50 Hikes in my 50th Year: The Year Recap - 50 Hikes in My 50th Year!!

South Rim September 11, 2014

It all started with an Idea. In September of 2013 Julio and I hiked in Sedona at The Crack/Bell Trail.
I was turning 50 in April 2014 and wanted a Goal. Something that would keep me motivated to hike and stay in shape. I came up with the idea of 50 NEW hikes. The final hike with be the Grand Finale - Rim2Rim in One day for the final time.

Statistics:

I hiked: 305 miles in 50 NEW hikes (RIM2RIM was not NEW)
I hiked in 3 different States. Arizona, New Hampshire & Hawaii
I hiked with Family, Friends and dogs
I hiked in groups
I hiked alone

The Good/The Bad/The Ugly:

Toughest Hike = Siphon Draw/Flat Iron #31
Favorite Hike = West Fork Sedona #5
Will Go Back Hikes = Mesquite White Tanks in Fall. #12 Wave Cave #33 to get that picture
Most Memorable Hike = Grand Canyon Rim2Rim #50

Things I learned about hiking:

Research your hikes. There is a lot of information on the internet. Google state sites, trip reports and blogs
Bring the trip report/maps with you
MapMyHike is a good tool for tracking where you hike
Use MapMyHike when not sure the route
Use AllTrails to find Hikes. Click on Nearby Route when you are near a mountain or hill. Someone has been there before you.
Carry a FLASHLIGHT! No Matter what time of day you hike!
Water - You can never have too much in the Arizona Summer
Electrolytes are easy to carry. Bring them as snacks in your camelback
Change your socks
Know your limits
Check your Dogs feet
Always carry a cell phone
It's not always about your physical shape, it is about your nutrition on a hike
Train and Train some more if you are doing Rim2Rim in one day. (altitude, hills & heat can be deadly)

Things I learned about myself:

I like to plan
I like to research
I am a control freak
I trust my gut
I don't like when I can't do something
I am pretty good in crisis situations
Your age is just a number
I have great friends. Hikers & Non-Hikers
I have an amazing family that puts up with me
I have an amazing supportive husband
I DONT LIKE SNAKES or LIZARDS! (who knew)
Sleep is overrated
Sunsets are worth getting up to see
QT after a hike is one of my all time favorite things in the world.
I like blogging
Arizona has so many amazing places to see (still lots on my list)
Anything you think you can do you can probably do even more
If I write it down I will do it

Thanks for reading and being a part of this journey. I have joked that in my 51st year I will create a new goal. Right now there is nothing with any driving force. For now I will go back to hiking and hanging.

Enjoy some pictures!

Blog Done!

Check it off!!