Tmcorcoran - Arizona Trail Journal - 2017

View: 1  2  3  4  5 
(Click image for full size)


Four Peaks at Dawn

Great Final Day

If yesterday was a day of craziness, today was a day that brought out the joys of through hiking. The night was cold, but only got down to 38. Felt like a heat wave compared to the night before. At 4 am I got up for one last look at the stars, and saw in great detail Scorpio and the Serpent Holder as well as a very distinct milky way.

We started out with a brisk uphill to get the blood circulating, then it was mostly downhill. And mostly gradual, not the steep and rocky ball bearings of yesterday. We had some rocky stretches in Sycamore Canyon, which was supposed to be too difficult for horses and not recommended for bikes, but many stretches of it were smooth and beautiful, with, of course, sycamore trees all up and down.

We took a nice break there and talked about our days together and Smurf's days ahead. He will go on for a few more days and then hop up with Mama Smurf to the Grand Canyon where he will cross it while in hiking shape. Mrs. T. and I have plans for lots of things in April so I will be heading home and glad to see her! Smurf and I will plan to do the rest of the trail next year, and I'll try to fill in my gaps during the year as time allows. We had a nice solitary walk through the canyon to contemplate the beauty of nature, then the trail joined a road where we met a couple of guys, Roy and ?, who are hiking the AZT in sections.

Poppa Smurf and I finished our walk together and went down the Cemetery Trail to the Lake Roosevelt Marina, where Mama Smurf met us and we joined Peter Pan for a very enjoyable "grill your own" burger. Then back to the trailhead where we took some final photos and wished Smurf the best as he moves onward. Thank you Poppa Smurf for getting me out here, being my mentor, for your patience, and all you have taught me. Mama Smurf took me back to the hotel in Superior where my truck awaits. Thank you to MamaS for being our support all along the way, for your support to all the others along the trail, and for your good humor for all of it.

Thank you to Brother and Sister Smurf for your warm hospitality so many times in the Tucson area. Thanks to Marnie at the Chalet Village in Oracle for getting water to us at Freeman Road, to Amy at the Copper Mountain in Superior for letting me keep my car there, and to both for all they do for hikers. Thanks to Sequoia at Freeman Road and all the other trail angels. And especially thanks to Mrs. T. for putting up with all my craziness. I love you.

It is nice to look forward to home and a warm bed but it is also sad to leave the trail. I know this has made me stronger and it has been a privilege to be out here. Safe and happy journeys to all hikers.

Entry 29 of 29
First  :: Previous  :: Next :: Last