When Arizona summer is dragging 100+ degree temperatures into late September, it's time to head to the higher alpine country for some cooler inspiration.
I decided on the Mt. Baldy loop trail, a roughly 20 mile trek that starts out in fresh alpine meadows, ascends to 11,421 feet, then loops down the Eastern trail past some stunning rock formations.
Admittedly, the last 5 miles was a bit of a slog, but the cooler temperatures up on the Mogollon Rim and the inspirational scenery made it all worth while.
