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You always have mixed emo-tions about places or people you love. One part of you wants to share them with oth-ers; another part wants to hold them close and secret. That's how I feel about the Blue Ridge Trail east of Pinetop/Lakeside. The 9.5-mile trail is not the most dramatic, scenic, or color-ful path in Arizona, but it's my trail. For me, the trail begins at my home in Pinetop, on my street, where I've had the same neighbors for 25 years. At the dead end of Stephens Drive, the subliminal call of the pine for-est underlies the din of traffic on State Route 260, construction work, and barking dogs. Sweet resinous scents from the pon-derosas mingle with exhaust fumes. Slipping the bonds of commerce and society, I can take one of the foot-worn paths down to Billy Creek (named after early-day saloonkeeper Billy Scorse), stone hop the creek, and start up 7,203-foot Springer Mountain. Officially the Blue Ridge Trail is No. 107 in the National Trail System, and it begins below Springer Mountain Lookout in the Lakeside Ranger District of the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest.

SLIP THE SURLY BONDS OF SOCIETY ON THE BLUE RIDGE TRAIL

Ascend the trail and human noise recedes. The wind sighs, peaceful as a sleeping child. The chitter of Abert squirrels and the rasp of Steller's jays mark your progress. Gamey scents drive dogs to ecstacy and horses to watchfulness. Signs of wildlife are everywhere, if you know where to look.

From a distance, Blue Ridge looks like a great blue whale beached above the town. Underfoot, it is rough basalt. Unshod ponies are sore-footed before they reach the summit.

For about three miles, you climb over malpais rock until you are on top, looking down over the towns and blue lakes and forested ridges of the Mogollon Rim country. You cross the stony hump, then gradually descend through old yellow pines, piñon, juniper, thickets of manzanita, knobby gambel oak, and jackpine. Below the mountain, the trail parallels the tangled roses and willows of Thompson and Billy creeks, where beavers go about their business of over-achieving. A gradual trail, long enough to get you winded if you're not in shape, short enough to enjoy if you are.

WHEN YOU GO

To reach Trailhead No. 1 on the Blue Ridge Trail from State Route 260, turn north at the Baptist Church between Lakeside and Pinetop. Travel .3 of a mile on Moonridge Drive, turn right on Billy Creek Drive for another .3 of a mile, then left on Meadow Drive, across the bridge. Turn right on Pine Shadow Drive and continue up the hill .2 of a mile. At the top of the hill, turn right at the water tank and stay on Forest Service Road 187 for 1.0 mile to the trailhead.

Take rain gear after July 1, as afternoon showers are common. Blue Ridge Trail is usually not accessible from November until April. No drinking water is available along the route, but horses can water in the creeks. Altitudes range from 7,100 to 7,656 feet above sea level.

For more information about the White Mountain Trail System, contact the Pinetop/Lakeside Parks and Recreation Department, 1360 N. Niels Hansen Lane, Box 30, Pinetop/Lakeside, AZ 85929; (602) 368-6700.

Blue Ridge is only a small part of the 180 miles of inter-connecting loop trails in the White Mountain Trail System, which is being built by volunteers who love the outdoors and don't want to see it paved over.The multiuse trails are open to hikers, horsemen, mountain bikers, and cross-country skiers. Those driving ATVs must con-tact the Lakeside Ranger Station about trails open to them.