March 2020 – Sagebrush Trails

Not Lake Mormon

AZT 2020 Day 23, March 31, Tuesday
Start mile 514.7 near Wild Horse Tank (passage28mile18)
End mile 542.7 near old railroad bed (passage30mile1.8)
Miles walked: 28

As the terrain of our route becomes more rolling low hills, patches of snow are sheltered from the sun, extending snow melt season. The wet mud from yesterday morning returns, not everywhere, just enough to keep things interesting.

Several seasonal lakes cluster together, with frogs singing.

Mud

AZT 2020 Day 22, March 30, Monday
Start mile 483.8 in General Springs Canyon (passage27mile2.6)
End mile 514.7 near Wild Horse Tank (passage28mile18)
Miles walked: 30.9

In the early morning the ground is frozen, so any patches of mud in the trail are not a problem to walk on.

Further away from the Rim the terrain becomes more flat, in pine forest, with no views of distant mountains.

Mogollon Rim

AZT 2020 Day 21, March 29, Sunday
Start Pine trailhead mile 461.1 and into town of Pine (passage 25mile21.8)
End mile 483.8 in General Springs Canyon (passage27mile2.6)
Miles walked: 22.7

On my walk out of Pine, a herd of elk are in front of the supermarket. Locals do not seem excited, so it must happen often.

The hike today mostly is just below the Mogollon Rim, a cliff many miles long. To the south of the Rim land is mountainous, and to the north a relatively flat high plateau.