Amazing, Spectacular Arizona Trail: Flagstaff Zero

Arizona Trail Day 23
Trans-Arizona/Utah Day 30

In the land of Arizona
Through desert heat or snow
Winds a trail for folks to follow
From Utah to Old Mexico

It’s the Arizona Trail
A pathway through the great Southwest
A diverse track through wood and stone
Your spirit it will test

Oh, sure you’ll sweat and blister
You’ll feel the miles every day
You’ll shiver at the loneliness
Your feet and seat will pay

But you’ll see moonlight on the borderlands
You’ll see stars on the Mogollon
You’ll feel the warmth of winter sun
And be thrilled straight through to bone

The aches and pains will fade away
You’ll feel renewed and whole
You’ll never be the same again
With Arizona in your soul

Along the Arizona Trail
A reverence and peace you’ll know
Through deserts, canyons, and mountains
From Utah to Old Mexico
-“The Arizona Trail,” Dale R. Shewalter

Welcome back to Aspen’s Tracks, thruhiking the Arizona Trail from Utah to Mexico.

Today is going to be a busy off day. I start it with a stop at Macy’s European Coffeehouse, an awesome breakfast place in downtown Flagstaff. They make particularly great waffles, but given the hiker hunger that all thruhikers suffer from, I add a smoothie and a breakfast sandwich for good measure today. I always make a point to stop here when I’m in Flag. Perhaps tomorrow will be a stop at Tourist Home, another place that came highly recommended to me but which I haven’t made it to yet. Flagstaff is an awesome town, for those who have never been. There are around 8 breweries, including ones like Wanderlust, Dark Sky, Mother Road, and Lumberyard, and loads of good places to eat. Outstanding place for hungry hikers.

After a hearty breakfast, I collect a resupply package and an absentee ballot for the Virginia general election at the post office. Even on the trail, I make a point of partaking in my civic responsibility. From there, it’s on to REI to start the major resupply to get me to Pine, the next major resupply point on the trail. I’ll need to replace my boots, but it turns out that will have to wait until I finish my circuit around to the south side of Flagstaff via Passages 32 and 31. My friend and I have dinner again and I repack for my stripped-down hike around the east side of Flagstaff. I’ll have breakfast in town tomorrow and then head back up to Schultz Pass to start the trek again.

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