Dead AZT Thru: What to do with the body

I crossed the river for Doll Baby

The East Verde water level had dropped significantly by 8:30 a.m.

I saw the symbolism at my crossing of the East Verde River. On the north side was my walk: mud, loneliness, apathy and a stubborn pride in make it work. On the south side of the river there was acceptance, adaptability, renewed enthusiasm for what is possible with the time I have.

Fielding and I crossed at 9am on my 22nd day on the trail. The water level had dropped to a manageable height and the flow was a slow river rather than a choppy flood. It had retreated even faster than I expected! We crossed one by one slowly, prepared for the water to reach waist or even chest height, but to our surprise, the water was up to mid-thigh at its deepest point! It was a success and I was finally having a good time here! We made the right decisions, we were patient and it was worth it. I felt empowered and supported by having Fielding there to solve problems, but I still felt determined to get out of the way, probably even more so. This river crossing had reinforced that I could trust myself to do what was safe for me. I could trust that my logic and emotion at the end of my walk were also solid and thoughtful.

Fielding makes his way through East Verde.

My exit strategy was simple. Just after crossing East Verde, there is a junction on the AZT with the Doll Baby Trail. Doll Baby travels 14 miles from the river plain and east through the mountains directly toward Payson using single-track roads, dirt roads, and paved roads. It would still be a full day of hiking, but I could be in a motel room in Payson that night. Fielding was determined to follow the path and I am very happy that my plan to leave did not tempt him to do the same. I had 5 days to walk through the rest of the Mazetzals and reach the road in Girasol. We had already been out for 2 days and had spent a day eating food waiting for the river to recede. I had a lot to spare now that I was going to the city, so it was able to supplement my overeating. We hugged each other goodbye at the trail crossing and wished each other luck. we have been through so much stinkHe must be looking for us! I so wish I could be rude and impulsive enough to say, «What the hell, Fielding, I’m coming with you!» That he could forgive all the bad things in the past and allow AZT its tenth, approximately ten million, chance to be fun and enjoyable. Instead, I am firm and determined. I know Fielding and we will meet again and I have his number to check on him. We parted ways on our own paths, our own journeys.

Fielding on his own journey, glad I got to witness some!

What to do with the body

Just as there is no one way to go on a hike, there is no one way to leave it. Some people are on a plane home within hours of calling, others rent a car and decide to take a road trip or skip it to do magic trails or smaller hikes. Some go on a cruise with their new friends or continue long-distance hikes on a completely different trail. I’ve even seen some people find a job and a place to stay right at the random spot where they stop walking and settle in for a while. There is no single way to quit smoking.

When I killed my AZT hike, I still wanted to stay in Arizona and explore the AZT. I didn’t want to end my trip early, sneak back home and hide the body in my closet, trying to forget that I had failed. He wasn’t going to bury it deep, hoping no one would ask questions while he harbored guilt or regret. I just wanted to let go of the pursuit of walking the AZT, which had metaphorically been like banging my head against a wall, and discover a fun, slow-paced way to see the places I was excited about. I would do smaller backpacking sections and trail rides for what I call «miles of despair.» It would make magic on the trails for the few hikers you might find out there. I would go south and explore the desert communities I had heard so much about. Best of all, I could camp in my car in the desert comfortably and for cheap!

My resignation would not be due to abandonment, this was a rescue mission.

The first thing I had to do was get my car back from Phoenix, I needed to be mobile. There are no bus routes from Payson to Phoenix, and private shuttles are expensive, so I returned to my favorite little coffee shop in Payson for help. I had visited Common land several times during my stormy zeros, and the owners, employees and regular customers came to recognize me. They are incredibly welcoming and have almost everything a hiker or cyclist could ask for. Literally, just ask them and they will magically find a way to make your wish come true. I’m just saying if you’re in the area, check this place out to see what I’m talking about. For example, I was in a bind trying to get to Phoenix and someone inside the cafeteria was immediately willing to give me a ride for the small price of a cafeteria breakfast when we got there. Good for me! the set Common land The family are all angels of the path and they don’t even know it!

Rescue mission: ongoing

Four Peaks Desert at sunset

After two weeks since I went off road, I’m happy with my decision. I got my beloved, comfortable, beat-up car back and camped in some beautiful places, around Lake Roosevelt, Superior, Florence, and Tucson, all for free around the trailheads and BLM lands near the trail. I’m building up AZT mileage in a slower way, of course, but in a way that makes me feel adventurous and rejuvenated. I’ll describe some of my little outings below… Unfortunately, most of these are Out & Backs, so I only count half the miles one way.

