Arizona Trail Hike – Winter Journey – March 2018

 

Saturday March 10 – This morning Rollie and I have a campfire and music outside at our Molino Basin campsite before it gets too windy.

Morning at Molina Basin Campground – the white square in the center is our camper

Then we – Clifford, Rollie, and I – decide to hike a bit of the Arizona Trail, as it goes right through the campground. It is a scenic trail, in a desert sort of way, very rocky, but decent.

Clifford and Rollie on the Arizona Trail above Molino Basin Campground
Clifford and Rollie on the Arizona Trail
Looking back toward Molino Basin Campground
Rollie looks down at the campground below
Clifford and Rollie look toward the saddle
The trail to the saddle

We hike to the first saddle, maybe a couple miles, and sit on a rock outcropping to enjoy the expansive views.

View from the saddle

The wind starts to blow and within minutes it becomes quite chilly. I am sure glad I had a windbreaker and stocking hat with me. Rollie and Clifford also put on extra layers. Ninja, Rollie’s little dog, is the only one who seems unruffled by the change in temperature.

Ninja is unruffled
Rock formations seen from the Arizona Trail at Molino Basin
Close-up of rock formations

Back at the campground, we see a beautiful horse being groomed for a photo shoot; the location they choose is the gnarly oak tree at our campsite, so we sit back and watch as the photographer poses the pretty girl with the gorgeous horse.

After dinner, Rollie and I play a game of cribbage. Finish out the day with updates to my planner and writing in the journal.