I've hiked Mount Elden several times in the summer and fall, but never in Winter or Spring. It was a beautiful day. The pine trees were green and the Aspens were bare. A Murder of Crows soared over the Peak, and small lizards scurried across the trail.

The hike was a spontaneous choice. I had to drive my nephew up to Flagstaff, where he was going to meet his younger brother for a 4-day backpacking trip through the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. I hadn't planned to head to Flag until July, but I was excited to hike the first peak of the AZ Summer Challenge. Carpe Diem! (Seize the Day!)

The weather was perfect: 60 degrees and sunny with a cool breeze blowing. It was chillier at the top, where there was still a bit of hard-packed snow covering about 20 feet of the last bit of the trail. Even so, short sleeves were comfortable.

I was alone for much of the hike, though I passed some park stewards, who were hoeing and hammering, making the trail safer for all of us.

The other hikers were in small groups of 3 or 4, couples, and a few trail runners. A few energetic dogs were off leash (they're supposed to be leashed), but they were well behaved and with their equally energetic owners.

The view from the top was clear, with snow-capped Humphreys visible. A couple asked me to take their photo, and I asked the woman to take mine.

On the way down, I slipped and skinned my arm, which was bare since I'd removed my long-sleeved shirt almost from the beginning of the hike. I slid a few more times because of the loose, dry dirt, but also because I didn't use poles and my shoe tread is wearing thin.

The hike, which I began at 8:30am after leaving Phoenix at 5:30am, took me about 4 hours because I slowed myself on the way down. Two hours up and 2 hours down. It's a steep climb, with some switchbacks. Take time to enjoy the views along the way.

Plwase note that the Elden Trailhead is closed for construction, but you can park at the Rangers Station and follow signs to the trail. The Station is closed on weekends, and there are no public restrooms, so I went across the street to use the facilities at the cleanest McDonald's on the planet. I treated myself to a Strawberry Banana smoothie and soft-serve Vanilla cone.

I used All Trails to navigate, so you can read my review there.