AZT Part 11: Mormon Lake to Flagstaff
Day 31 | April 21, 2022
26.1 Miles
Sasquatch drove us back to the trail that morning.
We entered Passage 30 and traversed flat and easy terrain. Soft pine needles covered the trail, which felt nice on my ankles, and shaded pine forests, lush meadows, and wooded hillsides defined the landscape.
The trail followed an old railroad bed for several miles, passed through a series of gates, and made a short, steep ascent to Anderson Mesa.
From the mesa, you can see the San Francisco Peaks and Lake Mary.
After crossing Forest Road 129 and passing Vail Lake and Prime Lake, the trail skirts around the Lowell Observatory. It crosses an open meadow and then descends a wooded hillside, making its way towards Marshall Lake and the start of Passage 31.
As the day progressed, I couldn't help but notice an unsettling haze on the horizon, coupled with an intensifying smell of smoke. We learned that a forest fire had erupted to the north, just as a cold front was approaching. With Flagstaff still a day and a half away, our objective became clear: to reach the town before the weather worsened.
Haiku, Space Case, and I set up camp on a cliff above Lake Mary Road, just a few miles outside of Flagstaff. That night we sat watching the storm clouds roll in while looking out at Mount Humphreys in the distance.
Day 32 | April 22, 2022
14.6 Miles
We hiked through gray skies and stormy weather, descending steeply into Lower Walnut Canyon where we passed by stunning vistas of red rock cliffs and the San Francisco Peaks.
At the bottom of Walnut Canyon, just before the trail ascends to Fisher Point, we stopped at a junction and turned left for the Flagstaff Urban Trail. It grew colder and began hailing as we walked.
Our route continued across drainages, over small ridges, and through an underpass at one of the city's busiest intersections at Ponderosa Parkway (formerly Enterprise Road).
We followed the AZT signs through the city, which conveniently led us to Taco Bell. I couldn't remember the last time I ate at Taco Bell. The inside was warm, mostly empty, and provided much-needed relief from the cold, wet weather outside. Fortunately, the staff didn't mind a bunch of dirty, smelly hikers hanging out. We sat at a table in the back waiting for the rest of the group to trickle in while Space Case and Haiku guided me through the vegan options on the menu. I am embarrassed to admit that the tacos tasted better than I remembered Taco Bell tasting, prompting me to go back up to the counter to order seconds, and then thirds, as we sat, happy at our table for hours.
After Taco Bell, the group dispersed to tackle various individual town chores. I made my way to the post office, excited to collect my next resupply package. As I tore open the package, a rush of joy swept over me when I discovered a thoughtful and inspiring card nestled inside. It was a touching reminder of the unwavering support and encouragement I had on this journey.
That evening, we fit six people in one hotel room and went out to dinner as a big group, including two of my friends from home who happened to be in Flagstaff.
Day 33 | April 23, 2022
ZERO DAY (2.93 miles around city)
Today was a Zero Day, which means that no trail miles were hiked. My morning consisted of walking around Flagstaff, going to two diners, having breakfast with Almost Famous and Sweet Shop, and then meeting up with my good friend Alex, a.k.a Willy Wonka.
We took a group trip to Savers to stock up on food and then stopped by a thrift store to fulfill Haiku's long-awaited desire for new jean hiking shorts.
After shopping, we returned to our hotel room to relax, eat, watch movies, and do as little physical activity as possible.