Jim Helfers Principles/Navigations: Arizona Trail: Passage 27

I have perhaps hiked on this passage more times than any other single passage of the Arizona Trail (maybe with the exception of the Mazatzal passages). Here are my notes from the various times I've hiked it, from 2001-2020; the photos will be from Arizona Trail Day (in the Fall of 2019) and Chris's and my trip in 2020 during the COVID pandemic (physically-distant camping).

___________________________________________________________________________

The Notes:

Arley, Donna, Richard, me

June 23, 2001 (dayhike).

Began 9 a.m. Temp mid 70’s-80 with 10 mph breeze.

Dusty herbal smell of pines. Wild roses, Indian paintbrush, bridal lace (?) etc. Small blooms, nothing big. Partly cloudy. Started at General Springs historical marker where FR 300 intersects with See (?) Canyon trail. Follow springs canyon toward Blue Ridge Reservoir. Plenty of pools in Spring Canyon. Winds in the pines, bird calls. How to explain bird calls without clichés? Trilling arpeggios. Easy, great hiking along the creek. General Springs Cabin at the beginning of the trail (built 1912). Plexiglass windows in old wood frame. Battle of Big Dry Wash historical marker. General Crook vs. Apaches, 1882. (Crook won. –2 soldiers, -20 Apaches). Total one-way trip--3 miles (6 miles total out and back).

Perfect day – partly cloudy, open shade

Yellow columbine, dragonflies along creek, blue, red, and black. Large water beetles in pools, water skimmers, tadpoles. (Green notebook)

July 15, 2006 Blue Ridge/Moqui Campground

Scouted about 2 ½ more miles of the AZ Trail. Gently rolling, or pretty flat, trail through oak and ponderosa pine forest. Near the campground is a stand of aspen.

The trail is easy for a little while south of the campground, but then climbs a ridge. The rock erosion dams make it extremely difficult to ride either up or down. I quit after ½ mile south. (Yellow notebook).

Turns out the trail goes right past/through Blue Ridge campground. The campground itself is excellent—fire pits, grill setup, cement benches, graveled level tent pads, big trees. The washroom is the cleanest one I’ve ever been in!

October 12, 2019--Arizona Trail Day with Richard, Sarah, Chris, Jeannie.

May 29-30, 2020

Covid camping with Chris. Camped at Rock Crossing trailhead (that is, nearby, maybe ½ mile).

Day hiking passage 28 of the Arizona Trail (Blue Ridge Passage).

May 29—Hiked south to the place where Richard and I stopped on Arizona Trail Day (intersection with FR 212A?). Rock Creek Canyon is gnarly—very vertical. One way was over 5 miles (over 10 round trip).

May 30--Hiked north to the entrance to the Moqui Campground, which I had scouted earlier.