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The
trail wound first through a large meadow, where I could look up at Humphreys Peak
and its neighbor Agassiz Peak. To the southwest, I could see Bill Williams
Mountain, which was named for a local mountain man. Two trails ascend Humphreys Peak: the Humphreys Trail that I was
hiking, and the Weatherford Trail, which begins on the southeast side of
the mountain. They both meet at the saddle (the western term for col)
between Humphreys Peak and Agassiz Peak. You're not allowed to climb to
the top of Agassiz Peak as the Hopi consider it sacred, although the
Arizona Snowbowl ski area uses a portion of its lower slopes. At
the end of the meadow, the trail entered the woods. It was mostly covered
with dried-up spruce needles, and was relatively free of rocks and roots
as compared to most of the trails in New Hampshire's White Mountains, so
the walking was easy. In numerous spots, huge Aspens or Englemann Spruce
trees had fallen across the trail, but had been sawed and removed by trail
crews. Soon,
I reached a sign that said I was entering the Kachina Peaks Wilderness.
This wilderness area is named for the Hopi spiritual beings that embody
many forces and aspects of nature. You can find Kachina
doll carvings for sale all over Arizona, and probably the rest of the
southwest as well.
Near
the wilderness sign was a trail register in a covered stand where you can
sign in to let the Forest Service know where you're going and for how
long. As in the White Mountains, camping is allowed except in the alpine
zone.
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Humphreys
Peak from the meadow near the start of the Humphreys Trail. |
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