AZT Day 24 – Beautiful Country on the Arizona Trail
“It’s beautiful country.” ~Clare Donaldson
AZT Mile 450.3 – 469.0
18.7 Miles
April 2, 2022
Today I felt like I was walking so slow. It might have been the 6 days of food I was carrying or that I have had a nagging nerve pain that starts in one butt cheek and runs down my leg. I literally am a pain in the butt.
The landscape today was so cool and unique with views of the Mogollon Rim and miles and miles of green forest and plentiful running water.
I am pretty beat tonight and hoping that tomorrow will be better. Lots of stretching tonight.
AZT Day 25 – Up Onto the Rim and Intermittent MUD
“We all have our moments.” ~from the Netflix Series, Midnight Mass
AZT Mile 469 – 489.7
20.7 miles
April 3, 2022
Interestingly, this morning’s climb up and view from the rim was anticlimactic. I guess I expected more.
The nerve pain in my butt that shoots down my leg continued today, but boy do I love Arizona’s forests. Open with tall trees. Every break I try to lay down stretch and enjoy looking up into the trees. So relaxing and a treat. The dreaded mud walking was not too bad, but does take more energy to wade through. Hoping mud stays doable from here to Flagstaff!
Today we had our first day we pulled water from a Cow Tank. It was not good, like chocolate milk. Luckily, a comment on Far Out app let us know there was pools of water up ahead. A cow tank is a large hole dug that is filled with rain and underground water for the purpose providing water for cows. AZT hikers get to reap the benefits. The weather has been cool with light breezes. Perfect for hiking.
AZT Day 26 – WooHoo/There Ya Go, Cow Tank to Cow Tank, Walking with the Elk
One of the best feelings I had growing up was being completely exhausted at the end of the day after playing outside all day.
~Jennifer Pharr Davis
AZT Mile 489.7 – 511.8
22.1 miles
April 4, 2022
Man we had a hard cold night. Both Michelle and I did not sleep much. We are super hungry today and blowing through our food. The plan is to walk into Lake Mormon tomorrow and get extra snacks for the next leg to Flagstaff.
The walk today was a gentle incline through beautiful forest following elk hoof prints. The water sources hopped from one cow tank to another. Yes there is mud, but not too bad and my pain in the butt is better. Just have to stretch.
Tonight we selected campsites up on a little ridge and pitched the tents nestled within clumps of small pines. It should be a warmer night. Campsite selection is everything.
AZT Day 27 – Mormon Lake and No FKTs Today
“Well no FKTs we’re made today.” -Dan Rosander
AZT Mile 511.8 – 533.6
21.8 miles
April 5, 2022
Started off day with lots of mud and we were cranky so we did some road walking to get to Mormon Lake. It was a great decision.
Mormon Lake is a little village that mostly closes in the winter. Nothing was open today except the little grocery store, showers, and laundry.
After scanning the store and buying all kinds of gluten and dairy free snacks, we headed to the laundromat to eat and recharge our electronics. We sat and ate 2 huge bags of potato chips, 1 apple, 2 bags of carrots, 2 Dr Peppers, 1 huge package of lunch meat, and a Perrier.
We did not do laundry or take a showers. Apparently eating took priority today.
We got some mud free miles in tonight and followed an old railroad track. We are feeling good and the vibe is high.
AZT Day 28 – Into Flagstaff We Go
“Things never stay just the same, any time. Change seems to be one of the few certainties in life. Just as well. But while we look forward eagerly to what is to come, we can thoughtfully appreciate the good that has been and what we have at the moment.”
― Eric Blehm, The Last Season
AZT miles 533.6 – 559.2
25.6 miles
April 6, 2022
It was a windy, cruising day with no mud, little elevation loss or gain, and very sparse water!!! We decided to go for it and hike into Flagstaff for our next resupply. There is an Urban Route of the Arizona Trail that leads straight through town and to our motel, Best Western Pony Inn Express.
By the time we hit town, we were thirsty, tired, exceptionally dirty, and hungry. Thankful to be in a soft bed tonight.
to be continued…
Hi Christy, it is so lovely to see you back again! I have missed you and your photos and blogs. Keep smiling, keep happy, and go well.
Best wishes
Barrie
Canberra, Australia
Always great to hear from you Barrie. Thank you for the encouragement. You rock all the way from Australia.
Nice blog. Thoughts of ‘Thinking Like A Mountain’ and Aldo Leopold. I didn’t see the family size bag of Lay’s or Ruffles strapped to the top of your kit.
Nope. The bag didn’t make it out of town. That was the plan. But..I had no control. Thinking like a mountain. Wow. “To think like a mountain means to have a complete appreciation for the profound interconnectedness of the elements in the ecosystems. It is an ecological exercise using the intricate web of the natural environment rather than thinking as an isolated individual.”
‘Thinking Like A Mountain’ by Susan Flader. It is her biography (her condensed thesis) of Aldo Leopold’s seminal work developing and ecology ethic. Univ. MO Press. One of my gems. Mogollon Rim and The Blue’s was always so exotic/fabled to me.
Just bought the book. Thank you!
Nice. I love my hardcover print. Embossed wolf protecting it’s venison meal . Bought it in early nineties.
Loving all your pictures on the AZT.
Thank you Marilyn. The forest on the Arizona Trail is so different than California. I loved how open and healthy the trees are. Very refreshing.