Category: Trip Journal

MRT 2021 Day 12, April 16,  Friday
• Start S3 mile 68.6 of 70.4
• End S4 mile 24.1
• Miles walked: 25.9

Until the next town the route stays north of the Rim a couple of miles or so. While it might be attractive to stay right on the Rim, provided that canyons are not causing detours, water sources help determine the route. And soon native lands boundaries (Apache) will also be a factor.

Hiking out of Forest Lakes in early morning, I pass a frozen puddle. It is certainly colder up here past the Rim, at 7.5k foot elevation. I need to wear extra clothing while hiking for most of the day. The terrain tends to be flatter than when on the Highline, hiking in the shadow of the Rim. Though we go up and down canyons today, they are shallow, not steep.

A series of dirt roads and wild horse trail lead to Black Canyon Lake.

Continue reading “Beyond Rim”

MRT 2021 Day 11, April 15, Thursday
• Start S3 mile 53.1
• End S3 mile 68.6
• Miles walked: 15.5

After quickly leaving the Highline Trail, the Military Sinkhole Trail (why is it named that?) leads up to the Mogollon Rim. Up on top is cold and windy in early morning. The Lakes Vista Trail follows along the edge, giving vistas of rolling hills of ponderosa pine forest.

The route eventually leaves the edge and goes along Willow Springs Lake.

Continue reading “Forest Lakes”

MRT 2021 Day 10, April 14, Wednesday
• Start S3 mile 27.6
• End S3 mile 53.1
• Miles walked: 25.5

Our route stays on the Highline Trail all day. Still located in the old burn area, the pathway has not been redone to make it friendly to mountain bikers and to prevent erosion problems.

At mid-morning the route goes over slickrock, horizontal gently rounded sandstone rock formations.

Continue reading “Highline Detour”