After Wolf Mountain we decide to hike on another more established trail nearby. The Land of the Pioneers trail is a long one but passes here over the road so we can pick it up and explore a new area. We try to avoid longer hikes as it is supposed to rain later in the afternoon so we decide to hike as much as we can until the weather turns. The trail is quite good in the beginning, and level, a difference from the off trail climb to the top of Wolf Mountain.
The name of the trail comes from the fact that it passes multiple homesteads and here it passes one right at the start, at Dripping Vat Springs. There are no springs here anymore with the trough being empty and no other signs of water anywhere.
The cabin is abandoned already for some time and you can explore it inside and out. It really is a one room cabin so not a lot to explore but it is a scenic cabin in a nice location.
Nearby is what we call the pool as it seems to be where the spring was located. However as expected there is no water at all in the area. And then we eat some snacks while we see the clouds come in and we hear the thunder in the distance. We powwow a bit and decide to continue, maybe the storm will pass us by, who knows. The trail is easy to follow and we are not in the open so even if it we get hit by the storm we should be fine, or at least we hope so.
We continue on encouraged by the lack of rain and even sunshine from time to time. It is a beautiful trail, level and easy to follow, as we like it.
We decide on a turnaround point along the way, the Hidden Lake, sounds sufficiently mysterious and interesting to us. The name is quite fitting in our opinion as the lake is quite well hidden, some might say even missing. We eat some snacks here enjoying the view and then it is time to return as this time the rain is coming and there is no escape.
On the way back it rains in waves which makes it very difficult to decide if we should wear the rain ponchos or not. It seems half of the time is spent putting to ponchos on and then taking them off.
But we do not have time to complain as we enjoy the hike with quite a few birds including a beautiful Nashville warbler that we stalk for a while given that it is skulking in the undergrowth. But in the end we have some great views of the warbler and continue satisfied.
And then we get the bonus sighting of the hike. It is a herd of elks that assume we do not see them for a time before deciding that we do see them and running away.
Returning at the car we drive a bit more taking a longer route back to the AirBnB. It is a nice drive and we even find an abandoned old Ford along the way before returning to our lodging for the night and dinner. Overall it was a great hike and we hope that tomorrow we will also have great weather before returning to Phoenix.
