
Quality Inn Payson, AZ
Today is a zero day – a day with no hiking. I’d like to say I relaxed all day and did nothing, at the Quality Inn Payson, but that would not be true.

Today is a zero day – a day with no hiking. I’d like to say I relaxed all day and did nothing, at the Quality Inn Payson, but that would not be true.

Our plan to stay with a trail angel was falling apart. The trail angel, told me she lived 3 miles outside of Pine, Arizona and that was not good.

MJ and Dawn were going to camp at Webber Creek, so that was my target. I figured I would make it by 6 PM. Nope! Didn’t happen.
The trail took on characteristics of the Appalachian Trail in Maine. Up then down with a very rocky and steep descent. I fell twice. Just like the AT.
I came upon Dawn’s campsite. MoonJuice was there also. I setup my tent and ate dinner with them. That was the first night camping with other hikers on the AZT.

We woke up at the Bohn cabin about 4:30. Dawn and I packed our gear and had breakfast. We thanked Gary and Janet for their generous hospitality and were off.

Gary and Janet Bohn invited us to go out to dinner with them. We declined. Neither of us felt presentable and besides. We both had a lot of provisions to eat.

I headed for the trail, It was with some reluctance that I was leaving Flagstaff. The town was pretty lively, but it was time to start hiking again.
The first part of my zero day in Flagstaff was spent cleaning my equipment updating the blog and watching news to catch up on what’s going on in the world.

There was thunder and lightning followed by rain. Then I heard a “prickling” on my tent. It didn’t take long to figure out there was snow on the AZT.