• 3 miles north of Girasol where I camped at Cross F TH and toured Nobo Canyon.
• 7 mile nobo/sobo backpacking from Vineyard TH around Lake Roosevelt. I camped at the top of the climb and had a beautiful view of the lake, the Four Peak Mountains, and saw my first javelinas. I also got to cross the cool bridge into Lake Roosevelt! I got to meet Inspector Gadget (NOBO Thru!), who was friendly and has an inspiring story behind his walk.
• 3.5 miles nobo from Picketpost TH. The car park is wonderful just west of Superior. I hiked a trail that took me north and enjoyed great views of the Superstitions.
• Angeled trail for an Arizona 800 cyclist who was having a bad day. I also ended up meeting Purple Angel, who took me to her house in Superior so I could shower and do laundry! She is a truly amazing woman, and what a cook!
• 37 mile section from Gila River nobo to Picketpost TH. I did this with a couple I had met, Lucky & Tarantula Killer. Walking with them in such a beautiful place will probably be my favorite moment in all of AZT.

Photo by Lucky from SOMO Collective

In addition to these AZT excursions, I was able to meet up with some friends from Arkansas and support one who was running in the Javelina Jundred Ultra Race. Watching people party and celebrate these amazing runners in the desert was inspiring and a total mood lifter. Being able to catch up with friends who knew me and would see me soon in Arkansas also did wonders. I felt like I could leave them after the race with a renewed purpose to use the rest of my time in Arizona wisely. They did not judge what I have achieved or not, that is all purely from my own brain. My friends back home don’t care what the hell I’m doing as long as I have the guts to follow my dreams and run the club again when I get home!

Dusk falls over Javelina Jundred’s party

From here, I have another great backpacking section planned from Summerhaven and the Mt. Lemmon area heading to SOBO to see the Rincon Mountains and East Saguaro National Park. I know I will try another AZT hike in the future. I still love it, as much as when I started this attempt. I know what I will do to make it a better experience for me and add guarantees to be successful. Maybe a Spring NOBO instead? I will definitely hike with someone instead of going alone. I probably won’t kill him when the going gets tough, because after this year, I know what tough stuff really is like.

Don’t worry, the trail will always be there…?

Although all of you have not been able to read a Whistles success story with its AZT Thru-HikeI’ve already told you two of those stories this year. And to be honest, I think you can understand that I have the same thing to show for quitting smoking right now that if I had finished… I’ve learned a lot. I have discovered what I personally can and cannot cope with. I realized that I don’t need a 100% success rate on every hike I take to stay here in this community. that my love for hiking transcends being perfect at it. I leave this hike with unforgettable memories and a determination to PROTECT this trail, this desert experience for anyone else today or in the future who wants to come and try it too. You have the right to fuck around and find out.

PROTECT OUR PUBLIC LANDS.

I leave you with a call to action. I have other hikes scheduled for next year, but I don’t think I’ll be a hike blogger for them. This is a platform with the largest readership I’ve ever had, so I feel encouraged to use it while I have it. You don’t need me to tell you how separate and distant American life has become from the outside. I would personally call it unethical and criminally negligent. Our simplest forms of nature, health and humanity are being threatened. Our public lands, our national conservation, and our interconnection with the earth and all its systems are easy prey for greed, exploitation, and shortsightedness. I am already a monthly donor to PCTA, AZTA, and my local Land Trust in Northwest Arkansas, but I will increase my monthly donation amount after my walk. These entities purchase, fight for, and protect the lands I have the privilege to walk and recreate on. we want more, need more, not less, and I hope that volunteering where you can and donating what you can will be enough to keep these treasures from falling prey. I hope you can evaluate your own circumstances and do the same.

When people have to leave the trail, whether due to personal hardship, floods or fires, a common saying is used: “Don’t worry, I can come back. The trail will always be there.«For the first time in our nation’s history, I don’t believe that saying is true. If we don’t rebel against these constant hidden attacks being attempted on what little nature we have left, these trails won’t be there for us in the future. There are no guarantees. So, I encourage you to look for trail associations, conservation areas, or local land agencies that are building and protecting the places you care about, and ask them how you can help. You will find a welcoming, powerful community that cares about you, your children and their great-great-grandchildren’s access to nature and the outdoors.

It has been a privilege to share my thoughts on the hike with all of you. Whether this is the only post of mine you’ve read or you’ve been following me since my first post earlier this year, I’m incredibly grateful for your attention. Thank you for being interested, wishing me the best and wishing me security. Believe it or not, I see all of you as tech trail angels and even if you never become a hiker, reading and supporting all these trail bloggers, You make this community better. Thank you!

Whistles here, saying goodbye!