March 21-23, 2014 Mt. Peeley to Twin Buttes 48.5 miles and 8,400 feet of climbing. 

Wow, what a fantastic trip this was.  Although, many of my family and friends may disagree, I will get to that later. This is a unique segment of the Arizona Trail.  Almost the entire 48 miles is within designated Wilderness areas.  This was the one thing that gave me the most concern as I was planning this trip.  With limited access points to the trail, I was not able to drop any extra water.  Given the very dry year we have had water availability was one of my biggest fears during the planning stages. 

Luckily, there was water where there was supposed to be and it worked perfectly with the spots I had planned to camp.  If you've read any of my previous posts, you know that this almost never happens. 

And on this trip, I didn't take any wrong turns, misread any maps or gps units, miss any signs or markers. Again, this almost never happens on my hikes!!! More importantly, the scenery and the trail were a true Arizona wonder.  The photos I took are great, but really don't do justice to the true beauty. 

Unexpectedly, I ran into three other hikers on this trip.  Actually two hikers and one great AZT volunteer.  Given the remoteness of the area, that was a bit of a shock. 

I planned my first night stay in a spot that was close to a spring.  The camp site was listed as about a quarter of a mile off the trail.  This is usually a bit further than I like to go as I'm pretty lazy out on the trail, not wanting to go much further than I actually have to.  In this instance, I made the right choice.  This camp spot looked like something that was used by equestrians and possibly Forest Service personnel at some point.  It was a great oak tree shaded area with great tent spots, a camp table and great views.  I've got some photos posted here, for a night on the trail it was almost like staying at the Hilton. 

My day two camp site was another regular camp spot for wilderness hikers and horseback riders.  Not quite as nice as night one, but still better than many spots I've spread out in. 

This trip was another trip through areas where there have been forest fires in the not too distant past.  The devastation is something that is hard to comprehend.  One can only wonder how much more beautiful this area was before the fire destruction. 

On my AZT journey, there is always something that offers a mental and physical challenge.  It happens on day trips and multi-day trips.  On this trip it was the last 11+ miles on White Rock Mesa.  While the climbs were challenging, they weren't the worst I've encountered.  What was challenging on this segment was the trail, or lack there of.  Most of the 11+ miles the trail tread was invisible.  Navigation was done by "cairns".  I've attached some photos for you to test yourself.  See if you can pick out the "cairn".  If you can, you are ready to come out on the trail.  If not, you better stick to the sidewalks!!  And if you have to ask, "what is a cairn?"  Better that you stay inside.

Last, but certainly not least on this trip was the excitement going on behind the scenes.  Given the fact that my trip had gone along without any real adversity, I should have known there was something else not working right.  That one thing was my SPOT locator.  Funny thing about technology, sometimes it doesn't work.  What I didn't know is that my SPOT message for Saturday (day two) did not make it out to my contact list.  So by Sunday some friend and family were expecting the worst (eaten by a bear, lost in the woods etc).  In the end, all was OK, although most in my family still think I'm a bit crazy for taking these "out in the middle of nowhere" trips.  This will be one of those funny family stories told and re-told for years to come.

If all works out like I have planned, the next post you will read will be the completion of this trip.  I'm really at a bit of a loss for words on that.  I'm amazed that it is almost over.  I'm humbled by the support of friends and family.  I have to pinch myself to understand that the journey is almost complete.  What am I going to do with all that free time?  The wheels are already starting to turn!!!!!!!!!!! 

The East Verde, a great spot for lunch!

Test #1, Where is the cairn?

Test #2, Where is the cairn?

Better than a cairn!!!

Test #3, Where is the cairn?

Saturday March 8, 2014 Hardscrabble Mesa (Twin Buttes to Pine) 12 Miles

What was better, the hike or the after hike stop at THAT Brewery in Pine?  I would guess that my hiking companions would vote for the Brewery!!!  Especially after Dain and I decided it wasn't necessary to look at our GPS until after we parked the car.  This necessitated an extra mile of hiking.  Another perfect example of technology only being as good as the user.

This 12 mile hike was an enjoyable Saturday hike and I was again joined by wonderful friends, Lillian, Dain, Debbie, Andrea and Ernie. 

