Category: Arizona Trail

Day 16: October 22nd, 2019Mazatzal Ridge mm 381.3 to HWY 87 mm 402Distance in miles: 20.70605-1300 I slept well overnight but the wind picked up, making some noise. I was glad I didn’t camp at the more exposed site. The horizon was just getting light as I continued walking along the ridge. The glow seemed otherworldly. A few miles down the trail, I meet a SOBO couple, Cowboy and Aurora. They were cooking breakfast and we chatted for a bit. Like me, they were meeting someone at HWY 87 and getting off trail for a few days (Cowboy’s mom lived in Phoenix). The trail eventually wound down from the ridge and through a few creeks and canyons. I passed the[…]

October 21st, 2019East Verde River mm 350.2 to Mazatzal Ridge mm 381.3Distance in miles: 31.10615-1810 It was so cold when I woke. The elevation was only 3300′ but moist air settled into the valley overnight. There was even a tiny bit of condensation on my tent. I warmed up quickly as I begin to climb. A distance of 31 miles was to add up to over 10,000′ in elevation gain, according to my app. I thought I was up for the challenge. I was headed into the Mazatzal mountains, a range that is notoriously rugged and remote. The trail wound up to the ridges and did a roller-coaster effect as it went from peak to peak. I actually enjoy all[…]

October 20th, 2019Pine Trailhead mm 327.5 to East Verde River mm 350.2Distance in miles: 22.70900-1700 I woke to the sound of the rooster crowing. It was a good reminder that I had yet to mess with the chickens. Feeling inspired, I crept outside and into the coop. It was still early, so I easily picked one of the hens off the roost. She was very sweet and seemed to enjoy the warmth of my arms, falling asleep. She was a fantail, similar to my favorite chicken that I had growing up. They are tiny, about the size of a pigeon. About this time, Calypso the cattle dog noticed my transgressions and was freaking out, pacing back and forth outside the[…]

October 19th, 2019East Verde River mm 308.9 to Pine Trailhead mm 327.5Distance in miles: 18.60600-1200 It was another town day. But first I needed to hike some miles along the bottom edge of the Mogollon rim. I left the Verde River headwaters as soon as I started, but crossed many more small streams along the way. People were camping near several of the streams, including what looked like a boy scout troop. I could see why this was suddenly such a popular trail…water makes all the difference. As I would in and out of the watersheds, the vegetation changed drastically. Mostly I was hiking through a dry scrub mix of juniper and mazanita. It finally started to look more like[…]

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[…]

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[…]

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[…]

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,[…]

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[…]

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[…]