Day 5: March 29, 2023
AZT mile 49.1 to 65.5
Hiked today: 18.1 miles / 29.0 km
AZT hiked to date: 3.0%

Today we left the Terra Sol campground but were sad to say goodbye to Annette who has decided to leave the trail for health reasons. She may rejoin us later if she feels better and will be following our progress. She very kindly gave us her water filter.

The breakfast cafe opened at 7 am and we were the first ones in the door. After a cooked brekkie and hot drinks we were ready to hit the trail and said goodbye to Patagonia at 7.45am. We followed the old Arizona Trail out of town along a flat trail until it rejoined the new trail and headed up into the hills.

We made quick progress along a well graded path that meandered around the hills. With clear blue skies it would have been hot going except for a pleasant breeze increasing in the afternoon to a strong wind.

Another hiker that we passed along the way informed us that there would be many bird species to see as Arizona has the greatest number of different varieties of birds anywhere in the USA. We were amused when he mentioned one pretty bird which he called a “poor man’s quetzal” (family joke).

We have set up camp in a beautiful spot on the banks of a small stream. Instead of a freeze dried meal, tonight we had 2 minute noodles for dinner – not as tasty or nutritious as the meals but easier on the wallet. It will be hard to find the dehydrated camping meals in many of the small towns that we resupply in along the trail.