Spent the weekend at Salt Flat Campground. Saturday Matt and I hiked a north loop to Pine Mtn. The weather was perfect! The leaves were sporadic to start, and just a little bit blah/dull overall. Not quite the saturated color I would have hoped for.

There was a truck at the trailhead with a HAZ sticker, but we didn't manage to cross paths with @nightstalker. We did cross paths with @mr14ner, the 3rd time that's happened for me!

Sunday 9L and FOTG stopped by in the morning to visit before heading out on a loop of their own.

I made an effort to drive the road to the Rim, but gave up just past the Oxbow Trail since I had been bumping along for over an hour. I could have made it the rest of the way, but it was really slow going, and I just wasn't enjoying it and the end goal of hiking down to Cold Water Spring just wasn't worth the effort I was putting forth.

So I turned around and headed back down to where the road is nice again!

Just keeping the tradition alive today by completing another nice Veterans Day hike with Chumley. We picked up an extra this year, as Dave joined us. It was a late start because I am a mean coach and made my boys come in and practice on their morning off. Nevertheless, Chumley was able to plan a nearly perfect afternoon hike.

We completed the Pine Mountain-Verde Rim loop. The drive was not too bad, we appreciated what appeared to be a recently graded road. The temps were great and the trails were in excellent condition for the most part. The views from the rim and Pine Mountain were very nice and there was a considerable amount of water at the lower elevations. There were also several nice sections of Fall colors along the lasso-loop. The hike exceeded my expectations, a nice little area. Nothing in that area was really on my radar until today. Now the wheels in my head are turning, as I think of hikes that could incorporate Pine Mountain, Cedar Bench and the western Mazzys all in one shot.

Some time ago, while perusing TOPO maps, I spotted The area of Mikes Cabin in the Pine Mountain Wilderness. I researched it to see if I could find any info on it, to no avail. So is been on my radar for quite awhile now to see why it was there on the maps. I also spotted another cabin so lets make a loop with some water also!

After a 20 mile peaceful drive in the JJ Mobile down FR68 , we set our feet on terra firma and made our way up the Nelson Trail #159, to the Pine Flat Trail #165. Another one of the goals on this hike, was to confirm or deny the existence of Trail #72 also shown as Pine Flats on the TOPO maps. This trail is shown to leave the #165 up top and work on down to behind the Double T Ranch below. While it is not signed at the #165, there is evidence of cairns. A job for another day to possibly investigate.

We dropped into the South Prong of the Sycamore creek from the #165. This area was much cooler than expected. Nice boulders, water, birds.... We made our way down towards the area on the TOPO maps indicated as Mikes Cabin. It became quite evident that we were not the only ones to enjoy this Riparian delight. There were luckily, use trails for much of the length of this creek. Just upstream of the cabin area was an old wooden table, some pots and cans.

We searched for remnants of "Mikes Cabin" but only found a labyrinth of rock walls, old wooden fence posts and some more pots and cans.
Maybe we missed something?

Out of the SP of Sycamore and scramble up through the bramble to join the Nelson Trail #159 again. I was worried about this part since it looked so thick on satellite. We made it up slowly and actually found an old trail (maybe the original way into Mikes Cabin), towards the top.

The Buck Basin Trail #158 always intrigued me. Probably because of the name. This actually followed an old jeep road to the tank. It was OK, but no need to do it again.

Next, the second cabin of the day, at Cabin Spring. This cabin is newer and probably used as a hunting camp. Sleeps four inside, wired for electricity (via generator), gas stove, wood stove. Cabin Spring is encased and covered.

Cabin Spring Cabin Video https://youtu.be/xZ ... kxtM

JJ picked us another route down into the SP of Sycamore Creek that worked out pretty well. We followed more use trails next to the creek, until we spotted a trail that left the creek. The trail had seen horse traffic, so we thought it could keep us from boulder hopping. A great trail for awhile until it ended in a catclaw nightmare. We retreated back to the creek. do NOT take this option.

Now in Sycamore Creek, working upstream, the views just kept getting better. Finishing up in a little slice of Paradise. It's the last scene in this video, that I caught a portion of as my camera battery died.

South Prong and Sycamore Creek Video https://youtu.be/8S ... Vkm4

Glad we were finally to get to this one.

Thanks for driving JJ (I think). I'm just getting the feeling back in my grab handle hand.

Been anticipating checking out a couple cabins Bruce spied last year. Today was finally the day. Started out at the Salt Flat Trailhead as we have many times over the years. Up Nelson Trail #159 0.95mi. Right up Beehouse Canyon. At 2.1mi you are out of the canyon and continue across Pine Flat Trail #165 until 3.8mi.

Now off trail we headed down South Prong Sycamore Creek. We found occasional use trails. It wasn't bad but I recall mentioning I didn't want to go back up it. The initial segment off trail was very scenic. Gnarly granite but only pools of water. The search for Mikes Cabin was on. Bruce searched while I relaxed and jj performed self cactus removal. Didn't spot anything, which is best in my book...

Down South Prong another half mile then up though chaparral to re-catch Nelson Trail #159 heading WSW to Buck Basin Trail #158. Heading up Bruce lost his life or phone depending on how you look at it. So back we went to hunt it down. Bruce found it quick, probably withing ten minutes. So we were all relieved.

Bruce had a burning desire to check out Buck Basin Trail #158. Mildly interesting. Looked like an old road heading down. Lunched on the way back up under a nice shade tree. Temps all day were outstandingly mild.

Back up to Nelson and over to Cabin Spring. This cabin was stocked and used by many.

Backtracked a bit then parted ways with the road/trail and headed back down to South Prong. Followed a bit then picked up a nice trail skirting the right heading down. As it turned out it was only nice for a quarter mile. Then slowly turned to catclaw hell. Of course you don't know until you know. Not even a mile on that and we were back into South Prong. Dear lord thankyou I might add. Basically shredded my good pants!

