Musings with Mile Marker

Day 20: Into the Superstitions and I am feeling a little bit crazy!

Mile Marker passes the 300th mile on the Arizona Trail! She has quite a strenuous day hiking all of passage 18 and starting passage 19 of the Superstition Wilderness. Are the airplanes that make noises but are not visible a figment of her imagination? Is maintaining her sanity while dating in Austin another figment of her imagination?? Let's take a listen! 00:00:00 Episode 20 00:01:28 Day 20 hiking audio clip 00:06:40 Strava stats recap 00:10:55 Nick is a lil cray when he lost Morgan and me 00:13:00 I am a lil cray from the fictious trail airplanes 00:14:35 I am still a lil cray because I am out here dating...

Day 19: RATTLESNAKE! And welcome to Superior

While ambling through passages 16 and 17 of the Arizona Trail, Mile Marker encounters a rattlesnake! Yikes! She bushwacks to avoid getting too close and walks her fastest mile yet to put the threat behind her. She makes it to Superior Arizona where she makes some new friends and gets to sleep in a bed for the night. 00:00:00 Episode 19 00:01:22 Day 19 hiking audio clip 00:06:57 Rattlesnake on the trail 00:09:32 Welcome Laundry Basket 00:15:29 Welcome Geo Dude 00:17:03 Living an expansive life rather than a contractive one

Day 18: The Gila River Canyon and running into an old friend

Mile Marker departs from Kearny Arizona donut in hand as she embarks into the Gila River Canyon. She crosses the low point of the Arizona Trail and still has pizza to munch on! Tune into this episode to hear about running into Robert and debating when to hold on to old acquaintances or embrace meeting new ones. 00:00:00 Episode 18 00:01:03 Day 18 hiking audio clip 00:09:21 Robert did a flip-flop hike segment 00:12:07 Letting people enter and exit your life 00:18:23 Flavien the bocce-playing French waiter

Day 17: Hitching a ride with the Pizza Man to Kearny AZ

Mile Marker makes it into Kearny Arizona dripping wet and huddled in the back of the local pizza man's truck! She fills up with pizza and a supply box of goodies shipped to the trail angel's house. Tune into this episode to hear about expecting the unexpected on trail can be advantageous in regular life. And remembering the importance of taking a deep breath once in a while. 00:00:00 Episode 17 00:01:02 Day 17 hiking audio clip 00:04:25 Mile 264  the Town of Kearny, an Arizona trail gateway community 00:11:16 An unexpected visit from Gary, another trail angel 00:12:47 More yoga, less stress, more whimsy

Day 16: Trails are for pedestrians, veloways are for bicycles

Mile Marker is cruisin' her way through Arizona. With 25 miles and 2,600 feet of elevation gain down, it is time to kick back, relax, and eat a pop tart. She muses on how nice it is to be on a truly pedestrian-centric path for so many days. This is in contrast to how sometimes the roads of Austin can feel not bike-friendly at times. 00:00:00 Episode 16 00:01:14 Day 16 hiking audio 00:07:05 Austin Ghost Bike memorials 00:11:08 Ways to collect water on the AZT 00:12:43 The joys of rain catchment barrels 00:14:36 Walking tamales and Pop-tarts reign supreme