Amazing, Spectacular Arizona Trail Thruhike, Day 4: Jacob Lake-FR 205B

Welcome back to Aspen’s Tracks, thruhiking the Arizona Trail from Utah to Mexico. Hiking south on the AZT, this entry covers the stretch backpacking from Jacob Lake to FR 205B on the Kaibab National Forest.

In the land of Arizona
Through desert heat or snow
Winds a trail for folks to follow
From Utah to Old Mexico

It’s the Arizona Trail
A pathway through the great Southwest
A diverse track through wood and stone
Your spirit it will test

Oh, sure you’ll sweat and blister
You’ll feel the miles every day
You’ll shiver at the loneliness
Your feet and seat will pay

But you’ll see moonlight on the borderlands
You’ll see stars on the Mogollon
You’ll feel the warmth of winter sun
And be thrilled straight through to bone

The aches and pains will fade away
You’ll feel renewed and whole
You’ll never be the same again
With Arizona in your soul

Along the Arizona Trail
A reverence and peace you’ll know
Through deserts, canyons, and mountains
From Utah to Old Mexico
-“The Arizona Trail,” Dale R. Shewalter

I ran into Dolly, a former colleague of mine from Grand Canyon, at Jacob Lake this morning after a rather indulgent meal (I admit, I had the ice cream cookie sundae after breakfast. One thing about a thruhike, I know I’ll burn it off in short order.) After a discussion with another couple about my hike over breakfast, Dolly lightens my load for a bit and shortly I’m backpacking south again.

The aspens take center stage today; a glorious display of color across the Kaibab as the trail rolls south on the plateau to FR-205B, one of the forest road crossings on Passage 41. I’ll let their beauty speak for itself in this part. In the next entry we’ll continue south from FR-205B toward Passage 40.

Logistics & ecology reports follow the photos from the day.

Arizona Trail Passage 41: Logistics