Our plan this weekend is to hike a section of the Highline Trail that is quite difficult to access. We have found an unmarked, on any map, road that can take us close to it and then there is a path that can lead us exactly to where we want to start the hike. And the closest village to the road is Tonto Village with almost no accomodations. The only one available is a cabin with no Wifi but at least it seems to border the National Forest land which is a bonus. We find the cabin easily and as an additional bonus we have a nice view of the neighboring garden where the person is growing geese and chicken, nice.
Unfortunately after we enter we soon learn that the existing heating cannot keep up with the cold, it is really cold at night, almost freezing and we also are freezing inside the house even with the heating supposedly on.
At least we have food the first night, we bought some at a restaurant in Payson that we really like and the food is as good as we remember. And hot, which helps.
Interestingly even though the cabin is relatively small it has a small upstairs area that can also in a pinch hold a few people to sleep and which allows it to claim it has two rooms. Hmm…
In the morning we drink hot coffee and tea and explore a bit the nearby national forest land before driving to the trailhead for a 16 mile there and back hike on a very secluded trail that really stretches our stamina to the limits.
To recuperate a bit of stamina we go to the local bar and grill in the evening which is surprisingly popular. It is probably the only dining establishment we have been that looks like in the American movies where crimes could happen and love could be found at the bar.
There is no one really ordering food, everyone is at the bar, so we eat the locally famous Elk burger and drink a margarita before crashing into bed as we are quite tired.
In the morning we can barely move so we decide to explore a road that borders Tonto Village before moving on. We huff and puff after only about half a mile of following the powerline road, the hike yesterday has really has taken its toll.
There are quite a few birds on this windy and cold day and we also see the first plants, cancer-roots, sprouting everywhere.
Our goal is a cache near a rock formation and after finding it with some difficulty we return to the car before driving to find Payson diamonds and then shopping and an early dinner.
