sunset Trailhead. But Aaron, Joe, and Craig were are for mountain adventure, not bicycle-dodging. Onward!

The breeze cools us a little as we start east from Schultz Creek Trailhead on the Rocky Ridge Trail. Trees provide intermittent shade. There are logs on the ground, dry streambeds, and boulders that have tumbled down from the rocky ridge north of us.

The trail runs parallel the ridge uphill on the left and Mount Elden Lookout Road downhill on the right before joining the road near a picnic area.

Aaron leads the way toward Elden Mountain.

The trail takes a zigzag route, roughly following a streambed up to the pass. A sign advises us of trail maintenance up ahead.

As we climb, the altitude and the heat begin taking their toll. We seem to be approaching the pass. But it’s still out of sight when I have to stop and lie down in the shade. The hike is more than half done, but for a while I’m not sure about making it the rest of the way up this grade.

Craig goes on up the trail and returns with some good news: we’re almost to the pass.

I’m going to make it. With some effort I get up, take a big drink of water, put my pack on and continue the hot climb.

The maintenance crew is just around the bend ahead of us, where the Brookbank Trail veers off to the right. We go straight ahead.

From the pass it’s all downhill to Sunset Trailhead. The top of the Dry Lake Hills is a pleasant grassy park with trails and a road. We meet some rangers on horseback as we descend on the dirt road and then a trail. Easy walking.

“I’ve got a jug of ice water in my car.” Some bicyclists overhear me. They have run out of water. So I hand out cups and give everyone a cold drink. The purified water still has ice in it.

After the hike we stop for refreshments at the Beaver Street Brewery, then drive back to the Valley of the Sun.