HikeArizona.COM

How are things progressing this year? In keeping with the idea that you are only as good as the numbers you post, I'm up to 61,436' of elevation for the year and a modest 132 miles.

Added August 2019: Looking back 10 years later, I honestly can't think of anything more offensive or unhealthy to say about one's hiking, than the above statement. Thats was my OP in 2009. Hiking should never just be about the stats recorded.

January 31, 2023: Have at it.

chumley wrote:Cause this is #4000 for me!

Your mother must be sooo proud of you!

@chumley

congrats for not having much going on in your personal life!!! :worthy:

Since I can't say much about the future with great accuracy, but I made my 220,000' AEG goal for the month easier than expected, I have decided to do my best to NOT pay attention to the numbers. My original goal for 2014, at the end of 2013, was to relax, enjoy the hikes, and get over 200,000'. Well, I made that last one, and then some. I want to hike a couple of things this month for fun, and if done that will put me over 225,000'. Due to my neurotic thoughts about being over a certain value ( 255,000'), but not wanting to exceed another (270,000') becuase I do not want to suddenly decide to attempt 300,000' again, I have decided to do my best to just hike fun things and really, really want to try to not care about the stats. That is hard for me, though. Like a crazy OCD accountant, it is just hard to not want to add them up and set goals. Maybe I'll end up higher, maybe lower, but I really want to just not care!!! Then for 2015, 500,000'! No, I kid, I would like to repeat for next year, and simply hike for fun and not care where I end up. Wouldn't that be nice?

I was picking up some momentum in Utah and then I got hit with a sore hamstring, followed by a sore throat, followed by an ear infection that's been going on for the last week. Hoping to still get a couple skyislands/some other Southern AZ peaks, and maybe some prominence peaks/county highpoints in Southern California before the year's up.

I finally figured out where to find totals for various other types of activities. For me, that would mostly be kayaking.

Patrick L wrote:I was picking up some momentum in Utah and then I got hit with a sore hamstring, followed by a sore throat, followed by an ear infection that's been going on for the last week. Hoping to still get a couple skyislands/some other Southern AZ peaks, and maybe some prominence peaks/county highpoints in Southern California before the year's up.

Had some issues this year as well, sidelined for almost a month due to the sinus infection from hell. Then finally got back into the groove and tripped while I was out running, landed on my head and got a concussion. So was out for another month. But I've already exceeded my AEG totals from last year and only have 50 miles left to pass last year's mileage.

@SpiderLegs
It sucks watching the time, and probably endurance, go out the window, but what can ya' do? On the brightside, that's a lot of gas money saved.

so is everyone excited for January 1st when everything drops down to zero? For those who killed it this year-- the end is incredibly nigh. I'm pretty sure 9L will shed a tear when he see's his "unique's" disappear and will fondly remember the first half of 2014 as "the good ol' days before Lee learned how to link hikes".

I'm ready for another fresh start.

Despite holiday laziness, I've set personal bests for mileage and distance. Barring injury, will get 600 miles for the year ...

Well despite almost three months of little to no activity due to various injuries and/or illness, was still able to get 200 miles more in this year than last year. Plus got in more AEG despite living on a side of town with little access to quick & easy AEG that you can do during the work week.

Looking forward to a new year. Moved back into town, so within a 15 minute drive of all the central Phoenix peaks. Should bump up my AEG a little this year.

I look forward to spring and warmer weather, but the New Year isn't that important overall, to me. With the Sheep Closure, I'll miss Pusch Peak and Pusch's Flatiron, which have been my favorite hikes by frequency, since moving here. Overall I did well, very well, this year. Though I am very happy with my year's totals and I might get over the arbitrary 300,000' mark, I am most proud that each month of the last third of the year has been over 30,000', with one month over 40,000'.

However, the set back to zero sometimes feels like you haven't done anything, even though it is just from a certain point. Still, I really wonder what 2015 will bring. Believe it or not, the most fun I have had in months was on the dune by the river, and so I want to get back to them, to hike barefooted and in the sun.

My arbitrary goal, decided upon last week, is to complete my 800th mile of hiking for the year as I cross the Black Bridge on Dec 31st.
It's good to have goals, but I need a better goal next year. Spent the last week of the year doing not-so-great hikes just to hit specific mileages.

There were also a load of fun miles in there and saw a lot of new sites, so overall good!

I resolve to never set another goal involving numbers. I resolve to not give a hoot about my or anyone else's so-called "accomplishments." Although I have a pet project, it doesn't involve numbers.

Reset the counters to zero...and never turn them on again.

rwstorm wrote:Reset the counters to zero...and never turn them on again.

Well, that would be one way, but that would say you care enough to do that. I would prefer to just not be interested enough to bother keeping track of stats. This year I didn't hike much but I did paddle quite a bit. My feet may be a bit better, but they are not all better mostly because I still can never get a very good fit in shoes.

@azbackpackr
My point exactly. Off the ocd treadmill forever.

Inconceievable!

(From someone who used to make up his own player cards, and keep extensive multi-season stats, for his Strat-O-Matic football ...)

@kingsnake
I did the same for Strat-O-Matic baseball. ;)

I find personal stats useful if I am training for a big long backpacking trip in Grand Canyon and I want to make sure I can do the mileage and elevation required of the trip, so I train for it. But I haven't been planning any of those lately.