by Paty | Jan 19, 2022 | Arizona Trail, Southwest US
Few things in trail news irritated me as much as learning that the southern terminus of the Arizona Trail (AZT) was closed off for no good reason. During the months running up to the 2020 election, the Trump administration decided to ramp up construction of its highly...
by Paty | Jun 20, 2020 | Day Hikes, Grand Canyon, Southwest US
Ask any American to name a natural wonder of the world, and chances are, the first thing that rolls off their tongue is the Grand Canyon. It is often parodied as just “a giant hole in the ground, ” but the vast expanse of the Grand Canyon is bigger than...
by Paty | Jun 13, 2020 | Southwest US, US High Points
Order of Visit: High Point #19 Date Visited: June 11, 2020 Route Taken: Humphreys Trail (No. 151) from the Arizona Snowbowl – 10.7 miles round-trip Type of Terrain: A challenging, rocky trail with more than 3,600 feet of elevation gain over...
by Paty | Mar 9, 2020 | Southwest US, US High Points
Order of Visit: High Point #18 Date Visited: March 9, 2020 Route Taken: Guadalupe Peak Trail from Pine Springs Campground – 8.4 miles roundtrip Type of Terrain: A challenging, but well-defined trail that gains 3,000 feet in 4.2 miles. The...
by Paty | Jan 1, 2020 | Southwest US, The Great Outdoors
I visited the Hoover Dam once as when I was 11 years old, and I still remember it as being a spectacularly awesome site. I was utterly impressed by the massive curved arc of concrete spanning between two steep canyon walls. In my memory, that giant wall dropped down...
by Paty | Nov 23, 2019 | Day Hikes, New Mexico High Points, Southwest US
I have a confession to make. After four continuous months of hiking on the Appalachian Trail, I’m burnt out on forests. Thru-hikers sometimes refer to the AT as “the green tunnel,” because you’re constantly immersed in a living forest. The...
