eight years

Well today is this blog's 8 year anniversary.  Yea I have been publishing this drivel for that long.

Spring break ended for Joel and it's just starting for Mackenzie. Lucky ducks.

If you read my last blog post I mentioned I had plans for a new outdoor adventure. Well it's under one month I will be doing this and I thought I would finally divulge my plans. Don't anyone try to stop me.

If you see my office, it's littered with maps, books, papers, a scale and lots of other bits of gear and kit. All to get ready for a nearly 60 mile backpack trip through the mountains in southern Arizona. My spring break if you will.

I have reading and charting and weighing. Testing food and recipes for the trail. Getting permits and reservations. I think I have almost as much fun with the planning as I actually do the activity.

I won't be doing this alone. A friend of mine saw my pictures from last years trips and he said he  would be all on board for that. I held him to it, called him on it (actually he called me asking if I had any plans for 2016). I offered this trip, he did not back out. It should be fun.

It's territory I am somewhat familiar with. The greater Tucson area. Starting in Saguaro National Park ending around Mt Lemmon. Getting up to 9000' in elevation a few times and camping between 4000 and 7700' above sea level. 60 miles in 6 days. No, not a lot of miles but the change of elevation will make it a challenge.

You can get a description of the 3 sections of the Arizona National Scenic Trail we will be passing through here:

1 Rincon Mountains
2 Reddington Pass
3 Santa Catalina Mountains

We are doing this probably the latest we can before it heats up too much and finding water becomes an issue. At elevation the temps will be in the mid 70's but in the valleys it will be 10° warmer.

Another nice part about this is I have left ourselves an out if we decide it's too much or we have problems.  End of day three we will be at a campsite accessible by car (waypoint I in the map below).  Joel or others can meet us in camp for/with dinner and some cold beverages (and resupply so we don't have to carry 6 days of food) as it is only about 45 minute drive from town.

Not much more to add, but I am pretty stoked.