One Chilly (Excessive) Desert
Arizona Path | Week 1
Days 1-2
Prologue | Welcome Again
Thanks for tuning in right here & studying my blogs. It means a considerable quantity that you just’d take the time to learn what I’ve to say. Please take into accout, too, that I like to intermingle tales with info to complement the story and inform people about greatest apply, security, and environmental conservation. Now, let’s get on with the story of our AZT hike, which is just a few months outdated because it occurred December 2024-January 2025. We really feel it’s a narrative price discussing for a number of causes. Cheers and benefit from the learn!
Arizona Path | Goal
Climbing with a purpose- that was the intent behind out AZT winter hike. We had roughly 1.5 months to finish the path, in between Fall and Spring semesters for me (Wesley, aka Yeti Legs). I’d graduate in Might 2025 with a 3rd diploma, so I couldn’t simply skip it over to increase a hike if we would have liked to. That made issues a bit extra sophisticated, however fully doable. ~ 800 miles in 1.5 months (December 6, 2024, to January 17, 2025) put us someplace round 19 miles a day, common. The “goal” bit was as a result of we wished to “do one thing” different than simply hike, as pleasurable as that’s. To some stage we felt a bit egocentric for simply taking 1.5 months off of life to hike. Climbing is rewarding, however not what we’d name 100% pleasurable within the second as a result of it’s typically Sort II Enjoyable, however both approach, a slight sense of guilt urged a ardour venture together with this trek. We have now loads of pals who work within the movie business (particularly my spouse, Basecamp, the opposite half of the ‘we’ I hold referring to) so thought to ourselves,
“Hey, why don’t we make some kind of a documentary about this hike. However, not only a typical, ‘that is my journey, it’s stunning and laborious, and it’s all in regards to the individuals you meet,’ sort of documentary, however maybe one thing to do with conservation?”
In fact, fairly much more went into that dialog, however you get the thought. Being in Ecology, I communicated with the ATA (Arizona Path Affiliation) about what we may do that may be of some profit. They opted to not companion with us/our movie crew on the venture, however did provide us with the thought of amassing local weather information for observing impacts on the way forward for water administration. That’s fancy lingo for us taking a cute lil’ handheld (Kestrel 5500) climate meter to gather elevation, temperature, and RH (relative humidity) information alongside the route of the path in winter, to see how which may affect snowpack persistence (if it melts quicker or slower). Rating, that was our plan; a plan that I’d later understand the forests (or lack thereof) of AZ probably play an enormous position in. Quick ahead just a few months after establishing that “goal” and gaining just a little little bit of assist from some invested mountaineering model names, we started the AZT on December 6, 2024, from the Stateline Campground, heading south by Arizona.
Our good friend, Boondoggle, a fellow we’d met on the Pacific Crest Path, had picked us up from Colorado. He was making an attempt to hike “The Wave” in northern Arizona, so the time labored out completely. The three of us made the drive to Web page, AZ in a day, shadowed by a pair (Nina & Joey) that may hike the primary two days with us to gather drone and different footage to be used within the documentary. We had a common construction for the kind of footage we would have liked to gather for the documentary, however in the identical vogue that many issues in life current themselves, the ‘coronary heart’ of it was one thing we’d let the path direct us in the direction of.
Excessive desert panorama abut juniper/pinyon pine regimes.
Day 1 | December 6, 2024 | 16. 85 miles
On a bone-chillingly chilly morning, Basecamp, Nina, Joey, and I began out from the northern terminus. In the event you’ve ever hiked an extended path earlier than, you understand that there’s no cheering squad initially or end of a path hyping you up (except you set up them to be there, that’s), however we had a nipping breeze, and Boondoggle cheering our begin that day. I simply need to emphasize the point out of “chilly or chilling” right here, as a result of it was chilly on that path in December. Highs for this and the subsequent few weeks could be within the 40’s/low 50’s, and lows have been virtually all the time under freezing with an all-time low temperature of about 3 levels F. The primary stretch of the AZT, heading south, is alongside the Kaibab Plateau, a part of the Colorado Plateau, which sits above 8000′ ft in elevation a lot of the approach. It’s a plateau internet hosting a excessive desert.
