Ponder the path of your feet: then all your ways will be sure. ~Proverbs 4:25-27
Updated January 17, 2021
So excited…
I am starting to hike the Arizona Trail in a couple of days. Normally a thru-hike this time of year would not be possible for me, but I am a newly retired teacher. So as my son’s friend said to me, “The world is your oyster.” Pretty cool when you think of life in that light. Lots of choices.
I have decided to break this 800 mile trail into two parts, hike northbound in April from Mexico to Pine at the Mongollon Rim (460 miles) during the wildflower season and hike the second half, 340 miles southbound from the the Utah/Arizona border during fall color season in the late fall. This schedule was recommended in the guidebook for the Arizona Trail. Plus, it fits nicely to getting me back home in a few weeks for some spring skiing.
Lucky me, I am meeting and starting the trail with Leslie, trail name Tour Guide. She is hiking the entire trail, then after finishing the trail, she is spending some time bike packing. Leslie and her husband, Keith are fine human beings, athletes, and trail angels. Just last year, Why Not and I were spoiled rotten during our stay at their home in Banff while hiking the Great Divide Trail. Here is one of my favorite photos I took of Tour Guide just outside of my hometown, Tehachapi in 2012.
Follow Along
- My hope is to continue my tradition of writing a daily trail journal from my tent. I love sharing the diverse experiences and joy of hiking. AND… I always love reader’s comments. Your input, questions, and encouragement makes a big difference. Thank you so much.
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What is the Arizona Trail
The Arizona Trail (AZT) is a rugged and beautifully wild long-distance trail stretching from the borders of Mexico to Utah. Traversing 800 miles, it climbs up and over southern Arizona’s signature sky islands, weaves through extraordinary desert landscapes and mountains, and travels over Arizona’s high country, all before it passes through the iconic Grand Canyon.
The Arizona Trail has it’s own vocabulary and organization. It is divided into sections called Passages and trail towns are called Gateway Communities. From all my reading and the AZT Facebook page, there are friendly hiker support systems with rides to and from towns and some stocking of important water caches. I am really looking forward to experiencing this trail community and Arizona trail life.
Planning
Prepping for a longer hike takes a bit of organization. I have of late become a creature that makes to-do lists. Not just a basic brief list, long detailed lists. Sounds weird, but it works fantastic and takes the stress of remembering all the little things to be done off me and puts it right onto the paper. I used this strategy for my Arizona Trail planning for food, gear, and logistics. I also created a Google Drive folder that houses maps, itineraries, contact information, links, water sources, town information etc. I save the individual files for offline use and also share the folder with family members.
Resources
There is a plethora of information on this trail that is well-done. Here are the main resources I am using.
GPS – Guthook Atlas App This will be my main source of info for navigation, water sources, and town information.
Guidebook – Your Complete Guide to the Arizona Trail (Kindle Version)
Maps – Join the Arizona Trail Association to get full access to maps and a databook- Arizona Trail Website
The Arizona Trail Association’s website – This website is very organized and is packed with valuable trail data.
Arizona Trail Class of 2019 Facebook page – Get ready… this is a very active group that are quick to respond online with questions, reports, and requests.
Resupply
There are many small gateway communities along the way, which makes for less big food hauls. I am sending food resupply boxes to the following towns: Patagonia, Vail, Oracle, Kearny, and Roosevelt.
Gear
I changed up a couple of things for this trail because of heat and possible water carries. I am bringing an umbrella (full size for more protection), extra 2 liter platypus for water, changing my Neoair Xtherm for my NeoAir Xlite Womens (night temps will be warmer), leaving my big camera behind (substituting with my iPhone), and a titanium pot/mug with a small stove instead of my Jetboil.
My base weight (all gear without water and food) is around 11 pounds.
View my Complete Backpacking Gear List
Food
Readers often ask how I put together my healthy gluten and dairy free trail dinners. Preparation is some work, but on trail I love that they only need boiling water to cook and are delicious and nutritious.
Here is what I do before I hit the trail.
After that is all done I line up all the breakfasts, snacks, lunches, and dinners to load into resupply boxes and/or my pack.
I have been using this system for years and it works for our family.
I am looking forward to sharing this trail with you.
Rockin’
Congrats on retirement! Yay, another adventure. I’m looking forward to following along.
Excited for you … and very envious! I live vicariously through your reports … You Rock!!
So glad to have you start on another adventure and love the area you will be hiking in. We love the little town of Patagonia and camp south of there every time we can make the winter trip. Will be looking forward to your FB posts as I am not a Instagramer. Good luck and happy hiking!!!
Rockin,
I’ve hiked the southern 3/4 the last 3 springs with my brother and hope to finish this fall to Utah. Maybe we’ll meet on the trail. Have a great time. The flowers should be abundant this year.
Whitebeard, hope to see you out there on the trail. It is a good year to hike the AZT.
Fantastic information. As always you recommended gear I don’t think I can live without! What is that thing that holds baggies open while you fill them with food?
Glad the lists help. Google ziploc holder and it will come. It is super handy.
Thanks for the detail about food prep. I’ve always wondered how one makes the jump from weekender to long distance hiker. I always carry too much food and drag it home with me. How hard was it to dial in your daily caloric needs?
To be honest, I really don’t look at calories. I just fill up a quart size ziplock and that is a day of food without dinner.
Can NOT wait! My daughter loves SW UT and she’ll love this, I can tell.
Fantastic! Thanks for the support. I am really looking forward to the desert sunrises and sunsets.
How exciting! I get to follow along on another one of your adventures <3 Thanks for posting your pack list. I've used yours in the past to gradually collect things I need for backpacking. I've gone on a handful of weekend trips with my partner. I had asked you before how you met Arrow. This year, I signed up for a lightweight backpacking all women's trip. I hope to meet some future adventure buddies. Your trips provide so much inspiration! Do you have any favorite books on dehydrating or do you just wing it? I did get a dehydrator this year – but I've only tried fruit and fruit leather so far.
Well hello! You are crushing it with the networking and backpacking. Way to go! The last few years I have used the Internet and Google for inspiration and adventure in dehydrating.
http://www.backpackingchef.com Chef Glenn has amazing dehydrating info on his site, lots of recipes, a great non-spam newsletter, and some e-books. Great resource! Also great recipes at http://www.excaliurdehydrator.com, even if yours if a different brand.