Thursday, October 19, 2023 Miles: 30.8 Elevation gain/loss: 5512’/4472′ I was up at 4:55am and out by 5:20am. I started the day with a descent to Sunflower/I-87 and then climbed up and out of the valley. Before the climb, I stopped around 9am to filter water, and I heard voices though I didn’t see anyone. … Continue reading Arizona Trail, north, day 14
Wednesday, October 18, 2023 Miles: 32.65 Elevation gain/loss: 5282’/6818′ I was up at 5:05am and out by 5:30am. Early on, I twisted my right ankle very hard. I was able to walk it off, but it took a bit out of me. Before the first water source, I passed by Cheez-It. He made a comment … Continue reading Arizona Trail, north, day 13
Tuesday, October 17, 2023 Miles: 32.31 Elevation gain/loss: 5755’/5387′ I was up at 5am and out of the Airbnb by 5:30am. I walked the highway back to the trail, since no one was willing to stop in the dark. I got back to the trail by 6:15am and started hiking south. I’d carried a liter … Continue reading Arizona Trail, north, day 12
Monday, October 16, 2023 Miles: 12.99 Elevation gain/loss: 1165’/1959′ I was up at 5am and hiking by 5:25am. I stepped over another tarantula as I headed towards town. I was very excited to be getting to town so early, with a full day of rest in a private Airbnb trailer ahead of me. I made … Continue reading Arizona Trail, north, day 11
Sunday, October 15, 2023 Miles: 36.56 Elevation gain/loss: 2966’/3927′ I was up at 4:55am and hiking by 5:20am. Early on, I heard coyotes playing, and needed to make some noise when the trail turned toward them, to keep us from being surprised. In the first few hours, I started to smell smoke. I knew I … Continue reading Arizona Trail, north, day 10
Saturday, October 14, 2023 Miles: 38.89 Elevation gain/loss: 2838’/3018′ I was up at 5 and out on trail by 5:25am. Early on, I twisted both of my ankles when I was hiking in the dark and in a rush to get to a spot suitible for digging a cat hole. This put me in a … Continue reading Arizona Trail, north, day 9
Friday, October 13, 2023 Miles: 22.67 Elevation gain/loss: 1299’/1093′ After forcing myself to sleep/nap until 7:30am, I mostly managed to relax at the hotel until check-out, leaving around 10:45am. Within the first few hours, I ran into Soul Slosher, Butcher, and Wonder. I hung out chatting with them for a while, and then headed back … Continue reading Arizona Trail, north, day 8
Thursday, October 12, 2023 Miles: 30.02 Elevation gain/loss: 2405’/3310′ Despite it being very cold overnight, I slept deeply. There was condensation on my sleeping bag from using my tarp as a bivy sack to protect me against the cold wind. I was up at 5am and hiking by 5:25am, excited for town but trying to … Continue reading Arizona Trail, north, day 7
Wednesday, October 11, 2023 Miles: 40.18 Elevation gain/loss: 2808’/1759′ After a long night at camp with solid sleep under my tarp (I finally figured out how to pitch it high enough to comfortably sit up inside), I was up at 4:45am and hiking by 5:20am. At the first water source of the morning, Psy showed … Continue reading Arizona Trail, north, day 6
Tuesday, October 10, 2023 Miles: 34.19 Elevation gain/loss: 1916’/1775′ After a decent night of sleep at the hotel, I was up at 4:55am and hiking by 5:30am. I’d hoped to hike down a dirt road and connect to the AZT by way of a mountain bike trail, but when I got to the end of … Continue reading Arizona Trail, north, day 5
Transcending Mountains 