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Day 1 Baker Lake – Banff NP

Laura taking in the view at Baker Lake. The wine is in the pot chillin in the background while Ptarmigan Peak dominates the view in the distance.

Day 1 Fish Creek Parking Lot to Baker Lake Campground, 13.6 km, 640 m Elevation Gain, 125 m Elevation Loss, 4 hrs 45 min.

We were ready to leave the house just before 8:00 am. I had done a thorough job of packing so much so I could not remember packing our little stove a MSR Pocket Rocket. A quick check through the backpack and I did not see it. I phoned Ken to borrow his stove even though I was sure I had packed it. I then one last look through everything and found the stove safely tucked away inside my coffee cup. Crisis was averted but had wasted 20 minutes and a whole lot of stress.

We arrived at Fish Creek parking lot around 9:30 am after our delayed start and hit the trail at 9:40 am. One of my goals for this trip was to arrive at the campground early enough to have some time to just enjoy the area and relax in the beauty of the place we had hiked to. We had both been on a few trips where we had arrived with just enough time to set up and eat before it is was bedtime and I wanted to avoid that for this trip.

For such an amazing destination the hike starts out very pedestrian as you head up a service road for the ski resort for the first 3.8 km. Staying to the right at the first interaction we then just followed the road until we reached the ski lifts at the backside of the Lake Louise ski resort. While the hike was very straight forwarded it was not easy. We gained 300 m of elevation out of our total of 640 m hiking on the service road. We did not see any other hikers but there was a group of women who headed out trail running. They may have headed up Deception Pass to the Skoki area as we did not see them again.

The not very inspiration start to an amazing hike.
Trees are thinning out and providing some views. The road is very steep.

We made extremely good time up the road. Arriving at the ski lifts in just under one hour. A quick steep jog up a ski run and we came to the trail that would take us all the way to Baker Lake.

A little rough trail leading up the ski hill then onto the main trail which was very wide and well maintained.
I am not very sure about the distances on some of the Parks Canada signs. It was about 9.8 km to Baker Lake by my calculations.

The trail leveled off gaining only 180 m over the next 4 km. The hike was very pleasant as we walked through along the valley floor crisscrossing Corral Creek several times as we made our way towards the headwall of the valley.

Do to the high traffic on the first section of trail there are many small bridges over minor creeks.
Wide trail cuts through a dense forest.
Laura on one of the many crossing of Corral Creek with Ptarmigan Peak (3035 m) in the background.
Looking at Mt Temple (3544 m) in the distance. Frosty Paws made the trip.

The sun was steadily climbing up through the clear blue sky. As the trees started to thin out the views opened up in all directions.

Ptarmigan Peak on the right, Mt Richardson (3086 m) on the left, the saddle from Richardson leads to Pika Peak (3053 m).

Twenty minutes after leaving the creek crossing we scampered up a short hill and arrived at Halfway Hut (sorry no picture). Halfway Hut is a simple little log structure built as a rest stop when supplies for Skoki Lodge were transported by horse train. The hut is located approximately halfway from the Lake Louise train station and Skoki Lodge. We had been hiking for 2 hrs 20 min and had covered 7.5 km.

Halfway Hut is to the left. Redoubt Mountain (2902 m) dominates the background.
Lots of choices at this interaction, but no distances. Not lost yet!
If you zoom in on the hill in the distance, you can see the trail leading up to Rockfall Pass, the entrance to the sub alpine.

The trail continued through a couple of minor creek crossings before we started to climb our last real hill of the day. Heading up to Rockfall Pass we hiked up a well graded trail gaining 135 m of elevation in 1.4 km. As we arrived at Rockfall Pass we had the clear blue expanse of Ptarmigan Lake before us and the grassy meadows of the alpine all around. It had taken us 2 hrs 50 min to hike 9 km.

