Arizona National Scenic Trail Hike Training–Began July 13, 2015

What is the Arizona Trail?

The Arizona Trail is an 800+ mile recreation trail from Mexico to Utah that connects mountain ranges, canyons, deserts, forests, wilderness areas, historic sites, trail systems, points of interest, communities, and people. It serves dayhikers, backpackers, equestrians, mountain bicyclists, trail runners, nature enthusiasts, cross-country skiers, snowshoers, and mule and llama packers.
The trail can also be described in two other ways; for its features, and for the experience it provides.   (From:  http://www.aztrail.org/at_about.html)

I will be doing this as a solo hike.  I would also like to raise money for some worthy cause by doing the hike, but have not yet selected a cause.  I am open to suggestions.

Training Day One

I have never been thin and am genetically a hefty woman, my bones are not petite.  I can’t change any of that, but I can become more fit, and therefore, more healthy.  My mother died in her 50s, I believe, from messing around with all kinds of diets in an effort to be thin and attractive to “other” people.  I thought she was the most beautiful woman on earth, but she ruined all that by being obsessed with weight.  So, I made up my mind long ago, that I would not take that same path.  I will NOT diet.   I’m gonna be happy first, and give happiness to those I love.  She became so vain about her appearance that she was miserable and lost track of what was really important.

How the heck could she look any better?  Why did she feel so inferior? Well, I can’t change any of that either.

For several years now I have wanted to train to hike the AZ Trail (820 miles). Ironically, it was a let-down to complete my goal of kayaking all 50 states and I immediately felt the need to find a new challenge.  A friend of mine had talked about hiking the AZ Trail and my son had hiked both the Appalachian Trail and the Pacific Crest Trail, and so I thought, that’s it… I will hike the AZ Trail.  It is as if, having a big, almost impossible goal in front of me gives me purpose and a reason to go on living (a promise I made to David Swankie on his death bed).  Trust me, I’d trade the dream in for the chance to be the Grandma, like the kind of grandma my Grandma was to me, but that doesn’t seem to be in the cards for me.  I decided after kayaking my 50th state, Hawaii, that I would hike the AZ Trail in spring of 2015.  But, last year family health issues prevented me from beginning my training, however, today, July 13, 2015, I began.

There are four main components  preparing for the hike: 1) get fit, food wise, 2) get fit, fitness wise, 3) learn how to ward off biting bugs, 4) get the equipment I need. I have read a 2002 book on the hike written by a guy from Ireland.  The Trail was not even completed until 2012.  I have the new book.  I will join the Arizona Trail Association.   I will be studying what is needed, like GPS device, boots, etc. and making a wish list to add to my Training Updates.  These items will be made available on my Amazon Store as well. 

I should also add that I am not new to backpacking or hiking.  I hiked and trained with Paul Petzoldt, founder of the National Outdoor Leadership School.  We were actually camp-mates (sharing tent, meals, supplies) in 1977, and I learned so much from him.  This was the pilot class for his plan to develop a nation-wide training for outdoor leaders.  He set the standards for “leave no trace” and responsible use of the outdoors.  I hiked with him for three weeks once, with all supplies needed for the whole time period, on MY back, and in fact all his food was on my back too (“the leader doesn’t carry the food or cook”).   In 1978, I worked with him in establishing the Wilderness Use Education Association, I was his administrative assistant. I organized a nation-wide tour for him to travel and speak at all the major outdoor recreation colleges in the country, about the need for responsible outdoor leaders and the leave no trace philosophy.  The name has since been shortened to Wilderness Education Association and some of the people I hiked and trained with in 1977 are still with the Association, although Paul is now deceased.

Paul Petzoldt, and one of the camp meals I prepared for us.  He was a legend in his own time.  So, I know stuff… he taught me stuff. Lots of stuff.

Our camp in the high Tetons.  I CAN do this.  I am not new to all this, but I AM really out of shape.

