Daily Miles: 15.8, Total Miles: 176.1 Not a cloud in the sky and warmer today while leaving the AZT behind and continuing on the Highline Trail. Good tread for awhile but it quickly deteriorated farther on with washouts, erosion and exposed rebar. I tripped on one and almost went down. We passed through the aftermath of the Dude Creek Fire – a 1990 forest fire that burned 25,000 acres and tragically killed six firefighters. We had a nice lunch and…

Daily Miles: 15.6, Total Miles: 160.3 Mrs. Haze dropped off Mini-Me and I at the Pine TH bright and early. The storm system hasn’t entirely left but so much better than yesterday. Mini-Me and I got to yakking so much I missed an AZT turn shortly after mile 1. We hiked almost a mile in the wrong trail before realizing my mistake. Mini-Me is not impressed with my navigational skills thus far. We hiked on the shared AZT/MRT all day…

Daily Miles: 0, Total Miles: 144.7 Pretty cool and cozy to see it raining outside and snowing on the Rim. Just relaxing in front of a pellet stove drinking coffee. Mrs. Haze and I enjoyed a late breakfast at the Early Bird and another chat with a hiker from Oklahoma. Our son arrived in the afternoon and we shuttled his vehicle up to Forest Lakes. It was still snowing above the Rim. Mrs. Haze brought us all back to Pine…

Daily Miles: 3.0, Total Miles: 144.7 A hop, skip and jump and I was in Pine eating the Early Bird Special at the Early Bird Cafe. Breakfast served all day – same place I pigged out on the AZT. I had a nice chat with some AZT hikers at breakfast and later at the Ponderosa Market. Mrs. Haze and Ellie, our black lab, came up and we’re staying at an Airbnb place. Perfect timing for a zero day tomorrow because…

Daily Miles: 19.3, Total Miles: 141.7 I really wish I could spend more time in West Clear Creek Canyon. It’s another canyon I had the opportunity to explore a bit in my younger years. In the upper part of the canyon, we visited small cliff dwellings that were still well preserved, second story intact, complete with hand prints painted on the walls. I only had to wade/hike less than a mile down the canyon to pick up the rather obscure…

Daily Miles: 16.6, Total Miles: 122.4 A clear, sunny and mostly cool day hiking across the juniper and pinyon flats for about 15 miles to the edge of West Clear Creek Canyon. I listened to an audio book for a bit more excitement. A large herd of elk ran single file across the trail in front of me. The pine trees got larger and the forest more dense as I got closer to the edge of the canyon. I did…

Daily Miles: 16.1, Total Miles: 105.8 A thunderstorm late last night put on a good light show and another quick shower. I woke up to a couple of honking geese leaving the pond. I took a combination of dirt roads and then the Apache Maid Trail on top of the Rim. Another six miles got me to the edge of the canyon for Wet Beaver Creek. Then a two-mile switchbacked descent to join Bell Trail and a short hike upstream…

Daily Miles: 14.0, Total Miles: 89.7 I had another go at the water filling station and a fruitless search for my tent stuff sack that blew away last night. I got back on the trail, crossing Dry Beaver Creek with a few small pools upstream. I got back on the Rim mostly via an old ranch/cattle trail. Pretty slow going but followed it well until near the top where I lost it and did my own scramble to the Rim….

Daily Miles: 23.8, Total Miles: 75.7 I took the Verde Lynx bus from West Sedona to Uptown, free, at least early in the morning. I then walked to the connection to the Jim Thompson Trail and continued the MRT journey. This trail, with nice views, skirted along the edge of redrock heading north up Oak Creek Canyon. I headed down to Midgley Bridge (Hwy 179), then further down to Oak Creek. Made a manageable but cold crossing and grabbed one…

Daily Miles: 0, Total Miles: 51.9 A restful, peaceful day in Sedona with very few calories being burned. I unpacked my resupply box. Going to be loaded up on the next leg to Pine with both food and water. Really looking forward to the next section which I explored and enjoyed in my high school years. Hankering for Mexican takeout tonight – only a short stroll down the street.