The Rustlers Hike That Didn’t Happen

April 11, 2025

My weather app had predicted a low chance of a coating of snow on the first Friday in March. I woke up to rain in the Village of Oak Creek certain that was the best Mother Nature had to offer that day – with the dry season we’ve had, it was welcome. As the morning wore one, the rain turned to snow. The soil was saturated by the rain, and at first the snow melted on impact. But the snow continued throughout the morning coating the ground and red rocks with fluffy white flakes. And the snow continued all day and into the night.

The Rustlers group of the Sedona Westerners had scheduled a hike on the Hiline trail near Yavapai Vista for Saturday morning. At lunchtime on Friday, I drove up to the trailhead to check out the conditions. There were only about six cars in the parking lot. I ventured up the path and the trail was muddy, surrounded by snow. I contacted the Rustlers Hike Boss, Lisa Critchlow, and sent her some photos of the trail. The Rough Riders hiking group had already cancelled their Saturday hike due to the snow and potential ice on the trail. Lisa soon followed suit, and the Rustlers hike was cancelled.

Saturday morning, I awoke to bright sunny skies. Low clouds hugged many of the red rock peaks, including Castle Rock. I decided to again drive up to the trailhead to check out the trail conditions. It wasn’t quite 9am, and the upper lot was already full. I parked in the lower lot and headed up the hill. Like the day before, the trail was muddy, but there were patches of ice and the snow lining the trail was much higher.

Looking toward Courthouse Rock and Bell Rock, I was struck with the image of the melting snow which was glistening off the tops of the red rocks like icing on a cake. Low clouds hung over Lee Mountain and obscured the view of Rabbit Ears a bit.

The muddy trail was well traveled already that morning. Several hikers came down toward the parking lot in sneakers that offered no traction on the slick trail. As I approached Yavapai Vista I saw a group of people in various yoga poses. The red rock was dry and clear of snow, perfect for a morning yoga class. A man with a camera sat on the edge of the vista looking east toward the sun.

My curiosity got the better of me and I continued on to the Hiline trail. The trail there was muddy and well-used for a few hundred feet. The trees and rocks were capped with snow and melting snow dripped down my back from a tree branch. The further I went, the fewer footprints shown in the snow until I was following a solo set of footprints. The shoe marks faced both directions, so I knew the same person who went out had already come back. I wondered if it had been the man with the camera.

I followed the footprints and the snow became deeper. What had just been an inch deep impression in the snow was becoming deeper. One spot the snow reached past the top of my shoe when I stepped down. There was a wonderful sense of calm as I walked along just me and those footprints. I considered what it would have been like if the Rustlers had done the hike together. But then I lost the footprints. The impressions in the snow went off to the right and I followed them until it was clear the man had turned around. I considered my options. Without his footprints, I couldn’t be sure of where the trail was in the fresh snow.

I retraced my steps and saw a narrow trail to my left. Melted snow ran down in a wet cascade along the slope of red rock. I headed that way. Another twenty feet ahead I could see the man’s footprints again.

The path was thick with snow and the single set of footprints. I continued on. The views to the north and the east were stunning. From the snow-capped Thunder Mountain, the Twin Buttes and Gibraltar it was a vision of a winter wonderland. Peaceful and quiet except for the occasional drop of melted snow or the rustle in the bushes as clumps of snow dropped from the branches.

I crossed over a wet section of slick rock, carefully placing my hiking boot firmly on the rock before continuing across. This was a clear indicator why the trail was not safe for our hiking group. I looked around and could see that the trail continued just a bit further before it would be along the ledgy side of the mountain. I had gone about three-quarters of a mile on the trail, and I knew it was time to head back. The lone footprints continued on ahead of me. I don’t know how far he had gone on the trail, but I knew he’d come back this way, so I was sure his had been a safe journey.

As I returned to Yavapai Vista, the yoga group had just finished up and they were taking photos of the beautiful views of Courthouse Rock. The low clouds had disappeared, and Rabbit Ears were now visible. Bell Rock still looked like it was covered in icing. I met a family along the way with three kids. The youngest was four months old, and I was told this was not his first hike. Though the baby was asleep, it’s good to get them started early. I reached the parking lot and a man in pristine white sneakers stepped gingerly around a puddle. I wondered how long his shoes would stay white on the muddy path.

The parking lot was full of adventurers when I returned to my car. My space was quickly taken by a new arrival after I pulled out.

I missed being able to hike with my friends in the Rustlers group. No doubt we’ll do the trail together another time. I am thankful for the footprints in the snow. I am not sure I would have found my way had they not been there. Another good reason to hike with the Westerners: they know best when to hike on a trail, and they never get us lost.

The Rustlers will hike near Thunder Mountain and Chimney Rock this week. The Amblers will visit the Rabbit Ears Vista and the Drifters will hike near Turkey Creek. The Rough Riders, Mustangs, and Dogies will explore HS/Secret Canyon, Lost Wilson, and Brins Mesa. And the Drovers will take on Hangover. To learn more about membership in the Sedona Westerners, go to www.SedonaWesterners.org. Our weekly hikes continue until May 8 – and resume again in September.