But for today, 48 years later, July 13, 2015 this is what I did to get started:

1) I hiked up and down mountain terrain for about 3 hrs.,

Left: 2015,  Right: Me in the Tetons 1977.

2) I only bought 1 soda at fast food and no other junk, 3) I traded in my change for a $10.48 Coinstar coupon and bought $6 worth of fresh veggies, 4) I made and ate a very yummy, very healthy salad (have enough greens for one tomorrow also). And finally, 5) I'm pretty proud of all that.  It’s a good beginning.

Oh, and I forgot one thing, I bought fresh garlic, and added a whole clove to my salad. It burned my mouth, but lots of people said it would help with skeeter bites.  I will add a clove of garlic to everything I cook or eat.   If I'm gonna do 820 miles of walking in the great outdoors, I have to be less of a magnet for biting bugs. Time will tell. Today I hiked using bug spray, and a head net and hat.

OK, full disclosure is required: (my aim is not to loose weight, it will be what it will be) Weight today: (ugh) 240 lbs.

I will end my updates with full disclosure confessions like my weight above and anything I goofed up on: The coke was the only bad thing today.

Lastly: face shot of me today, full-body shot to be included when someone is around to take one.

Always hated photos of myself... but the only way to succeed is to be open and honest.

I lost weight before… but gained most of it back.  It is not my goal to loose weight, but to challenge myself beyond what I think I can do.  To become better than I have ever been before. 

Left taken about 2009, and Right taken May 2014, the year I turned 70.  Unfortunately, I have regained some of the weight due to inactivity.

Who knows what I will look like or feel like at the end of the trail.  I will begin the hike as one person, and come out the end of the trail as someone I have never met before.  Boy, I hope that will be a good thing?!  I am not doing it to make David Swankie or Paul Petzoldt proud of me, they are dead.  I am doing it all for me!!!  (But if you want to learn more about my mentor, Paul Petzoldt… see his publications on Amazon at http://www.amazon.com/s/?ie=UTF8&keywords=paul+petzoldt&tag=mh0b-20&index=stripbooks&hvadid=1695751562&hvqmt=p&hvbmt=bp&hvdev=c&ref=pd_sl_35flig7dba_p .)

Training Day Two:  Today I was lazy, but ate right and bought no fast food.  One step at a time.  Wrote this blog.

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Help me a little if you can by donating to my equipment fund for the hike.  I promise to pay it forward.  There is a PayPal donation button in the top right corner, but I realize people using phone may not see that so I am repeating the button below.

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Coming Home… almost there. New Mexico.

I don’t really know where home is yet, but I know where it isn’t… and that is, it isn’t in the Eastern, Southeastern or Midwestern States.  That may be where I was born and raised, but from the time Television first came to our neighborhood, I was riding horses with the cowboys.  I’d sit on the arm of the overstuffed big chair and pretend it was a horse.  I even got a cowboy and a horse for Christmas one year (and secretly coveted all the pretty little dressy dolls the other girls got).

We even had a tree in our yard that had a branch that stuck out and a branch broken off of it that made a knob that served as a pretty good saddle horn.  I’d take a running leap at that tree, grab that saddle horn, and run my feet up the tree until I was almost upside down, and throw my leg over that horse and ride on off McKim St. in Indianapolis and out into the open western range.  The tree was my teleport station.

My sister, on MY horse, and the neighbor boy, Rickie Higgins, pulling himself
up the side of my tree-horse.  I was always jealous of anyone else getting in the tree.

I didn’t belong in Indianapolis, I didn’t belong in this family.  I got switched at birth or something.  It was just wrong.  All wrong.

