GET Day 9: Leave AZT to Hwy 77 & Mammoth

Daily Miles: 16.3, Total Miles: 122.9

Already regretting not staying for a breakfast burrito, I said farewell to Sequoia and set my sights on Antelope Peak on a crisp, clear morning. I contoured around the peak through a thick cholla forest and scared up a herd of javelina – they split into two streams and disappeared into separate gullies.

I hiked down to Beehive Wash and Putnum Wash – got water there on my AZT hike but passed this time in hopes of something with less surface scum and buzzing bees. This is where the AZT and GET part ways.

A few miles east down the wash I found Putnum Spring, a delightful stream of water erupting from a side wash. Had lunch, filled water bottles and continued down to the confluence with the San Pedro River. I slogged back and forth across the cottonwood trees choked creek until popping out near Hwy 77 and Aravaipa Road.

I called The Lodge in Mammoth and they were totally booked but the owner invited me to pitch a tent in the back of their property and would even come out and pick me up. Enough said, so nice and gracious – and a Mexican restaurant next door!

I made friends with the junkyard guard dog next door – a pit bull mix that never barked at me – just sat there whimpering and begging me to come over. Turned out the big baby’s name was Baby.