We hiked in Candice’s footsteps on the Arizona Trail

Fall on the Arizona Trail in the Matzatzal Wilderness is magical!

We couldn’t camp for eight days within two miles of the Matzatzal Wilderness without driving the Desert Rat 1,100’ up a road that is so steep and rough that is called a trail, the Morman Springs Trail.

Luckily, we had brought our down jackets, because it was only 48 degrees and windy….but it was a bright sunny day, and the mountains were calling us!

 At the end of the “road,” we entered the Matzatzal Wilderness.

We hiked on the spur that leads to the AZT at mile 398.  That means that if we had hiked all the way from Mexico on the 800 mile Arizona Trail, we would have hiked 398 miles.

One of the fun things things about this hike is that two years ago Candice hiked the AZT from Mexico to mile 398 and beyond.  So on this hike, we were actually hiking in Candice’s footsteps!

Here she is….immersed in her element.

We wish that Dan and I had met when we were younger.  If so, we would have hiked the entire Arizona Trail.  Probably not all at one time, but we would have hiked and backpacked all the 47 Passages.  Knowing us, once we got the idea into our heads to hike every passage of the AZT, it would have been a fun goal.  And we would have done it!

We would have known we had accomplished something magnificent…sort of like the seven STP’s we’ve cycled, or grand-parenting 13 grandchildren together, or the 4,835 miles that we have hiked in the 12-1/2 years that we have been married, or cycling 7000 more miles than cycling around the world (31,000 miles +) in less than 12 years, or traveling 55,000 miles around the country camping in 350+ spots (rarely in campgrounds), or learning to dance so well that we create beauty with our dancing.

Anyway, back to our hike….we hiked north on the AZT.  It was amazing to notice the difference in hiking this trail in the spring compared to the fall.  When we hiked it 2-1/2 years ago in May, all the shrubs and trees were in full bloom and flowers dotted the trail.

But no matter when you hike in the Matzatzal Wilderness, it is spectacular!

We hiked over 625’ feet elevation in just over three miles.  And we had a blast, saw beauty,  and accomplished something magnificent together!