October 20th, 2019
Pine Trailhead mm 327.5 to East Verde River mm 350.2
Distance in miles: 22.7
0900-1700
I woke to the sound of the rooster crowing. It was a good reminder that I had yet to mess with the chickens. Feeling inspired, I crept outside and into the coop. It was still early, so I easily picked one of the hens off the roost. She was very sweet and seemed to enjoy the warmth of my arms, falling asleep. She was a fantail, similar to my favorite chicken that I had growing up. They are tiny, about the size of a pigeon.
About this time, Calypso the cattle dog noticed my transgressions and was freaking out, pacing back and forth outside the coop. He was a working-class breed, highly focused on doing a job, and the chickens were his self-appointed charge. He wouldn’t let me anywhere near them the day before, but I’d caught him off-guard. Next I picked up the rooster, and Calypso looked like he was about to lose it. I was afraid he was going to go Cujo on me once I left the protection of the coop. Eventually he calmed down and I let go of the rooster, coming out hands free. Calypso still had to do a full inspection to make sure I wasn’t smuggling any chickens under my robe…such a funny animal interaction.
![](http://twigadventures.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/signal-2019-10-20-080420-3485113964.jpg)
![](http://twigadventures.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/signal-2019-10-20-0804202133559640.jpg)
By this time, Ray was up and invited me in for coffee and biscuits and gravy with elk meat…no doubt from one of the unsuspecting town elk. What a delicious breakfast. Then I had to be on my way. I passed more town elk as I departed, so close that I could smell them. They smell like horse to me….or maybe biscuits and gravy.
![](http://twigadventures.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/20191020_0830321038113585.jpg)
I walked through town and hit the trail at 9 am. I was in for an up and down day, climbing to the top of a ridge several times. I caught up to a woman going southbound, Atom. She was wearing a skirt but all covered up elsewhere. We could have been twins. I walked with her for a couple of hours, talking trail. It was nice to see a new face.
She confirmed what I suspected about the fire reroute a few days beforehand. There had been a sign posted on the old section of trail, which I bypassed when I walked the new trail. The sign had warned of the prescribed burn and instructed hikers to do a long road walk around the area. The 10 hikers ahead of me did this, while I mistakenly walked through the fire area. Oops. Supposedly there has also been a little lack of communication between the fire managers and the trail association. But all’s well that ends well.
![](http://twigadventures.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/20191020_123756969886028.jpg)
We descended into the Verde River valley in the late afternoon. The trail became very rocky in places, as I was warned it would. It was hard to find a good place to land my feet. The trail was also hard to follow in places…it was overgrown or faint as it passed through washes.
![](http://twigadventures.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/20191020_1540021795728746.jpg)
I came to the Verde river and decide to take my shoes off to cross, preserving my enduring dry shoes. There seemed to be a lot of water flowing but it was still only shin-high. I know this can be a tough crossing in the spring. I heard rustling in the bushes and saw about 8 javalinas. They are native wild pigs in the the desert southwest. People warn about how dangerous they can be but like any wild animal, I gave them space and they move off unperturbed.
I was hoping to be able to go a little further past the river but it took longer than expected to get there. It was all uphill for awhile, so I decided just to camp by the river. The LF Ranch was nearby and unfortunately I could hear a generator and dogs barking. I went to sleep with earplugs in, which was a shame in such an otherwise peaceful setting.