Ten talented Trailblazers start from Upper Oldham Trailhead on a warm morning. The Upper Oldham Trail makes a steady climb along a streambed before we reach the first of the switchbacks. Then we zigzag our way on up to Oldham Park, a grassy meadow on the north side of Mt. Elden.

We sure weren’t expecting snow on a day like this but there is some, shaded by trees on the north-facing slope, and then, right beside the trail.

Oldham Park not only has a tiny patch of snow, but mysterious toothpaste-shaped formations of dirt.

What on earth can they be? Molehills would be hollow inside, but these aren’t. Ted thinks they are debris left over from the melting snow, much as drumlins and moraines are left over from the continental ice sheet, but on a much smaller scale.

At the road we find a forlorn patch of snow that is mostly melted, about to deposit its load of debris on the ground. Enough said?

We cross the road and walk over to the Sunset Trail. Here we are treated to a grand overview of the volcanic field with its cinder cones and varied colors. Sunset Crater is the best known, but there are many volcanoes punctuating the northern Arizona landscape.

While everyone is taking pictures, Arturo unfurls his mobile communications command center. With a hand-held radio he is able to talk to his peers in five remote locations scattered across Arizona.

After group pictures and glamor photos at this highly scenic location we start south on the Sunset Trail toward our destination, the forest of communication towers atop Mt. Elden.

The trail takes us up on a ridge high above the road, where we enjoy continually fine views of the volcanic cinder cones to the northeast and the San Francisco Peaks to the northwest.

A forest fire some years ago cleared out most of the tall trees. Grass and shrubs are growing back, and a thicket of quaking aspen covers the east side of the ridge as we approach the saddle.

Ladybugs are swarming. A few small wildflowers are in bloom, but with summer upon us the vegetation is drying out. Some big trees that fell across the trail have been sawed and moved to the side. Others were pulled up by the roots by gale-force winds that sweep across this ridge in a storm.

It’s getting hot, despite our elevation gain. On the Upper Oldham Trail we had patches of shade, but up here the shade is gone. A light breeze helps.

At the saddle north of the towers we have a choice of routes. A dirt road follows the ridgeline on up, while the Sunset Trail veers eastward to contour around the peak and then climb from the east side. The road is highly visible, but the trail seems to disappear in the aspen thicket. On the other hand, it comes out in the open on the other side for some unobstructed panoramas.

“I’m going to try the trail,” Ted decides. Everyone else walks along the road.

The trail is a pleasant walk in the woods, if you don’t mind going over, under, and around some fallen trees. There are panoramic views, then other hikers climbing to the top.

We enjoy a shaded picnic lunch under the antennas. On the way back, some hikers take a side trip to visit other antennas, some walk back to the snowbank on the road, and some on the trail. We re-convene at the snowbank before starting our hot walk back down to the trailhead. At least it’s downhill.

When we finally get back to the trailhead, Ted has a jug of purified ice water to share with everyone — just what we need after climbing a mountain on a summer day. We all drive back to Flagstaff, re-convene at the Target parking lot, then stop for a Mexican dinner at La Fonda in Camp Verde.