 

Why has it taken me almost six decades or more to realize I can only be HOME and happy in the desert southwest?  All I know, is this week I returned HOME from what was suppose to be a summer-fall long visit to the East, Southeast, and Midwest.  I got there and was made sick by the heat, humidity and insects, and after less than two months, decided to return to the West for my health.  I arrived in New Mexico, which I had planned as my last stop before going back to Quartzsite, AZ… sick.  Over exposure to sticks and bricks, house pets, and what seemed like an endless assault of insect attacks, had me exhausted, and congested, and my lungs were beginning to be affected and I was coughing up crud.  I spent a couple days in the south-eastern part of New Mexico but it was still uncomfortable for me, too hot there, and I needed to get some altitude.  After seeing a few things in the area and resting some (made difficult by being too hot in the van without running the a/c) I continued on to Las Vegas, NM, where I was able to catch up with Mary Barnes Price, a long time internet friend, and her very sweet dog, Lucy.  We had a good visit.  I gave her one of my rocks to remember the visit.  I think it was called “ice cream agate.”

We visited evening and the next morning, which was July 3rd.  She was in a formal campground, which I really dislike.  Next morning at 7am, the neighbor campers began playing Mariachi music very loudly.  I was also aware that many more campers would be arriving throughout the day for the July 4th Weekend.  I figured I would find more solitude in the Wal-Mart parking lot back in town, so that’s where I went.  Still coughing pretty hard, I began a course of Ampicillin (I had gotten a large supply last time I was in Mexico).  I just decided to stay in the van, sleep, rest, eat, do nothing.  It was cool enough here at the 6,000 ft. plus Las Vegas altitude, that I could be very comfortable, and one far parking area only had one way in, so there was no cross traffic and it was peaceful and quiet, as compared to the campground.  After the first day of antibiotics, my lungs began clearing up, so I decided to see if I could find a dispersed camping area in the mountains away from traffic, pollution, and noise. 

What is left of Montezuma’s Castle in Montezuma NM.

I began following my nose, along the roads leading out of town, and ended up coming into a school, and the guards directed me through the campus, along a river, which would take me to a paved highway back into town. The school: UWC-USA is one of 15 United World College (UWC) campuses located on five continents. A two-year residential school, UWC-USA serves students age 16-19 who typically represent more than 70 different countries. They participate in a unique program that combines academic challenge with an experiential, hands-on approach to learning. UWC-USA distinguishes itself through its robust Wilderness Program, the Bartos Institute for Constructive Engagement of Conflict, and its deep relationship with the local community of Las Vegas, N.M., where students participate in an array of service projects.

But I didn’t want to go back to town, I wanted to go to the mountains.  So I just kept following my nose and have now ended up on top of Johnson Mesa… with a wonderful view overlooking the low lands/ valley… and I believe I can legally stay here at least tonight.  With the 4th weekend coming to an end, I will probably be alone up here.  I did pass one other camp not to far from me, but they are out of my view.  This feels like home.  I passed some homes on the way up here and kept thinking, if SHTF, this would be a great place to be, up this narrow valley.  Year round running water.  The road could be blocked off and guarded if need be.  Game seems plentiful.  And fish.  Firewood is also in abundance.  I have to admit my imagination was running away with me.  But it is so good to be in a place where I am comfortable and can breath properly.   Threat if wildfire is rather low too, as the area has been timbered and also burned in the past.  There is not an abundance of downed wood and litter to present a fire hazard.

		Las Vegas,NM VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

 

And the view…. beat this!!!  First panoramic view I have taken with this camera.  I feel like I died and went to heaven.

Still don’t know where HOME is, but I know it will look something like this.  Tonight, I am atop Johnson Mesa outside of Las Vegas, NM.  https://www.google.com/maps/place/35%C2%B042%2706.6%22N+105%C2%B028%2701.4%22W/@35.7010073,-105.4673575,1941m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m2!3m1!1s0x0:0x0?hl=en

I am happy and I can breath.  (cool, two white German Shepard's just came to visit)

2015–New Mexico to Florida trip.

Finally left Arizona to make a trip to Florida to see family members for the last time.  Though it was the state of my birth and a place I lived for about six months when my oldest son was born, I never lived there and feel no particular affection for the state or it’s weather.  I am making one last trip there and then moving on with my life.

I stopped to see things on the way.  Lordsburg, NM… an interesting little town that was once a busy railroad town.  My favorite thing there was an old gas station that had been converted to a home.

