With the temperatures much lower versus the summer highs we decide to drive as far as Payson for our first hike post our Europe trip. And to celebrate this outing we decide to start with a lunch at what seems to be a new taco street vendor. We take them as takeout and while we wait we explore also the nearby antique store. It is unexpectedly big and we even find some knick knacks to buy, always fun.
The starting point for our hike, the Gila County Trailhead, is nearby. We find the parking area and then proceed to eat our tacos and quesadilla and fortified we start on the Peach Orchard Trail.
Even near the trailhead there are quite a few flowers but we are most attracted to the Bushtits, they are always fun to see as they flit around in groups. And they are almost as soon gone as soon you have noticed them arriving, they really cannot stand still.
The trail is actually relatively well marked but it is not difficult to follow most times, you just follow the jeep tracks. The only problems would arise at intersections but in this case it is clear where you need to go.
Close to Payson there is still some thrash along the trail including an abandoned cart. Of course we enjoy more the mosses and lichens along the way.
As we walk along the trail we keep an eye out for caches. There are a few of them some requiring climbing to neighboring mesas with some nice views.
After the first cache it is back to the trail and the a short climb brings us to a saddle between two mountains both with caches.
We choose the easier one and even without a path the climb is easy enough and soon we are at the top enjoying the views while signing the cache log.
All along we keep an eye out for any interesting wildlife, we find one of the larger lizards in the area, Clark’s Spiny Lizard, just lounging on a stone for example. There are also quite a few skippers including some that we assume are Pahaska’s Skippers.
From the saddle it is time to go downwards following a creek well named as Lousey Creek. The trail is rocky and steep and we have to be very careful to not roll our ankles as we descend. And all the time to the back of our head a voice is reminding us that we have to climb back up when returning….
For all our suffering during the descent 🙂 we are rewarded with some interesting sites along the way. An abandoned cabin that we also visited a few years prior but seems to be in worse state now and a mine that seems to go forever…we do not try to check this out. The mine itself is at the bottom of the valley and now it is time to follow the creek a bit and then it is time to climb towards the cache.
On this stretch the only wildlife watching us are the Woodhouse’s Scrub Jay, as far as we can see. They are keeping a wary eye and vocalize multiple times just to ensure we know they are aware about us.
The trail to the last cache of the day is up towards another crest. At least we follow a better road here with fewer rocks and soon we arrive at the cache area.
The bonus of the location is a great view of the Mazatzal Mountains in the late afternoon sun. The area itself is quite scenic and we spend some minutes eating a quick snack while enjoying the cooler temperatures.
And then it is time to return with the evening bringing a few interesting birds to fore. We really like the Sage Thrasher that watches us for some time but the highlight is a Great Horned Owl that is harassed by jays. It flies here and there but it is always followed by them allowing us to track it also.
The sunset is quite beautiful and catches us about halfway back, from there we use our headlights to navigate the tricky terrain back to the car. There are no issues and then the return is quite fast compared to our usual trips during this period of the year. Overall it was a great to go outside and hike a bit after spending three weeks in cities and with relative little hiking most days – with a bonus of birds and solitutude along this nice trail!
