AZT: Frog Pond to Blue Ridge Trailhead

The stats:

Slept a little cold by the friendly frogs.   The noise lulled us to sleep, but it seemed like I awoke every time they stopped singing.   I would think about what critter might be at the pond getting a drink because they turn off their noise anytime something is close by.  

The hike out to the trailhead was fairly easy.   We passed near the battlefield of Big Dry Wash where a band of Apache were defeated by the military in 1882. Then the trail started descending into Clear Creek canyon.   There was a bit of ice on the trail that we were able to just walk around.  The ford of the creek was only knee deep, but icy cold.   It felt invigorating. Then we began climbing out of the gorge and onto the wide Blue Ridge. The Blue Ridge was predominantly ponderosa Pine, with a splattering of oaks.  We had sweeping views off both sides of the wide, flat ridge.   We also had a lot of mud and water on the trail.   We had fun trying to hop from lava rock to lava rock to see who could keep their feet dry the longest.   You couldn’t stand long on any one rock as it would sink into the earth.   In case you are wondering, I lost.  Splat! 

A lonesome wind blew through the tops of the pines today.   The still mostly sleeping land lay quiet.  One lone robin bouncing along the ground looking for something to eat.   One adventurous lizard jumped across the trail into some brittle oak leaves scattered on the ground.   We met a solo section hiker headed to Pine and these little gems. 

They dotted the landscape like tiny banners of hope for a spring that’s coming just around the bend. 

Hawkeye is off on the dirt bike headed to Pine to retrieve our camper.  We will sleep warm tonight.