Day 22 | April 12, 2022
22.7 Miles

We camped at Roosevelt Lake Marina  and left as a group in the morning. The day started with a short road walk to reach the AZT Trailhead off of State Route 188. 

This section started with a steep climb along the Vineyard Trail. On the way up, we followed a well maintained singletrack winding its way across rocky switchbacks, up scenic ridgelines, and through grassy hillsides, lined with desert succulents, shrubs, wildflowers, and a variety of cacti. 

I felt strong and fast on the way up. For a few miles, Tailgate and I hiked together at the same pace and chatted. 

By this point, I think it's safe to say I'd accepted I was part of the big group. "The Herd" was my trail family. We had spent a substantial amount of time together on trail and in towns by now. As a group, I understood who we were, but as individuals, many people remained a mystery to me. That is why these moments, hiking one-on-one with another person, are so special to me. These are the moments when you get to deepen your connection with someone you've been traveling with. 

The miles flew by as Tailgate and I chatted and I was grateful for the opportunity to get to know more about her. We talked about books, music, travel, and family. I loved her wit, humor, insight, and vulnerability. Aside from that, she is quite an inspiration with her savant-like skills at solving the daily Wordle puzzles!

The group caught back up at the Mills Ridge Trailhead where we all took a much-needed break after completing the first part of a sweaty climb. 

From there we continued on into the Four Peaks Wilderness. 

Within the Four Peaks Wilderness, the trail leveled off and gradually traced its way along the foothills of Four Peaks - a single, prominent mountain within the Mazatzal Range, with four distinct peaks that can be seen from great distances.

The wind made hiking difficult that evening. The trail scaled the slopes of rocky peaks with the mountain on one side and a drop-off on the other. Wind whipped my face and knocked me around. Then I turned a canyon corner and I fell, hitting my shin on a hard rock. Luckily, there was no major damage, so I kept going. The sun began to set and the weather got cold quickly. The wind never let up and I was ready to call it a day. 

Eventually the climb leveled out and we reached a dirt road. Tailgate, Silver Bullet, Haiku and I set up camp in a small nook that seemed somewhat protected.

Day 23 | April 13, 2022
16.3 Miles

A cold night turned into a cold morning, which makes packing up tough. The cold motivates some people to pack up quickly and start hiking faster, but not me. It doesn't take much drop in temperature for my fingers to get stiff and painful, making stuffing my backpack almost impossible. My campsite was tucked away in a bushy area, protected from the wind and shaded from the sun.  

A patch of light caught my attention, so I grabbed my stuff and dragged it over. There's something special about the first hit of the morning sun. It feels powerful as the warm rays penetrate my cool skin. I love it. It's magical, enlivening, and instantly rejuvenating.

The temperature rose as we descended a scenic ridgeline over gently rolling terrain on El Oso Road.

The trail went through ponderosa pine and oak forest and featured expansive views of Roosevelt Lake, Bartlett Reservoir and the mighty Mazatzal Mountains. In spite of the area’s accessibility, it still managed to maintain a remote feel.

A little over halfway through this section, the route turns off the road and onto a singletrack trail.  

The trail enters the Boulder Creek drainage and begins a long descent with beautiful views towards Sycamore Creek. It winds through lush chaparral, granite boulders, and colorful wildflowers. 

I ate lunch at Sycamore Creek and made the last-minute decision to hitch into the town of Payson with a few other hikers. I didn't need to go to town, but I surrendered and let the adventure lead me.  Besides, some of the best trail memories happen off trail.

The evening was spent watching cooking shows and eating Thai food at the Motel 8.