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Although we don't start out on the AZ Trail, we will link up to it briefly later on the Hope Camp Trail

You can see there are several trails branching off of this one.  

And this is the typical terrain.  There has been no rain for weeks and even the prickly pear cacti look desiccated. It might look a little boring, however, when it's a new adventure and you don't know what lies around the next bend, it is fun!  Plus, when you're out with friends on a balmy day, what could be better?! 

Nonetheless, the trail takes us on some twists and turns plus plenty of rather steep hills

And it isn't long before we encounter the fragments of the first cattle camp, Deer Camp.  The vane on the windmill says "Aeromotor" Chicago, IL

We hike on toward Hope Camp.

This was a nice, shady portion of the trail.  Those are Dean's poles in the frame.

Kathi and Stan navigate the rough trail.  Downhill on rocky rubble can be a little difficult.

And there is Hope Camp and the turn-around end of our hike.

There are low benches waiting for us to enjoy our lunch.  As we are chatting and enjoying the breeze and bird calls, we can hear crunchy footsteps coming along the trail.

Meet Mercury--his trail name.  He'd been hiking for several days from another old camp, known as Kentucky camp about 50 miles south on the AZT.  We had a delightful chat with him, then---

---said good by and he got back on the trail.

We can take a little more time to enjoy this unique spot, then we'll get back on the trail, too.

We hiked a portion of this trail with friends Don and Karen last year.  On this day, our destination is quite a distance farther with the intention of exploring a cave along the way.

There are plenty of sharp hills to get up and over.  Poles help!

And plenty of prickly chollas to avoid.

Down one more steep hill and ahead lies a much steeper one where we'll find the cave.

Almost impossible to discern in this photo, the cave lies close to the top.

Zoom in.

Probably one of the steepest and rubbliest "trails" I've ever been on.

Dean and Stan find their way up.

Made it!  Kathi takes a look at what are likely fake pictographs...good fakes, however.  There are a few other markings that possibly could be original pictographs.

Here's the view looking out from the cave.

It's a dicey trudge back down to the main trail.

A little farther, the trail takes us up a ridge where we find a great place for lunch.

Now starts the really hard part-up and over a seemingly vertical slope.

The views are worth the push, however!

After that, the trail switchbacks down to a creek bed and rejoins the original part of the trail.

Almost back to the car and civilization--and the hot tub!