@jorgevalencia If I were you, I'd do it! This will be your last chance to do the trail for a while, it seems, and it's much easier to prevent the spread of covid when you're on the trail and in the middle of nowhere. I have done several backpacking trips since covid began and have been able to social distance both within my party and with others on the trail. Perhaps you could plan to have supplies dropped to you at various locations and forego visiting the towns yourself, if you are worried about picking up the virus. Just a thought. Both trails are great, though, so either way I'm sure you'll have a fantastic experience. And congrats on the PhD program! ... View more

@REI-JohnJ thank you! Haha it does look like a cape, doesn't it?! It was actually my University of Arizona graduation gown!  😁 ... View more

@Dad_Aint_Hip got this one in 2017 after my first solo ascent of a peak in Bolivia. The mountains are based off a photo I took of the peak and the surrounding mountains, and we added some condors to represent the Andes. The numbers are the height of the mountain in meters, and yes, the fading/"missing parts" on the tattoo are on purpose. 🙂   ... View more

Hi @kiki, Personally, for thru-hiking I tend to toggle between two different shoes (and types), depending on the terrain, climate, pack weight, etc. that I expect to have. For the most part, I actually thru-hike/backpack (even with a full-weight pack) with my trail running shoes - the La Sportiva Bushido II. These shoes are extremely lightweight. They also have amazing traction, durability, comfort, and support. I've used these shoes not only to navigate slipper, muddy terrain, but dry, technical, rocky or dried loose dirt terrain as well. These are a great all-around shoe, and on the plus side, if they get wet, they dry extremely quickly! When I want more ankle support or am navigating extremely wet and humid environments, I turn to my mid-rise boots, the KEEN Terradora II waterproof mid hiking boots. These boots are also extremely lightweight for the type of shoe they are, and they have amazing ankle padding and support, arch support, and traction. And even better, they fit like a glove, so you don't have to worry about friction causing nasty blisters! Now, you may be thinking, "if they are waterproof, they must not be very breathable." I disagree! I have found these boots to work superbly even in hot environments!   Hope this helps, Bryn ... View more

@Philreedshikes it most certainly is! 😄 ... View more

Thank you @REI-JenK! I had some amazing friends that helped make it possible. 🙂 ... View more

Thank you so much for this post! @womenswilderness  ... View more

@REI-JohnJ what a great post! And thank you @REI-CarterC for tagging me! 2020 was kind of a funky year for me, as I had to take a lot of time off of climbing due to being "stranded" in Michigan, so I would say one of the biggest goals for me for 2021 will be to get back into climbing shape, and with that to start sending hard routes and exploring the back-country (climbing-style) again. The AZ trail has also been on my bucket list since 2018, and although I don't think I will have time to complete the entire trek in a single shot (teaching is a 10-mo full-time commitment, y'all haha), I'd love to take a few weeks to a month to explore some of the sections of the trail that I haven't traveled yet. Already looking to 2022, I am hoping the pandemic will have subsided enough that I will be able to safely and comfortably travel abroad to explore some of the places I have always wanted to experience (whether it be via climbing, biking, backpacking, mountaineering, horseback, kayaking, or something else entirely - like donkeys!). Overall, I'd say 2021 will be focused on maintaining and improving my mental and physical well-being, continuing to push my limits (and to push/be pushed by others), meeting some rad new people and re-uniting with old buddies, and gaining new experiences in those hard-to-reach places! I know I rarely post photos of myself, so here's to 2021! 🙂 Mt. Lemmon, AZ   Mt. Lemmon, AZ   Mt. Lemmon, AZ   Mt. Lemmon, AZ ... View more

@REI-CarterC You would love the Mine Area, then! It's a bit of a walk (approx. 1 mile), but has great variety in its climbs. There is a super chill 5.10a single-pitch sport there called Roto Evaporator, in Magma Gardens (part of the Mine Area), which is quite crimpy and loads of fun! There are some great trad routes throughout the area as well, such as I Guana Crack (5.9) and Dark and Stupid (5.7R).  Atlantis and The Pond are two areas worth hitting up as well, and are located right off the main road (park in pull-outs, then hike up or down, depending on the area you are heading to). Atlantis is great because you can find something in the sun or in the shade at all times of the day, but it can get a big busy on weekends. It has single-pitch and multi-pitch routes. The Pond has a bit more of a challenging approach, although it's short and sweet. It also gets a bit packed on weekends, and doesn't have as much all-day shade as Atlantis, but if you love pockets or tricky overhanging routes (The Soft Parade, 5.11b is great), this is the place for you. I'm still exploring the area and haven't been to all of the walls yet, but from what I've done so far, this is what I'd recommend! ... View more

@Philreedshikes haha! My pack weight isn't always that heavy, but depending on the excursion (if there is technical rock work involved, if I have to carry all of my water for the entire trip, how much camera gear I am bringing, for a few examples), and if I am carrying gear for others (or extra gear in case of emergencies in group settings), my pack can easily become that heavy! ... View more