Monotonous. That was the first 10 miles of roadside S curves contouring along the side of the ridge. Furthermore 9 miles went through a burn area with just dead and blackened trees to look at. The wind whistling through the snags was eerily beautiful though. So there was that.

Buffalo Trick Tank marked the trail's descent and my hoped for water source. Earlier I had learned that Big Ridge Tank far ahead was drey. In order to avoid going into Jacob Lake Inn for water, I cameled up with 2 gallons. Sixteen pounds of water is no joke but it was basically all downhill thr rest of the day. Oh I didn't realize Buffalo Trick Tank was a dirt tank. I plundered water from a rainwater cistern that was unlocked and just uphill from the out-of-sight dirt tank. Superb water by the way. Clear and cool. The tank looked murky when I stumbled across it. In all likelyhood I have all the water I need to finish the trail.

Incidentally my total mileage isn't going to add up to 800. That 800 mile number for the Arizona Trail includes the Flagstaff (equestrian) Bypass route and not the slightly shorter Resupply Route. Plus there were a few times, like the artesian well/White Mountain Wilderness portion, where I took the original and still signed old AZT route. I've walked 745.7 miles but I'm at AZT milepoint 771.9 aka 28.1 miles from the finish line at the Utah border. I'm excited! It's mind boggling to think that in 4 days I'll be at home. That seems like a lifetime ago and so far away.