From the first time I stepped foot in the American Mid West I was captivated.  It holds the beautiful place I met my wife and the Mountains that keep calling my name!  On this occasion, I had tried multiple times to access Pine Mountain Wilderness.  A Wilderness Area that falls partially within Arizona’s Prescott National Forest and Tonto National Forest.  Accessing this quiet solitude is only possible by a labyrinth of dirt roads, some very difficult to pass.

It wasn’t until I put Mud Terrain Tires on my Jeep that I successfully made it back to the Wilderness Area.  I wanted to challenge myself so I put together thoughts that traveled around the entire Wilderness Area and planned a night on the summit of Pine Mountain.  This summit is the Wilderness High Point!  After sleeping the night before my trip at the Trailhead in my hammock I ate breakfast and set off for a beautiful new adventure!  I began my walk and found myself alone in this pristine Wilderness.  I would not see anyone until I was nearly back to the Trail Head the next day.  After walking half of a loop made possible by the Verde Rim Trail, I pitched my tent on the Summit of Pine Mountain.  It had been a long day, and I was covered in scratches from route finding through Catclaw Bushes and Scrub Oak.  The sunburn on my face only shows more red in my excitement for such a beautiful place! 

I ate my (at the time favorite Freeze Dried meal for Dinner).  Mountain House Spaghetti and Meatballs gloriously took the dinner table this day.  After taking some photographs at sunset I was astonished by the views that the Verde Rim offered.  Looking out on the Superstition Ridgeline and the Four Peaks Wilderness.  With a heart full of inspiration and energy… I went to sleep.  I awoke to some clouds that looks a bit like a storm was rolling in.  With this morning view I packed my camp and hiked out.  It was quiet and once within range of the Trailhead I bumped into a man and his son walking up the trail.  I drove the long dusty drive back to interstate 17 and Camp Verde.  A bit hungry on my way home, I stopped a Thanks a Latte in Camp Verde for a Breakfast Burrito and some Espresso.

-Sky