The end is important in all things. I took the shuttle to the bottom of Sabino Canyon, spending way too much time charging my phone and drinking milk at the closest supermarket. I packed out another half gallon like it was the source of life, and climbed Sabino Canyon on foot. Cyclists lined up at […]
Tag: AZT
Romero Pools
Mileage that took three hours to run in, took four days to retrace on the way out of Oro Valley. The first night I’d slipped behind the glow of In-N-Out and disappeared into Big Wash, cowboy camped in the quiet of a place not meant for staying. Then somewhere above Catalina State Park, I stopped […]
In-N-Out Finale!
Having fasted for the last 24 hours, I descended from the mountains, through Romero Pass, down into Catalina State Park and into In-N-Out. Three weeks, 400 miles, and in the end all that remained was a three hour run. My empty water bottles collapsed from the pressure change of the descent and I had salt […]
Hesitating Before the End
What do you do with a finish line when you’re not sure you want to cross it? I rehydrated with a Polar Pop in Oracle, keeping my cheeks tight, then followed the Cody Ridge Trail back to the AZT, back to the desert. Gentle miles. Sunset at my feet. Biosphere 2 below, sealed off from […]
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 […]
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 […]
AZT Reroute into Patagonia
Sometimes the trail doesn’t go where you want and you have to add more miles than you’d like, only to end up not-so-wild camping in someone’s yard. #grateful #AZT #sobo
New Beginnings at the End of the AZT
In these final days on the Arizona Trail, I had the pleasure of hiking with @socotoshowco for a few miles, someone I haven’t seen in years. I weaved back and forth along the trail as I awaited my bus. The upcoming walk from Vail into Tucson, then onward to Phoenix for a layover, marks a […]