Trail was nice and wide and pretty smooth. Might get the toes wet with the minor creeks that flowed over the trail.
The rock formations on the hillside remind me of canyons walls in the Grand Canyon. The fluted sections are indications of vertical joints in the rock.
Marmots! Always on guard when you are in the alpine.
Laura coming up the last section of trail before the pass.
Flowers leading up to Ptarmigan Peak.
Ptarmigan Lake with Fossil Mountain (2496 m) reflecting in the waters. In the far distance on the left is Mt Douglas (3235 m) and to the right is Mt St. Bride (3315 m)

The day was working out as I had hoped. The weather was spectacular with clear blue skies but not too hot. It was 12:30 pm and we only had an easy 4.5 km to go. It was time for lunch and to enjoy the fruits of our labour (not that it had been that labourious).

Laura found a good rock for out lunch. Ptarmigan Peak in the background.

After a good 30 minute break we headed off on the last leg of hike. It would be short easy climb to the junction with Deception Pass then downhill all the way to Baker Lake Campground. The trail heads around the north side of the lake. In the spring the trail could be very muddy but for us there were plenty of rocks to step on to keep our feet dry from the few remaining wet spots. The trial then left the lake and started a slow easy climb up towards the junction with Deception Pass.

Heading out after lunch. The trail still had section of mud which could easily be avoided by walking on the rocks.
Trail remains in excellent shape. Wide with a gently gradient.
Jammed packed picture. Tall peak on the left in the distance is Mt St Bride, the Snow covered peaks just left of centre is Lychnis Mt (2819 m) , the dark mountain at centre is Brachiopod Mt (2667 m) and the mountain on the left is Heather Ridge (2636 m).
Looking back at Redoubt Mt (2902 m)
I just think Brachiopod is such a good looking mountain.

It only took 30 minutes to reach the high point of the hike the junction to Deception Pass. On the way we had a little bit of excitement when we had to cross a very small snow field.

Video taken as we approached the high point of the trail. Mountain at end of video is Fossil Mt
Crossing the snowfield.

It is worthwhile side trip going up to Deceptoin pass and onto the lower slopes of Fossil Mt to get a view across the entire valley (I had done this on a previous trip) but we decided to continue onto the campground. It was easy walking all downhill to Baker Lake. We did have to skirt around a couple of marmots who were using the trail as a buffet eating horse droppings.

Junction with the trail to Deception Pass. Fossil Mt in the background. The meadow below Fossil Mt is a great viewpoint.
Directions. Lots of destinations in the area.
Looking back at Redoubt Mt and Ptarmigan Lake. Can see all the way to the glaciers back of Paradise Valley.
First view of the Baker Lake. Campground is at the far end.
Lunchtime on the trail.
Fullt view of Baker Lake.

From the high point at the junction with Deception Pass we would actually lose 110 m of elevation as we approached the campground at Baker Lake. One of the benefits of this out and back would be that the 110 m would be the elevation gain tomorrow on the return trip all completed in the first couple of kilometres. From our first view of Baker Lake it was 2.2 km to the campground which we covered easily in about 40 minutes. The campground at Baker Lake is in a very small clearing with the tent sites very closely packed together. There is only one campsite which actually has a view of the lake. Arriving relatively early we were the lucky ones to snag the “penthouse” campsite with the million dollar view. It was 2:20pm in the afternoon when we dropped our packs.

The alpine is tough place to be a flower.
Junction to the Baker Lake Campground. the trail continues on the left side to continue onto the Sawback Trail the campground goes up the little trail to the right.
Frosty Paws has arrived and do we have a view!

We spent about an hour setting up the tent and storing our food on the bear pole. We then made our way out to the the lake where we would spend the next hour and half or so relaxing and reading by the water.

Pretty happy to be back at Baker Lake.
Laura soaking in the view. Ptarmigan Peak in the background.
The wine chillin for later.
Laura hard at work putting the “r” in relaxing.

At 5 o’clock we headed off to make dinner. Dinner was going to be a bit of an experiment. I had been drying my own fruit for a while but had never dried a dinner always eating store bought freeze dried meals. At home I had cooked up some tortellini and sausage along with a bit of broccoli and then dried it to bring on this trip. I do not remember the exact values but I remember the weight of the dried meal was less than half of the originally cooked meal which made me pretty happy. To re-hydrate our meal I put in just enough water to cover the food and then heated the food and water to boil. According to instructions I once boiling the food should be ready but I decided to give it a couple extra minutes at a nice rolling boil. The real question was how did it taste and we were both very pleased with our dinner. Preparing my own dried is definitely something I thought I would do more of in the future. Little did I know at the time drying my own meals would be crucial for my upcoming trip on the Great Divide Trail in August.

