On Friday, March 6, 2026, I started northbound on the Arizona National Scenic Trail from Montezuma Pass two miles north of the international border with Mexico in Coronado National Memorial (I added some new photos to that blog post). I hiked down to the border before turning around to pick up my backpack. My mother has been my trail angel and support crew for the first five days and 100 miles of this journey. I would not be doing this without her!

I climbed above 9,000 feet of elevation into the Huachuca Mountains within Coronado National Forest and down through the Canelo Hills across Highway 83 north of Patagonia into the foothills of the Santa Rita Mountains to reach the 100 mile point. Wednesday I am taking a “zero day” off the trail in Tucson.

Arizona Trail Day 1, Mile 2 to 0 to 10 starting in Coronado National Memorial to the Mexico border and turning around to enter Miller Peak Wilderness going above 9,000 feet elevation.

Arizona Trail Day 2, Mile 10 to 38 Huachuca Mountains down to Canelo Hills. Saw 2 Coues deer and 3 little javelinas. Met a triple crown finisher who was the character Greg in Cheryl Strayed’s book Wild. He’s still backpacking at age 72. My role model! Camped overnight by Down Under Tank.

Arizona Trail Day 3, Mile 38 to 61 across Highway 83 to meet my trail angel Mom for a hot meal and resupply. Surprisingly saw 22 wild turkeys in the desert. Lots of wildflowers and butterflies!

Arizona Trail Day 4, Mile 61 to 82 in the foothills of the Santa Rita Mountains. Rode out a hailstorm at historic Kentucky Camp goldmine, then got more thunderstorms overnight. Trying to dry out today.

Arizona Trail Day 5, Mile 82 to 101 to a resupply pickup on Highway 83 south of Vail. Snow overnight on the Santa Rita Mountains! Big thank you to the trail angels that fill up the water caches. Drove Saguaro National Park’s Desert Drive loop to look east where I’ll be backpacking in the Rincon Mountains this weekend. Thanks to my Mom for picking me up and boondocking her camper van in the desert for my “zero day” on Wednesday.

You can keep track of where I am at on the Garmin website through this link: https://live.garmin.com/ScottSink

I will also be updating my Instagram account with photos when I have signal: https://www.instagram.com/ravenabouttheparks/

Know someone who loves the National Forests? Gift them our travel guidebook Out in the Woods so they can learn more about all 155 National Forests.