The hike starts on a Forest Service Road, then heads down a powerline road before entering some really neat trails.  Great views, mostly a downhill hike (except for one challenging climb).  The week before this hike, Arizona had a really nice rainy weekend (the first real rain since December) which was showcased in creeks, streams and numerous cattle/wildlife tanks. 

 

This hike ends at the trailhead in Pine, right off the highway.  A great place to explore the Arizona Trail for a day hike.  Then after the hike, enjoy an Arizona Trail Ale at THAT Brewery in Pine.  Friends, food, adult beverages and an Arizona Trail hike. It really doesn't get much better than that!!! 


 

As dry as the State has been, it was a treat to be able to enjoy the sights
and sounds along a creek.  This isn's something we see
much of living in the desert.  



 

This is Lillian and Deb at the end of the hike right before
Lillian stole my beer!!  Guess we shouldn't have made them walk that extra mile. 

November 16, 2013  Sunflower to the Mt. Peeley TH.  (18.1 miles and about 4,500 feet of climbing)

Me, Ernie and Dain after the hike.  Guess who didn't
plan for the weather?  Whose sweatshirt is that Dain?

Another fantastic day on the Arizona Trail, including friends, some threatening fall weather and the usual trail challenges.  I was watching the weather report all week, as there was a storm due just prior to this planned hike.  My last check of the weather report indicated just a 30% chance of rain. Typically in Arizona, that means partly sunny with some lingering clouds.  Much to our surprise as we drove to the TH, menacing dark storm clouds were everywhere, with temps a bit lower than anticipated.  In fact, after being dropped off at Sunflower, my friendly hiking group were driving to the Mt. Pelley TH in fog and a mix of rain/sleet.

Cloudy and cool!!

Again, I have to thank the group of friends that I hike with.  They planned their hike around mine, dropping me off in Sunflower and then heading to the Mt. Peeley TH.  They planned to hike south on the trail and meet me along the trail as I headed north.  Little did we know that the toughest part of the trail was on their end.  I also thought I might have some company hiking the entire segment,  but once everyone saw the weather, those plans soon changed. They were the smart ones:)

I've been pretty fortunate on my journey, not encountering too much bad weather.  I did get rained on for about 30 minutes on this hike, but considering what it looked like it could have been a lot worse.  I did receive two pretty significant benefits of the weather though.  One the temperature was fantastic and secondly those big black clouds hanging on the mountains all day kept me moving pretty quickly all day long.  

Effects of the Fire!!!

The first twelve miles went by pretty quick.  This area was badly burned in the Sunflower fire.  Reports had said there had been some crews in last spring to clean up some parts of the trail and that was definitely the case on the first portions.  Many thanks to the crews who worked on this, without those efforts this trip would not have been possible.  It was amazing to see the destruction that a forest fire has up close and personal.  Not only the vegetation and landscape, but also to any trails in the area.  With no vegetation to slow runoff, trails become a prime target for water.  This high water volume destroys trails, leaving rocks, boulders, ravines, dead trees and other assorted challenges.  Add to that a burned out landscape, and route finding on these types of trails can be an adventure.  

The Arizona Trail Association just announced that these signs
were being added randomly along the trail.  Almost halfway between Mexico and Utah!!  

As I said the first thirteen miles went very smoothly, the last five not so much.  I stopped for lunch about 11:30 and sent a text to the others letting them know where I was at.  I envisioned seeing them pretty soon.  I should have known I was in for more of a challenge when Ernie sent a text back and asked "How's the trail?"

From that point on the trail was not only physically challenging, but mentally also.  The trail tread was extremely hard to find, trail markers were few and far between.  Many cairns were hidden by the new growth coming back since the fire.  Several times I had to retrace my steps or bushwack to get to the trail. This would account for my mileage total above, which should have been about 17 miles total, not 18.1!!!

You had to be there!!  I swear I never saw the acorns??

Old mine shaft next to a creek.  The pipe looked new, but the bucket looked old??

wildlife on the trail, literally

Happy to finish for the day.  I can smell the beer.  

 

The different colors in the rock in this wash was amazing

In the end though it was another amazing day on the Arizona Trail, even more so with the challenges and friends to share the experience with.  

October 26-28th, 2013 Frazier TH to Sunflower (45 miles and 10,000 feet of climbing)

Why so serious??  Maybe I knew what was ahead of me!!

