Today we have to escape again the heat of the Phoenix area. So into the mountains we go, this time we are aiming at the Mogollon Rim specifically the Blue Ridge Reservoir and the Arizona Trail section that passes through it. But first we stop in Payson for a visit to the Farmer’s Market, which is disappointing, and a visit in Strawberry to PIEbar to buy some empenadas for a later lunch in the woods.
However from Strawberry there is one little snag, we are not sure if we can actually get to Blue Ridge. Our GPS is showing the route closed however there is no mention of closures when we start on the Rim Road, FR 300. However it seems we are not the only ones scared, there are far fewer cars than usual on the road. The reason behind the supposed closure is a wildfire that passed through the area a few weeks ago and while we see signs of the fire there is nothing on the road closing it so we continue on towards the Blue Ridge area.
The side road to Blue Ridge wasn’t impacted by the fire but it was impacted by wood cutters. There are quite a few areas where the trees have been cut and the area doesn’t look so beautiful as it usually does.
However as we approach the Blue Ridge Reservoir the signs of cutting abate and soon we find a parking spot and the right road towards the Arizona Trail.
The road initially is an actual road but soon we get to a road closed sign and then we encounter the Arizona Trail that we are planning to take to the cache at the bottom of the Blue Ridge Reservoir.
There are quite a few birds on the trail including bluebirds and nuthatches and a few other common birds that we enjoy to see.
Soon we are at the edge of the reservoir from here we have to descend for a couple hundred feet towards the cache.
We descend carefully and soon are at the bottom. The lake here is dry which is great as we are not sure how we could have passed otherwise to the other side to find the cache.
We find the cache easily and because there are still a couple hours left we decide to continue to find another, less found, cache further along on the trail.
It takes a bit to climb to the other side and we take our time to enjoy the nature and the many chipmunks near the trail.
The trail after reaching the top is beautiful and there is no one else around as we slowly make our way following the Rim to the cache.
In this section we also find our only elks for the trail, they are quite non-interested in us as we pass them on our way to the cache.
We find the cache after quite some searching in a nice area with some great views and then it is time to return to the car. We know it will get dark on the way so we start in a hurry but soon have to stop as we see a mob of turkeys on the way. We follow them for a while before continuing on and then soon it gets dark as we descend into the dry lake. Here were here three different owl species but even though we try to find them it is too difficult due to the terrain. And then we are on the other side and then soon back at the car. The return trip is smooth and we are happy to be at home after a great day at high altitudes with lots of interesting wildlife.
TBW
