• PCT Day 1: One Way Hike Baby!

    ByPurple Haze Posted on

    Daily Miles: 20.0, Total Miles: 20.0 No more loop trails or out-and backs! After my brother whipped up a delicious breakfast of salmon, eggs and hash browns, we headed to Campo. When nearly there, we saw the Border Patrol escorting a few men with hands over their heads to the BP vehicles. Saw several hiker groups heading through Campo but we had the monument to ourselves. Then customary photos, register signing and goodbyes to Mrs. Haze, by brother and sister-in-law….

  • PCT: Revised Start Date

    ByPurple Haze Posted on

    Just back from Charleston, SC to help celebrate my mother-in-law’s 80th birthday. We had a great time and I got an early start on calorie loading – great seafood and two of my all-time favorites, chicken fried steak and coconut cake! I moved up the start date due to the low snowpack in the Sierras. Now leaving for San Diego in nine days, visit with my brother and sister-in-law, and head out from Campo. Last minute details this week, updating…

  • PCT: T Minus One Month

    ByPurple Haze Posted on

    I’ve been busy around here with guests including a great visit with our son, daughter-in-law and 7-month old grandson, Charlie, from Montana. They all enjoyed the warmer weather! Our other son and daughter-in-law are proud parents of their second son born this month. Welcome Liam Michael! A bit of a setback this month with a bad cold turning into a sinus infection. Got some antibiotics, took the first dose and had a severe allergic reaction. This helped me reach one…

  • PCT: Times A Flying

    ByPurple Haze Posted on

    Ten days ago it was snowing in Tucson – this week it was pushing 80 degrees. The Sonoran desert should get good flowers this spring with above average rainfall. The golden poppies may even be bursting out today. I just returned from a few spring training baseball games in Phoenix, another reminder that the hike is coming soon! I am kind of in my own spring training program at the moment getting ready for the big season. Just hope I’m…

  • PCT: Gone Fishing

    ByPurple Haze Posted on

    The opportunity to fly fish remote streams and alpine lakes used to be the primary reason for my hiking. I used to pick out lakes on Colorado, Idaho, and Montana topo maps and find a way to get there. But now I am not really disappointed if the lake is barren or just can’t catch anything – it’s much more about the journey. My boys think I’m crazy to not carry a flyrod through the Sierras again. I did when…

  • PCT: Nourishment

    ByPurple Haze Posted on

    The holiday feasts are over and I’m still thinking about food! I lost 25 lbs on last year’s hike, great because I needed to but unfortunately it’s just about all back. Nevertheless, I can’t afford to lose 75 lbs. so a bit more calorie conscious this time around. I will be using a few mail drops because I don’t want to spend precious time shopping. Dinners will be a variety of instant rice dishes, Knorr rice and pasta sides, instant…

  • PCT: Conditioning

    ByPurple Haze Posted on

    I am a believer that the real conditioning, especially the feet, takes place in the first few weeks. This does require some patience and maybe some pain tolerance and first aid skills. Having said that, I don’t want to get blown away or completely demoralized on the first good, uphill push. For day hikes, I am graced with access to a variety of trails of 6-15 mile lengths and good elevation gain. I am trying to do 2-3 hikes per…

  • PCT: Gear

    ByPurple Haze Posted on

    No, I’m not taking an inflatable tandem kayak on the PCT but it is a new bit of gear. Mrs. Haze and I had great fun testing it this summer on Idaho and Montana lakes. Worked the best and less arguments, when I fished and she paddled. I am still happy with my main gear – ULA Catalyst pack, Marmot Helium bag and Big Agnes Fly Creek tent. Only a few gear changes from the 800-mile Arizona Trail hike earlier…

  • AZT: Final Thoughts

    ByPurple Haze Posted on

    Two weeks since I finished the AZT so pretty well rested. I still don’t have any feeling on the bottom of one of my toes – I guess that’s better than pain. We took a hike on Mt. Lemmon on Sunday to get out of the heat. We ended up on Marshall Gulch Trail, part of the AZT. Looks so different without snow! My thanks to the Arizona Trail Association, trail stewards and volunteers who do a great job! Only…

  • AZT Day 48: Buckskin Mountain & Finish

    ByPurple Haze Posted on

    Daily Miles: 10.8, Total Miles: 803.2 I didn’t expect the awesome views of Utah and Vermillion Cliffs at the end – nice finish! Not to mention the well-equipped campground with picnic tables and ramadas. BDD and I took some finish line pics and then my sister arrived – a big surprise – with cold beverages and snacks. Mrs. Haze arrived a few hours later after a long drive from Tucson with lunch, cake and champagne. A nice celebration! We dropped…