Failed Highline Hike

Well, I lived to tell about it. John C, Jim and I started out on Wednesday morning at 7am. Randy, of course, was there to take a group photo of the intrepid team starting out on their amazing journey.

The initial hike is 1 hour and 20 minutes up hill. That is a foreshadowing of the rest of the hike. We started out strong. I really don't know where that initial blast of energy came from but the guys let me set the pace so, I have to say, it's all my fault. The planning too. I'll take credit for that as well. I felt good that first 5 hours. There was great scenery as we reached altitude. We could see the whole Pine valley. Up and down the highway 87 from the vantage point we reached about 2 hours into the hike. The hike was mostly on exposed, south facing mountain sides. Good thing I had my sunblock on. By 10am we'd reached a small finger of ponderosa pine wood. We had a nice 15 minute or so break where we all had a bit to eat and drank a lot of water. Then we trudged on. Our mileage seemed to be about 2 mile per hour across fairly level terrain, now that we were at elevation. As we approached Geronimo Springs, the elevation started to creep up and down. No matter. Even though I had anticipated going a couple of miles past Geronimo before lunch, it was noon when we got there. A half hour to lounge and eat, gave us a good rest but I already knew I'd blown my energy level. The initial plan was for a 17.5 mile day, from the Pine trail head to the Washington Park trailhead. This was because the Forest Service would not confirm any flowing surface water. So, we planned water drops by husband and friend for the 4 day hike. The first access road was Washington Park. Randy and I had scoped out an alternate, less lengthy spot but it wasn't accessible by vehicle so Washington Park it was. Based on that into, my intrepid team decided to slack pack the route. So, while we had water and food and emergency equipment, we didn't have camping gear with us. Oh yeah, it all leads to misery. The mileage from Pine to Geronimo is supposed to be 7.7 miles. That may actually be accurate based on my now fresh acquaintance with the trail. The mileage from Geronimo Springs to Washington Park, I'm not sure of. The maps say 17.5 miles. It was the longest 10 miles (and my group and I think it was actually longer, maybe a 20 mile day) of my life.

Not to say there weren't some beautiful spots along the way. But by about 15 miles, both John and Jim, who were carrying only 3 liters of water were out of water. I had 4 liters and was carefully conserving. I have to say, I've never been thirstier in my life. And I had 3/4 of a liter left. John and Jim (I have to say we all carried water filtration stuff) stopped at the first likely looking tiny stream and tried to filter and purify some more water. It was pretty cloudy. It turns out that later in the last approximate 5 miles there were actually better water sources but none of us knew that at the time. I was wiped. The trail was a constant rock filled gully either going steeply up or steeply down. Either way was treacherous. My bane was uphill. I've always hated uphill climbs and this trail seemed to be all uphill. John's bane was down hill. His knees were agonizing over every down hill step. Poor Jim was in the middle, he was encouraging us both.

Because I was smallest, I led, to keep a pace. But I'm stubborn and I hate to be the one to be slowest. Even so. On those uphills I was dragging. I had to go granny gear slow and for me, way too often I had to stop, gasping for breath. I actually was at the point that every time we stopped, I fell asleep for a few seconds. Yeah, I was that tired. As it got closer to dark, I pushed harder. And it was hard. Every uphill was a challenge for me. Every downhill a challenge for John. At dusk it just got harder. I stepped in a hole and fortunately, only suffered temporary pain. Jim fell over a round rock in the dusk. It was full dark and we were still an unknown distance away from our destination when we heard my husband, Randy, call out in the dark. Oh happy day! Our little band had given up talking. We were all too tired, but Randy saw our little lights and the noise we made falling and crashing over rocks and through the brush. I have never been so happy to see my husband in the entire 37 years we've been married. He led us through the last mile to the camp. Thank goodness because there were some tricky turns that in our tired state and in the dark, we probably would have missed. He had brought a huge lantern, shedding so much light. Wonderful. Anyway. We finally made it to Washington Park trail head at 8pm where he had already brought in 7 gallons of water, laid a fire, ready to light in a fire pit. He carried gear from the car to the campsite and helped us set up. Then, it was a camp out, cheery fire, lots of water to drink, he even brought chairs for us to sit in. I was too tired to eat much, I managed to choke a food bar down with lots of water. I hit the sleeping bag early. I suspect Jim and John did too.

