AT: Holidays

The holiday season is upon us and it will be a special one for us. Both of our sons and families are here with our five grandchildren. As usual, I’m sure there will be hike involved, either on or near the Arizona Trail or in Saguaro NP.

Just gave Mrs. Haze my Xmas wish list. I don’t think any issues with my main gear but some of my clothing items are wearing thin. Food items are also welcome. I did replace my ultralight Gossamer Gear hiking poles that blew out the back end of a pickup last year. Durability is an issue but oh so light!

I had two memorable experiences on the first half of the AT. Firstly, a beautiful, magical Easter Sunday leaving from Newfound Gap into the Great Smoky Mountains NP, and secondly, a most odd, unusual and downright frustrating encounter with several goats in VA who ran away with my hiking poles. After yelling, cursing, and finally running them down, the cork handles were badly gnawed.