Summer '09, Second Installment

4. Overnight backpacking trip in the Blue Ridge District of Coconino National Forest (6/20-21). The 2nd backpacking adventure of the summer brought Bo and I to the Historic Cabin Loop trail system. No, it's not a clever name: there are indeed some old cabins on this trail...and they're historical. Most were used at some point as supply depots/rest stops for General Crook's campaign against the Apache. Later they were used as shelters for cowboys driving cattle back and forth over the Mongollon Rim.

The hike itself is not all that burly, more gently rolling hills cut with draws, but doing 12 miles when you start at 1pm was a bit of kick in the teeth. I was lucky to run into some nice ladies along the Rim who gave Bo and I there extra water (we were out). We camped at General Spring Cabin that night and then looped back to the car by 2pm the next day, making it about 18 miles total. Note to all heading out there: I only did the western half of the trail because of time constraints and the fact that a burn was occuring in the eastern half of the loop. You could easily spend 2 nights doing the whole system. For more info see this link http://www.fs.fed.us/r3/coconino/recreation/mog_rim/cabin-loop-trail.shtml .

The route started at Pinchot Cabin then took Houston Bros Tr to Barbershop to General Crook to Fred Haught back to Pinchot.

Remains of a cabin fireplace at Aspen Spring on the Houston Bros Tr

Same as above, different angle

Million dollar views off the Mogollon Rim via the General Crook Tr

That's all I got in me for now. More trip shots to come from places like Bear Wallow and Mt. Baldy Wilderness Areas, not to mention a solo trip down James Canyon that entailed 2 rappels and many swims through pools that were frigid even in August.