Spring 2023 – our third time to the Dragoons. We’ve camped at the Eastern Stronghold and hiked up to the divide, and now we’re returning to the Western Stronghold to approach the divide from the other side. This section of trail is the beginning (or ending) of the SkIT. While an excellent hike, the short … Read More “The Cochise Stronghold of the Dragoons” »
Month: June 2023
After our bushwhacking trip through the Chiricahuas, Paul and I were in the mood for some manicured trail for awhile. The Arizona Trail and the Sky Islands Traverse share a route over several of the mountain ranges closest to Tucson. Because the AZT is a well-traveled trail, the route is well-maintained and easy to follow. … Read More “More Sky Islands: Traversing the Rincons” »
I’ve probably sewed more backpacks than any other piece of gear, and all of them were Ray-Way, Mountain Flyer, or some slightly modified version of either one. Both make suitable backpacks for a hiker traveling light, and both can be made with a basic sewing machine. The Ray-Way I met 2 people on the AT … Read More “MYOG Comparison: The Ray-Way Pack vs. The Mountain Flyer” »
We’ve been to the Santa Ritas many times, frequently day hiking but also on a couple backpacking trips. Also known as Mount Wrightson and sometimes Old Baldy, the name(s) of its highest peak, the Santa Rita range lies to the south of Tucson. Although it is lesser known than Mount Lemmon of the Santa Catalinas, … Read More “Blown Away on Old Baldy” »
If I were to thru-hike the CDT again, this is the gear list I would start with.