AZT: Summerhaven to Kearny – The Hike

Day 13: 3.30

Today’s goal is to run a marathon. Nowadays there are no giant climbs, just desert hills. I would also hit the 200 mile mark this morning! The hardest part was carrying water – there was a possible 20 mile section without water, so I took 4 liters from the water tank at Tiger Mine to cover that distance plus camp. It really wasn’t enough, but each liter weighs 2.2 pounds, so the water weight adds up quickly. I took a lunch break in the shade next to the hide and drank a liter to “ride the camel” before heading back out into the hot desert sun.

I came to a turnoff for a questionable water tank and ended up going there to see what it was like. It wasn’t as bad as the comments on Far Out made it seem, but it was quite an adventure getting the water out of the tank. The tank was three meters high and had a ladder welded to the side. A gallon jug with a rope would need to be dropped into the tank to reach the water that was five feet below the edge of the tank. But the plastic jug floated, so a very long stick also had to be used to push the jug under the surface of the water. I managed to get the water out without anything bad happening and it didn’t taste bad at all!

Then I set up camp (somewhere without sand!) and went to bed. Around 8pm, a massive storm came seemingly out of nowhere. There was wind, lightning and thunder. The walls of my tent moved severely due to the gusts, but I had secured it very well. Only the normal amount of dust came in because you really can’t avoid dust in the desert. I didn’t have anxiety or panic. I just laid there quietly reading my book and laughing at the storm when it started to rain! In fact, it poured for about 15 minutes, which made the desert smell so good. We needed that rain so much and I’m so happy that water really fell from the sky.

Day 14: 3.31

The last time I was in this section, the ground was covered in wildflowers. Literally millions of them carpeted the floor in purple, yellow, white and orange. With the warm winter we had, the flowers started blooming early and peaked in early March. In fact, at one point I thought about canceling my hike because I missed peak bloom. (I was trying to self-sabotage for whatever reason at various points leading up to my departure). Wildflowers were one of the things I enjoyed the most last time.

Of course I’m glad I didn’t cancel my wildflower walk. There are many flowers here now, but not with the intensity of two years ago. An unexpected joy was seeing how the cactus began to bloom. They are also well ahead of schedule. It started with a few bright pink hedgehog flowers around mile 100 which then burst out and all the hedgehogs seem to be blooming now. Today, I saw one of the larger species (maybe Engelman?) of prickly pear start to bloom with large yellow flowers and the chollas have flowers. I have never seen a cholla bloom before and I am ecstatic every time I see one. I have seen yellow, orange and red flowers. It’s amazing to see such large flowers at the end of the thin stems. I wonder if the saguaros will also start blooming early and have been keeping an eye out for their buds on their upper arms.

I’ve tried not to obsess over comparing the two hikes. I want to be open to the new gifts that are presented to me on this walk. But the memories come back. Some are more prominent than others, but I am caught off guard every day when I am met with an unexpected rush of memories when I see something I have seen before but had forgotten about.

Another new thing on this hike: I saw a Gila monster! I actually saw TWO! When I turned a corner this morning, one was standing directly in the path! I gasped and tears immediately formed from the joy of finally seeing this creature! It is the only venomous lizard in the US and is quite large for a lizard in this area. I stood and watched him for a long time and then followed him down the trail at a safe distance.

I thought about doing another marathon today but decided to stop at 25 miles.

Day 15: 4.1

I woke up very early and couldn’t go back to sleep. I decide to pack my bags and start walking at 5 in the morning. The rain started at 5:15. Ha! It was completely dark as the clouds hid all the stars, the almost full moon, and any ambient lighting of the upcoming dawn. I walked through a canyon where high voltage power lines pass through. Between the sound of the wind whipping through the canyon and the loud hum of power lines, it felt intensely eerie walking alone in the pre-dawn darkness and rain. I never play music on speaker phone, but I put some on and sang the lyrics in hopes of scaring all the mountain lions away.

The sun finally came out and the rain continued more intermittently for the next four hours. It was glorious not having the sun beating down on me and feeling a little cold. The smell of the desert in the rain is like no other.

I have 19 miles to get to the trailhead that has a road leading to Kearny. Trail angels Jeff and Que take in hikers one last time before selling their house. I had stayed here in 2024, but they were in Europe and I didn’t get to meet them. Who told me to text when I was about a mile from the TH and Jeff showed up to pick me up the exact moment I left the trail. 19 miles at 1:30 pm, phew!

I showered and washed clothes. Jeff let me drive his truck to the store to get vegetables and ice cream. Jeff made sloppy coffees and we shared a bunch of different sides. I met up with Rooster and met a guy doing the Great Western Loop called Bamboo.

I am always impressed by the generosity of the trail angels and other people you meet along the trail.

Creatures seen in the last 3 days and 69.5 miles

9 people, 21 jackrabbits, 3 jackrabbits, 6 squirrels, 5 snakes, 1 rattlesnake, 62 lizards, 2 Gila monsters, 17 cows, 1 dead cow, 1 deer and 2 dogs. Cholla are flowering, as well as hedgehog and some prickly pears. Palo Verde and saguaros have been featured.

Water sources I drank from

This website contains affiliate links, which means The Trek may receive a percentage of any products or services you purchase using links in articles or advertisements. The buyer pays the same price they would otherwise pay, and their purchase helps support The Trek’s ongoing goal of bringing you quality backpacking information and advice. Thank you for your support!

For more information, visit the About page of this site.