After three consecutive years of snow (at Havasu Falls, Grand Canyon, and the Mazatzals), Mrs. big_load's main requirement was good weather. The other was no scary roads. We had good luck on both counts. The road to the trailhead was in much better shape than our last visit to this TH about 8 years ago and we made it all the way to the parking area in the rental car.

On the way in, we met AZHiker4444 who had seen and heard a mountain lion a little earlier. We were happy not to share that experience. There were three other groups at the ranch, and some riders came through the next morning, so there was a lot more action than I'm used to, but my past visits were all in mid-week.

Star-gazing was fantastic.