Daily Miles: 8.9, Total Miles: 131.8 The motel owner gave me a ride back to Aravaipa Road. She said I was the first GET hiker she has seen this year. Walked past the Central Arizona College and up the road for two miles before turning northeast on a jeep track. I eventually exited into a dry wash that got narrower and narrower and wetter and wetter. My progress was temporarily halted at a small box canyon. I managed to find…

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…

Daily Miles: 21.6, Total Miles: 106.6 A good climb up to a high point in the Tortilla Mountains then down to Ripsey Wash. I got water at the “black pipe” tank and continued on the AZT/GET through a relatively flat yucca-filled desert all the way to the Freeman Road TH. The Catalinas Mountains are now prominently in view. Not the most interesting day as far as hikes go but I got through several podcasts. Sequoia, the trail angel keeping the…

Daily Miles: 20.0, Total Miles: 85.0 I made a note to myself last night to find out if bobcats can meow similar to house cats. That’s what I heard several times from my tent – I doubt a feral cat would be way out here. I refilled water bottles from Walnut Creek and headed down the wash, through the Narrows and joined the AZT at the Gila River. On the way, I skirted around a dead coyote and a dead…

Daily Miles: 16.7, Total Miles: 65.0 I wished young Clovis well on his AZT hike and was on my way by 9am. A gentle climb up Alamo Canyon with Picketpost Mountain in full view. I gave way to a few mountain bikers but surprisingly saw only a few hikers. As the morning went on, it got increasingly more cloudy and blustery and even looked like it may rain. I topped up my water bottles at the public water cache near…

I had quite a leisurely day in Superior. I wandered down to Los Hermanos of breakfast and met my first fellow GET hiker, Rain Man. Back to the motel and met six more AZT hikers. Wow, when I hiked the AZT in 2012, I only saw two other thru-hikers in 800 miles. I managed to arrange a return to the TH tomorrow with Rusty. A later start than I would like but a sure thing and avoids a long wait…

Not in a rush so a rare two cups of coffee morning. Much warmer last night and supposed to be hot and windy today and tomorrow. Good timing for a ZERO! On the way down the hill, I surprised a large herd of mule deer, 14 in total, single file, running, jumping and hopping across the trail. Saw three more before I reached US Hwy 60. Traffic was fast as I started down the highway towards Superior. A van soon…

Daily Miles: 18.3, Total Miles: 44.2 By morning, there were three great horned owls trying to get each other’s attention. I headed up Rogers Canyon passing a cool-looking cliff dwelling, joining the AZT and keeping an eye out for water. Finally found a few pools of water in the rocks that were much cleaner than last night. Grabbed a liter to get me over the hill. I reached the Rogers Trough TH, climbed up and over Montana Mountain and dropped…

Daily Miles: 15.6, Total Miles: 25.9 I know it’s cold when I put on my down jacket for the last few hours of sleep. I tanked up on spring water before heading out because I know it will probably be dry all day and hoping my destination, Rogers Creek, has a few good pools. A beautiful hike today with stunning views of the Superstitions and Four Peaks in the distance from several high points. The climb into Upper LaBarge Canyon…

Daily Miles: 10.3, Total Miles: 10.3 Mrs. Haze, Ellie (our lab) and I drove up from Tucson and dropped off my first resupply box in Superior. We continued on to the Superstitions, arriving at the First Water TH about 11am. What a nice, cool, clear day to start the trail! Mrs. Haze and Ellie accompanied me for the first few miles in the Superstition Wilderness. Have I ever mentioned I have the best, most supportive wife in the world? Quite…