11/16/21 10 miles Someone's alarm goes off in the dark cabin at 5:55 a.m. Noooo! That's ok through, I don't mind being awake. The world is so cool and full of such cool things! Shade makes a pot of motel coffee and I drink some out of my silicone camp cup and that's great too. … Continue reading Arizona trail day 33: rattlesnake, period, sunset, perfect day

11/15/21 19 miles In spite of the day's heat, our camp next to the water trough is cold enough that I have to actually get inside my sleeping bag and zip it up. I forgot how cozy and comfortable this is, and I experience a wave of pleasure as I cinch the hood around my … Continue reading Arizona trail day 32: heat, again

11/14/21 24 miles In the middle of the night when I wake to pee the moon is there, shining brightly in my face. The moon! Our friend the moon is back! A little more than half full. We started this trip with the moon, and the moon is gonna carry us through to the end. … Continue reading Arizon Trail day 31: helping the sun come up

11/13/21 12 miles Norm's IGA in Kearny gives free coffee and a donut to AZT hikers. A kindly clerk tells us this as we're wandering around their deli, selecting chaotic foods for breakfast- a cobb salad, some cold pork ribs, diet coke, potato salad, a giant spicy pickle, a mexican cookie shaped like a pig. … Continue reading Arizona trail day 30: Kearny

11/12/21 16 miles. It's so hot. I mean I know in the last section I was being a weenie about even mild heat, and then yesterday I felt like I'd finally adjusted! But today it's actually hot. Alan's watch says 94 degrees. We're contouring above the Gila river on nicely graded, beautifully groomed trail, as … Continue reading Arizona trail day 29: cooked

9/11/21 22 miles For breakfast, MJ feeds us the best gluten free waffles I've ever had. Plus a mountain of bacon. I drink orange juice and coffee on top of it and now my stomach hurts, but I'm not mad about it. MJ shuttles us to the trailhead. She's so generous! And gracious about helping … Continue reading Arizona trail day 28: Saguaro dream trail

11/9 and 11/10 4 miles MJ the trail angel meets us at the Hewitt Station trailhead, where the sun is rising over the saguaros. She's wearing lavender, has lavender hair, there are purple wings painted on the side of her car. I am immediately into her vibe. She tells us she moved to Superior four … Continue reading Arizona trail day 26 and 27: MJ’s dream house

11/8/21 21 miles I've never had a trail name before. My name, Carrot, is so weird already that I've never wanted one. But now I have three- Snakeflusher Clownmouth Rawdog. Snakeflusher because Matthew is afraid of snakes now so whenever there's grass I have to walk ahead, to "flush the rattlesnakes", clown mouth because I … Continue reading Arizona trail day 25: rawdog

11/7/21 21 miles I wake at 4 a.m. for some godawful reason. I feel... bonkers tired today. Oh well. I guess I'll walk, because that's the only option on a thru-hike. Tired? Walk. Sick? Walk. Sad? Walk. Etc. I am extra stumbly on the descent to the suspension bridge over roosevelt lake, and my ankles … Continue reading Arizona trail day 24: molasses

11/6/21 26 miles The zipper on my sleeping bag is breaking- it keeps coming open in sections after I zip it. And my neo-air seems to be deflating more than the usual once per night. Between that and the fact that we've been getting to camp late on account of the slower miles, and also … Continue reading Arizona trail day 23: wiped