Days 11 – 13: Saguaro to Mt. Lemmon
The last few days have been full of amazing views and tough climbs. Two days ago we hiked through Saguaro National Park: from the low elevation Saguaro cacti forest, up […]
Thru hiking
Day 10: Thoughts from a Saguaro Forest
Gila woodpeckers: Loud and conspicuous residence of the desert who sound a bit like an over excited gull. Gila (The “G” sounds like a “H”) is a name that pops […]
Day 8: The Beauty of Washes
After applying copious amounts of antibiotic ointment to my blister and packing some for the trail, I was ready to get hiking once again. Vance’s knee still hurt, but he […]
Day 6: The Day we Lost Rod
Vance started hiking at 6:00 am and I left at 7:30. Rod passed me at 9:30, and I came across Vance around 11:00. That was the last I saw of […]
Day 5: Kentucky Camp
There are a few brands of thru hikers. The 25 milers who seem to float down the trail as they speed ever on-wards towards the opposite terminus, and the ones […]
Day 4: Road Walk to Night Hike
Patagonia AZ is the quintessential image of a small southwest town. Pick-up trucks driven by men with handlebar mustaches and cowboy hats, give you a proper stare down as they […]
Day 3: Twenty miles and Pain
I woke up at 4:30 a.m. with the hope of getting to Patagonia before 4:00 pm. If I arrived after the post office closed, I would need to stay there […]
Day 2: After the storm
When the sun came out that day it was heavenly. We hiked through streams surrounded by sycamores and lush vegetation. It was a stark contrast to the day before. The […]
Day 1: The Journey Begins
The first day brought many challenges, this is a retrospective telling of day one on trail.