Author Topic: The Grand Enchantment Trail, Volume One: A Start (Read 80050 times)

F4? · « **Reply #20 on:** March 22, 2023, 07:47:43 PM »

Steve figured it out…New Zealand!!
It’s not the pinnacles, but an exception can be made.

Brad Young · « **Reply #21 on:** March 25, 2023, 05:32:24 PM »

I’ve now been told that a miracle may occur on this trail in the next one month.

clink · « **Reply #22 on:** March 26, 2023, 03:12:07 PM »

So you went to Porky’s Fortune Tellers? The part about me digging a tick out of your gorgeous leg is true, you need more visible scars, but not the part about me kissing it all better. So no miracle.

clink · « **Reply #23 on:** April 03, 2023, 03:56:45 PM »

Arizona will have to wait until autumn. It’s getting to be like Brad’s legs.

Brad Young · « **Reply #24 on:** February 07, 2024, 10:45:28 AM »

Heading to Phoenix now. Looking like decent weather starting Saturday. Hoping to get at least another 50 miles done. There are enough pickup points that it’ll likely be all day hikes (if I can manage 18 plus miles on day one).

clink · « **Reply #25 on:** February 10, 2024, 06:55:19 AM »

Quote

(if I can manage 18 plus miles on day one).

After such a long hike, would you mind if I stopped by to check if any of your blisters look like they may become infected and turn into a Super Boil? I'm quite good at gently applying anti-bacterial cream as a preventative measure. I suggest a rest day and eating lots of salty chips which will induce proper re-hydration. Do they sell BLL in AZ?

Looks like I will be staying at a Marriott nearby, unless you have a king-size bed and don't sprawl when you sleep.

clink · « **Reply #26 on:** February 10, 2024, 07:00:16 AM »

Do you wear gaiters or boots to shield against desert vegetation defenses?

Brad Young · « **Reply #27 on:** February 10, 2024, 10:06:30 AM »

Tough day. But other than tired muscles, I only suffered one skin issue: snow caused wet feet and I let one toe go too long before taping. That toe is now missing some skin on top and very tender. Rest day today, easy day tomorrow and then two pretty long days which may become longer depending on how far we can drive in toward the trail from the highway.

EDIT:

No, I always hike in low-tops. Yesterday in my well-broken-in La Sportiva Boulders.

And this day was nothing like parts of last year's trip - the trail tread in this section is shared with the Arizona Trail and is very well established with very little intruding brush.

JC w KC redux · « **Reply #28 on:** February 10, 2024, 10:28:13 AM »

^
Sounds like you got the worst day over (nice job) and good to hear that the trail is in better shape now (hope it stays that way). Makes me wonder why no one keeps the section you were on last year in better shape.

It finally quit raining here but the roads are still a mess in spots (tree litter) and there's quite a bit of deadfall around my uni circuit.
Looking forward to enjoying a dry spell and some sunshine.

Brad Young · « **Reply #29 on:** February 11, 2024, 09:50:14 AM »

Well apparently they let just anyone on this trail. I’ll be damned 😀

clink · « **Reply #30 on:** February 12, 2024, 07:40:43 PM »

Hey, you said you wanted my honest opinion on your state of mind while under observation for 2 days.

JC w KC redux · « **Reply #31 on:** February 13, 2024, 08:46:40 AM »

Quote from: clink on February 12, 2024, 07:40:43 PM

Hey, you said you wanted my honest opinion on your state of mind while under observation for 2 days.

The lunatics "running" the asylum.

Brad Young · « **Reply #32 on:** February 13, 2024, 01:24:07 PM »

This lunatic hopes to get to the Gila River tomorrow. One two mile section of “follow a wash with no trail” will lead to a partial trail and then rejoining the virtual highway that is the Arizona Trail. And then due east along the river to a pickup point.

NOAL · « **Reply #33 on:** February 13, 2024, 04:34:32 PM »

Quote

rejoining the virtual highway that is the Arizona Trail

Those bike packers make nice trails.

Brad Young · « **Reply #34 on:** February 13, 2024, 04:42:20 PM »

Quote from: NOAL on February 13, 2024, 04:34:32 PM

Those bike packers make nice trails.

The Arizona Trail is open to mountain bikes. It's also longer-established, better known and a lot more heavily used. Finding the A.Z.T. is never an issue.

NOAL · « **Reply #35 on:** February 13, 2024, 06:51:54 PM »

The AZT is one of the most popular bikepacking races in the U.S.

When you get to the Grand Canyon you have to partially disassemble the bike attach it to a backpack and hike rim to rim.

Brad Young · « **Reply #36 on:** February 13, 2024, 07:00:22 PM »

Quote from: NOAL on February 13, 2024, 06:51:54 PM

The AZT is one of the most popular bikepacking races in the U.S.

When you get to the Grand Canyon you have to partially disassemble the bike attach it to a backpack and hike rim to rim.

I did not know that. Do you know what time of year they run it? It wouldn't seem possible to do it in the hot months.

NOAL · « **Reply #37 on:** February 13, 2024, 07:13:37 PM »

It's been a bit since I've looked but I believe it is in October. It's a self supported self timed race. I think most people do it in the early fall or spring. Here's a cool site to read up on it. https://oneofsevenproject.com/arizona-trail-guide-bikepacking/

Right now it is too cold and there's too much snow and the summer is definitely too hot.

Bikers do a lot of trail maintenance and building for AZT.

clink · « **Reply #38 on:** February 14, 2024, 07:47:14 AM »

Look who I found in the cold desert southeast of Phoenix. Aren't they beautiful! (especially on the left and in the foreground)

clink · « **Reply #39 on:** February 14, 2024, 07:58:38 AM »

Ten thousand words...

News:

Author Topic: The Grand Enchantment Trail, Volume One: A Start (Read 80050 times)