This trip is filled with family history, friends, lots of bear poo and the humbling reality of a really long first day.  I started this trip at the Frazier Trailhead, adjacent to Roosevelt Lake.  This trailhead offers a short 1+ mile link to the AZ Trail.  The Fraizer TH is named after my great grandparents T.T. Frazier and Stella Frazier.  They were early Arizona pioneers in the Roosevelt area arriving several years before construction of the dam. They operated the Frazier General Store there for decades.  I remember visiting the store when I was little.

Being able to link my Arizona Trail hike to family history is a wonderful benefit to my journey.   The Arizona Trail is special that way, linking not only the many geographical wonders of the state, but also linking it's historical past.  Another great reason to get out and enjoy any or all of the Arizona Trail.

Dain, Lillian, Janice, Karen, Nate and Dave.
They are smiling because they are on the way
to Mexican food!!

My first day started out well, great weather and friends to join me for the first part of the day.  Actually they did the smart thing, they hiked the first 5 miles with me to the highway bridge crossing the lake, then they took the highway back to the trailhead (which was shorter).  This enabled them to get to the mexican food and adult beverages sooner.  Later in the day I was really wishing that I had joined them.  (and from the stories
I hear, it was quite the lunch!!!!)

The day was a little warm, and after the bridge is a lot of climbing.  In addition to that it was just one of those days that I just didn't have my "A" game.  In fact I don't think I had my "C" game.  That made for a very long uphill afternoon.  Needless to say I stopped my day earlier than anticipated knowing that I had a lot more climbing ahead of me the next day.

The trail crosses the bridge. You can see part of the trail on the
other side as it climbs the hill

Setting up camp the first night I noticed my first bear poo of the hike.  I was camping by a dry stream, the droppings were old (luckily) so I wasn't too concerned.  Little did I know that this would be just the first of many bear poo encounters over the next two days.

So, not sure what bear poo looks like.  Click here Bear poo  for more information than you probably wanted to know.

The second day started with some more climbing, but I was feeling better.  One of the neat things about this hike was the fact that for most of the hike you have some spectacular views of Roosevelt Lake and the Verde River valley.  It is also a narrow trail on a really steep sideslope.  These types of trail are really neat to hike, except when you start thinking about what other things might be on the trail.

This segment of trail had more bear poo than I have seen in all my hikes put together.  Not a real comforting thought when you consider there aren't too many options of where to go.  Now I knew that this late in the season seeing a bear was not too likely, but when you are alone and only talking to yourself, that knowledge is not as clear.  In the end, I never saw a bear, but I also didn't sleep as well at night as I might have otherwise.

Sycamore Creek

The last day of the hike was along a long Forest Service road and then turned to the west ending along Sycamore Creek.  The fall colors were pretty spectacular and the pictures I'm posting really don't do it justice.  (It was windy and a bit dusty by the time I took these photos)

In the end, a great hike, enjoyed with good friends, and some amazing family history.  I now have about 155 miles remaining on my journey.  I'm sure they will be a challenge, but I'm already starting to wonder what comes next??






Below are some of the other sights from the trip, enjoy

This is a photo on the downriver side of Roosevelt Dam

Four Peaks Wilderness

More Fall Color!!

I wonder if the guys from "Fast and Loud" will give
me a finders fee for these??

May 3&4, 2013 Arizona Border with Mexico to Parker Canyon Lake (22.9 miles and 5,300 feet of climbing)

Trying to hold the AT bandanna, keep the hat on
and not get blown into Mexico!!

This was the last of my hikes for this winter/spring season and an enjoyable one to end the season.  I was able to share this hike with my friend Steve Lingwall and his brother Nathan.  We also had great assistance from Mark LaPaglia, a longtime family friend. (Mark used to work for Victoria and I at the bike shop)  Mark is now a successful bike shop owner in Sierra Vista. If you are ever in Sierra Vista, please stop in and say hi to Mark and his staff at Sun n' Spokes.




Mark provided much needed transportation logistics as well as critical information about where to pig out (The Lodge, you can't miss it, Sasquatch is out in front) while we were in Sierra Vista.

This is written in Spanish on the opposite side.

