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234 / 800 Miles Complete!
AZT IN A DAY was a BIG challenge for the Housholder Family Saunterers as we conquered the BIG Hill, knocking out another 10 Hot and Very Heatstroked Miles. It must have been at least 90 degrees at points on the way up bagging the BIG Hill (elevation over 3500 Feet). At times we scrambled to find shade as this passage is 99.9% exposed to sunlight with very little... really no shade!
Hiking NOBO we traversed through Ripsey Wash and up a 700 foot ascent of the BIG Hill. Once we successfully negotiated the numerous switchbacks finding our way to the top, Bryce and Bianka celebrated by addeding another round of decoration to the heart
.
The best thing about being on the top was the ridgeline winds cooling us down especially when we had no choice but to rest with the sun directly hitting us, thankfully there was this constant cool breeze when we needed it most!
The biggest challenge for us actually came next; the sharp 1500 foot descent back down hill towards the Florence Kelvin Trailhead when we were already tired and wiped out! There was even one few hundred foot scramble down then back uphill in what I call the horseshoe portion of the ridgeline that had us a bit worried.
With a couple miles to go, we lucked out and happened upon the only one great, mostly shaded rest spot on our way down hill, certainly it was an answer to our prayers. There we sat for about an hour, cooling off our cramps and enjoying snacks, with the all important salt and other nutrient tablets to replenish what had already lost due to sweating.
It was perhaps one of the toughest pieces of the AZT that our family has yet experienced ,but we carried plenty of water and made it safely back to our vehicle shuttle! I am super proud of our kiddos for toughing it out!
Afterwards, at the Florence Kelvin Trailhead we had the pleasure to visit with Trail Angel Carol from Kearney and tell her about our heated hike as the hangry kids scarfed down an end of trail stash of fresh fruit and two footlong overstuffed sub sandwiches.
#AZTINADAY
AZT IN A DAY was a BIG challenge for the Housholder Family Saunterers as we conquered the BIG Hill, knocking out another 10 Hot and Very Heatstroked Miles. It must have been at least 90 degrees at points on the way up bagging the BIG Hill (elevation over 3500 Feet). At times we scrambled to find shade as this passage is 99.9% exposed to sunlight with very little... really no shade!
Hiking NOBO we traversed through Ripsey Wash and up a 700 foot ascent of the BIG Hill. Once we successfully negotiated the numerous switchbacks finding our way to the top, Bryce and Bianka celebrated by addeding another round of decoration to the heart
. The best thing about being on the top was the ridgeline winds cooling us down especially when we had no choice but to rest with the sun directly hitting us, thankfully there was this constant cool breeze when we needed it most!
The biggest challenge for us actually came next; the sharp 1500 foot descent back down hill towards the Florence Kelvin Trailhead when we were already tired and wiped out! There was even one few hundred foot scramble down then back uphill in what I call the horseshoe portion of the ridgeline that had us a bit worried.
With a couple miles to go, we lucked out and happened upon the only one great, mostly shaded rest spot on our way down hill, certainly it was an answer to our prayers. There we sat for about an hour, cooling off our cramps and enjoying snacks, with the all important salt and other nutrient tablets to replenish what had already lost due to sweating.
It was perhaps one of the toughest pieces of the AZT that our family has yet experienced ,but we carried plenty of water and made it safely back to our vehicle shuttle! I am super proud of our kiddos for toughing it out!
Afterwards, at the Florence Kelvin Trailhead we had the pleasure to visit with Trail Angel Carol from Kearney and tell her about our heated hike as the hangry kids scarfed down an end of trail stash of fresh fruit and two footlong overstuffed sub sandwiches.
#AZTINADAY
Jan 28 2017