We were headed for Mormon Lake Lodge as soon as we packed up this morning. The PO had banana bread from Janet and our resupply box with my new shoes. We arrived well before the restaurant, PO and store opened. While we waited the former AZT executive director chatted with us.

The small store at Mormon Lake had everything we were looking for, incuding tuna packets to add to mac-n-cheese. I think that is a first for the small stores in AZ.

Mormon Lake is an Old West kind of a place. Wranglers give horseride tours and the restaurant has brands on the wall. There were more ATVs than autos, and seem to be the modern day steed. We even saw a riderless, runaway steed rolling down and away from the gas pumps. Hope somebody rounded it up!

In this largest Ponderosa forest our trail has undulated for days, gently and briefly climbing or dropping, meandering to and fro. Our forest stroll is on this trail, through a gate, cross a very small dirt road or maybe join it for a while.

After we climbed an extra mile back to the AZT from the Lodge we walked to Double Springs Campground to pick up on trail water for dinner and tomorrow's breakfast. It occurred to me that we would not get lake views from the forest so we made a diversion out the main entrance of the campground and onto paved highway 3 (or 487 depending on which map you look at). The views and historical markers made it a worthwhile diversion.

Today was a good hiking day with the forest, lake, resupply town food, banana bread, and a campsite up by the stars.

Every weekend on this hike we have looked for other trail users. Today was the day. First was Clark who is section hiking the AZT, southbound today so we followed his footsteps. When we were on a faint road instead of the new trail 100' away, the trail crew of eight people found us. We really enjoyed their up to date news, treat to eat, and offer of a place to stay in Flagstaff! As we ate lunch we talked about our box at Holiday Inn Express but neither of us was sure what street it was on. Up rode Jerry on his mountain bike with the answer. We met several more day hikers and bikers along the trail. All of these encounters add up to more people than we've seen total in the last 33 days.

We started this morning on the open high mesa. The sun shone on us at sunrise because there was nothing to block the rays. Since this is such a good water year many shallow, grassy ponds remain late in the season. We saw elk at two of these lakes. The first set were in such a picturesque setting with snow clad Humphries Peak in the background. The second herd included a stag with a great set of horns.

We hiked all the way to Flag (as the locals call it). After having trouble getting past the water treatment ponds we passed Sam' Club, then through a fancy ped/bike underpass. We did not make it past McD. We had to stop for a quick snack. A few short blocks and we were at the Inn. We got one of the last 4 rooms and our box. Clothes are in the laundry. Pizza is on its way.