This article first appeared on The Trek on May 8, 2025.

So I ended my last post half way through the day… We didn’t stop at Roosevelt Lake but climbed right up into Four Peaks Wilderness, or at least the beginning of it.

Day 25 Continued – Climbing Into the Four Peaks Wilderness

After grabbing lunch and a few things in Lake Roosevelt, we road walked from the marina along the highway over a couple of bridges, and got a great view of the dam. The weather was sunny but not too hot, and with a full belly we started the notorious climb out of the bottom and up into the Four Peaks Wilderness.

For some reason I had a ton of energy and set a torrid pace up the climb. Great views of the dam and other lakes abounded, and we also observed a rainwater collector across the valley. Four Peaks loomed in the distance, taunting us. We pulled up at a trailhead 7 miles deep into the back country but because Take Charge had texted the Angel responsible for restocking the water, there was a cooler full of cold pop and beer waiting for us!

Watch Day 25 of Oliver’s Arizona Trail series:

Day 26 – The Big Climb Around Four Peaks

We said goodbye to a couple of hikers (Olivier and Enduro) we had been seeing on and off since Superior and left early, feeling like we needed a big miles day to get us on track. What we didn’t realize was this would be the day with the single biggest total ascent of our entire hike so far! Battling with a staggeringly long Sidehill around Four Peaks, then chugging up and down an old access road only usable by heavily modded 4x4s or UTVs, we fought hard for 21 miles to camp at water. 

Watch Day 26 of Oliver’s Arizona Trail series:

Day 27 – Down to Sunflower and a Tough Resupply

Coming down out of Four Peaks to Sunflower, the trail got really enjoyable as it meandered alongside of a scenic wash. We had a brief rest under a shady tree, then made it to a lovely flowing creek with tadpoles and minnows flitting through the shallows and lovely pools which we used to do some laundry (downstream of where people would get water of course). Laundry in the creek was necessary because we were not planning to hitch up to Payson, but instead we were to meet Cheers’ parents for resupply at the highway. So things were going to get a lot dirtier before they got cleaner.

It was a little frustrating getting from the trail over to the pull off were the car was. And the pull off has zero shade or amenities so we baked in the sun while scarfing down Subway. Our resupply in order, we crossed the highway to pound our another 6 miles or so. 

We found it fascinating how as soon as we crossed the highway the terrain, the character of the trail, the rocks and trees even seemed markedly different. We were somewhere new. Much shadier, much more comfortably meandering. We carried on to a water source at a nameless wash and set up camp. Unfortunately, one of our number got food poisoning that night from their sub, which made the evening a little difficult, but he felt much better in the morning. 

Watch Day 27 of Oliver’s Arizona Trail series:

Day 28 – Into the Mazatzals

I managed to rip my stuff sack for my 7 year old 1st edition XMid, so sad. I also accidentally left my short spool of Paracord at the camp and didn’t notice until I was 10 miles away at the next water. Rough start. But we cracked on and really enjoyed the superior trail design and beautiful landscapes in the Mazatzals. Certain sheltered sides of mountains sheltered us with looming trees, which was so great after weeks of desert. Water was becoming more plentiful. It truly elevated our experience.

We met a hiker called “Sinbad” at a water source, who has been hiking since mid March. He had lost over 30 lbs and was inspiring in his perseverance. We encouraged him to come camp with us, and surprise surprise he did make it after all as we would see him again the next morning as we pulled out. Hope he goes all the way. 

Watch Day 28 of Oliver’s Arizona Trail series:

Day 29 – Snow on the Horizon

Another awesome day, great trail, good energy, though all of us were beginning to flag since it was now day 8 since our last town day and we would not be in Pine until Day 30. The trail got rocky in sections, which took a toll on our feet and our speed. But our camping spot was just at a lovely overlook and our dinner was perhaps one of the more scenic. What also made the day special was glimpses of a snowy peak far to the north: Mount Humphrey already beckoning us onward. I hope the snow is gone by the time we get there.

Watch Day 29 of Oliver’s Arizona Trail series:

Day 30 – Crossing the East Verde Rivery

The land began to fold before us, as it made space for the East Verde River. Our ups and downs continued to be intermittently rocky which challenged us, and when we began our descent to the river, we found ourselves in almost full sunlight, pounding us like a hammer though the heat was not nearly as oppressive as the desert. We met another hiker on our way down (he was coming up) and had decided to wait out the sun under some shady bushes. We pressed on hoping for respite at the river.

The river was… Disappointing. The deep spot was knee deep and muddy bottom, and we forded there anyway because just wanted to cool our feet, despite there being some easy rocks to hope upstream. We met “Sunshine” from Germany, and she went for a swim as much as she could while we filtered water out of two fast flowing tributary streams, clean and pure.  And then it was onward we went, knowing Pine was only a few miles away.

Unfortunately the folds grew more challenging, causing us to ascend and descend rocky gravelly trails. One sustained climb to a plateau followed an old road and it was steep and tough. But we found cruisy flat ground at the top and made good distance for a while. Our camp spot that night had a wonderful view though.

Watch Day 30 of Oliver’s Arizona Trail series:

Day 31 – Finally Reaching Pine

The hike into Pine was actually quite nice with good trail and great weather. We tried hitching into town after the cost and wait time for Lyft was ruled out (don’t waste your time). Our VRBO was very nice but a little out of the way … That night we walked 35 minutes into the County Inn restaurant, home of a wood fired pizza of some reputation. A section hiker named Chipper (from England) joined us for the meal.

Watch Day 31 of Oliver’s Arizona Trail series:

Video Links:

Day 25: https://youtu.be/fbJcVoQNts4
Day 26: https://youtu.be/X-4HlllvIEo
Day 27: https://youtu.be/bBZ0vxWvxG4
Day 28: https://youtu.be/yyTPYLN5lJY
Day 29: https://youtu.be/zdd9KSnZLe4
Day 30: https://youtu.be/A6Hual_ljCM
Day 31: https://youtu.be/64FoXqkTqUY