Hiking Dude Blog

I walked 52982 steps on the trail today.
I traveled about 23 miles today.
Thanks to 10 easy miles on forest road, we reached Sycamore Creek tonight with an hour of daylight. That made it easier to set up camp, get water, and cook dinner. It's still a very short evening and I'm in my bed now before 9pm. But, since hiking starts again by 6:30 in the morning, the rest is needed.
There was some awful overgrowth on the trail yesterday and today, making it very tough going much of the time. Unfortunately, it sounds like the Matzatal Wilderness is worse and we hit it tomorrow.
If all goes well tomorrow, I should cross the 400mile mark.

Well, at least I know AZ has some good shots and they can hit a sign.
I followed the tracks of an elk for a few hours through the Four Peaks Wilderness, but never saw it. High hopes for viewing elk past Flagstaff. Today, the goal is Sycamore Creek and good water!

I walked 41713 steps on the trail today.
I traveled about 16.5 miles today.
After two long hike days, we kept today a bit shorter. It wasn't easy, though. There was over 3000ft of elevation and we're camped at over a mile high. The temp is down to 37 and it's just 8pm so I get to find out how well my quilt works.
Camp is on the only slightly level place around this entire mountain we've climbed. There's no room to set up tents so we are sleeping open to the stars and critters.
I'm just about in the middle of the Four Peaks Wilderness. Tomorrow, Pigeon Spring is 5 miles down the trail and our best bet for water. If it's dry, we may need to hike with no water for another 10 miles.
I've been using the solar charger provided by Northern Star Council to keep this phone going and it has worked wonderfully. Arizona is a perfect place for solar!
Also, I've gotten some fun pics of myself by attaching my Stick Pic to my trek pole - but I'll have to post those later.

we packed up and were on our way when Ben asked if we'd like some breakfast. Well, what self-respecting thru-hiker would ever turn down a meal?
So, here I am having bacon and eggs on the beach beside a beautiful lake, in the desert, with the sun just rising. Oh, the people you meet!
Ben lives here out of his little pick-up, enjoying life fishing and chatting with his neighbors. I could think of a lot worse ways to live out a life.
Check out my current location on the map.

Another 25 mile day but with much more fun and adventure.
I had to reach the Roosevelt Marina by 4pm to pick up my food box or else wait until 8am the next day. So I fasthiked ahead of PapaBear for a few hours and got there just in time. I also bought some pop and ice so we had a treat when he arrived.
On the morning hike, we ran into Swami who is hiking SOBO as part of his huge year of hiking. You can find out more about it at HikingLife.com
We had to find a place to camp around town so we walked down by the lake. As it turns out, there is a community of campers in there RVs, trucks, and tents that practically live here for months. We said HI to some of them until one asked what we were doing. Once we started talking, and they got to know us, they invited us to visit their campfire later. Well, we wound up uaving drinks, steak, and applesauce provided by our new friends. It was a very enjoyable evening with Bill, Diane, Ben, and Jerry. Plus, we have a nice, quiet, flat place for our tents. A nice time with new folks makes the work of the day fade away.
I walked 58968 steps on the trail today.
I traveled about 26 miles today.

I walked 59531 steps on the trail today.
I traveled about 26 miles today.
Back on the trail to Utah after a wonderful rest in Tempe. It's about 50 miles to Roosevelt, AZ so we did half today and hopefully half tomorrow. I have a food box waiting for me there.
Montana mountain climb was grueling but the rest of the hike was good. Reavis ranch was a known water source so we pushed on into the dark hiking but found water in Reavis Creek and a flat spot in the trail to stop. It was a long day.
Met some folks out doing botanical research by the trail and asked them about cactus and other plants. Also passed a family that had gotten lost but were now on their way back to the trailhead.
Since we've gained elevation, it is cooling off quickly tonight.

Spent today with PapaBear in Tempe trying to regain some lost weight and get a few things taken care of.
This pic is from the top of Mica Mt a few days ago. It's a cool camp high in a majestic pine forest with views forever.
Chuck at REI was very helpful with the tips of my trek poles which are wearing out. He found a spare part that fit so I have a spare for when one finally fails. A few more oz to carry, but some insurance.
Got 2 days of food to get me to Roosevelt Marina where I've already sent a 4-day box. It's about 50 miles.
To gain weight, I had a large DQ chocolate shake, onion rings, bacon, eggs, biscuits, peanut butter, milk, clam chowder, apple, banana, 2 oranges, snap peas, grapes, and am now having dinner of chicken, cowboy beans, french fries, and cake. That should help a little!
I'll tell you more about PapaBear later.

I walked 29416 steps on the trail today.
I traveled about 13 miles today.
Picket Post Mountain was the end of today's hike, close to Superior AZ. An early start got us walking in cool temps but some cactus needles in a leg, overgrown trail, chatting with hikers and bikers slowed us down a bit. We got to the trailhead just fine, got phone coverage, and our ride to Tempe picked us up.
So, another short backpacking trip is complete. After resting a day, I'll start a week long trip to Pine.

Met these veteran hikers on the trail. Each of them have over 10000 miles under their boots and 3 have done the Triple Crown. I'm such a newb!
We also met 3 bikers - one was the prettiest girl since the Mexico border. My wife said I couldn't meet any 'hiker' chicks but nothing about 'biker' chicks.
On the way to Tempe for a break now.

Nothing better than a choir of songbirds waking you up just a few minutes before the alarm goes off. Here's the view from my room this morning. The Hilton doesn't have a lobby like this!