The Kachina Trail offered an opportunity for the Sierra Club and the Arizona Trailblazers to do a joint hike in the beautiful Coconino National Forest.

Hikers from both groups met in Flagstaff and exchanged car keys: the Sierra Club set off to hike west while the Trailblazers hiked in the opposite direction, beginning at the Kachina Trailhead (at an elevation of about 9300') and ending at Schultz Tank (about 8000').

The trail is well maintained and winds along the southern side of the San Francisco Peaks through fir, spruce, and aspen forests.

Even at such high elevation, the 6.5 mile hike is easy walking with some mild descending and climbing through both rocky mountains and open meadows.

Hikers enjoy magnificent views of the mountains as well as glimpses of the Lowell Observatory and the NAU Skydome in Flagstaff.

The original plan was for the two groups to meet for a lunch break midway, but the Trailblazers had lunch over and done with when they finally passed their fellow hikers.

Elevation change for the entire hike is less than 500'. It seems that the Trailblazers had the less strenuous of the two routes: mostly level with some downhill stretches; the Sierra Club had a bit more of a gradual uphill climb.

Car keys were once again exchanged and the hikers continued on in opposite directions.

It was a beautiful overcast day with distant thunder threatening rain on and off throughout the day.

At one point, the hikers took cover from a brief cloudburst underneath a deep overhang which created the perfect spot to sit and watch the rain and listen to the thunder.

It was a pleasant way to cool off from the temperature extremes in the valley.

After the hike, the group reconvened at the train depot in Flagstaff.

Some headed back for the valley; others decided to enjoy the cool weather a bit longer and opted for dinner and/or dancing in the city.

Photos courtesy of Sheila Grant, Michael Humphrey, Chuck Parsons, and Ted Tenny.