Miles 0 – 9.3 (+1.8 bonus miles to tag the terminus)
We rose before the sun, cold but surprisingly relatively dry and jittery with excitement to finally be hiking on the Arizona Trail. We used the red light on our headlamps to quietly pack up our belongings, and try not to disturb the other hiker duo.
The sky lightened as we walked the 1.8 miles downhill to the Mexico border to tag the southern terminus of the Arizona Trail. It was then that we got our first look at the mountains we would be climbing.
After a brief and cold photoshoot at the Arizona Trail southern terminus monument, we climbed the 1.8 miles up the hill we’d just come down, before enjoying a quick breakfast at the shelter from the night before. We made sure to sign the logbook!
Then it was up 3,694 feet to one of the highest points on the entire Arizona Trail (9,090 feet) on this first day, through the snow, in and out of the clouds. Coming from Florida, where our elevation is near sea level, the elevation was quickly getting to us!
There was a small amount of snow at first, which increased greatly as we continued the climb. We enjoyed an entertaining water source – a bathtub! In the middle of the woods! It was filled with green algae, but we were thirsty. We considered camping nearby, but the flat areas were well saturated with water.
The snow became deep enough that we both put on our microspikes. A local hiker told us there was great camping “just over the saddle” so we kept on, searching for this great spot. But we never found it, we’re still unsure which area he was referring to and decided to call it a day at around 7 PM local time.
Day 1 – we made it!
Exhausted, we set up camp in a saddle at Bear Canyon Trail Junction after descending about 1,000 feet. Our site was rather rocky and slanted, but it was the best we could do. We were joined by Cherry Pit, a fellow worn-out thru-hiker.
