Headed back to AZT #28 to check the progress on the single track work. The southern end is now finished up to the azt gate near FR 93F/93K junction.

I started from FR 82 and went to the AZT gate north of Foot In Tree Tank, the last couple of miles were off trail but following the flagging.

On the way back I think a lightning strike started a small fire off to the southwest (plume of smoke and smell of burning)

Saw 2 young elk near the beginning, then 3 more with huge antlers just south of Foot In Tree Tank and finally a large heard of 15+ on my way back again near Foot In Tree Tank.

Great day, nice weather and lucky to dodge a couple of thunderstorms that were nearby. Temp was 70 at the start and 63 at the end just after the second storm.

It's Tracey's day off and she prefers cooler temps so this was a good option. Since we have hiked and biked the first 10 miles or so from southern end of #28 we chose an SOBO out-and-back from Gooseberry.

The upper-60's temperature was nice for a start and for most of the SOBO leg we were in the shade. Less than a half-mile from the start we heard loud crashing off to the side, which turned out to be a single elk. Unfortunately, although we encountered many fresh deer and elk tracks along the trail, that single elk would be the extent of our wildlife sightings for the day. Later we would encounter a trio of cows but they don't count as wildlife.

Tracey's usual eagle-eye spotted a hunting tree-stand right next to Maxie Tank. While as far as hunting regs are concerned that is ok. However, leaving private property on National Forest Land is subject to the domain of finders keepers, not that we had any use for a tree-stand.

We got off-track once at the FR6058/FR135D junction, where when traveling SOBO the natural thing is to continue straight ahead onto FR 6058 but the trail branched right continuing on FR 135D. We didn't go far before realizing there were no AZT stickers. This is of no consequence when NOBO not only because it's natural to continue on FR 135D but also because there are AZT stickers visible from that direction. If an AZT sticker were added on the north side of FR 135D sign that would alleviate the problem.

We had only planned on 5 miles SOBO before turning back, but we'd been moving pretty well so we decided to continue until we found a good spot for our lunch/nap break... all we sought were three features: shade, a rock to sit/lay on and a breeze. Luckily we got all three. The location was pleasant enough our usual 10-minute break extended to a full half-hour.

It was a good thing we spent the extra time to rest. I had a growing pain in the ball of my right foot so I took off my boots and gave my feet a rest after a quick massage. It worked wonders because I didn't notice any pain the rest of the hike.

By time we were headed back NOBO it had warmed up and now with little shade to be had, along with still-noticeable humidity we could feel the heat. With no new ground to cover I put my legs in cruise-control mode for the return trip.

When we returned to the TH there were two new piles of gravel, for what purpose, we could only guess.

Started from Bargaman Park and took the new single track southeast to Daves Tank and back.

The first section to Wild Horse Tank opened last year. The next section from Wild Horse to Daves isn’t officially open yet but ACE completed the section to Daves and onward to 93/95J junction a week or two ago. The tread is excellent and there is nice variety of ponderosa/meadows/juniper and some burned areas. There are good views south and southeast from the high point between Wild Horse and Daves just as you begin the descent. We saw one mesa off in the distance that I think was Chevelon Butte.

Great day, nice temps and the occasional cool breeze. Stopped at That Brewery on the way back.

Worked behind the mini-excavator doing finishing work as it makes the new "Happy Jack Single Track”.

Saw one hiker along the current route, FR 93D. There was a fire about 4 miles to the north and I saw a couple of fire trucks but no smoke.

Like Shawn reported there are a lot of trees with lightning scars.

A group of us (10-12 people) spent 2 days installing six gates and a sign along AZT #28, near Bargaman Park. Also cleared a deadfall and a tree stump near one of the gates. A third day was spent installing a gate along AZT #26 in solid sandstone near Bray Creek!

Day one we had to shelter for almost 2 hours during a rain and hail storm.

Day 2 and 3 we were lucky with the weather and completed all the work.

Three of us spent two days digging holes and preparing existing fence or gates for 5 of 6 new AZT gates (in the near future) along the passage #28 reroute. The digging for the sixth gate needs to be done at the same time as the gate installion due to grazing adjacent to the gate.

We were lucky that the rain held off for 99% of the time we were there

Eight of us spent two days continuing work on this passage. On day one we dug the holes for four AZT gates and installed one of them. On day two we installed the other three and one AZT emblem sign. Great group of folks, all working hard but having fun as well.

Gate 1 was installed near where AZT crosses FR 6048, gate 2 just south of where AZT crosses FR 135, gate 3 about another half mile south from gate 2 and gate 4 between Maxie tank and FR 6058

Perfect temperatures up on the rim: slightly chilly early on but nice in the afternoon with pleasant breezes. Saw several deer and elk while driving up and back.

Six of us continued work on Happy Jack AZT #28. First up we installed another of the new kiosks - this one is at at Hay Meadow TH. We also removed the old sign in register and installed a new one.

After Hay Meadow we went over to Bargaman Park and installed another new sign in register alongside the AZT sign we put in last week then we pulled out an old sign in register near Pine Spring.

Very nice temps up on the rim today although the winds probably hampered the efforts to get more containment on the Tinder fire. Saw a single turkey and a few elk on the drive back.

Five of us went out to install a new kiosk at the Gooseberry Springs TH. After that we went to move one of the large metal signs from near Pine Spring to a new location at the edge of Bargman Park where the new reroute will be.

Weather was perfect - lots of snow covered pines but temps rising quickly from 30s to 40s to 50s and melting the snow rapidly. Great day on the rim with an excellent group

Fourteen volunteers traveled from all over the United States to volunteer to participate in the American Hiking Society and ATA's Volunteer Vacation. The AHS program matches trail volunteers with a wide variety of trail volunteer opportunities throughout the US and beyond. Many of these volunteers had never visited Arizona before, and most of them had not even heard of the Arizona National Scenic Trail before registering for the event. What starts as just a great way to get some volunteers on the ground building trail turns into a fantastic outreach program almost by accident. Now these 14 hikers will go home and brag about the amazing trail that they built through the scenic ponderosa of northern Arizona, and maybe a few new sparks of AZT fever will ignite.

The trail construction was the first part of the new Happy Jack Single Track project on the Coconino National Forest. Ultimately, this project will result in almost 18 miles of new singletrack trail construction to get the AZT off of the long road walks of the Happy Jack passage. The crew created 1.4 miles of new trail, nearly completing the northernmost reroute of the project. They hacked through oak thickets, dug out pine stumps and chopped through tedious grass flats to open up the corridor — even building some impressive stone retaining structures to finish the final climbs.

Ultimately this project will replace 18 miles of road walk with single track trail. Its a great time for those who want to participate in trail building to get out in a beautiful part of Arizona and give back!