The next morning I decided to call the hike quits. John and Jim joined me and we shuttled ourselves out of there. Today is Saturday and the hike was Wednesday. I'm glad I called it quits. I have 3 blisters and a huge ugly bruise on the bottom of my right foot. All of the toes on my right foot are bruised, I may loose toenails and there is a blister on both my big toe and the next toe. My left foot has blisters on the end of my little toe and the toe next to it. All of those toes are also bruised. I never felt the wearing of the back of my left heel. It's worn completely thru a 1 inch high, 2 inch long scrub of the skin clear through to blood. Somewhere on the hike I wrenched a muscle over my left hip. Every time I stand up and twist, even a little bit, it hurts. Don't even talk about the lactic acid build up in calves and back. So. yeah, I'm in a little discomfort. It was my first backpack in Arizona. I'm not discouraged. I'm finally getting to know my environment. I'll be a better planner next time. Oh yeah, there will be a next time!

Highline Trail: Pre-hike Day

Hoo! Tomorrow is the 1st day of our 4 day back-pack. I've got my pack ready. My husband, Randy, is going to camp with us the first night. We're hiking 17 miles to a trailhead that my husband can drive too. He's bringing water, plus anything we want to have that night and don't want to carry. That's quite a big deal. I weighed my pack, 4 liters of water, emergency kit, snacks, lunch and necessities like lip balm, sun screen, toilet paper, etc., about 15 pounds. The rest of my gear is in a trash bag, ready to be loaded into the car tomorrow afternoon for Randy to bring to me. The other two hikers are doing the same. That will make that 17 mile day a little easier. He's bringing camping popcorn and maker, firewood for a campfire, all the comforts of home just about. It doesn't matter, I'm finally getting back on the trail!

Backpacking is On!

So my last post was all gloom and doom. Now, I've got my requisite number of other volunteer hikers (2 more to be exact) so my backpack is ON! I'm so excited. I cannot wait. We had a planning meeting today. This being AZ, I've arranged to have water delivery to appropriate trail heads each day. That leaves open the opportunity to have other comforts delivered. Beer, Wine, firewood for fires, the list is endless. I cannot wait. I just figured out it's been 3 years since my last backpack. No wonder I'm so excited. Did I mention I'm so excited!!!!

New BackPack!

I'm so excited!!!!! I haven't been on a backpack in over 3 years and it's long overdue. There is something magical about going out into the woods, all alone, hiking along a path that sometimes disappears. I miss that solitude! Now, I've found two others who will undertake the challenge of a fifty mile hike along the Arizona Highline Trail with me! Already people are asking: Aren't you scared? What about bears? Will you carry a gunZ? Well, No, No, and No. The big question is bears. No, I'm not afraid, bears are actually more afraid of me than I am of them. That leads to the other pertinent question about guns. No, I've backpacked a lot. No guns required. So, I cannot wait to get out into the woods, hiking my own hike, walking along forest paths and soaking in the quiet.

Planning

It's been more than two years since my last backpacking trip. I feel it. I feel the need to get out in the woods, walking, by myself. I'm trying to get a trip together with others but so far, only one intrepid soul is willing. That person will back out if we don't get at least one more person to sign on with us. I don't want to give up my trip. What will I do if we don't get more people to come along? Will I give it up? I don't know. I need that time in the woods alone. Walking, walking, walking. My new hiking friends would be aghast at the thought of my hiking alone. The terrain here is treacherous. Is it fair to go out alone, perhaps to get hurt, and cause others danger for my recklessness? I know it's not fair but I need to get out. There it stands. I really want to go. I don't have the requisite 'safe' number. Do I stay or do I go?