I almost decided not to hike this morning. There was other things I wanted to do - study Python OOP, joule thieves, PIR sensors, fun stuff like that. I'm so glad I decided to go!

I started out at the Pima Canyon parking lot, and headed up the road to join the Javelina Canyon Trail. Then down towards the Beverly Canyon parking lot. Almost there, and I see another hiker coming towards me. He looks familiar. I stared harder. I know him! As he got in talking range, I blurted out, "I recognize you! You're... You're... Turtle! No. Lil' Tortoise! No. Uhhhh..."

He graciously offered, " @Tortoise_Hiker ?" "Yeah, that's it!"

I babbled on, telling him that he was one of my HAZ heroes; that I'd been reading his triplogs for years; "watching" him hiking the AZT with his friends, etc., etc.

He kindly asked about my AZT hikes, and I blabbed on and on about what I've done. He kindly listened and made the appropriate comments, as heroes always do. (My kids would ask, "Did you go all fan girl on him?")

Needless to say, I was on Cloud 9 for the rest of my hike up the Beverly Canyon Trail, and then down the National, back to the parking lot.

It was a great day to hike, cloudy the whole time. Never saw the sun, even on the drive home. What great day!

met fletch and john at 0445 this morning for our second annual fourth of july hike
up javelina and mormon loop, down national and javelina
shaded much of the way
didn't see many people on the way up, but heading down it got pretty crowded
both lots were full when we finished
overnight low temps and dew point creeping up a bit but still very pleasant
had fun with two of my favorite partners
home by 0700

early morning hike up javelina and mormon loop
back the same way
got going right at 0500
cool temps, nice breeze, about 2/3 of the hike in shade at that hour
saw the usual dozen or so trail runners, hikers and mountain bikers
ran all the way down

afternoon workout hike
saw my first three chuckwallas of the year
seems a little sparse
half dozen hikers and mountain bikers, three trail runners
three of the above had audible music
don't usually get that on this hike
saw our friend eric (the guy with the gallon of water)
somewhat overcast, nice breeze
65 degrees warmer than my walk on Monday

intended to do the rehab hike but felt fine enough to do the full figure eight
nice day to hike, bike, play golf or tennis; just be outside
stopped for late lunch at los taquitos on the way home
probably posted enough photos of the street taco plate so i didn't take one today

beverly canyon ridgeline national mormon loop javelina
afternoon workout hike
nice temps and a decent breeze
air quality better than it has been
lots of hikers and mountain bikers, but plenty of stretches without anyone else

met fletch this afternoon for a new year's eve hike
lots of hikers and mountain bikers out
good times with my climbing partner
this hike put me at my highest aeg and second highest mileage since keeping track on haz

happy new year, y'all!

afternoon workout hike
beverly canyon ridgeline national mormon loop javelina
kinda hazy

desperately seeking double digits
met fletch at 5:30 for javelina mormon loop national javelina
after that i did the beverly-ridgeline-javelina loop
need to take a break from these trails for a few weeks

javelina national mormon loop ridgeline beverly canyon
not too many out midday
not really what i had planned for the day, but good enough