Gen Crook Trail and Houston Mesa Hikes

On September 21st, we took Elizabeth (who was visiting us) on our usual Tuesday hike. Meeting the other hikers at our usual spot in front of the store Stages, we introduced Elizabeth around the group. Then, right on time, we took off east on Highway 260 to the Ranger Station (right side of the road) in the Sitgreaves National Park, opposite the turn off to the Woods Canyon area.

Parking in a very nice parking area, we began our hike at one of several trail heads for the General Crook Trail. Gen. Crook was the head of the military in Arizona, tasked with solving the "Indian" problem in the Territory. This trail, which begins near what is now Show Low AZ in the east, ran all the way along the top of the Mogollon Rim to what is now Prescott AZ. It was the 3rd "highway" developed in the state.

The trail is actually quite lovely, fairly level and running thru an open oak and pine forest. Then leaving the trail, we hiked along a few of the park roads, passing many un-occupied camping spots to where we finally took our snack break, at a picnic area at the top of the rim. From here we had an outstanding view of the valley below. Quite impressive. Unfortunately, all of our pictures were lost in some sort of technical difficulty.

From the view point, it was only about 1/4 mile back to the ranger station and the cars. For those who don't have time or inclination to hike, the ranger station has a back deck area with an awesome view of the valley, very similar to the one we had from 1/4 mile away. It's worth the time to stop and walk out on the back deck to see the view.

This Tuesday, the 28th, we went on what the group calls Sally's Hike. From her house in Payson, Sally could see people up on top of the Houston Mesa. Wondering how they got up there, Sally did some exploring and found the spot. Going out Houston Mesa Road and passing the Houston Mesa trailhead, we continued another 1/2 mile or so and parked in a large pull off on the left. From here, we hiked about 1/2 mile to the look out point that Sally can see from her house. It's quite the view of the valley below with nearly all of Payson in sight.

From there, we continued on to a 2nd view point, then on across the mesa, just exploring the many ATV trails across the top. Randy and I noted a lot of nice looking stones scattered along the road and the mesa top. Not being any sort of rock hound, I called them chalcedony. Another hiker thought they might be an agate. Either way, Randy found a nice 3 pounder and let me carry it in my back pack as he only had a waist pack on that day. He's so nice.

We stopped for a snack in a dry wash next to a cattle pond. Everyone was in as much shade as they could find as the day had turned very warm and this hike was pretty much in the sun the whole way.

After getting back to the cars, we assembled in Payson at ramada number 3 in Rumsey Park to have the annual birthday party. Sally and her husband and some others had purchased some cake and ice cream with donations from the group. We sang happy birthday to each other and lots of cake and ice cream was shared along with lots of chat time. I hope everyone had as good a time as I did.

Washington Park and Box Canyon

Last week (the 7th of Sep) Randy and I joined the Payson Packers for a hike in Washington Park. This is an area north of Payson, going up the Mogollon Rim. In the late 1800's, some bright company thought a railroad line from Flagstaff south to Phoenix would be a good idea and they started the project woefully low on funds and with the idea to put a tunnel throught the rim. Unfortunately, before they got 100 feet into the cliff face, they were out of money and the whole project went belly up.

So on the 7th, the group gathered together and car pooled through a quite lovely area of northern Gila County to an access point on the Arizona Trail. We hiked, all uphill, about 1.6 miles to a side trail that leads to the tunnel. What was really nice about this part of the hike is that a stream runs along the trail nearly the whole way to our turn off. What a treat that must be for any AZ Trial thru hiker after the dryness of the southern half of the state. After a short rest at a circular "ruin" most of the group proceeded up the rim face to the tunnel. Let me explain the "ruin". It is a circular wall of stacked stone, recently done by hikers and campers through the area.

The hike up the rim face was made a little exciting by the downed trees obstructing the path. While it was steep, I didn't think it was excessively so. Once up the the tunnel, we could walk inside. Evidence of people using the tunnel mouth as a camping site was plain to see but the site was clean. After a short walk around the area, we clambered back down the rim face and back to the "ruin" where most of us had left our packs for the climb up.

We pressed on back down the trail and, it being downhill the whole way, we made much better time than when we were going up. Only one person slipped on the pebbly trail. He scraped his arm up pretty good but was otherwise unhurt.

