EXPERIENCE ARIZONA

hike of the month A Rocky, Steep Trail Up MAVERICK MOUNTAIN South of Prescott Offers DAZZLING VIEWS

LOCATION: Approximately 9.9 miles south of Prescott.

GETTING THERE: The Senator Highway, also marked County Road 56, begins at the top of Mount Vernon Street, on the east end of downtown Prescott. Drive south on the Senator Highway to a sign pointing left toward Crown King. Turn left. Follow the road to a right fork and a sign pointing toward the Whispering Pines Camp. From there, continue .3 of a mile and turn right onto Forest Service Road 79. Drive 1.1 miles to a bridge across the Hassayampa River and another .4 of a mile to FR 79A. Park roadside and begin the hike by walking up the hill along 79A to Trail 65. The total distance from the top of Mount Vernon Street to where you park and walk is 9.9 miles.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: Prescott National Forest, Prescott Ranger District, (928) 443-8000.

IF YOU EMBRACE THE NOTION that work soothes and hard work in the outdoors soothes even more, consider the hike to the ridge on Maverick Mountain in the Prescott National Forest. If you find yourself cursing on the steep ascent and feel convinced the ridge keeps moving back with each step, that only makes reaching the peak more worthwhile. The views can dazzle, depending on the weather and available light.

After parking near the intersection of Forest Service roads 79 and 79A, the first place of interest for hikers is at Kendall Camp, a 15minute walk from that intersection. In the days when men with picks and dreams roamed these mountains, prospectors processed gold ore at this place. Today the site holds an apple orchard surrounded by a rail fence.

"You always hear old-timers in town talk about coming here to pick apples," said Don Johnston, a retired teacher and Prescott resident.

Continue walking on 79A a short distance to its meeting with Trail 65. To stay on the trail, walk between the posts stuck in the ground at intersections, and watch the trees for arrow signs labeled "65."

Rocks on the trail make the going rough and necessitate keeping your eyes down to avoid a sprained ankle. Even so, don't miss the remains of an old miner's cabin, three logs high, about 20 feet to the right of the trail. Whoever lived there survived on canned food and left the cans to rust in the grass. Judging by the twisted metal in the corner of the foundation, he or she also used a cook stove.

Farther on, just past the trail's lone maple tree, a mineshaft yawns on the left. A flashlight would help to inspect the interior, but the contents of the dark hole, big enough to accommodate a person on hands and knees, should be left to the imagination. For safety's sake, do not enter any mine shaft.

The trail angle steepens toward the peak and, depending on your conditioning, might require rest stops. Even a cool day feels like summer as you struggle uphill.

The hike of less than 2 miles takes about 90 minutes and deposits you 700 feet higher than the starting point.

But the ridge, at 7,443 feet, affords tremendous views, especially to the south, where the lower mist-shrouded Bradshaw Mountains layer back in green, black and fogwhite all the way to Crown King.

Carry a light jacket because at that elevation, cool temperatures are not unusual. "We're lucky the wind isn't blowing today, or it'd knock us right off this ridge," Johnston said.

After lunch and a rest, some hikers head east along the ridge to the peak of Mount Tritle, more than 300 feet higher, another uphill struggle. But there the view opens considerably, providing a striking panorama. The rocky, ankle-testing march down from the ridge requires extra caution in watching the trail. This makes it tougher to see deer and other wildlife, but rest assured, they're watching you. After all, it's their job, and they work hard at it. If you make it to the bottom, you've worked hard at your job, too. All