One of many many gates alongside the AZT. Basecamp and I are proven.
That first day got here and went, reasonably uneventfully, however it was nice to maneuver our legs and nice to take action with Nina and Joey. The 2 of them would periodically cease to snap images, extract some video recording of assorted moments, and even haul out a drone to buzz above us capturing panorama panoramas of Pinyon pine, juniper, and banana yucca. Each Joey and Nina had executed a lash on the Appalachian Path, and different backpacking journeys, so that they have been no novices to the rhythm of a typical day on path. We’d deliberate to satisfy Boondoggle, who had a automobile and was in a position to drive forward for an intercept meetup level, at a chosen intersection the place we may all pitch for the night time. Chaotic turkey prints danced on the path and surrounding floor, maybe a battle or territorial scuffle in muddy soil as a latest snowfall had been melting. There have been small patches of snow right here and there, however nothing noteworthy. We’d been chilly a lot of the day, however every day temperatures have been nonetheless heat sufficient to slowly thaw the remaining bits of snow that clung to shady spots.
We linked with Boondoggle, pitched our tents, squeezed on all our layers earlier than having dinner in a circle, after which mentioned “Goodnight!” to 1 one other earlier than crawling into our tents and luggage. Basecamp and I have been fortunate sufficient to have 20 F Hyperion sleeping luggage which, when mixed with a 20 F sleeping bag liner and a wholesome mummy-up zip, was greater than cozy within the sub-freezing temperatures of Arizona. You’d be shocked to listen to this, however there was an excellent little bit of humidity within the air which added to that “bone chill” issue, and heightened want to swiftly retire to our tent.
We’ve all the time thought of ourselves campers, as an alternative of hikers. Which is humorous as a result of we are inclined to get to camp late most days after 20-30+ mile pushes, however after we sit down at night time and discuss our day, at the least one among us typically says one thing like,
“Man, it feels so good to be at camp and in our luggage for the night time!”
“Inform me about it,” the opposite would possibly say, “mountaineering is fantastic, however I look ahead to our beds at night time!”
Thick forest earlier than camp on the finish of Day 1.
Day 2 | December 7, 2024 | 18.32 miles
It was troublesome to tear ourselves from the consolation of our cozy setup, and even a bit painful packing up camp, regardless of gloves, as a result of our fingers would tingle and spike with ache from the chilly. The method of packing up took us an hour, simply, however we did it and set out with the entire crew. Boondoggle was mountaineering again to his automobile, and Joey/Nina have been mountaineering with us till about 6 miles north of Jacob’s Lake, which was a comfort retailer/restaurant/fuel station/campground/a part of the Kaibab Nationwide Forest all bundled up into one. The explanation for that- they wanted to cost just a few issues (digicam gear) up for us forward of time at Jacob’s Lake and anticipate us to slack pack there. After which, effectively, their automobile was nonetheless at Stateline Campground, so Boondoggle wanted to drive them there to choose it up. A great deal of logistics these first two days, I do know, however I’ll clarify this in a second.
As Boondoggle peeled off from the herd in the direction of his automobile some 3 miles outdoors of camp, the 4 of us hiked on and off collectively discussing the day earlier than, movie/images settings, life, and no matter else hikers focus on in the midst of nowhere. There was a wildlife tank (principally a large vessel of cement and metallic that collects precipitation) that we stopped at to gather some water, and to indicate Joey & Nina the advantage of a prized piece of drugs we’d introduced with us: water therapy tablets.