Steve and Nathan weren't quite as smart as Lillian, Dain, Ernie and Andrea were a couple of weeks ago as they agreed to accompany me on the entire hike, although I'm sure there were times they questioned that logic over the course of the hike!!!

There is always one in the crowd!!!  I bet some of
Steve's class photos looked like this!!  We were smiling here, not
so much two hours and several thousand feet later.

I dare you to drink that!!!  This is "Bathtub Spring.  Who puts a
bathtub in the middle of nowhere??  I'm not sure who, but
hikers in this area are ever grateful.

This hike is the first passage of the Arizona Trail, but is unique because to get to the border you have to hike south from the Montezuma Pass TH and then back-track back to the TH.  To make things easier, we decided to do that portion on Friday, then tackle the rest of the hike on Saturday.  That was definitely a good decision.

Our hike on Friday was enjoyable and provided time to take lots of photos at the border and do some sightseeing at the Coronado National Monument.  It was also the windiest day I have had so far on the Arizona Trail.  Winds were steady at 20+ mph with gusts probably 30-40 mph.  We figure we ate a few pounds of dust each.

We have to hike all the way to the lake??  Who's idea was this?

The hike on Saturday was about 19 miles, but it included a climb up above 9,000 feet in elevation and many miles at between 7,500 and 8,500.  (Believe it or not, this is the highest point on the Arizona Trail and you are only about 6 miles from the Mexican Border)










For desert dwellers like us elevation like that makes for a challenging  outing.  It was windy again, but not quite as bad as the previous day.  The unfortunate part of both windy days was that it severely hampered the views, which would have been stunning without the dusty haze.

Again, this was one of the passages where there are many stories, warnings and online posts about issues with illegal border crossers using the AZT and creating confusing trail networks.  My experience was just the opposite over the past few months.  I found the trails well marked and maintained.  I never saw or heard anything that threatened me and I never experienced large amounts of trash.  In fact, this passage was one of the better maintained and marked segments, especially considering the amount of miles that are inside the Wilderness area.

Old technology, still working!!!

April 20th, 2013 Patagonia to Gardner Canyon TH, (22.4 miles and 3,200 feet of climbing)

This was one of two day hikes I had planned this winter/spring.  After the last three day hike it was a welcome trip, even if it was a bit long.  There are a few nice things about a day hike, first it is over in one day, sleep in a bed, no freeze dried meals etc.  Second, you only have to carry a day pack, much nicer than a backpack with three days worth of supplies.  Lastly, it offered a chance for some friends to join me on the hike.  This was a nice addition and one I also will write about after my May 4th hike.

Great views looking back southeast towards Patagonia

For this hike I was joined by my friends Lillian and her husband Dain and Ernie and his sister Andrea.  But before you begin thinking I hang out with a bunch of other crazies willing to hike 22 miles in a day, my friends are much smarter than I am.

It is amazing where you can find water in AZ

Lillian and Dain dropped me off in Patagonia (beginning point of my hike) and then drove to the ending point (Gardner Canyon TH).  They met Ernie and Andrea there and hiked in from the other side, taking their time, enjoying the scenery.  In fact, Lillian and Dain hiked in about 6 miles, found a nice stream with big shady trees and had lunch and took it easy waiting for me.  (When I finally got there Lillian had found a nice spot formed by the roots/trunk of a large sycamore tree and was napping peacefully.  She says resting, I say napping).  Ernie and Andrea had turned around earlier and we caught them on the way out, not too far from the trailhead parking.

I was a little worried about this hike, it starts with a 14 mile uphill route mostly on a Forest Service Road.  I envisioned lots of vehicles, eating a lot of dust and not much in the way of scenery.  The result was much different, I only saw one vehicle, the scenery was good approaching Mt. Wrightson and the climb was mostly gradual (except for the last portion).

Mt.Wrightson was clearly visible all day.  

When I finally caught up to Lillian and Dain, the remainder of the hike was along an old water line alignment used by miners hoping to find gold in the area.  The remaining walk was relatively flat and easy with great views and interesting history.

One of the other great things about a good day hike like this, we get to stop for Mexican food and beer on the way home.  Ernie knew this great little place in Tucson and we enjoyed a great after hike meal.

History Lesson on the hike!!!

