big man tips

CHILDRESS TANK ROAD The Ortiz and Hull families of Mesa on Childress Tank Road What do you do when you want to take friends or family with young kids or mobility issues on a hike but still want to get in a good workout?   Childress Tank sits on a mesa below the Mogollon Rim The answer might be found on dirt roads that spiral off the short, barrier-free trails that cater to the �hiking lite� crowd.   One such place is the Shoofly Village Ruins north of Payson.   For years, this has been my go-to destination for introducing non-trekkers to the history and beauty that lies beneath the Mogollon Rim.   A visitor reads a sign about an ancient room at Shoofly Village The site offers an approachable, intriguing way to get outdoors without the preparations needed for more remote or wilderness hikes.   Gateway to Childress Tank Road All you need for gear is stable footwear, sun protection and a bottle of water.   The self-guided tour is outfitted with interpretive si...

HOUSTON LOOP Payson Area Trails System View of the Mogollon Rim from Houston Loop For a short, moderate-rated trail, this one really packs a punch. It's wide, well-signed and within shouting distance of suburbia, but what's not advertised about Payson's Houston Loop is its unrelenting ups-and-downs that can catch the first-timer off guard. The quad burning workout pays off with high point vistas of the Mogollon Rim hovering above the metal rooftops of woodland retreats. Where the trail dips into the canyons around Houston Creek, Ponderosa pine trees throw shade over moist drainages imprinted with elk tracks. Elk rarely venture more than a quarter mile from water sources, so keep an eye out for them where the trail hops over rivulets and puddles. The trail's bonus attraction is a Cold War Era curiosity known as a seismic bunker. The metal structure built into a hillside has been abandoned for years and is now under siege by local graffiti rebel forces. It's a dank,...