We had beautiful weather on the Mogollon Rim – a few high clouds, a gentle breeze, and low 70s. Recent rains had settled the dust and left puddles on the trail and lots of alpine flowers blooming. When we started walking on the General Crook Trail we noticed a lot more trail markers than before, chevrons tacked to the tree trunks.

After a couple miles we reached the junction with the Military Sinkhole Trail, which goes south through the sinkhole to the Rim. The sinkhole is shown with depression contours on the topographic map.

At the Rim we had a grand overview of the forest land with distant peaks of the Mazatzals. We stopped on the rocks for a snack and picture taking. The Rim Vista Trail goes westward from the Military Sinkhole toward Promontory Butte, but that’s a hike for another day.

Our return to the Rimtop Trailhead was on the Rim Vista Trail. We started east, right along the top of the boulders. A magnificent drop-off on the right gave us 100 mile visibility, with the Sitgreaves National Forest on the left. Before reaching the highway, the trail bends north and takes us back to the trailhead.

We met only one hiker between Rimtop Trailhead and our first overlook. But there were plenty of hikers on the second half of our journey. After about a mile, a side trail leads north to a popular campground which often serves as a trailhead for hikers, photographers, and lovers taking a short excursion to the Rim.

The forest had not yet recovered from its bark beetle infestation. We saw piles of branches where dead trees had been cut down, and other trees which had fallen victim to the beetles.

Near the trailhead the rangers had built a fence around a section of the forest to keep larger animals out and protect the young trees.

Ted’s GPS indicated a total distance of 4 miles. The hike description will be corrected.

Eleven breezy hikers took this scenic walk: Veona Cupara, Joe Michalides, Beth Baumert, Mary Lou Mulloy, Michelle East, Doug East, Paul Czekanski, Craig MacDonnell, Tammy Chou, Emie Sorongon, and hike leader Ted Tenny.