Re-hydrating dinner.

Baker Lake has the reputation of being very buggy. When I was at Baker Lake in 2019 I counted over 20 mosquitoes on Ken’s head at one point. There were a couple of groups at the campground who were wearing mosquito head nets (I had made one for Laura) but there were very few mosquitoes on our visit and we never felt the need to cover up.

Have to have some wine with pasta. Laure staying warm in my orange fleece.
The kitchen set up.
The smile says it all. We save on washing by eating from the same pot.

After dinner we went exploring further east from the campground. We had a fun time checking out Baker Creek which empties Baker Lake. Baker Creek flows around Brachiopod Mt and continues all the way to join the Bow River at the aptly named Baker Creek Chalets.

Very old signs but still accurate. Go left for Red Deer Lake. Go right for Baker Creek and Pulsatilla Pass.
Baker Creek.
Laura looking happy on the rocks.
Me, I am always happy when exploring.
Why we go hiking.
Doing some stream crossing in the sunlight.
Laura getting in a bit of bouldering.
Flowers lit up by the slowly setting sun.
Lovely mountain that does not have name. Part of the Sawback Range.
Video of the valley along the Sawback range. Head south to Pulsatilla Pass, head north to Red Deer Lakes.

We spent about an hour exploring and made our way back to the campsite where it was time for wine and chocolate. While relaxing on our rock we were entertained by what we thought was a squirrel who swam across the water in front of us.

Wine and sunshine, what could be better.
  • Success! That is one wet critter.
Chocolate biscuits. Back country delicacy.

We got ready for bed. Put our smellables into our food bag and hung it up on the bear hang. The bear hang is located a reasonable distance from camp so we wanted to minimize how many trips we made back and forth. We both had books so we spent the early evening in the tent reading.

One last trip to the biffy before bed introduced us to the neighbourhood porcupine. The presence of porcupines at the Baker Lake campsite is well known it is even mentioned in the guidebook “Classic Hikes in the Canadian Rockies”. Porcupines love to chew so it is important to put everything inside the tent. During our stay someone had left their boots outside the tent during the day and a porcupine made a little meal out of the boots.

We would have quite an evening with our new little friend. Porcupines are very active at night and emit a sound which would be better described as a screech that would make any zombie excited. Not what you would describe as a peaceful sound of nature. Luckily for us the porcupine only screeched a few times and stayed quiet for most the night.

My plan was to go to sleep reasonably early and to wake up at 1:30 am to take pictures of the night sky.

Bear hang.
The porcupine would nibble a small hole in the fly.

Baker Lake Night Time

Baker Lake Home

bootwreckers

With my trip ending a little early I spent the las With my trip ending a little early I spent the last couple of days doing Trail Magic, full story up on Bootwreckers, see link in bio.

I stayed the night utilizing the primitive camping area at Picketpost Mt. Arizona sunsets are amazing. 

I did two days of Trail Magic. I purchased 14 pops (known locally as sodas) and bags of chips each day and hung out at two different trailheads for the AZT. The thru hikers coming by were always appreciative of the extra calories with flavour.

After I headed back to Phoenix to begin my trip home.

I love traveling and hiking in Arizona, not sure when I will get back but I will go back soon(ish).

#trailmagic #aztassociation #nationalparks, #slotcanyon, #hiking, #hikingadventures, #familytime, #camping, #campingadventures, #outdoors, #outside, #nature,  #FIndyourpark #landscape #landscapephotography #optoutside #nationalpark #desertphotography #grandcanyon #grandcanyonnationalpark #grandcanyonassociation #nationalparkweek #reichallenge #nationalparksweek #rightnow #nationalparktrust #goparks #aztrails
Day 3 (and final day) of my hike on the Arizona Tr Day 3 (and final day) of my hike on the Arizona Trail finishing Passage 15, see link in bio.

