MRT Day 29: FR25 to Coronado Trail Scenic Byway

Daily Miles: 14.0, Total Miles: 426.0

Last night I was looking through my maps reviewing today’s route. I soon realized I was starting my hike on FR25. I had driven this forest road back in 1972, the summer after my junior year in high school. I had some time from my summer job and wanted to go camping and fishing in the White Mountains. My dad generously gave me the keys to the family car, a blue 1964 /Chevy Impala. Little did he know I would spend most of my time on dirt roads! After some time spent fishing near Greer, I drove from near Hannagan Meadow, starting on FR25, following the Black River and other drainages all the way to San Carlos, all on dirt roads. I got back to Phoenix with an impressively dusty car.

So having said all that, I thought it would be cool to walk the road, kind of a remembrance of that long ago drive plus it was a bit of a shortcut to Highway 191 and a hitch to Alpine. All in all, a good walk with gradual climbs and little traffic. The Wallow Fire scars were ever present but did make for expansive views.

Highway 191, part of the Coronado Trail Scenic Byway, is a lonely highway. I learned that on crossing it further south on the GET in 2018. I had made an “ALPINE” sign for hitching and took it out. Only two cars went by in the right direction in the first 45 minutes. Then a truck pulled off of FR25 onto the highway, picked me up and took me straight to the motel. Good start on laundry and cleanup but no restaurants open on Sunday night. Oh well, I have a leftover trail meal.