From a distance, those trees look like just another part of the mountain

March 21-23, 2013 Molina Basin TH to Tiger Mine Road TH.  (47.5 miles and a whopping 10,650 feet of climbing).

Not many folks have seen this view!!

Well, this was one of those hikes where you have to be careful what you wish for.  After my two previous hikes I was a little bored with rolling, grassy hills.  This hike definitely was neither of those as you can tell from the climbing number above.  In the spirit of being totally transparent, my mileage total was really a bit over 50, more on that later.  The three themes of this hike: OE, climbing, and the color purple.


Special thanks to Debra and Albert for making sure my car was at the trailhead at the end of the hike.

I knew going in that this hike offered a bunch of climbing in the first two days and mostly downhill on the third.  I didn't realize that I was going to be hiking a few extra miles the first day, which also added to the climbing total.  And as much as I would like to blame the maps, the GPS or random act of nature, I cannot.  It was totally OE (operator error).  Sometimes the day is going so well, you feel really good, you just don't take the time to fully read and understand all the information before you.  So although I'm not counting the extra miles in my total above, I'm definitely counting the extra climbing!!!

Other than my navigational problems, the first day was a great hike.  A little up and down, through some really interesting trail, great views and water everywhere.  Sycamore Canyon was spectacular and a very enjoyable walk.  I can definitely see why this area is so popular with the hiking community from Tucson.

This photo and the two to the left are near Hutch's pool.
What a great spot for lunch.

My goal was to reach Romero Pass and camp there for the night.  I accomplished that, although a bit later than I had expected.  This was really the last flat spot before climbing up Mt. Lemmon.  It turned out to be a  good choice.  It was a bit windy in the late afternoon, but it died down as the sun set which helped me get some rest for the climb the following day.

It was hard to believe it was spring, not fall with these colors

There is no better way to start the day than a 6 mile climb, right!!!  My climb started as soon as I left camp and ended several hours later (it seemed like days).  It took me about 4.5 hours to hike the 8 miles to Summerhaven which is almost double what it would take me over a normal route.  But as is the norm with the AZ Trail, the scenery was great, especially through the Wilderness of Rocks.  I only took a couple of photos though because I knew if I started I would never make it out of there.

I knew I was going through downtown Summerhaven ont this trip, so I planned my meal schedule around that.  I got into Summerhaven around lunchtime and stopped at the pizza and cookie place.  Sure beats freeze dried food anytime.  After leaving Summerhaven, the trip really got interesting.

Better than freeze dried any day!!

I had been protected from the wind because of the terrain, but as soon as I left Summerhaven and started on the Oracle Ridge trail, the wind was relentless.  I spent the next day and a half cursing it, trying to not get blown down the mountain and generally wishing someone would just turn it off.  (I slept very little on night two, the wind continually whipping my tent back and forth and the noise sounded like I was sleeping next to an interstate highway.)  And that wasn't the most challenging part of this trail.

Wilderness of Rocks.  I could have easily
spent a day here just taking photos

The Oracle Ridge trail heads from Summerhaven at almost 9,000 feet, down to Oracle at about 5,000 feet.  And while some of this trail is a gentle downhill, there was an awful lot of very steep segments, with very loose rocks.  Some of it was singletrack, some old two track roads.  I will take a good climb any day over a very steep downhill road, with lots of loose rocks and carrying a 30lb pack.  This is where the color purple comes in.

I was about 3/4 through my day two hike, when I caught a loose rock on a steep downhill two track and rolled my ankle.  Vicki said I couldn't take a photo and post it to the blog to attract sympathy.  So I'm writing about it instead, still hoping for sympathy from somewhere!!  Vicki's rule with the kids as they grew up was always "you play, you pay".  She doesn't use that with the kids anymore, but I hear it often:)

A slightly sore ankle and more wind made day three more of a chore than I had hoped.  But in the end I was able to hike and enjoy the remainder of the trip. I've been pretty fortunate so far on my journey and if this is as bad as it gets I'm not complaining.  Although I'm still looking for a little sympathy on the ankle.

This is the view looking north on day one.  On the very highest ridge you
can see the communication towers on the top of Mt Lemmon.

Same ridge looking south towards the end of day 2.  It is amazing
sometimes to look back and realize you walked all that way.