Twig Adventures

AZT Day 12: Dried Peaches & Mango

October 18th, 2019Mm 275.6 to East Verde River mm 308.9Distance in miles: 33.30600-1800 It was a pretty eventful day, in a diverse way. I started off with a little exploration when I came across the new trail that I was alerted to days ago. I followed it, hoping it was more direct than the zig-zaggy road. By the time I came back to the official trail, it appeared that I had shaved several miles (14 miles done by 10 am). I also got really close to a bull elk leading a train of 5 or 6 cows. He was calling like crazy and never sensed me standing there, watching him from about 50 yards away. His calls were so intriguing[…]

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AZT Day 11: Chocolate Zucchini Muffin

October 17th, 2019Near Pine Grove Campground mm 241.4 to mm 275.6Distance in miles: 34.20600-1750 There was some highway noise overnight but the duff was so soft and luxurious, it was worth it. I almost could have gone without my sleeping pad. I also heard elk calling overnight. As soon as I set out in the morning, I saw a huge herd of deer. After this, I kept a sharp lookout and finally spotted some elk. A prized bull was traveling with about 5 cows. They quickly disappeared into the trees. As usual, these sightings were achieved before 7 am. Anything after is generally too late in the day. The forest was beautiful on this morning. The sunrise created a fiery[…]

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AZT Day 10: Pumpkin Cream Cheese Danish

October 16th, 2019Cedar Ave off Flagstaff Urban Route mm 6.5 to near Pine Grove Campground mm 241.4Distance in miles: 260930-1820 I tried to get an early start on the trail but this town was such a vortex. I was at least up early, working on my blog. Sharon made delicious omelettes and I lingered over coffee. Finally, Sharon needed to be off to teach a class at the university and I made my break. I got as far as half a mile down the road before a bakery pulled me in. I had a pumpkin cream cheese danish. A few miles later, I stopped at a small hardware store that, local word had it, sometimes had cookies for patrons. I[…]

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AZT Day 8 & 9: Flagstaff

Day 8: October 14th, 2019Moto/Chimney Trail Junction mm 194.2 to Cedar Ave off Flagstaff Urban Route mm 6.5Distance in miles: 110615-1000 It was a short distance into town and I was looking forward to it! I wanted to eat all the Pad Thai at all the Thai restaurants. And also not smell bad anymore. I called ahead and got the last room at the Motel DuBeau. It was operated by the same people that ran the hostel, where I stayed last time I was in Flagstaff. It was in a nice location downtown. I took the urban trail into town (there’s also an equestrian bypass trail going way around the city). I saw some early morning mountain bikers and runners,[…]

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AZT Day 7: The San Francisco Peaks

October 13th, 2019Cedar Ranch Trailhead mm 163 to Moto/Chimney Trail Junction mm 194.2Distance in miles: 31.20605-1820 It was a good campsite overnight. The road was quiet, it was a lot warmer than previous nights and coyotes sang in the distance. I started the morning by climbing from the desert scrub, back into the ponderosa forests. I was on the flanks of the San Francisco Peaks, a chain of mountains that are the highest in Arizona (12,600′) and may have once stood 16,000′ before the super-volcano blew its top. The most recent eruption was about 900 years ago, according to a pamphlet I read later. That’s not so long ago by geologic standards. The sides of the mountains were speckled with[…]

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AZT Day 6: Trekking Pole Defense Methods

October 12th, 2019Mm 126.7 to Cedar Ranch Trailhead mm 163Distance in miles: 36.30605-1820 It was cold overnight but not much below freezing. Certainly not into the low 20s as forecasted. Unless I’m just tougher than I realize. My water bottles didn’t freeze, anyway. I get a good start and theorize that I can make it 36 miles to a cache where there might also be beers. I’ll have to walk fast and all day but it’s pretty flat and mostly dirt road walking. At an early water cache, I meet a section hiker. Later in the day, there are 4 dayhikers all wearing green “AZT in a Day” t-shirts. Today is a promotional event where people are trying to hike[…]

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AZT Day 5: The Starbucks Vortex in Tusayan

October 11th, 2019South Rim Grand Canyon mm 100.2 to mm 126.7Distance in miles: 26.50620-1800 I was perfectly warm overnight but it was hard to get moving in the cold morning. The bathrooms were heated, so that helped. I only had to walk 5 miles to Tusayan, where there was a Starbucks waiting. A paved bike path led me there, so it was very easy and fast walking. The path was empty, save for one guy riding a bike to work. At Starbucks, I ran into a hiker, Mary Poppins. She did most of the AZT in the spring but was not currently hiking, just getting a coffee on her way to a race. The Starbucks had good wifi and I[…]

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AZT Day 4: Rim 2 Rim

October 10th, 2019North Rim Grand Canyon mm 76.2 to South Rim mm 100.2Distance in miles: 24 (including a bunch of tourist and town walking)0610-1130 Oh what a day, perhaps the highlight of the AZT because I walked the Grand Canyon from rim to rim! What a buzz word it is to say this phrase. I never gave much thought to what this entailed nor to its role on the AZT. But having spent a day around the North Rim, I quickly learned what a draw this particular hike is. It carries a lot of prestige and significance. The whole hike is about 21 to 24 miles, depending on which trail is taken to/from the South Rim. That’s a pretty long[…]

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AZT Day 3: North Rim of the Grand Canyon

October 9th, 2019Mm 60.1 to North Rim Grand Canyon mm 76.2Distance in miles: 16.1 plus about 4 miles walking around, being a tourist0610-1130 I had a hard time warming my sleeping bag but once I did, I slept pretty well. I woke around 2:30 am feeling pretty hungry, so I ate the rest of my dinner, followed by a chocolate bar. I went back to sleep until my usual waking time. I don’t know what was wrong with me the night before but I seemed to be back to normal. I had a pleasant morning, beginning with meeting a few SOBOs. They were just packing and I stopped to chat. (This was where I first met 9Lives, who I would[…]

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AZT Day 2: Walking the Highlands of Arizona

October 8th, 2019Orderville Trailhead mm 27 to mm 60.1Distance in miles: 33.10545-1800 I got on the trail super early and walked by the light of my headlamp for a bit. Without Daylight Savings Time, I needed to take advantage of the daylight in the morning. Fine by me, since I usually like getting an early start. Except that this morning was very cold and I couldn’t seem to warm up as I walked. I started out wearing all my layers, including my puffy and mitts. I walked uphill in a small valley which was effectively trapping the cold air. The first rays of sun didn’t hit until 8 am and I suffered up to that point. Once they did, it[…]

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