Amazing, Spectacular Arizona Trail Thruhiking: FR 205B-MM 37.2

Welcome back to Aspen’s Tracks, thruhiking the Arizona Trail from Utah to Mexico through the aspen groves and ponderosa forest of the central Kaibab Plateau. The aspens in their splendor are very distracting from the backpacking pace, so the hiking is pretty slow going.

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

The day continues through ponderosa groves and then enters the burn scar left by the 2006 Warm Fire. Entering the burn scar, the wind picks up substantially, and even without carrying my normal weight it is blowing me around hiking on the trail.

Another notable sight on the trail today – an extensive skeleton. It is the first of many that I encounter on the trail. Such sights are not uncommon in the harsh climates of the Southwest – whether because of temperatures, water conditions, or predators like mountain lions.

Next time, the final part of the day and the first glimpse of Grand Canyon on the trail.

Passage 41 Logistics