Saturday, April 20, 2013 I received a ride into Scottsdale from Guy, the shuttle driver from Superior, who was heading there for an appointment. Thank you! Moreover he offered to drive me back to Superior on Monday afternoon, and then to Roosevelt Marina the following morning. That works well, giving my ankle time to rest …
Continue reading The Arizona Trail Day 34: Death Trap Either Way
Friday, April 19, 2013 - 12.7 km Today I hiked from the wilderness boundary to Roosevelt Marina. I was feeling some trepidation beforehand since the ATA website cautions mountain bikers and horseback riders against attempting the Cottonwood Canyon trail, but its large rocks provided better footing than small slippy evil rocks. It was also pretty …
Continue reading The Arizona Trail Day 33: New Wildlife Viewing Goals
Thursday, April 18, 2013 - 13.4 km While I was eating peanut butter in my sleeping bag around 7:00 AM, I heard someone approach my tent and clear their throat. Move it along, pal. Unless I'm already dressed and packing up my gear, clearing your throat won't get me out of my tent. I need …
Wednesday, April 17, 2013 - 21.1 km I woke up this morning to a cloudy sky that lent the landscape a pleasant gloominess and created distinct sunbeams when the sun rose. For most of the day I was expecting rain, but none came. I decided to try hiking with my glasses, which I picked out …
Tuesday, April 16, 2013 - 24 km I saw my first rattlesnake today! People have been warning me for awhile that 'the snakes are out', I suppose like how in Canada we say 'The bears are out, and grazing by the roadsides. If you see one, please do not stop your car, get out of …
Monday, April 15, 2013 Zero in Superior. The main street is lined with historic buildings, some restored for new businesses and others closed. I wanted to try the Jade Grill, but it's shut on Mondays and Tuesdays, so I decided to have a budget day with grocery store food instead. I had a hard time …
Sunday, April 14, 2013 - 27.8 km You know that it's going to be a blazing day when you roll out of your tent in your underwear and a t-shirt at 4:30 AM and the temperature is comfortable. Yikes, but I was still in disciplined thru-hiker mode, so an early start was in the stars. …
Saturday, April 13, 2013 - 21 km The air was still and hot today. The Gila River is large by AZ standards but always separated from the trail by either distance or a fence, so there were no opportunities to jump into its brown water. After winding alongside for awhile, the AZT passed through a …
Friday, April 12, 2013 - 10.1 km The noisy fridge in my motel room didn't bother me at first, especially since it quieted down when I hit it (a sure method for dealing with every appliance to ever have existed), but in the morning, I discovered that my leftover pizza was frozen. I suppose the …
Thursday, April 11, 2013 https://www.flickr.com/photos/186593395@N08/49419766523/in/dateposted-public/ Water stand I took a zero in Kearny today, planning out my food requirements for the next few weeks. Before this hike I thoroughly researched gear, but food was a mysterious beast... in normal life I don't eat snacks or pasta/rice sides so I didn't know what I would like …
Wednesday, April 10, 2013 - 12.6 km The beautiful end of Passage 15 provides a delightful contrast with the hideous beginning. Today's blue sky was peppered with friendly, non-raining clouds that gave form to the mountains and kept the temperature down. http://www.flickr.com/photos/186593395@N08/49420228281/in/dateposted-public/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/186593395@N08/49420451177/in/dateposted-public/ While on the ridge I decided to try out my phone to …
Tuesday, April 09, 2013 - 22.5 km The wind worsened overnight, shifting so that it was blowing directly into the side of my tent. I was worried - not extremely worried, but worried - so I leaned against the wall to support it. In Oracle, I had received an email from my father saying that …
Monday, April 08, 2013 - 20.3 km During the night a group of cows passed by. One of them approached my tent and started mooing, like 'Hey, you think there's treasure in here?' Then a cow from the group would moo back, like 'No, not in this one either, Bob... no, leave it... LEAVE IT, …
Sunday, April 07, 2013 - 12.6 km Weird animal cries that sounded like a combination of a demented cow and a demented coyote woke me up during the night, and I don't like either of those things. Coatimundi? The Black Rabbit? Today's walking began with more of the same scenery. My ankle felt iffy but …
Saturday, April 06, 2013 - 12.5 km I wasn't a happy camper today. My ankle started aching as soon as I picked up my pack to carry it to the car, and I was worried and unsociable on the ride (sorry!). At the trailhead I wrapped my ankle in a tensor bandage again. A tensor …
Friday, April 05, 2013 John and his wife Gwen are wonderful hosts. I woke up this morning prepared to eat the Weird Cereal (backstory: food I don't like gets placed into a baggie, where it compiles. It was time to eat it), but then Gwen came into the kitchen and made me eggs and an …
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 …
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 …
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 …
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/ …
BANE OF THE TRAIL 