CrowMac Creek

On  Wednesday, August 8, I decided that Jack and I would Hike 8 miles on the San Pedro Trail, about 20 miles from Tombstone. When we arrived at the Trailhead, I was surprised to find that Amanda and Honey had arrived as well. Amanda had wanted to take Honey to the river and let her play in the water. I'm sure that Jack was happy to share the event so we walked down and let the dogs play for a while. I took some video in the process, but there were three problems. First, I hadn't learned the video applications of my camera and there was some shaking going on, seriously reducing the quality of the videos. Second, the I need to convert the video to another format to insert into my blog, and third, the videos were too large to email copies to Amanda. Our wifi is quite slow. I will just give Amanda a memory stick with copies of the videos. When the dogs were done playing, Jack and I hit the San Pedro Trail. I had wanted to step up my miles to  7-8 miles, which would have been reaso...

I'd been looking through the Complete Guide to the Arizona National Scenic Trail, and I'm getting a little worried. I'm finding that I will need to hike 16 miles with a backpack on the first day to get to water as well as a place to pitch my tent. I am also. That way I will have some water available as well as camping sites for Jack, me and my tent. But the next day I will only have to walk seven miles. Hikers are warned about immigrants using parts of the trail. I am not as afraid of those who simply want to work in the US, but I am concerned about those who run drugs. In all of the time I hiked and backpacked, I never had to worry about immigrants and drug runners. I absolutely need to increase the miles I can hike with a backpack. I don't want to hit the wall (run out of steam.)                                                           ...

 It's Arizona and it is as hot as I've seen. Benson is 3600 feet in elevation, but there is no reprieve in the heat anymore. On Wednesday, Jack and I hiked 4.2 miles South from the Gabe Zimmerman Trailhead. The sky had intermittent clouds arising from the monsoon conditions and it was a little cooler. Thinking we wouldn't need water for our hike, I didn't bring any with me. Bad idea.  Both Jack and I struggled with thirst, and we both appreciated the water I had left in the car. Today the sky is clear and blue but it is hot, and the best place to be is inside with cooling. Unless there are monsoons in the afternoon, it is too hot to hike. And most of the time it is too hot anyway.  Today I drove the 56 miles to reach the Coronado Memorial, which is where the trail to where the Mexican border begins. No one is allowed to drive to the border because of the construction of the border wall between the US and Mexico. So the only way I can start the trail at it's beginnin...

 I found myself awfully lazy for the last few days and my laziness has not subsided. So this will cover, in small part, the hikes of Monday, 8-18 and Wednesday (today), 8-20. On Monday, Amanda, Honey, Jack and I hiked six miles into Casa Blanca Canyon, but I've misplaced all of my photos for that hike. I can say that we hiked six miles, walked through 15 cows and about 8 horses. Without photos, that's about it. Today, Jack and I hiked 4.2 miles along the AZ Trail beginning at the Gabe Zimmerman Trailhead. Now Gabe Zimmerman was the man who came up with the idea of creating the AZ Trail by connecting existing trails. But creating an 800 mile trail, even if using existing trails is no small feat. So Thank you Gabe, who unfortunately passed after being shot with Gabriella Gifford in 2011. 

  I am so lucky that I have a friend and hiking buddy, Amanda, to hike with me. I met her because her dog is Jack's girlfriend. Before I started training to complete the Arizona Trail, Amanda, Honey, Jack and I took morning walks here in Benson. Now we are extending our training to include segments of the AZ Trail. Amanda has all of the characteristics of an elite runner and I would have loved to coach her. When we hike, she kills me on the hills, but she looks back to make sure I am still alive.  Amanda is also a nurse, and at my age, it is a real benefit.  I do, however, pace myself and my recovery time is good. Amanda is a good friend, and that is as much as I could ever hope for. Yesterday, Amanda, the dogs and I took a 4.6 mile hike along the Oak Tree Trail which connects to a segment of the Arizona Trail. The trail climbs for about a mile, then drops 500 feet, which is okay except for the fact we had to climb back up. At some time I will need to carry a pack and las...

 It's been hot; too hot for hiking. Today I took Jack for a hike later in the PM and it was nice. I think I will continue on that tack. Here are some photos from the AZ Trail . While hiking on the AZ Trail, I missed the trail and kept hiking on a road. I wasted time and effort. My reading has stated that it is easy to get off the trail and without a good GPS, it may be more difficult getting back onto the AZ Trail. I will have one that works well by Wednesday. Prices have gone up twice, so I hope I can still afford one.

 Today, Jack, Honey (Jacks Girlfriend), Amanda and I took one of our regular hikes and I noticed that the cactus are blooming. These flowers dry up pretty quickly due to the extreme heat.

  There are countless possible hazards relating to hiking a long trail, and having "knowledge" of the particular trail on which I will travel is a highly valuable tool. At the very least, the GPS will show me where I am. Being a person who can be directionally challenged, the more I know about where I am, the better off I will be. But, there are many GPS units out there. All can be used, but finding the one that best fulfills your needs is vital. The GPS I'd really like to buy is the Garmin GPSMAP 67i. In addition to having extremely accurate location information, this device offers the ability to send a SOS. It can also let my support know that I need help, and where I am.   This unit not only uses the GPS satellites but others as well. When I hike through trees or when I am in a narrow valley, it is far more likely that my location may be incorrect. I have lost satellite access using apps on my phone, so I cannot depend on what it tells me. This GPS allows the use of ot...

I need to say that this movie, "Gerry" with Casey Affleck and Mat Damon is an intense movie that many will not enjoy. Let's just say that the movie is pretty dark, but it addresses what can occur when the participants head out on a hike and are not prepared. It reinforces some of what hikers should know before they take a hike. I've never been lost, but there were times when I had some difficulty finding my way.  With my anticipated hike of the Arizona Trail approaching, here are some of the strategies that these hikers should have exercised. 1. Try to avoid solo hikes. Having someone with you will definitely be an advantage if the other person is injured. It gives you another set of eyes, and that will help in finding your way. If one person is unconscious, the other can communicate with any search and rescue teams. 2. When hiking, always turn around from time to time to see where you've come from. You need to not only know where you are going, but from where you...

It's hot and I am tired of the heat. I've needed to increase my miles, but the weather is not cooperating. Yesterday, Friday, I was marginally successful at pitching my tent. But the adjustment lines that attach to the tent and then to a stake are confusing. The instruction video I watched advised me not to touch the knots, but some rascal before me appears not to have seen that video. I have trouble learning with videos anyway. I cannot understand why video creators always seem to have their hands covering what I need to see. Also, Mother Nature did not bless me with much visual memory, which means, by the time I actually attempt to do the task shown to me, I've forgotten how. So I am looking for written instructions. Never-the-less, I do have the ability to make what I have work. That was yesterday, and it was extremely hot. I was not only frustrated, but soaked in sweat. And the extreme heat continues today, threatening to continue through Tuesday. And then, who knows. A...