Thursday, April 04, 2013 - 21 km To say that the Oracle Ridge Trail wasn't my favourite section of the AZT would be an understatement. I won't deny that it had some great views, but it traversed an old burn area and sections were degraded and covered with loose, ankle-buster rocks. http://www.flickr.com/photos/186593395@N08/49417332076/in/dateposted-public/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/186593395@N08/49416857658/in/dateposted-public/ Progress was …
Category: Arizona Trail
The Arizona Trail Day 17
Wednesday, April 03, 2013 - 22 km After a steady slog upwards from Hutch's Pool to Romero Pass, the AZT transitioned into a truly grim slog up the Mt. Lemmon trail. Eventually it levelled out and reached the trail junction for the Wilderness of Rocks, my favourite part of the trail to date. It's a …
The Arizona Trail Day 16
Tuesday, April 02, 2013 - 9.7 km My body wasn't happy with me today. One of my knees was hurting and questioning why we had to keep climbing up and down rather than walking through flattish cow pastures, and I replied that cow pastures are the worst. And it said, well you evil witch... To …
The Arizona Trail Day 15
Monday, April 01, 2013 - 25 km Mindblowing scenery today. I was puzzled by how the view from above the highway looked familiar, then I remembered that I had seen it on a 'most scenic highways' feature on MSN. Cool. It was scenic all right; would have been more scenic without the cars. http://www.flickr.com/photos/186593395@N08/49415828367/in/dateposted-public/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/186593395@N08/49415623931/in/dateposted-public/ …
The Arizona Trail Day 14
Sunday, March 31, 2013 - 16.1 km Happy Easter! Pops woke me up this morning as he broke camp at an hour that I prefer to not even think about. The two women were more on par with my schedule. When I dragged myself out of my tent and started making breakfast, one of them …
The Arizona Trail Day 13
Saturday, March 30, 2013 - 22 km http://flic.kr/p/2ihDq3C Today I hiked up to Manning Camp in the Rincons. It was a slog, but I solemnly swear that 1500 m (5000 ft) of elevation gain on a cloudy day is much easier than walking for a day through the low desert in the sun. Yes, cloudy …
The Arizona Trail Day 12
Friday, March 29, 2013 - 10.6 km This morning I met Pops C, a fellow thru-hiker and AZT trail steward. Finally another thru-hiker! He apologized for waking me up, but I was already awake, just lounging in my sleeping bag because I only had 10 km to walk today. A permit is required to camp …
The Arizona Trail Day 11
Thursday, March 28, 2013 My task today was to resupply in Vail. I decided to leave my pack in the El Bosquecito picnic area where I had camped, walk the eight kilometres into Vail, walk back to the ranch where I had left the trail, and slackpack back to the picnic area. A perfectly reasonable …
The Arizona Trail Day 10
Wednesday, March 27, 2013 - 17.4 km At 2:00 or 3:00 AM last night, I heard a dog barking outside my tent. I was sleepy and didn't think about who its owners might be (honestly, after the conversation at Kentucky Camp I was thinking it was rabid and just glad that I had no beef …
The Arizona Trail Day 9
Tuesday, March 26, 2013 - 25.75 km http://flic.kr/p/2ihhLMd I filtered two litres of water from the canyon and soon wished that I had taken more. The trail wound ridiculously around desert hills with no shade and unvarying scenery, adding pointless kilometres when it could have cut straight through. I encountered a cyclist and was astounded …
The Arizona Trail Day 8
Monday, March 25, 2013 - 22.5 km The caretaker brought me coffee this morning. I dislike coffee, but I usually drink it once or twice per year to accept someone's hospitality or seem more grown-up to a cute guy who never calls me again, probably because of the weird faces I make while drinking the …
The Arizona Trail Day 7
Sunday, March 24, 2013 - 19.3 km Today's walking was easy, mostly downhill or flat with a few uphill sections. Just past the junction to Bear Spring was a camping area and more water. It's a smorgasbord! The AZT then traversed a mountain called 'Ditch Mountain', and while the name has a story behind it …
The Arizona Trail Day 6
Saturday, March 23, 2013 - 22.5 km On my way out of Patagonia this morning, an AZT sign on the highway tricked me into going through a hole in a fence into the schoolyard - the sign, apparently meant for drivers coming down the highway from the other direction, is located after the place where …
The Arizona Trail Day 5
Friday, March 22, 2013 Today I took a zero day in Patagonia, a weird and fabulous little town with an artsy pizza place, pilates building, organic grocery and <1000 people. In the post office they have a book for AZT thru-hikers to sign, but I'm the first hiker this year to sign it. Y'all are …
The Arizona Trail Day 4
Thursday, March 21, 2013, 42.80 KM After more rolling around in the Canelo Hills this morning, the trail climbed to a dirt road with beautiful views and various traps to lure inattentive hikers away from the trail (pink markers, gates with the 'please close' sign). It then passed into pastureland with mean-looking cows that demonstrated …
The Arizona Trail Day 3
Wednesday, March 20, 2013, 10 KM Awful beginning to day three. I couldn't find the trail down Scotia Canyon, so I walked downstream until the AZT crossed my path and headed up a hill to the right. After a long, gradual climb through a pasture to the Parker Lake trailhead, I walked to the Parker …
The Arizona Trail Day 2
March 19, 2013, 25.5 km My first thought when I woke up on day two was 'another lovely day in Arizona'. Then 'damn it's cold', since a brutal wind was whistling through the blue sky. You would think that once I managed to drag myself out of my sleeping bag, the cold would have inspired …
The Arizona Trail Day 1
Monday, March 18, 2013 - 6.3 km There are probably hikers who enjoy packing up and carefully arranging their gear so that it consumes the least amount of space possible. I enjoy cramming everything into my backpack, getting frustrated when it doesn't fit and sticking the leftovers into my pockets when my shuttle arrives fifteen …
BANE OF THE TRAIL 