Today’s miles: 15.6 Total miles: 356.6 I sleep like a rock. What a great campsite. In the morning I’m up around 5:20, but because I have to filter water from last night, I still don’t get on trail until 6:30 or so. There’s some nice rolling trail along the ridge for a while, and then … More AZT Day 23: On the Mazatzal Divide
Today’s miles: 20.5 Total miles: 341 Surprisingly, I sleep pretty well under that juniper tree. In the night I wake to the sound of gusting wind through the mountains, but the tree’s sheltering branches and my lower elevation result in only a gentle breeze through my tent. Still, I feel reluctant to get out of … More AZT Day 22: Into the Mountains
Today’s miles: 10.9 Total miles: 320.5 I wake up early because I don’t want to miss saying goodbye to Cool Beans, who is heading out this morning while I rest until check-out time. It’s kind of a bummer that our schedules will be off now, but my body needs a shorter day today. I wish … More AZT Day 21: Farewell to the Flatlands
Today’s miles: 20.5 Total miles: 309.6 It’s another wickedly cold morning. Cool Beans is up and out a little before me, because I have to give myself a pep talk in order to emerge from my down cocoon. I pack as fast as I can, eager to get moving to warm up, and am on … More AZT Day 20: Dropping Off
Today’s miles: 26.6 Total miles: 289.1 The night is incredibly cold. The coldest I’ve been on trail all year. Despite wearing long underwear, a fleece shirt and gloves, a down hat and booties, a wool buff over my face, and a puffy jacket draped over my torso — all inside of a down quilt rated … More AZT Day 19: Catching Up
Today’s miles: 26.2 Total miles: 262.5 I wake up early to talk to my analyst. Dawn is just starting to break when we hang up. I eat a few snacks, finish packing my pack, and suit up for a cold morning. My weather app says it’s 21 degrees when I leave. I’m wearing my puffy … More AZT Day 18: Muddy Paws
Today’s miles: approximately 5 Total miles: 236.3 I wake several times to the sound of snow falling on my tent and of wind gusting fiercely through the trees. Other times, I wake to the sound of booming thunder and flashes of lightning. I’m grateful to find myself toasty warm, glad I brought this warmer quilt … More AZT Day 17: Thawing Out
Today’s miles: 16.8 Total miles: 231.3 In the morning, I talk to my analyst and eat my chef’s salad, plus chips and a package of Ho-Hos from the gas station. I can never seem to eat enough lately. I leave the hotel right before check-out time and walk across the street to a different, larger … More AZT Day 16: Racing the Storm
Today’s miles: 17 (approx) Total miles: 214.5 Tremendous wind gusts blow through periodically in the night. They wake me up. I can hear them coming from far away, and then many seconds later they arrive to rattle the aspen leaves high above me. I’m very glad I was so careful in selecting a campsite under … More AZT Day 15: Urban Trails
Today’s miles: 22.6 Total miles: 197.5 There’s periodic wind through the night, but no more rain. I sleep a bit restlessly because the wind gusts, when they do come through, are powerful. Morning brings another beautiful sunrise, and the air is not quite as cold as I’d anticipated. I’m back on trail around 6:45am, hiking … More AZT Day 14: The Yellow Grove
according to the map 