HikeArizona.COM

Good afternoon Hikers,

My name is Joe and I am planning on hiking the Arizona Trail this coming Spring (south to north). I am new to through hiking (it would be my 1st) and would like to privately chat/skype with someone who has already done this hike - preferably in the same direction so I can pick their brain.

Thanks in advance,

Joe A.

@ABoyNamedJoe
I've only done a few Sections (like, four or five) of the Trail. So I can't be any help for a thru-hike. But you'll probably receive lots of advice here from those who know.

In the meantime, if you haven't watched them already, there are quite a few recent videos of thru hikes of the AZT on the web. Some names: Packtoter (70 yo guy, blind in one eye, deaf in one ear, fell a lot in the snow of the sky islands and rodents chewed thru his backpack strap in the Tucson-ish area), JupiterHikes (UL kid), Kevin and Leah (last year), Casey West and oldest is "Trail Time" (Jacob, an AZT steward) to name a few. The nice thing about the videos is that you can see in advance what lies ahead Section by Section.

You didn't say if it's your first thru-hike. If so, then Packtoter offers a (sometimes free) Guide to thru-hiking. (Free on certain days of the month.)

Realtime Water Reports are the most important information that you'll need.

@ABoyNamedJoe
If you are on Facebook, there is a group named Arizona Trail Class of 2024, also one for 2025. There are a lot of helpful people that you may be able to connect with. Chris Berry has an old You Tube channel where he vlogged his trip, it was 6 years ago. Its one of my favorites that I have watched. Jay Wanders Out is another one. They also include their gear list and some helpful information for anyone thinking of thru hiking. Good luck to you! And don't forget to check out www.aztrail.org.

@TooOld2Hike_EP
Thanks for the tips. I'll be going out and starting to get equipment next week. Can't wait!

@trixiec
Thanks for the reply. While I'm not on Facebook, I will be checking out Chris Berry.

trixiec wrote:Jay Wanders Out is another one.

I loved watching his series in the AZT. Very nice.