Had just under 20 miles to hike. Was a great day on trail. After finishing hiking the high desert reentered canyon country which was followed by a quick climb for amazing views from the high point.

The hike ended with what can only be described as a cacophony of flowers. A simply amazing way to finish the hike. 

Now I have to figure out which Passages I can hike next and when....good problem to have.

#nationalparks, #slotcanyon, #hiking, #hikingadventures, #familytime, #camping, #campingadventures, #outdoors, #outside, #nature,  #FIndyourpark #landscape #landscapephotography #optoutside #nationalpark #desertphotography #grandcanyon #grandcanyonnationalpark #grandcanyonassociation #nationalparkweek #reichallenge #nationalparksweek #rightnow #nationalparktrust #goparks #aztrails
Just the aurora dancing in the northern skies take Just the aurora dancing in the northern skies taken from my balcony. 

I never tire of seeing the Northern Lights

#northernlights #aurora #auroraborealis #canmore
Day 2 of my Arizona Trail Passages 14 15 hike is u Day 2 of my Arizona Trail Passages 14 15 hike is up on Bootwreckers. 

Big day, 36 km's, but was super fun over varied terrain and some more Trail Magic when I arrived at the beginning of Passage 15 at Freeman Road.

Hiked almost until sundown, but managed to find a slightly sheltered spot to block some of the very fierce desert wind.

Love hiking in Arizona,  next time I will make sure I tape up my heels before I start.

Enjoy.

#nationalparks, #slotcanyon, #hiking, #hikingadventures, #familytime, #camping, #campingadventures, #outdoors, #outside, #nature,  #FIndyourpark #landscape #landscapephotography #optoutside #nationalpark #desertphotography #grandcanyon #grandcanyonnationalpark #grandcanyonassociation #nationalparkweek #reichallenge #nationalparksweek #rightnow #nationalparktrust #goparks #aztrails
Arizona Trail Passages 14 15 travel day and Day 1 Arizona Trail Passages 14 15 travel day and Day 1 up on Bootwreckers, see link in bio.

Was a fantastic trip south to hike Passages 14 and 15 of thr Arizona Trail.

Met lots of great people, enjoyed some Trail Magic and experience the raw beauty of the desert. 

Trip didn't go quite as planned but I am still planning on heading back thr AZT for more adventures.

The last photo is my training partner, Margaux,  and what I was hiking in just the week before the trip. Not so much snow in the desert. 

#nationalparks, #slotcanyon, #hiking, #hikingadventures, #familytime, #camping, #campingadventures, #outdoors, #outside, #nature,  #FIndyourpark #landscape #landscapephotography #optoutside #nationalpark #desertphotography #grandcanyon #grandcanyonnationalpark #grandcanyonassociation #nationalparkweek #reichallenge #nationalparksweek #rightnow #nationalparktrust #goparks #aztrails
Day 3 of my New Years adventure in Arizona up on B Day 3 of my New Years adventure in Arizona up on Bootwreckers, see link in bio.

Hiked the Superstition Ridgeline Trail, 23 km of some very rough terrain.

The views from the ridge were spectacular. The trail is more of a route, then a trail. I got off trail a half a dozen times just on the ascent to the ridge. Sprinkled in for fun where several down climbs where I had to drop my poles before climbing down a small chimney or crack.

There is camping possibilities on the ridge and I do wish I would have camped just before Syphon Draw and enjoyed the sunset. Maybe next time.

This was a very challenging 10.5 hrs on the trail, one of my hardest days ever, but worth every drop of sweat.

Till next time Arizona.

#nationalparks, #slotcanyon, #hiking, #hikingadventures, #familytime, #camping, #campingadventures, #outdoors, #outside, #nature,  #FIndyourpark #landscape #landscapephotography #optoutside #nationalpark #desertphotography #grandcanyon #grandcanyonnationalpark #grandcanyonassociation #nationalparkweek #reichallenge #nationalparksweek #rightnow #nationalparktrust #goparks #aztrails
Even in the smoke, there is nothing like hiking in Even in the smoke, there is nothing like hiking in the Canadian Rockies.

