From the AT finish in July 2023 to June 2024

It’s weird being done with the PCT, CDT and AT. What next? A few years ago when I was back at Doc Campbell’s in New Mexico on another “warm up” section hike, a Grand Enchantment Trail (the GET) hiker was also there, hanging with the CDT hikers, before he resumed his east bound hike to Albuquerque. He laughed and said, “The GET is where Triple Crowners go to die.” Meaning, I think, that once you’ve achieved Triple Crown status, you don’t stop hiking, you just find other challenges.

Anyway, after finishing the AT in 2023, I went back to the Sierra and hiked with my buddies Sunset, Lonesome Duck and Disco. It was a big snow year so even in July, a lot remained. I know it was a challenge for the 2023 NOBO PCT hikers and we met some on the trail who had delayed their starts from Mexico so as to not have to deal with too much snow travel.

I always enjoy these guys (even if one of them has an alternate trail name bestowed by Puff Puff in 2019, “my favorite grumpy old guy), and we chose to do a stretch of the JMT out of Red’s Meadow up to Lake Virginia and then back out to Mammoth via Duck Pass. We took a peek from the JMT down, down, down to Tully Hole and said, “nope.” The Tully Troopers we’re calling ourselves. There were surprisingly few JMT hikers so we had no problems finding campsites for our 4 tents.

My next trek was scheduled around the Foo Fighters tickets I bought for a concert in Stateline, Nevada. The Tahoe Rim Trail (TRT) is about 175 miles around the lake, only about 50 miles of which don’t allow bicycles. Those 50 miles are collocated with the PCT. And there were a few rogue riders who ignored the trail etiquette of yielding to hikers. You can guess my reaction. And still, I loved this trail, non-stop beauty and Lake Tahoe views. Frequent access to resupply, so my pack wasn’t too heavy. And I was as acclimated because of the Tully Troopers hike at altitude. Lots of people, but I could live here anyway…

ALDHA-West Triple Crown of Hiking ceremony!!! Near Mount Hood, Oregon, September 2023.

2023-2024 Snowboard interlude

Later in April, back to the CDT in New Mexico to get in hiking shape for the Grand Canyon.

Grand Canyon

We gathered at lodging on the South Rim the day before dayhiking rim to rim. The plan was 8 miles down the South Kaibab Trail, then 14 up the North Kaibab. It was a beautiful day, incredible scenery every minute of the long day, and really hard work. Some in our group finished in about 11 hours, others in more than 15 hours. I was around 12 1/2 with plenty of microbreaks. Water wasn’t an issue, there are potable water sources, which is good but kinda freaky, and natural sources which I’m used to.

Charles was waiting for a van load of hikers to gather at the trailhead and drive us the 2 miles to our lodging on the North Rim, thanks again, Charles! I checked into my cozy cabin and got a call from friend Steve McKeever from the cafeteria. “Better get over here, they’re running out of food!” I managed to make it in time to eat, whew.

We all took a zero the next day but gathered at the General Store for snacks and the group photo. My legs were killing me, so I decided not to hike back the following day, reasoning when I did the Arizona Trail SOBO in the Fall, I’d get to anyway. Yeah right, what a wimp. Instead I got a 5 hour car ride with Merrideane and Leslie back to the South Rim. Great conversation and views, no regrets!

Next? After some time off I will go back to New Mexico for the 500 mile Northern New Mexico Loop which starts and ends in Santa Fe and includes about 150 Continental Divide Trail (CDT) miles that I’ve hiked previously.