Returned back up Sycamore proper. Along the way we ran into a small gem segment of granite. Hands down the cool spot of the entire area.

Wildflowers
Mariposa was outstanding near Cabin Spring

Nice day wandering some of the less-traveled trails. From Salt Flat trailhead: east on 71, south on 161, west on 159, north on 165 & 159. Trails are rough but for the most part not hard to follow, with good signage at the junctions. The drive in from I-17 to the trailhead is 19 miles and took nearly an hour as the road gets progressively worse, especially after about 10 miles.

Perfect weather day on Pine Mtn. Temps in the mid 70s. Cloudy. Occasional light sprinkles. Never enough to even put on a hat. Unfortunately, the views were obscured by the weather. The moisture really cut down on how far you could see. The SF Peaks were barely visible, with 4 Peaks, Weavers Needle, and the Flat Iron, also pretty tough to make out in the gray skies.

This area is really nice, with some great creek-side drainages filled with oaks and other shady trees. Up on top, Pine Mtn has some typical Ponderosa, and you also quickly drop into high-desert scrub and brush.

There's a grove of Aspen along the Willow Springs trail that is the lowest I've seen in Arizona ... 5800 feet. That was a real surprise! We made a wrong turn and discovered that Bishop Creek canyon and the South Prong of Sycamore Creek canyons are pretty cool, and might be worth further exploration in the proper weather.

Plenty of signs of cattle (including a couple of sightings), and some bear poo, but otherwise not much in the way of wildlife sightings. That's typical for a group of four though. We just made too much noise along the way!

There's a lot of trails up here, and most are well marked. But it's good to keep an eye on your map or GPS or both.

It was great to meet a couple of new faces.

CHUMS copied a Coanbru hike and invited his closest thirty eight thousand friends. Three showed up and all seemed good until someone mentioned I'd be the... hem cough, navigator. I have the eyesight of a bat and the awareness of a sleeping cow away from a computer screen. Luckily CHUMS didn't need any help from moi.

Talk of muddied roads had us on alert. The slip-n-slide attraction never panned out. There is a half-mile to mile section of road that lacks gravel. You can make out ruts when the water gods blessed the region. Interestingly over a dozen horses was our mane roadblock heading in.

68 degrees greeted us at our 8am trailhead rendezvous. Off we strolled like a herd of turtles. I quote CHUMS after ten minutes "this is going to be one long hike at this pace". Let's understand the situation. The beginning of the trail is among the nicer segments so cameras were clicking. Honestly though... CHUMS had a liver pickling party to attend for one midget squirrel said evening.

Clouds kept the sun at bay. Temps were pleasant near or below 80 for most of the hike. Sprinkles teased and breezes pleased. Mike's famous whistling water jug was in thought collecting mode most of the day.

There isn't much burn noticed on this loop. Locust wants blood in the old burn areas. Shorts and short sleeves served me fine. Bruce and I found the SW end of Verde Rim #161 a cairn hunt last time. Amazingly it's been clipped and seemed like a decent trail now three months later.

The CHUMS wagon gravy train decided to ( aka missed the turn ) head out west further on Nelson #159. It looked like we would knock off some elevation, add some views and only tag on an extra mile so west it was. #159 was nice save one pocket ravine contour south of 5972 where we had to make do for a tenth of a mile.

Mike kept asking about a peak in the distance, Turret Peak? Little did he know we came within a half mile of "Mikes Spring"! We brought the stage coach home on Pine Flat #165. I have to say this turned out to be a pretty nice well rounded loop.

It was great to meet and hike with Dave ( partner #100 for this cowboy ). This was one of his longest day hikes. Despite a Pam certified kitchen sink pack he was always near and cheery. Being his first hike I laid off on the old jokes even though he was a sixties child and way older than us young chaps.

Hit a huge I-17 backup on the way home. CHUMS is no timid line dancer and took us off into BLM fantasy-land to kill time and gain ground. Fun day, thanks everyone.

Foliage
Hint of poison ivy turning in one creek bed, not enough to gain a rating yet. Our loop was loaded with small to medium oaks. While CHUMS bashed the brilliance capability of oaks I've witnessed the power of Mingus... so to each his own!

From I17 and Happy Valley to Dugas Rd exit, 50mi 40min. From I17 and Dugas Rd exit to TH, 18mi, 60min. All worth it. For Dugas Rd/FR 68 I'd recommend high clearance. I don't think a passenger car would make it safely for the last 5 miles or so. 4x4 was not needed.

This is a highly recommended hike. Ponderosa Pines, Alligator Juniper, Oak Trees, Sycamore Trees, running creeks, birds, Elk etc., etc. you are in and out of all of these during the hike. There is allot of shade from the trees on this hike, but there are also exposed areas. I'd consider the hike moderate for the most part, with a few difficult sections on the climb to Pine Mountain and down into Beehouse Canyon (Steep and Rocky). A GPS with the track is highly recommended because the trail is overgrown or light in spots on the southern section of the Verde Rim Trail and the Shortcut Trail.

There are cairns in most of these sections to help you, as well as 4' long poles laid down on the down slopes for erosion protection. There is deadfall around the loop, but nothing too hard to navigate.

The views on the Rim and on top of Pine Mountain were nothing short of spectacular. Make the short trip to the top of the peak. Snow topped Mt Humphrey's to the North, Four Peaks, Weavers Needle, 5024 and the Flat Iron, Horseshoe Lake to the South and the Bradshaw's to the West.
Video from the Top
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RqSFb_e2AlA

We saw an Elk cow and 2 babies but were unable to get pictures.
Also many Cottontail Rabbits.

There are many options for camping at the TH or along the trail.