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| Backpack | 13.50 Miles |
1,763 AEG |
| | Backpack | 13.50 Miles | 3 Days | | |
| 1,763 ft AEG | | | | |
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| partners | | Chapman and Javan drove out from Phoenix and picked me up in Safford, then we headed east. We arrived at the turnoff for NM 159 with a nasty thunderstorm rolling over the Mogollons. We covered our packs with a tarp, jumped in the truck when a lightning bolt cracked a quarter of a mile away, and drove into the mountains. Rain poured down as we drove through the semi-ghost town of Mogollon and continued into the higher country. The storm had moved on as we arrived at the Sandy Point Trailhead, so we ventured out into the wild country. The mountains were just soaked with rain, and large quantities of hail covered the trail in many places. I was awestruck by the beauty of this place.
The weather held until the last half mile before Hummingbird Saddle. The rain came, and the trail turned to soup. The rain stopped when we arrived at soggy Hummingbird Saddle, about an hour before dark, so we set up camp in the trees near the meadow. Remembering Bear Grylls' teachings, I broke some semi-dry branches off of a dead spruce tree to use as kindling. Success! Warm fire for a cold, wet night.
The next day we awoke to sunshine and pleasant temps. We made an early start for the summit, and got to the top after a short hike. We hung out on the summit for quite a while, reading log entries, enjoying the view, and watching thunderstorms gather strength. I noticed GPSJoe and SUN_HIKER had been on the summit a month before us 
We headed back to camp early in the afternoon, had lunch, then went to Hummingbird Spring for water. The rest of the day was spent relaxing, taking photos, and watching thunderstorms dump all around, but, surprisingly, not on us. I amused myself by carving a spoon from an aspen log to join my Salome driftwood spoon.
After dinner that evening we hung out in the meadow at dusk and watched an especially nasty storm close in on us from the north. A deafening crack of thunder from a couple of hundred yards away sent us into our tents. What followed was one of the most violent thunderstorms I've ever witnessed. Extremely close lightning and heavy rain attacked Hummingbird Saddle for a good two hours. Quite a show! Eventually the storm moved on, but we all elected to go to bed for an early start the next morning.
The morning of day three was time to leave this beautiful place. We made good time hiking out, just missing another downpour from a late morning thunderstorm. Got back to the trailhead, put on clean dry shoes , and headed out of the Mogollon Mountains. We stopped for lunch at the Blue Front Restaurant in Glenwood (good food!), then headed back home.
This joins my top 10 list of most favorite backpacking trips! |
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| "…you never know when a hike might break out" -Jim Gaffigan |
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