Amazing, Spectacular Arizona Trail, Day 6: Upper Tater Canyon-East Rim Overlook

Day 6 thruhiking the Arizona Trail begins, chronicling backpacking Passage 40 from Upper Tater Canyon to East Rim Overlook. Hiking south from the overlook leads through more aspen foliage toward a brief detour to the North Rim Country Store.

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’m on the trail early, hiking away from Upper Tater Canyon, and south toward the northern boundary of Grand Canyon National Park on my thruhike of the Arizona Trail. As I noted in an earlier entry, one of the perils of combining being a seasonal ranger and thruhiking in the offseason (or shoulder seasons) is that one must make oneself available for interviews in sometimes inconvenient times or places. I owe a park a return call at some point today.

Based on the tip I received from a nobo hiker yesterday, I hope to have service at the East Rim Overlook about 2 miles south of my campsite last night. Hiking south, the trail passes through even more glorious aspens as well as beautiful subalpine conifer forest on its way to the overlook. Logistics and ecological details follow the photos.

The next entry will cover from the East Rim Overlook to about MM 61.2, including a brief detour to the North Rim Country Store.