Aspect tangent on water filtration/therapy: Particularly, these have been Aquatabs that we used- chlorine-based tablets designed particularly for speedy water therapy, and secure to devour even with common use. We additionally had our Sawyer water filters with us (which we swear by), however they don’t supply a lot help when the air temperature is under freezing, even when the water you’re making an attempt to filter isn’t fairly frozen but. As quickly as you start making an attempt to push that water by your filter in below-freezing temperatures, that water virtually instantly begins to freeze because you’re thinning it out contained in the filter. When that thinned water begins freezing, it renders your filter ineffective not solely as a result of the filter itself turns into clogged with frozen water, however what you’ve additionally simply executed is successfully widened the pores meant to filter out tiny microorganisms and parasites who objectively need to get you sick (to anthropomorphize microorganisms a bit). That widening ruins the filter. Thus, why we all the time convey a second methodology of water therapy with us after we backpack. People want water. Stuff occurs in nature. It’s chilly the place we dwell in Colorado, even within the spring and fall. So, by this mixture of sensible tidbits, we’ve determined to all the time hold water therapy redundancy with us. And generally, we merely don’t need to cease and filter water for 10-Half-hour so, if a water supply is flowing or in any other case clear, we are going to full up a water bottle and simply “tab it” with an Aquatab. The therapy course of solely requires Half-hour to “prepare dinner” the water (principally simply kill the unhealthy bugs) after which it’s secure to drink. So, you simply managed to hike one other 1-1.5 miles whereas your water was handled as an alternative of stopping for that filter session. In fact, tablets supply no stage of filtration for turbid or in any other case nasty water. There’s a device for each event, proper?
Whereas we cracked open an inch of ice protecting our water supply, a tiny water bug started to paddle by the green-hued tank. We sat there for a number of minutes, mesmerized on the little factor’s tenacity and resilience to the weather. We’d should be simply as tenacious if we have been to proceed by these temperatures.
Water supply with the water bug the place we utilized Aquatabs.
It was just a few extra miles till the Boondoggle meetup level. Varied life levels of Ponderosa pine canopied the path as much as the entry highway. All of us stopped for a fast breather at Boondoggle’s SUV whereas he greeted us and tell us that he STILL had not gained the lottery to go hike The Wave subsequent day. Poor man! He’d been making an attempt for weeks. All of us hoisted our packs into his trunk whereas I took just a few pictures of Japanese BBQ sauce (Bachan’s to be precise- don’t knock it till you strive it). Sauce hits proper on trails for me. I’ll take bottles of BBQ sauce, scorching sauce, ketchup, mustard, and even Chick-fil-A sauce on thru-hikes and simply down the stuff by itself. Sodium and sugar injections in a single scrumptious mouthful!
At this level Boon, Joey, and Nina have been heading to Jacob’s Lake whereas Basecamp and I slack-packed the final 6-7 miles. After I say that we slack-packed, I imply that we jogged that 6-7 miles with solely a water bottle and a telephone. It’s a fantastic choice to discover in case you have somebody with a automobile at your disposal. The slack itself solely took about 1.5 hours by rolling Ponderosa stands earlier than opening into US 89A and the Orderville Trailhead the place, as soon as once more, our boondoggling chariot awaited us for the final time.
“Hey guys! You made it right here fairly quick!” mentioned Boondoggle.
“Properly, once you’re not lugging round a 25-pound pack, it’s not laborious to zoom down path.” I replied, “That stretch was tremendous cruisy.”
“Yup, I keep in mind it being a clean carpet journey once I did it final yr. Okay, let’s get you to Jacob’s Lake for a burger.”
Jacob’s Lake was a quaint however welcomed sight regardless of being just one.5 days on path. We’d already hiked/run about 28 miles in that point, which was, to us, a burger-worthy stretch of mountaineering by any commonplace. Sitting on the bar wedged between a memento store supply Native American-themed paraphernalia, and a show case crammed with over a dozen cookie flavors, we ordered juicy burgers, charged our electronics behind the bar, inhaled every thing on our plates, after which utilized the luxurious of indoor plumbing…in that order.