Since the hike to the tunnel was so short, we decided to pick up a side trail on the way out and go to a spot where geodes are abundant. So, a couple miles down the road on the way out, we turned onto an unmarked dirt road (ATV trail really) that leads into a open woodland. Hiking about 15 minutes in from where we parked the cars, we came to an area where there were geodes all over the ground. These ranged in size from golf ball to softball sizes. When split open, they weren't totally hollow nor did they have the amythyst crystals. However, there was a bit of hollow to them and a brownish crystalline structure which was pretty in it's own right.

Done with our geode gathering, we all headed back to the parking lot and the end of that hiking day.

On Tuesday the 14th, we joined the group for a hike to a box canyon, a few miles east of Payson on Highway 260. At mile marker 271, we pulled off to a small area where 6 or 7 cars could park. Since the hike to the canyon would be a short one, we crossed the road and hiked up a well used dirt road and trail to nowhere in particular. We crossed a nice stream, probably spring fed, as it did not run all the way to the highway. Once we'd gone in about 1/2 to 3/4 mile, we turned around anc went back to the highway.

Once across, the trail to the box canyon was again, thru pretty open woodland.
Lots of pine trees, holly bushes and some scrub oak. The trail eventually lead to a rocky path down the side of the canyon to the bottom. Of course, there were several very breathtaking views on the hike down.

Once at the bottom, we rested and had snacks next to a very nice stream.
This is a popular location for families and teens to come on weekends and during the summer as the stream has pools good for swimming. Despite the popularity, the area was very clean and tidy.

Once done with our rest, we continued downstream thru the canyon bottom (a grassland), to the local boy scout camp. Here we cut thru the camp on the driveway leading back out to highway 260. Along the way we met a grey mare. Since we didn't appear to be threatening, her colt came out from behind the trees to investigate us. Neither mare nor colt were restrained. As we were getting acquianted with the mare, the camp keeper and his grandson drove up to us. We all had a nice chat about the horses. Turns out the mare was a rescue from a failed ranch. She's the camp pet and roams freely around the camp.

Finally, we got back underway and once up to the highway, walked back to the parking area. Everyone picked up trash along the road as we went. Back at the cars, we had a short discussion about the upcoming trip to Sedona and where the planning meeting is to be held. Then it was back to the mall parking lot and the end of another successful hike.

Ceder trail and Woods Canyon Lake hike

It's been awhile but we've finished moving into our new house and feel we have time to start hitting the trails.

Monday, we decided to get out to a local hike, built and maintained by the city of Payson Parks and Recreation service. Called a Payson Area Trail System (PATS) hike, we drove about 3 miles out and found this trail, Ceder Trail. The landscape is pretty dry, more of what people think of when they think Arizona.

We had a great morning for a hike, about 73 degrees and breezy. Randy stopped to take pictures all along the way. The hike was only about a mile to the junction with another trail and that junction is actually in one of the outlying residential areas of the town of Payson. On our hike yesterday, Dave (I'll talk about him later) said that there is a trail juntion from there that goes to the next town of Star Valley. Very cool.

Anyway, we had to get back home to meet the tree surgeon who was coming to take down a dead pine tree. So we hiked back. The terrain is very rolling. It's not that steep but I still gasp some on the uphill slopes. Eventually I'll get used to the altitude (Payson is about 5000 feet).

On Tuesday, we hooked up the the local hiking club, the Payson Packers. This club is so large, they break into groups based on how fast/far they hike. Since we're still acclimating to the environment, we chose the C group, slow hikers who stay pretty much to the easier trails. We met the contact, Dave, at the parking lot and he introduced us to several of the hikers and organized a ride for us.

We met in a local mall parking lot about 0715 and shared ride with some nice people. In this club, each rider pays the driver $3 to cover gas. We were in a van that could carry 7 so we had a nice ride out with Dave and others to the Sitgreves National Forest where Woods Canyon Lake is located, just a few miles east of Payson.

There were about 27 people in this particular hike. We all arrived at the parking area within the park by about 0830. Note this is a large park and there is camping available in several locations. Also several other trails within the park. Anyway, we debarked the vehicles and headed off to circum-ambulate the lake.

A man-made lake, it is nevertheless very pretty and has a well maintained trail around it. It is also surprizingly like hiking in the Adirondacks. Randy and I felt right at home. The total milage for the hike is about 3 or 3.5 miles. We were finished by 1030 or so. We saw bald eagles, people fishing in the lake, lots and lots of wild flowers. Some I could recognize, like aster and blue eyed grass. Others were new to me. This is a columbine!

We had a great time and will do our best to reserve Tuesdays so we can hike with the club.