On the way to Pinto Lake, going over Sunset Pass with Tuft Peak in the distance.

#parkscanada #parks #bcparks #trails #longdistancehike #longtrail #outdoors #outside #thruhike #hike #thruhiking #outside #backpacking #waterfalls #waterfall #naturephotography #naturephotography #nationalparks #alberta, #albertaparks
Day 2 of my New Years Arizona Adventure is posted, Day 2 of my New Years Arizona Adventure is posted, see link in bio.

Fun and easy day exploring the Superstitions with my four new friends. Lots of varied terrain and lots of breaks. Will make up for that on Day 3.

I did run out of superlatives to describe the scenery, in one word it was simply spectacular!

#nationalparks, #slotcanyon, #hiking, #hikingadventures, #familytime, #camping, #campingadventures, #outdoors, #outside, #nature,  #FIndyourpark #landscape #landscapephotography #optoutside #nationalpark #desertphotography #grandcanyon #grandcanyonnationalpark #grandcanyonassociation #nationalparkweek #reichallenge #nationalparksweek #rightnow #nationalparktrust #goparks #aztrails
Day 1 of a fun two day trip out to Pinto Lake over Day 1 of a fun two day trip out to Pinto Lake over Sunset Pass.

It was a little smokey but as you can see from the first photo the views were spectacular.....

The little dot in Photo 9 is a Common Loon, and entertained us for several minutes swimming across the lake and diving for fish.

Big thanks to @kbsymington , @sio.mellors , Kylie and Charlie for making it such an awesome trip.

#parkscanada #parks #bcparks #trails #longdistancehike #longtrail #outdoors #outside #thruhike #hike #thruhiking #outside #backpacking #waterfalls #waterfall #naturephotography #naturephotography #nationalparks #alberta, #albertaparks
Day 1 of my 2023 New Years Arizona Adventure is up Day 1 of my 2023 New Years Arizona Adventure is up on Bootwreckers,  see link in bio.

Day started off rainy, see photo 2, but the clouds cleared off by 8 am and I finally got my hike started.

The day wasn't without adversity as I slipped chasing my water bottle in a stream and fell in the water. My camera got flooded and stopped working so the rest of the photos were taken on my aging BlackBerry Key 2.

Met up with a group of 4 med students and hiked with them for two days.

Despite the ruined camera was a super fun day on the trail in a new place. 

#nationalparks, #slotcanyon, #hiking, #hikingadventures, #familytime, #camping, #campingadventures, #outdoors, #outside, #nature,  #FIndyourpark #landscape #landscapephotography #optoutside #nationalpark #desertphotography #grandcanyon #grandcanyonnationalpark #grandcanyonassociation #nationalparkweek #reichallenge #nationalparksweek #rightnow #nationalparktrust #goparks #aztrails
It took a while but finally posted the intro to my It took a while but finally posted the intro to my New Years trip to Arizona, see link in bio.

I was greater in Arizona to 18C weather followed quickly by near freezing temperatures and the most rain in the Phoenix area in one day since 1906!

My trip went from Plan A, 4 days on the Arizona Trail,  through Plans B, C and Finally D.

Was a fun if sometimes frustrating adventure.

#nationalparks, #slotcanyon, #hiking, #hikingadventures, #familytime, #camping, #campingadventures, #outdoors, #outside, #nature,  #FIndyourpark #landscape #landscapephotography #optoutside #nationalpark #desertphotography #grandcanyon #grandcanyonnationalpark #grandcanyonassociation #nationalparkweek #reichallenge #nationalparksweek #rightnow #nationalparktrust #goparks #aztrails
Day 3 of Rockwall 2022 is up on Bootwreckers, see Day 3 of Rockwall 2022 is up on Bootwreckers,  see link in bio.

Sweet little day up and over Tumbling Pass with and a long view of Tumbling Glacier. 

The weather cooperated with blue skies and no threat of rain so we were able to linger at The Glacier before heading down the long descent to the car.

While a straightforward day there were still some adventures to be had, but you have to read about them on the blog.