So, it is official, I’m on the way.

I had always wanted to see White Sands so I set that as my goal after leaving Artesia, NM. 

New Mexico roads from Artesia to TX are terrible.  These are the oil fields.  There are dozens of oil tankers going at high speeds up and down the roads.  The road were not built for those weights and speeds.

First I met a cyber friend, Pam and a friend of her’s.  We had a very nice visit.

White Sands Military Base and then the White Sands Dunes.  Worth the drive.

It was very interesting to me to see the adaptations of animal life in the Dunes.

I liked how they built a boardwalk at White Sands Dunes to protect the dunes, but some people walk on into the white sand in spite of the signs.

Leaving the Dunes, I did find some nice wildflowers on side of road… had to pull off a number of times due to my PTSD from the rear ending and totaling of my last van.  I enjoyed the breaks.

5/9-10/2015 - Texas… roads in west Texas were also very bad.  Lots of truck traffic.  Lots of wind and rain.   Are you kidding me?  I live in the desert seven months of the year and am lucky to see 3” of rain during that time… and Houston got more than that overnight.  I got to get out of here.

OMG, I hate Houston. It's a trap, you can't get out of it. I plotted it all out which roads I was taking to get out. I end up on a toll road and first toll I came to was $1.75. Next one that comes up, there is a sign that says... LAST FREE EXIT only people with the Toll pass can keep going. So I had to get off... now don't know where to go next??? I hate this place. Never coming back, that is if I ever escape.

Worst road signage I have ever seen. One sign will say #5 next right. You get a stop light there, and look up past the light and see the turn lane is actually on the left and you have to get across two lanes to make the turn. WTF? And it's not like it just happened once... it happens over and over again. When you thing you know right move to make, reverse it and do the opposite. Never coming back here. Hated it the first two times I was here.  Hated it this time too, except I did get to visit family.

The best part of the visit for me was my great niece and nephew checking out my van.  William must have said WOW a hundred times.

Both were fascinated with the vent fan. And my microwave, and my RoadPro Stove, and my food storage shelves.  And finding my cook stove and pulling it out.

Maria checking out my bunk in the back  and William had to check out every gadget.

Both were fascinated by my screensaver photos that popped up… and had to watch all the slides of places I have kayaked.  Then they decided there were staying with me and were kicking their Mom out of the van… pushed her head out and then stuck the magnets of screens together.  They were so funny.

It was very hard saying goodbye to them.  Robyn is a really good Mom and Orlando is an attentive Dad.  The kids are a pure joy… and I sure wish I could spend more time with them.  Maybe I’ll send them little surprises from along the road.

Then just kind of had a panic  attack and needed to leave and get out of town.  Wow… that is the biggest challenge I have had in a couple years.  First I stopped in a store for a few supplies and things to eat while I was driving.  Observed a couple of cars spinning in circles… on purpose.  They probably have terminology for this but I don’t know it.   One would wait while the other spun in a tight circle.  I think that is done by accelerating and braking at the same time… then first guy pulls to side and second one goes.  The kept doing this.  Shocking was the fact they were not off in some corner somewhere, but right in with other vehicles in rows… parked.  And I have never in my life in travel to 50 states ever seen such bad road signage.  I was misdirected dozens of times just trying to get out of Dodge, errrrr Houston. 

Finally, I came to the border of Houston and then I just wanted to keep driving to get as far away as possible.  It was nice to be away where I could see wildflowers again.

		Texas Flowers VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

And then more oil fields and more trucks.

5/11/15 – Louisiana – Suddenly the road signage was very good.  I guess I got a little too comfortable because after awhile, I hit an armadillo.  Poor thing.  Lighting was bad, everything was the same color, the road, the night, the critter.  Oh well, got to keep going.