By a hasty resupply of chips and AA batteries (for that climate meter I discussed earlier) we sat close to the fireside of the primary foyer to prepare our packs earlier than everybody took off on a 1 hour drive again to the northern terminus, the identical stretch that had taken us 1.5 days to journey by foot. The fireplace was all the way down to embers however nonetheless gave off a faint glow and welcomed heat from the chilly seeping in by the home windows. There was even a adorned Christmas Tree adoring the middle of the house. Joey came visiting and swapped out the batteries for a few of our gear (1 DSLR digicam, 1 mirrorless digicam, 2 Osmo Pockets, lav mics, and loads of ounces in batteries and battery chargers) and made positive we didn’t want the rest.
Packed and reluctant to depart what felt like our tramily (path household), Boondoggle drove us all again to the Orderville Trailhead and we mentioned our farewells. We wouldn’t be receiving anymore Boondoggle chauffeuring or Joey/Nina drone footage for the remainder of that path, nor would we be listening to any extra of Nina’s isms, which we’d already coined “Ninaisms” during the last day. She would randomly blurt out issues like, “My mind is half a meatball.” or “My flip hexor is performing up!”… or one among ten totally different iterations of the phrase “honey” they might each use to talk to 1 one other speckled the dialog. Totally different tonal inflections of the phrase meant various things of their ‘micro language’.
Basecamp, Yeti Legs, and Boondoggle (left to proper).
With heavy hearts and heavy packs crammed with a 5-day meals carry, we headed south away from the parking zone and our pals. For the remainder of the night, we adopted what gave the impression to be a Forest Service entry highway, coated in snow. It wound by silent wooden padded with muffling snow amongst aspen, pine, fir and spruce. After 4-5 miles, we have been approaching a water supply marked on our map, and the solar was all however gone, leaving a pink and pink ghost alongside the horizon. Pulling out our headlamps, we waddled alongside a rusty barbed fence to a water tank. This one was rectangular and coated with just one small hose exiting near the underside . There was no apparent circulate, so I crawled on prime of the rusted container, creaked open the lid, and noticed water inside…about 5 ft under me with not a bucket for scooping in sight.
“Rattling!” I mentioned, “There’s no approach I can attain it.”
“Oh effectively,” responded Basecamp, despondent, “there’s one other water supply simply across the nook, in response to the FarOut.”
Seems, there was certainly a water “tank” simply across the nook. In that second, we additionally discovered that “tank” didn’t all the time seek advice from an enclosed water vessel, however reasonably an open-air pond created for livestock to drink from. It was frozen stable. I threw stones as excessive and laborious as I may to try to break the floor up, hoping to see just a few air bubbles taking pictures up, or ripples from liquid water. No such luck. They might both burst on impression or bounce away. So, we have been there, roaming at the hours of darkness on the lookout for a flat spot to camp, with about 1 liter of water shared between the 2 of us. Fortunately, there was snow throughout us, and we had camp stoves to soften it down. We have been without end grateful that we hadn’t taken up cold-soaking.
Closing | Podcast
Oh, tales from the path. I imagine the final precise path story I wrote (earlier than this one) was for Week 15 (out of 26) on our Pacific Crest Path Journey again in 2022. That weblog was again in the summertime of 2023. Properly, in the event you didn’t already know, we have now a podcast protecting ALL weeks from our PCT trek- Week 19 is being launched this coming Monday (Might 19, 2025), so give it a pay attention! The podcast identify is: Yeti Walks Into Basecamp: Speaking. Through. Climbing. and you could find it wherever you get your podcasts. We’re completely finishing our story from the PCT path, simply in a unique format. I do need to point out simply how a lot we love Backpacker Radio, as effectively, and the way a lot of an inspiration it has been for Marie/Basecamp and me in creating our personal podcast.
Picture Credit score: Nina Taryn of The Rinis Picture & Movie
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