Big thanks to my amazing hiking partner, @sio.mellors

Looking forward to our 3 day adventure this summer, which will no doubt generate more stories to tell.

#parkscanada #parks #bcparks #trails #longdistancehike #longtrail #outdoors #outside #thruhike #hike #thruhiking #outside #backpacking #waterfalls #waterfall #naturephotography #naturephotography #nationalparks
Day 2 of our Rockwall 2022 trip is posted on Bootw Day 2 of our Rockwall 2022 trip is posted on Bootwreckers, see link in bio. With @sio.mellors

This day was Helmet Falls CG to Tumbling Creek CG.

Day started off beautiful with blue skies which turned to rain after lunch. Somehow through all the rain and thunder Siobhan  never lost her smile.

The day ended with beers and Siobhan giving butt rubs to the doggies in camp.

Photo 1 Siobhan taking in the Rockwall at lunch

Photo 2 Helmet Falls at Golden hour

Photo 3 me and my morning coffee waiting for Siobhan to wake up

Photo 4 on the way up Siobhan with Limestone Peak in th background 

Photo 5 Siobhan at Rockwall Pass (can you tell?)

Photo 6 Siobhan near Wolverine Pass with Rockwall Peak shrouded in clouds

Photo 7 Tumbling Glacier through the clouds

Photo 8 setting up camp

Photo 9 Dinner time

Photo 10 butt rubs

#parkscanada #parks #bcparks #trails #longdistancehike #longtrail #outdoors #outside #thruhike #hike #thruhiking #outside #backpacking #waterfalls #waterfall #naturephotography #naturephotography #nationalparks
New trip posted, three day trip in the Rockwall in New trip posted, three day trip in the Rockwall in Kootenay NP with @sio.mellors. Introduction and Day 1 up on Bootwreckers.

Trip was suppose to be hiking Northover Ridge in Kanananaskis but smoke had us change plans at the last minute.

This would be my third multi day trip on the Rockwall but the first for Siobhan.

Managed to get two camping sites on the Rockwall and instead of smoke we had to deal with the threat of rain.

We did get wet but we had a blast.

Day 1 is from Paint Pots TH to Helmet Falls CG, with a side trip to get up close the the falls. Pretty straightforward day but visiting Helmet Falls is always special.

#parkscanada #parks #bcparks #trails #longdistancehike #longtrail #outdoors #outside #thruhike #hike #thruhiking #outside #backpacking #waterfalls #waterfall #naturephotography #naturephotography #nationalparks
The sixth and final day of our 2022 GDT Section D The sixth and final day of our 2022 GDT Section D hike is up on Bootwreckers, see link in bio.

This day took us from a random camp on the Howse Floodplain to the Mustafa Canyon parking lot. This was an adventurous day with bushwhacking, stream crossings and dead fall but a simply glorious end to a wonderful hike on the GDT. 

Again thanks  to Sara (@sd_kuz) and Lillian (@waterlilizee) for sharing this adventure with me. I am sure we will meet again on a trail someday.

Photo 1 - Morning Colors

Photo 2 - tents on the floodplain

Photo 3 - bushwhacking to start the day

Photo 4 - fields of flowers going to seed

Photo 5 - looking south down the Howse River

Photo 6 - thigh deep water crossing

Photo 7 - big views

Photo 8 - Sara crossing some dead fall

Photo 9 -Mistaya Canyon

Photo 10 - picked up a thru hiker named Roy, enjoying beverages left by Natasha and Kyle from Backpacks and Bikeracks

#greatdivide #greatdividetrail #gdt #parkscanada #parks #bcparks #trails #longdistancehike #longtrail #outdoors #outside #thruhike #hike #thruhiking #outside #backpacking #waterfalls #waterfall #naturephotography #naturephotography #nationalparks #duplex #sectionhike #sectionhiker
Day 5 of our 2022 Great Divide Trail Section D hik Day 5 of our 2022 Great Divide Trail Section D hike is posted on Bootwreckers, see link in bio.

Truly epic day on the trail. Pass through the debris of two avalanches, had lunch by a waterfall, crawled over so much dead fall and hiked on the Howse Flood Plain.

