I'd done this hike only once before as part of the 3rd Annual 2021 Arizona Summer Challenge. It was the last hike, and I went solo on October 30. The aspen, maple, and oak leaves were all on the ground, a soggy colorful carpet under my feet. This time, my husband, Stu, joined me, and it is still summer up in the mountains.

We drove up through Prescott from Phoenix just after sunrise. It took us almost 3 hours to get there. There were only 3 cars in the small lot at 9:15am. We took out our poles, used the unisex bathroom (pit toilet, paper but no hand sanitizer), and started climbing through the pine forest.

The trail offered lots of shade, and we saw some Crows, Bluejays, tiny Horned Toads, and bees. There's a bee gauntlet you go through, but we didn't get stung. In October, I remember there were lots of flies at the lower elevation.

The leaves are just starting to turn, though the towering Aspens near the top are still green. They may be golden by the end of September or first week of October.

The hike itself was challenging, and I was grateful for my poles on the way up. I wear Xero hiking boots, which mimic being barefoot. They've been key to me steengthening my ankles and feet. I just bought another pair!

It took about 2.5-3 hours to climb up to the towers. You have to go up to the Fire Tower to see the best views, and even then, we had to perch on a rock outcropping where we also found tons of ladybugs!

We saw 6 other people at the top. None of them were hikers. They drove up the road. On the way down, we encountered 3 more vehicles, who slowed down when they saw us, but we still got dusted. Next time I hike this trail, I may just skip the top. Walking on the road is yucky, and the view from the top isn't worth it. Stick to the trail, enjoy listening to the birds and the wind in the trees. Watch for signs of changing leaves. Watch your feet for tiny toads. And enjoy the wildflowers and pine trees! This is one of the best mountain trails in the high country, and I love that it's not popular yet. It's also a sacred mountain, so be respectful when you're there. It was discouraging to see the amount of McDonalds garbage piled in the bathroom at the top (no paper and no hand sanitizer). I'd love to know how we can spread the word about being better humans.

All in all, I hope you choose Bill Williams as one of your six-pack of peaks. We saw 1 other couple who will get their badge too.

It’s a beautiful hike no matter what the season.