Hiking and Backpacking Trips

Added 25 December 2003, Revised 3 January 2018

I have been segment hiking the Arizona Trail with friends since 2011. All of those hikes and backpack trips are on my Arizona Trail webpage, last updated 12 January 2017. All my other trips are below.

• Truchas Peaks Backpack - I accompanied my friend Steve as we tackled one of his lifelong ambitions, climbing the Truchas Peaks in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains in New Mexico. The Truchas Peaks are the second highest point in New Mexico. Added 5 February 2013
• The following hikes and backpack were part of one week-long trip, and are best read in order from top to bottom, though they can be read invidually
• Upper Buckskin Gulch Day Hike - Steve, Chuck and I had a free day before our permits kicked in, so we decided to wander around the Upper Buckskin Gulch area. Added 11 November 2012
• Coyote Buttes North Day Hike - Steve, Chuck and I hiked in to Coyote Buttes North to see The Wave and other interesting features. Added 11 November 2012
• Buckskin Gulch/Paria Canyon Backpack - Steve, Chuck and I backpacked for four days down Wire Pass, Buckskin Gulch and Paria Canyon two weeks after a large flood. Added 11 November 2012
• Coyote Buttes South Day Hike - I hiked in to the Paw Hole area of Coyote Buttes South and found some amazing geologic features. Added 11 November 2012
• Aravaipa Canyon Backpack, Arizona - I have wanted to backpack into Aravaipa Canyon for nearly 20 years. Thanks to my friend Marisa planning a trip there, I finally got to it. Amazing place. Amazing trip. I can't believe it took me so long to get there! Added 11 November 2011
• Kintla/Kinnerly Peak Backpack, Glacier National Park, Montana - When his usual climbing buddy wasn't sure he could make it, Jerry needed a climbing partner to ascend Kintla and Kinnerly Peaks in Glacier National Park. I agreed to join him. Here's the adventure of the attempt. Added 28 January 2011
• Harcuvar Mountains Wilderness backpack, AZ - I wanted to go backpacking, but couldn't decide where, so I threw the proverbial dart at a map and it landed on the Harcuvar Mountains. (I actually clicked my mouse in GoogleEarth with my eyes closed.) There are a couple of old roads in the Harcuvar range, but no trails to speak of, and we didn't even really find any game trails. They're that remote! Remote and rugged . . . that's the Harcuvars. Added 7 May 2010
• Grand Gulch backpack, UT - Grand Gulch is thought to have one of the highest concentration of ancient cliff dwellings anywhere in the southwest. After seeing how many there are, I am not about to dispute that claim. Grand Gulch is a wealth of Native American history and natural beauty. Added 21 February 2010
• Sycamore Canyon Wilderness backpack, AZ - Sometimes billed as a mini Grand Canyon, Sycamore Canyon Wilderness is a phenomenal place. One might also call it Sedona without the crowds. The trip turned out to be more humbling than expected, but was blessed by the very nature that troubled us. Added 11 May 2008
• Huachuca Mountains/Miller Peak backpack, AZ - A beautiful but storm filled trip in the Huachuca Mountains in southeastern Arizona, filled with wildflowers and herps. Added 4 May 2008

• Mimbres River backpack, Aldo Leopold Wilderness, NM - A wonderful two day trip up and down the Mimbres River in southern New Mexico. TONS of wildflowers! Added 6 April 2008

• Hermit Trail Loop backpack, Grand Canyon, AZ - This Arizona natives first backpacking trip in the Grand Canyon. Shameful, I know. We did a five day semi-loop hike often referred to as the Hermit Loop. Added 22 December 2007

• Painted Desert-Petrified Forest backpacking trip, NE Arizona - My friend Steve and I did an off-trail backpacking trip in the Painted Desert Wilderness Area in Petrified Forest National Park, in northeast Arizona. Added 1 January 2007, revised 3 January 2018.

• Kofa Mountains backpacking, SW Arizona - My friend Steve and I did an off-trail backpacking trip in Kofa National Wildlife Refuge and Kofa Wilderness, in southwestern Arizona. Added 2 April 2006

• Glacier National Park, Montana - Shannon and I received an invite from Jerry (my boss) and his wife Andrea to join them on a seven day backpacking trip in Glacier NP. I jumped at the chance and Shan somewhat tentatively agreed. It proved to be a challenging trip, but we sure were glad we did it! We spent additional time in Montana exploring a bit, which is also included in this trip report Added 14 August 2005

• Fish Creek, White Mountains, Arizona - Seven friends and I spent three days over the Fourth of July weekend hiking in down Fish Creek to the Black River in the White Mountains of eastern Arizona. Fish Creek was devoid of Fish temporarily, but it was a fantastic trip nonetheless Added 14 August 2005

• Gila Wilderness Area - Shan, Estevan, Jerry and I spent three, no, two, days hiking in the Iron Creek/Middle Fork of the Gila River vicinity in the Gila Wilderness Area. It was a cold and rainy night . . . Added 5 July 2005

• Hummingbird Springs Wilderness Area - Jeff and I spent three days hiking in and around the Hummingbird Springs Wilderness Area. No humans, no trails, lots of wild and lots of stars. Perfect! Added 18 November 2004

• Blue Range Wilderness Area - Jeff and I spent four days hiking in and around the Blue Range Wilderness Area. We hiked up the Blue River to Little Blue Creek and explored from there up to the area around and in Hannah Creek. What a phenomenal area!. Added 11 September 2004

• Buckskin Gulch and Paria Canyon - Words are hard-pressed to describe the astounding beauty of this little strip of the world. Shannon, Jeff and I covered 48 miles in 4 days, starting at Wire Pass in Utah and ending at Lees Ferry in Arizona. Added 13 June 2004

• Havasu Falls, Arizona - I lead this backpacking trip in October of 2003 down to Havasu Canyon, Havasu Falls and parts beyond. I had been there once before as a child It was an awesome adventure!! Added 25 January 2003

• Chiricahua Mountains, Arizona - I lead this backpacking trip in September of 2003 as a training hike for a (then) upcoming backpacking trip down to Havasu Canyon. Some of the folks going on the Havasu trip had never backpacked at all, so we needed to make sure everyone was up for it. The Chircahua Mountains are definitely calling me back! What a beautiful place! Added 31 January 2003

• Mount Ajo, Arizona - I did this backpacking trip with Jeff, one of my best friends in the Spring of 2003. It was the first backpacking trip either one of us had done in a long time. It was an awesome adventure!! Added 15 January 2003