Tag: Arizona

• [Day 13] Mogollon Rim

  

  I walk off the Colorado Plateau today! I only froze a bit this late October hike. Last night had sustained cold. My watch, off the wrist, measured the morning air at 15°F. This morning’s breakfast was a Gatorade slushy, flavored to mitigate the smokey taste that tainted last night’s water source, Elk Tank. The Colorado…

  jarodlyles

  October 30, 2023

  AZT

  Arizona

• [Day 12] Crux of Fall

  

  I found myself burrowed this morning, knees about folded to my chest. Supposedly, last night wasn’t warm. My watch gave the forecast for the day — high of 40°F, low of 25°F. The crux of Fall — it’s the inflection point where the season now favors the side of winter instead of summer. Here’s a…

  jarodlyles

  October 29, 2023

  AZT

  Arizona

• [Day 11] Mormon Lake

  

  The winds howled all night, whipping my tent panels like a flag atop a flagpole. I tossed and turned through it, but the night went fairly quick. That means I got some amount of unconsciousness, right? The morning was cold, probably in the low 30°F’s but felt like the 20°F’s with the wind chill. The…

  jarodlyles

  October 28, 2023

  AZT

  Arizona

• [Day 10] Lowell Observatory

  

  Giving myself a later start this morning, I strolled the first couple miles, eating on a deli sandwich I packed out for dinner last night, but had passed on eating. Engrossed in the final bites of ham and salami, I noticed I made a wrong turn. Instead of going back the four tenths of a…

  jarodlyles

  October 27, 2023

  AZT

  Arizona

• [Day 9] Flagstaff Urban Route

  

  Under the morning clouds of Flagstaff, I walked my way into town. Instead of following the winding greenway to a highway a ways outside of downtown, I went even more urban and took sidewalks straight into downtown. I wasn’t missing too much except more dry forest. 🗓️ Date October 26th ⇢ Mileage 15.4 📍 Trip…

  jarodlyles

  October 26, 2023

  AZT

  Arizona

• [Day 8] San Francisco Peaks

  

  I was packed up and hiking around 7am in the 30°F morning air. Today was a gradual, 17-mile ascent adjacent to San Francisco Mountain. The San Francisco Peaks — Humphreys, Agassiz, and Fremont — are on the rim of what was once a large volcano. 🗓️ Date October 25th ⇢ Mileage 29.1 📍 Trip Mileage…

  jarodlyles

  October 25, 2023

  AZT

  Arizona

• [Day 7] Babbitt Ranch

  

  Passage 35 crossed through Babbitt Ranch land, a landscape that much resembles the Chain of Craters in New Mexico — dry juniper forests, blackened volcanic rock earth, cratered hills that guide the way. Mt. Humphreys and the San Francisco Peaks dominated the skyline, growing closer until eventually out of view when I entered the foothills.…

  jarodlyles

  October 24, 2023

  AZT

  Arizona

• [Day 6] Passage 36

  

  As is the usual behavior when I leave town, I was groggy this morning and not much in the mood for a timely start. Why does town leave me more exhausted? I didn’t even shower or do laundry in Grand Canyon Village. Sleep wasn’t great last night either. 🗓️ Date October 23rd ⇢ Mileage 24.0…

  jarodlyles

  October 23, 2023

  AZT

  Arizona

• [Day 5] South Rim Ascent

  

  I was in a pleasant half sleep this morning at 5am. I delayed until 5:50am, cooked a ramen for breakfast, and went on my way up the south rim on South Kaibab Trail by 6:40am. First thing, I crossed the Colorado River by foot bridge (obviously). Not long ago, on the divide, I walked atop…

  jarodlyles

  October 22, 2023

  AZT

  Arizona

• [Day 4] Into Grand Canyon

  

  My day in Grand Canyon. Where to begin… Around 7am on this 20°F morning at the northern Grand Canyon boundary, I started my way into the park, hauling a frozen tent on my back. That may be one of the coldest sensations on the hands: folding, rolling, and packing the icy panels of a fabric…

  jarodlyles

  October 21, 2023

  AZT

  Arizona