I am new to the forum. Are there any woman out there who have solo hiked the AZT and possibly without having to cache water?
I have solo thru hiked the AT in 2008 and train in Colorado. Thinking of a thru hike S-N beginning of March. Already have permits for Saguaro NP and Grand Canyon in late April.
Ravon
Freeman Road might be the only place you’ll want to cache water. IIRR, otherwise it’s 40 plus miles between the closest water.
bowlegs
Some people cache at East Cedar Ranch. If you go into the ranch, they’ll let you tank up.
bowlegs
Beginning of March wouldn’t be a bad plan this winter, given the meager precipitation near the border and up through the Sky Islands. Approaching Phoenix and on up through the Mazatzals and over the Rim it’s been a more decent winter (average to potentially above average snowpack in places). So it might bode well for following a more relaxed pace, in order to allow the snow some time to coalesce and melt. The drought in the south could become borderline unprecedented if currently trends keep up, so I think the point worth emphasizing right now, as things currently stand, is to get through this region as early as possible, before the heat increases your need to pack a lot of water, and before high fire danger threatens to force various detours and closures, potentially.
blisterfree
I noticed that there are some journals from women thrus on the 2010 and earlier trail journals, maybe they will help. Look for Jellybean. Good luck. I am starting this week.
Stef
Look 3 pages down on this forum where I posted German Tourist’s whole description (topic when to start the trail with 22 entries)… sorry I put one entry out of order.
gingerbreadman
I hiked solo in 2009, great experience! There was lots of water at the freeman cache, nice not to depend on it, but it has been well stocked. I started March 20, lots of water for AZ!
She-ra