The sunset on the flood plain was one of most magical I have seen.

As always a big thanks to Sara (@sd_kuz) and Lillian (@waterlilizee) for sharing this adventure with me. The Team totally rocked the trail.

#greatdivide #greatdividetrail #gdt #parkscanada #parks #bcparks #trails #longdistancehike #longtrail #outdoors #outside #thruhike #hike #thruhiking #outside #backpacking #waterfalls #waterfall #naturephotography #naturephotography #nationalparks #duplex #sectionhike #sectionhiker
Evening light on Picketpost Mt. #aztrail #aztasso Evening light on Picketpost Mt.

#aztrail #aztassociation  #nps, #nationalparks, #slotcanyon, #hiking, #hikingadventures, #familytime, #camping, #campingadventures, #outdoors, #outside, #nature,  #FIndyourpark #landscape #landscapephotography #optoutside #nationalpark #desertphotography #grandcanyon #grandcanyonnationalpark #grandcanyonassociation #nationalparkweek #reichallenge #nationalparksweek #rightnow #nationalparktrust #goparks #aztrails
Arizona Trail Passages 14 and 15. Some photos of Arizona Trail Passages 14 and 15.

Some photos of my recent hike down a couple of Passages of the Arizona Trail. 

The trail is so diverse, rolling terrain cut by shallow washes leads to the expanse of the desert then into rugged canyons and tall peaks, all in a space of 92 km (58 miles).

Had a great time, some blisters gave me some concerns but they seem to be doing fine now that they are out of my hiking shoes.

Got lucky with Trail Magic courtesy of Condiments who drove his 4x4 deep into an unarmed wash, was really in the middle of no where, and then again at the start of Passage 15, missed the Trail Angel's name, the wind was so loud.

Like to thank my Trail Angels, Carole for driving me to Oracle to start the trip, with side trip to a Hayden Az, a real ghost town and to Edith for leaving a water cache for me at Passage 15.

Included a video of my time at the high point for Passage 15. My kid likes it when you stop and enjoy the view you earned, thought they would appreciate my effort in the face of 1000 mph winds (ok maybe thats a bit of an exaggeration).

Thanks Arizona and the AZT for providing more memories.

I will be back

#aztrail #aztassociation  #nps, #nationalparks, #slotcanyon, #hiking, #hikingadventures, #familytime, #camping, #campingadventures, #outdoors, #outside, #nature,  #FIndyourpark #landscape #landscapephotography #optoutside #nationalpark #desertphotography #grandcanyon #grandcanyonnationalpark #grandcanyonassociation #nationalparkweek #reichallenge #nationalparksweek #rightnow #nationalparktrust #goparks #aztrails
That sunset says when I wake up it will be time to That sunset says when I wake up it will be time to start my hike on the Arizona Trail, Passages 14 and 15

Love my little motel in Superior, Az, Copper Mt Motel. Has murals painted on all the buildings

Spied the Grand Canyon from the plane 

Adventure awaits 

#aztrail #aztassociation  #nps, #nationalparks, #slotcanyon, #hiking, #hikingadventures, #familytime, #camping, #campingadventures, #outdoors, #outside, #nature,  #FIndyourpark #landscape #landscapephotography #optoutside #nationalpark #desertphotography #grandcanyon #grandcanyonnationalpark #grandcanyonassociation #nationalparkweek #reichallenge #nationalparksweek #rightnow #nationalparktrust #goparks #aztrails
Frosty Paws all packed and ready for an adventure. Frosty Paws all packed and ready for an adventure.

Arizona Trail Passages 14 and 15 starting Sunday

Off weekend gooooooo!

#aztrail #aztassociation  #nps, #nationalparks, #slotcanyon, #hiking, #hikingadventures, #familytime, #camping, #campingadventures, #outdoors, #outside, #nature,  #FIndyourpark #landscape #landscapephotography #optoutside #nationalpark #desertphotography #grandcanyon #grandcanyonnationalpark #grandcanyonassociation #nationalparkweek #reichallenge #nationalparksweek #rightnow #nationalparktrust #goparks #aztrails
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