I'm interested in both these trails and am trying to choose one for this spring. What do y'all think? they're both in the southwestern desert, they even overlap and have similar distances. If you've hiked both, which did you prefer?
_Mike_AZT versus Grand Enchantment Trail
system
#1
system
#3
I've never hiked the GET, but I have completed an end-to-ender of the AZT a few years back. I would observe that the AZT is generally a nicely marked trail, which makes navigation really, really easy. For most of the day, you can just cruise along and allow your mind to wander. A half-dozen times per day you have to pay a bit more attention when the trail intersects with other trails and roads. I was "lost" on 2 or 3 occasions over the 810 miles, but it was usually just a brainless wrong turn at an intersection which I generally realized after going down the wrong trail for a mile or so.
The GET is a different beast. I understand that it’s not really marked at all, so you really need to pay attention while you are hiking to ensure that you are still on the route. This is probably not too difficult if there is an existing GPS track available, but my experience on other long unmarked routes is that I prefer that the navigation be easier so that I can zone out.
Someday I’ll go back to Arizona and do the GET…and maybe to the AZT again!
_Loup_
system
#4
I've hiked both. Both are amazingly scenic. The quick answer is that if you don't have a ton on long distance hiking experience then you are probably better off on the AZT. The GET is incredible but you definitely want to know what you are doing out there, there's no such thing as a GET trail marker as the GET doesn't even officially exist. It was created out of thin air by Blisterfree. The AZT is reasonably well marked and you can get by fairly easy with limited map skills, a GPS and the ability to carry water!
_brian_
system
#5
By "a ton" I think Brian means something like "more than just the AT." Not sure what this topic is doing in the Appalachian Trail room in the first place?
Don’t get any ideas, kids. The desert southwest is hell on earth compared to the green tunnel of the east and you definitely don’t want to go there if you know what’s good for you and your mother’s worrying heart.
_hetch_
system
#6
Arizona Trail is all about mountain biking and ultra running. It's built like the PCT, except where it isn't. But whre it is, the organization is flooding the trail with yahoos to fill their coffers. It's kind of a sad state of affairs for a nat scenic trail.
_mooseman_