Ted was thinking 14 might turn out for this hike, but there were 24. With the weather forecast at “40% chance of rain” we brought rain jackets, only to start our hike with the sky crystal clear, cool 70s with a mild breeze.

The Rim Lakes Vista Trail crosses FR 300 and parallels the highway as it goes over to the Mogollon Rim. We pass a clearing that was flooded when Ted led this hike in 2007 but dry when Debbie led it in 2008. With recent rains, there is some water standing on the trail but not much.

Highway sounds recede and we start seeing sky through the trees as we approach the Rim. Eager photographers snap away at the first overlook.

“There are many overlooks between here and the Military Sinkhole Vista,” Ted explains. “Take it at your own pace and enjoy them. We’ll re-convene at the Vista.”

Dave, Chuck, and Ted take their time with photography. Soon everyone is together again, along with tourists enjoying this popular spot.

The Mogollon Rim extends halfway across Arizona, separating the Colorado Plateau from the Basin and Range Province. We’re fortunate to be hiking a trail with so many grand overlooks in a relatively short distance.

The Military Sinkhole is shown with depression contours on the topographic map. It holds water. Ferns grow abundantly. The Army brought their horses and mules here to water them, giving the sinkhole its name.

Overview from the Military Sinkhole Vista.

Junction with the General Crook Trail.

It always happens that you have some fast hikers ahead and some slow hikers behind. Ted waits for everyone to arrive at the junction and then sends the fast hikers up ahead on the General Crook Trail. “I’ll sweep. Don’t wait for me unless you can’t see where to turn,” he advises. “Then we can all get lost together.”

Most of the hikers take off like rockets for Rim Top Trailhead, with Michael as their deputy leader. Ted stays behind with Carrie and Gabe, who prefer a much more leisurely pace.

The General Crook Trail is marked with metal chevrons tacked to trees. The chevrons are either yellow or white, with yellow marking the historical trail traveled by General George Crook in the 1870s from Camp Verde to Fort Apache, and white marking the places where the hiking trail has been re-routed.

The hiking trail plays hopscotch with the dirt road, sometimes on one side, sometimes on the other, and sometimes on the road itself. We keep looking for chevrons tacked to trees, finding most of them easily.

Although this part of the hike might seem dull compared with those expansive Rim overlooks, it turns out to be rich in natural phenomena with some marks of civilization.

All of the Trailblazers except Chuck are gone by the time Carrie, Gabe, and Ted mosey back to Rim Top Trailhead. Just as well, since Chuck rode with us. The hikers proceed to El Rancho Mexican Restaurant in Payson, where we enjoy an unplanned reunion.

The rain, which so graciously held off while we were hiking, really pours as we drive down the highway to Rye. Then the sky dries up as we approach the Mazatzals. All is well.