Craving a change of pace and a refreshing half gallon of milk, I knew it was time to switch gears. My body was pleading for respite from the relentless miles, a sign that hitchhiking was the only way to catch my train out of Tucson. But first I had to get out of the mountains […]
Author: cleanshave
Night hiking the Mazatzal Wilderness
The heat during the day was getting oppressive. I’d take long breaks, next to a water source if possible, but always in the shade. I’d hike through as much of the night as I dared, some of the footing through the Mazatzal Wilderness is sketchy even in daylight. With the moon casting its ethereal glow […]
Slowing Down in the Mazatzal Wilderness
The plan had been to hike 30 mile days through the Mazatzal Wilderness in order to catch my train in Tucson. But something had changed in Sedona. Though my body got the message to slow down, my conscious mind was a little behind the learning curve. I didn’t understand why we were taking breaks, why […]
Hitchhiking to Strawberry, Arizona
Sedona seemed determined to keep me within its grasp. The canyons I ventured into felt like relics of a forgotten era, their ancient aura casting a timeless spell that slowed my pace, and made me hesitant to leave. What was meant to be a straightforward six-mile hike to the bus stop morphed into a three-hour […]
Stealth Camping Sedona
Nestled in the tranquil shade, far from the bustle of civilization, I surrendered to sleep. For days on end, I followed a routine: stash my belongings in a tree, hike miles to the trailhead, and catch the shuttle into Sedona. After only a few hours in town, replenishing water, savoring a meal, I’d board the […]
A Night on Cathedral Rock
“End of trail,” read the sign at the top of Cathedral Rock. I exhaled a sigh of relief and felt my whole body relax. I was done. I’d been running for the last four months and needed a break. I’d run into Sedona along the Munds Wagon Trail, stopping only at Circle K for a […]
No Trail Pizza!
The culinary delights of Flagstaff couldn’t outweigh the frigid temperatures on the overnights. I was ready to run south, not only for warmer nights, but also because I only had a month before I had to be in LA. The plan was to hike the Arizona Trail for a rendezvous with a train closer to […]
Reflections
I got lost on the Florida Trail, and a month and a half later, found myself in Flagstaff, Arizona. I’d gotten used to being off social media, and coming back was a harder decision than it should have been. I’d had such a great time with so many incredible people that it felt disrespectful for […]
Eglin Air Force Base, Florida Trail
Eglin Air Force Base, a sanctuary of rolling hills, serene boardwalks, and quiet streams that soothe the soul, is one of my favorite sections of the Florida Trail. It was here, amidst this tranquil landscape, that we reached two significant milestones: the 1,000-mile marker and the high point of the trail, a lofty Florida mountain […]
Hillcrest Baptist Church, Altha, FL
I’d done everything that I came to do on the Florida Trail. Maybe I’d skipped some miles, but I intended on hiking those miles in the opposite direction in order to catch a flight to Las Vegas. A little flip-flop instead of hiking straight through. Because of the rain, I said goodbye to the bayview […]