STRAIGHT TO THE POINT

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Hiking Pine, Arizona

A Personal Note:

It may take me only an hour to get to The Point and return but it’s unlike any other walk in the area and the view at the top is magnificent. Furthermore, very few people know about it. In fact, in the 25 years I’ve lived in Pine, I haven’t seen anybody whom I didn’t previously take to The Point, coming or going to or from there. Of course, you may meet a huge but gentle old bull and several small deer bounding atop the hill and down its southern slope but otherwise, you’re alone and it’s all yours.

At Your Destination:

You’ll know when you arrive for you will come out to a lava rock cliff at least 300 feet above the forest below and you’ll be standing on large lava blocks two or more feet in size that are rectangular and flat on top. There you can sit, looking east, and ponder the world as did the Indians of old. In the 180 degree panorama before you, you will see the town of Pine to your left, bordered to the north by the Mogollan Rim – a mountain range older than the Sierra Nevada and Rock Mountains and standing at 8,000+ feet. Looking straight ahead, on a clear day, you can see the Rim running all the way past Forest Lakes to the White Mountains. Closer at hand -- but still looking east -- you’ll notice the tan-colored runway of the Payson Airport. Then, turning your head to the right (south), you can follow the mountains that shield “The Valley” cities from the storms and cool temperatures of northern Arizona. Finally, by turning your body so that you face the west, you can see the top of the mountain on which the mining town of Jerome is situated.

I’m On My Way!

Soon after entering the little town of Pine, turn south on Hardscrabble Road. After one mile, the pavement will give way to gravel but don’t be dismayed -- you have less than two more miles to your destination. 1/10th of a mile before you reach the top of the mountain, you will see a very steep, lopsided dirt trail/road to your left. It was probably made about 10 or 15 years ago by 4-wheeler adventurers but has been eroded significantly by drainage from monsoons and snow in the meantime. Midway into your hike, you will be walking on this road where it is flat and pleasant.

The “Parking Lot:”

The space in which you will want to park your car is easily found as it is immediately to the left of a small junction where Hardscrabble splits into smaller roads. This parking space is just large enough to hold two or three friendly cars.

Go East, Young Man!

Now you’re ready to start your cross-country trek, going east across broken branches, over rocks, through scrub oaks and other native flora, careful not to step on some of the pretty little plants that will meet you in the spring and early summer. You’ll be going slightly up hill for a perhaps a quarter of a mile over this kind of terrain until you run into the level portion of the 4-wheeler dirt road. After approximately a half mile, it will come to an end where, if you walk 10 to 15 feet to your left (north), you will see a charming view of the little town of Pine – and yes, there are a few lava rocks (not the beautiful big blocks you will see later) on which you can sit.

When you are ready, go back to the road and look to your right (west), for here is where you will want to go up a short incline to continue your walk. (Check the photo because there is no trail from now on to follow.)

After climbing this 15-foot incline, you will be met by terrain consisting mainly of broken lava rocks interspersed with wonderful plants and bushes. Only now, if you are used to walking with a walking stick or a cane, you will be happy you have it. Oh no, it is not treacherous or even slippery but you’ll have to be cautious about where you place your feet. Anyway, keep going, gradually veering to your left (east) where lies the edge of the plateau. Within another 100 feet or so, still keeping to your left, you will have arrived at the first of two lookout points – The Point – where you can sit on a lava block, dangle your feet over the edge of the cliff and dream of flying like an eagle over all you see.

Returning to Your Car:

Naturally, you’ll return to the dirt road on which you came and follow it back down the hill. When it turns to an almost straight north-south direction, you will want to either get off of it and go west to your car or follow it to the north as it will eventually lead you back to Hardscrabble Road through picturesque country. By this route, once you’ve descended to Hardscrabble Road, simply walk up to your car (about 1/10th of a mile). If you choose not to be so adventurous and return the short way you came, you will be happy to remember that there are two roads that connect at that parking space: one running north and south and the other running east and west, so you can’t get lost.

Post Script:

Finally, the duration of the walk can be as short as 45 minutes for the avid hiker, or as long as 90 minutes – depending on how long you plan to fly like an eagle over the fullness of space at your destination. . . . Happy Trails. . ..