Exhausted on the G.E.T.

We tore ourselves away from our luxurious stay a Jeau and Charlie's home but not before they served us a gourmet breakfast of blue corn, blueberry pancakes served with prickly pear syrup and prickly pear candied, Arizona pecans with fresh squeezed grapefruit juice and hot coffee. Charlie drove us to the trail head, giving us a tour of the canyon en route. We love Aravaipa Canyon and in the hot, dry days leading up to it we each fantasized about the numerous swimming possibilities and lush shade trees awaiting our arrival. One of the quirks of a long distance hike is the we don't always arrive at each place at an optimum time. Our swimming fantasies were thwarted by a cold rain that accompanied us as we sloshed through the creek. Even in the rain, the canyon is a stunning place. This perennial stream makes for a fecund riparian area. While in the canyon we met Bill, a 68 year old hiker also following the Grand Enchantment Trail. He is one of only 5 hikers, including us, that we know of out here this year.

From Aravaipa Canyon we entered the Santa Teresa Wilderness. We both agree that we have never felt more remote anywhere else we have traveled. This area is rarely traveled due to difficult access issues. Because of this, the trail ranges from faint to non-existent. We spent three rugged days of hiking by following rock piles and deteriorating flags marking our way. While camped in an old corral our water filter gave up the ghost while trying to purify water from a stock tank. We had emergency iodine tablets to get us through but had to make the decision to take an alternate route around the Pinaleno Mountains (The Grahams) and get us into our re-supply town of Safford. From Safford we could deal with the filter situation. We have since learned that the G.E.T. founder had to also bypass Mt. Graham because of snow conditions. Our filter inconvenience now seems fortuitous. The alternate route, however made for a 24 mile dirt road walk that destroyed our already fatigued bodies. As tough as the wilderness hiking was, the monotonous and exposed road walk was physically taxing. Walking on a road proves a special challenge due to lack of variation in steps and we are both complaining of some tendinitis issues. All this makes us happy that we are now hiding out in a hotel room for a much needed day off! From here we will leave with rested bodies and restored spirits ready to learn what awaits us.... stay tuned.