4/19-4/24

I started hiking the Arizona Trail from the border north…uh, whoops, I turned around out of the falling snow after contacting True North who had just dropped me off after the 2 hour shuttle from Tucson airport. Jenn came back to the trailhead and took me to the Hampton Inn in Sierra Vista where I finally warmed up and took off my down jacket.

4/20 Day 1 (9.8 miles) The next morning, 420 and Easter Day (I had some hard boiled eggs for breakfast, does that count?) I got an Uber to the Coronado Visitor Center and started uphill under clear skies. Today was 10 miles from about 6000’ to 9000’, 8:30-5:00. I got to the water source at last, Bathtub Spring, loaded up on water to get me into the next day, and found a campsite a ways uphill. It was cool, but not cold. I set my tent just below the ridge out of the wind but facing east for the morning’s warming rays. Quiet, peaceful, lovely.

The beginning days of these long hikes are always going to get me, so I plan shorter mile days and carry an extra dinner just in case. But today was still weird. Border patrol in vehicles and tramping the trail. Day hikers coming down the trail.

A dad leashed his Aussie as his family of 3 came towards me. The dog nipped me anyway after the humans said hello, fortunately I was wearing my tights so she didn’t break the skin. Dad said, “she’s never done that” and actually looked stunned (also military). Later I wished I’d told him that sometimes dogs weirded out because a hiker had hiking poles (clicking or just looking like weapons? I don’t know.) I felt bad for the dad actually, and tried to tell him it was just a dog being a dog. I’d forgot the hiking sticks and non-trail dog aberration. Still, I have a lovely bruise 5 days later.

4/21 (13.8 miles) was less strenuous, downs as well as ups. It did get quite cold last night, but my layers worked. Today I wore my trekking tights till 11am, fleece till noon. Having to carry water and think about where to camp is a pain. Camp too early to be close to water, or pick up enough to get me to the next day and how ever many miles to the next source? Water is HEAVY.

The Uber driver was a hunter and told me about some of the animals I could hope to see in the Borderlands. I saw a deer, 3 turkeys, an AZT hiker, an OG doing an overnight out-and-back hike, 1 Park guy, and 2 Border Patrol. Yeah, counting living things as I walk is a thing.

And I fell down in the flats, 2 scraped knees dammit. If it wasn’t for the wrinkles and gray hair, I pretty much look like I did in 6th grade now. I picked up water at a cache near a road and stumbled on to find a campsite. I’m starting this trail relatively late in the season, so the water caches might be good (never count on them though, as we hikers on the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) were told over and over in the desert of So Cal.

4/22 (12.4 miles) Saw no people today. Rocky, gravelly ups and downs. Warmer but with a breeze and scattered trees with shade. I took a zillion micro breaks. The 10 miles steep uphill on Day 1 really worked my calves. No injury, I just should have attempted to stay a little fitter this winter, my bad. I found another little campsite in line for morning sun after loading up 5 liters at a water cache to get me to the next source in 7 miles tomorrow.

4/23 (11.1 miles) I knew I wanted to get to Patagonia tomorrow, so I left a few miles to go, and camped early.

I saw my first 3 javelinas today! The photos suck, shooting into the sun. When they saw me, they each ran off a few yards, then froze, looking back at me. And seeing them explains the confusing scat I’d seen earlier. Looks like berry filled bear scat kinda. But no bear tracks. Ahhh, those small cloven hoof prints! Javelina!

.

Also a cyclist, Jacob, came by. I’d seen bicycle tracks ahead of me, so I knew it was a thing. And a Great Blue Heron I startled at a cow pond.

A good day, warmer yet again but the breeze on the ridges helps a lot. And tomorrow I have a reservation for 2 nights in Patagonia at the Stage Stop Inn.

4/24 (7.6)

Well the trail must have been easier cause I got to the road to Patagonia by 11 am. Based on comments in FarOut, I decided to call the Inn and see if someone could come get me, rather than hitch into town. Owner Jerry came right away, and since it’s apparently slack season, my room was ready so I was all checked in by 12:30. Shower, laundry, restaurant, post office to pick up my box.

And then real food! Chicken fajita tacos, coleslaw, Mother Road Turbo Tower Station IPA. The simple joys. Now to rest up my legs and back. Water is HEAVY….