Sunset Trail - Mt. Eldon - Flagstaff, AZ August 9, 2014

Sunset Trail Head

What better way to start off a Saturday in the cool pines of Flagstaff after a great breakfast at Miz Zip's Cafe on Route 66 than to take in the beauty with a hike.  So after looking at the hiking trail map we decided that Sunset Trail would be the hike for the day.  Temperatures were perfect for hiking and it was a bit cloudy which was even better.  The road to the Trail Head is just off of Route 66 and Schultz Pass Rd which is a dirt road with some wash board areas so take it slow and hopefully you have a truck that can handle this type of area better than a car.  

The parking area is clearly marked and there are rest room facilities at this trail head.  This trail is easy to find and is a nice trail with very little rock and a gentle incline that is easy to maneuver, just keep in mind the elevation difference that we valley dwellers are not typically used and thinner air.  We met a lot of mountain bikers on this trail so be mindful of that as they can appear out of nowhere at times.  First stop was at Schultz Tank a pond like body of water with a back drop of the mountains.  A really amazing view.  

Then we continued onto the Sunset Trail to make our way to the lookout point.

Sometimes I think we forget about all the beauty that Arizona offers us and that we have this amazing forest area just a few hours away.  It was great to see how green everything was and that there was a low fire danger since they have been getting plenty of rain this year.  Here are a few pictures along the trail.

As you can see lots of green everywhere.  It was also nice to see the younger trees that were growing since the Schultz fire of 2010 in this area.  Once at the top here was our view:

So peaceful and serene the only sounds were the wind through the pines and the low rumbling of thunder.  A great place to clear your mind and rejuvenate your body, mind & soul that is for sure.  You can see in the photos where the Schultz fire had destroyed the trees.  

Round trip hiking miles approx. 5 miles.  This is a great hike and one I would definitely take again.    

Fossil Springs Hike - Strawberry Arizona - July 12, 2014

So after reading about Fossil Springs in our company newsletter and some articles about it on other hiking sites I thought this is a place I need to see.  So typically hiking in July in Arizona you head North not only for cooler temperatures but also to enjoy the green that hopefully awaits.  

My hiking partner and I left the valley at 6:30 AM and made the drive North to Payson where we stopped for breakfast before we made the 4 mile hike down to Fossil Springs.

Once at the trail head we were met by two Park Rangers which wanted to reiterate to us that we would need plenty of water and also the fact that it was 4 miles downhill to the Springs and then 4 miles back to the Trail head.  We gave them a confident Yes!  We were prepared and ready to tackle the trail before us.  The first mile was relatively flat and just normal trail grit type of trail surface.  Then the real challenges began to show themselves.  Long paths of medium to large sized rocks on a downhill grade that makes you wonder how long is this going to last?  Well it lasted about 2-1/2 miles with small breaks in between of smoother trail.  But we were not going to be deterred from completing the hike to see the Springs.  Even though I had some major blisters I couldn't wait to get my feet into the cool water that I knew was awaiting ahead.  Fortunately for me I had a hiking partner that comes prepared for almost anything so band aids on the toes and we were off to seek the water.  It was a much warmer day than what we were hoping for but we managed to endure the heat and carry on.  Frequent breaks in the shade to cool down and rest the feet from the rocky trail.

Crossing the dry spring bed of rock and then a short walk in some tall grass and we could hear the springs.  Down the bank and there it was running quickly and many people in the Springs swimming and dogs swimming too.  It was so beautiful and off with the boots to soothe our tired feet.  Awwww…. so very nice.

We enjoyed the cool water of the Springs and the soothing sound of the rushing water for a couple hours and then we knew it was time to make the trek out.  So boots back on and away we went.  Needless to say, at least for me, the hike out was pretty treacherous.  Not wanting to fall and get an injury was at the top of my list so slow and steady was the plan.  We headed on our way out around 4:30 PM and reached the trail head parking lot at 8:30 PM.  Caught a light rain shower on the way out which was very refreshing and used the headlamp to light the last part as it was very dark with the cloud cover.  Overall a great hike but definitely not for the faint of heart.  Probably best to hike this in the early Spring or late Fall when the temperatures are more pleasant.  Definitely make sure you take plenty of water and are prepared for a rocky trail and a steep climb back out.