Trailblazers welcome Sam’s first hike with us.

Nine hikers left the valley in two cars about 6:15. We met Doug at Safeway in Globe. We drove SR288 to milepost 277. After shuttling one car to the Parker Creek trailhead #160 we started hiking at 8:45.

The sky was clear and the air was crisp. We started on FR489. It was a continuous climb without switchbacks. At the bottom the Sycamores just started to turn. Maples and oaks were for the most part still green. We took a few catch-up breaks along the way. At “62” we left the trail. Rudy found a single boot – interesting. We slugged our way up to the point “Z”. At Zimmerman Point we enjoyed lunch to spectacular views of Roosevelt Lake and the valley to the west.

Bill got some static when he tried to quicken the tempo to finish eating and get going. The adventure continued. At 11:45 we were on our way. We followed a route on the ridgeline that Bill had plotted after examining topographic maps. It appeared mostly flat to all the way to where we met the Parker Trail at “PC TOP”.

The ridgeline is rough going. [photo by Eileen]

The ridgeline was wide but not wide enough to dodge all the Manzanita. We just had to plow through some of the patches. It made for slow travel. Suggestions were made that we take an alternate way back. That was not an option. As we reached “R5” the pace quickened as the ridgeline was covered in pines – a welcome relief from the low thick bush. We had great views of the Cherry Creek Valley to the east and Four Peaks and Roosevelt Lake to the west.

We zigged and zagged across an abandoned barbwire fence line as we headed north. At a small tank Rudy pointed out bear prints hardened in the mud. As we neared “R7” we actually we found a trail which we followed until it faded. Sunlight highlighted the turning maple leaves.

The problem: it was getting late. We were tired. Could we find the trail in daylight? Getting to “R8” seemed impossible without heading off the cliff on the Cherry Creek side. Michael radioed Bill that he was drifting west. Bill and group doubled back to meet Andy and Michael. Now what? The urgency to get to the trail was dominant on our minds rather than a full assessment and exploratory of how to get to “PCTOP”.

Bill and Rudy led the steep 200-foot drop down tree-choked crack to the trail at “TX”. Bill called for full stop until all hikers made it down to the trail. We were all on the trail at 4:00.

Eileen and Mike R. spotted an owl.

The setting sun also highlighted a few maples that had started to turn. The drivers were first down the trail. Doug took Eileen and Bill to get the their cars and attempted to return to Parker Trailhead. When Bill and Eileen got to Parker trailhead, no Doug.

Andy said he saw him drive north. To Young, for Pizza?

Eileen discovered a relic of an outhouse across the road as the other hikers waited for “Wrong Way Doug” to return. Which he did.

We stopped in Globe to eat before driving back to the valley.