7,400′ elevation, 50 degrees at 8:05 PM parked at trail head for Land of the Pioneers ( LOP) trail loop outside of Vernon which is east of Show Low almost into New Mexico and the Apache reservation. Open Ponderosa Pine and alligator juniper forest. White Mountains. Years ago I read about riding here but I always left before the snow melted. Today I was seeking temperature and desert relief and being back on the road. I crossed my fingers and worried about van performance. I worry a lot. Van performed as hoped for. Up on Mongollon rim same as Flag to the west. Almost 4 hour drive. Never been in this part of the state. Payson and Show Low are good size cities out in the middle of what? Traffic, people moving about as AZ has loosened stay at home request.
LOP is long ago logged P Pine. Tread is basalt rock in places. Much trail build work has been performed, had not a tread been established the tread would have been lots of small babyheads. Rode trail in preferred direction which gave several gravity assisted descents. Trail is under tree canopy, 1 viewshed.
Trail is well defined and blazed with white metal diamonds. Every quarter mile a trail marker was sequentially numbered for GPS location for rescue. It’s what is here for riding. Just riding under trees with no vistas. 8 miles.
Tomorrow is a short drive to the Los Borros trail.
I planned on being here yesterday however, the weather forecast called for a wind event that made no sense to drive being buffeted. I did drive to Cottonwood for lab work. Sedona airport clocked a 44 mph gust just before noon. Velocity was in 20s. I felt the speed increase as the morn wore on. I was tempted to ride but chose wisely to avoid being blown either off line or off bike. The drive on exposed 89A required tempered reflexes to keep the van between the white lines.
A last pic from Sedona
50 degrees outside, door and windows closed and up. Wearing wool shirt. Soon to turn on the furnace. Forecast low is 37 degrees.
Oregon and Washington national forests are locked down. I need to drag my feet getting to Oregon to arrive once restrictions are lifted. My route will take me west out of AZ into Nevada then lots of miles north seeking riding which is sparse. Might hit east side of Tahoe. Adventuring.
Tomorrow is laundry day. Google returned location of nice laundromat in Show Low. My plan is to ride los Burros early then drive back to Show Low and do laundry then drive north to Winslow to spend the night at Homolovi SP where I made an online reservation for a known sleep spot.
Fired up the furnace which will run many minutes tonight even under doubled summer weight down blanket.