The Oasis of Payson

April 21, 2023 Day 21

Mile 369.2-390.6 (21.4 miles)

4 am alarm meant we were hiking before the sun came up. It was chilly for awhile and I wore my Senchi but it warmed up fast. After just a few miles we reached a forest road which we were on for quite awhile before beginning our descent. We stopped for a break when we got cell service so Henry could call and reserve us a hotel room and there was nothing sexier to me in that moment.

I had no complaints about the forest road, it was easy hiking and Henry and I got to walk side by side for once. Some of the trail afterwards was brushy and overgrown and it was pretty hot at the lower elevation.

We took a short side trip to Boulder Pools and found the most perfect clear pool full of freezing cold water. We submerged ourselves in bliss for a good 10 minutes. Watched some frogs climb up the walls of the boulder and swim through the water. It was hard to force ourselves to get out and put our hiking clothes back on but town was tempting us.

We reached the highway and hitched for what felt like forever, car after car after car driving past, ignoring our outstretched thumbs. After about 30 minutes an actual angel man from heaven taking his son on a boyscout camping trip picked us up and took us into Payson. So thankful for him.

1st stop was Rim Runners where I bought another pair of new shoes since the Hiker Box Olympus’ blew out. Next stop Five Guys where we didn’t care how bad we smelled or how much dirt was caked on our legs. We each inhaled a burger and fries in the cold AC while refilling our sodas multiple times. Next stop Royal Inn and Suites where we laid in bed in our filthy clothes before finding the energy to shower and walk down to Walmart after dark to resupply. We somehow spent 1.5 hours there wandering through the aisles with hiker brain, unsure of what to buy. Back at the room we ate Pizza Hut in bed, I took and edible and read in the bath and thought life couldn’t possibly get better than this.