Rained like crazy.  I very loud thunder banged right over my head and my heart nearly jumped out of my chest.  It really hurt.  Not too long after that I realized there was no charge going from starter battery to house batteries.  My solenoid had gotten fried by that lightening bolt.  Left is the old one I got through Steve Spence.  I replaced it with the one on right and it only worked once and it stopped working.  So, I returned it the next day and got one a little bit better.  By now I can install these in my sleep or blindfolded.  The new one, the FOURTH one I’ve had on the van, is working very well…. but than any of the others.

Saw this tiny Pansies and a little green lizard at a fast food drive through.

First peace and quiet I have had for awhile. Got off I-10 east of Lafayette, LA and stopped first at a Waffle House and had a good breakfast. I had been driving since 1:00am. Still dark. Studied my atlas and notes of people to see and places to go. Then, in spite of one Mocha drink, and two cups of coffee, I fell sleep. Really from the time I stopped last night about 5pm until 1am, I got very little sleep due to noise, wind shaking the van, high humidity and the fact that I could hardly breath and could not get cooled off. So I pulled into Wal-Mart across the street. It's a large parking lot which had a couple other campers in it, but also had those height barriers to prevent trucks from entering. I picked a spot that doesn't seem to get much traffic flow and far enough away from doors, cars coming and going don't bother me. After I dozed off... and napped a couple hours, I could not tell where I was from my bed. Had to get up and look. Today it is less humid and overcast, so van isn't heating up. I am in no rush now to do anything. Just rest, research a couple State Parks coming up soon and decide where and if I will kayak here. 1) is Fairview-Riverside State Park near Madisonville, and 2) Fontainebleau State Park near Lacombe. But right now, I am just enjoying the peace, and a strange sound... a lawn mower running. Haven't heard that in a long time, being the old desert rat crone that I've become.

 

Then met another new Facebook friend,  Susan Louviere Hubbard and her hubby for lunch… and decided I had to try Cajun food.  Learned it’s not ALL hot.  Also met the owner, Deanna, who I guess is going to be on a reality food show in the near future.  She was interesting.  Google “Swamp Girls Gone Crazy.”

We had a good meal and a good visit… and I was invited to return.  Thank you Susan.

 

I said goodbye to my new friends and headed on to paddle at Fairview-Riverside State Park.  I’ll write the paddle up separately as this has already gotten too long.  And I had a good paddle there too.

Later in Florida, I got to meet Carol Travels, another Facebook friend and her Mom.  They caught up with me right after I finished kayaking 5.5 miles on the Weeki Wachee River.  Great people and it’s a pleasure to count them among my new friends.  Thank you, Carol.

I tried to see two of my aunts and a cousin but could not connect with them.  I did however get to catch up with a couple other vandwellers  (had hoped to kayak with both of them, but skeeters had me half sick and I decided it would not be fun for me.  I got over 35 bites in 15 min at the home of one of them) I also got meet an old Yahoo vandweller friend from years back, who I had not yet met in person.  Also I did get to kayak in the Everglades at John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park.  It was rather tame for my tastes, but good to stretch and work out my upper body.

Also this last month, I lost my wonderful mother-in-law.  She was 93.  A couple of years ago she decided that if I could kayak, she could too… so she did.  She was amazing.

Margaret L. Bailey 2/11/1922 - 5/8/2015
Loving mother and wife and all around beautiful person. Rest in Peace, Mom.
You are loved and will be missed.

(She passed on my son’s birthday.)

The rest of my visit in Florida will be brief… tomorrow (6/6/15) I am going to the Wellborn Blueberry Festival, hope my sister will go with me.  Then I need to work on my budget and find a way to replace two tires so I can go on down the road safely.  Right now, I don’t have the money for them, so I may be grounded in FL until payday 6/15.  It will be what it will be.  A good friend of mine has given me money for one tire, but to be safe I need two.  Then I will be off to GA, maybe across the border to a family reunion in TN, and then to AR to look for diamonds, and then on to New Mexico to explore the mountainous areas until the desert cools off a little more, in October or November.  And I will begin serious training to hike the Arizona National Scenic Trail.  Serious Training.  My goal… get as fit as I can get.