2012 in review

[trekkin_gecko]

wanted to take a moment to celebrate 2012 and give a shout-out to a few of my hiking/climbing partners

some highlights:

hooking up with johnlp for several long and interesting hikes in the superstitions
battleship, la barge box, robber's roost, dripping springs super loop and more
he showed me a lot of cool things and helped me gain confidence in doing supes hikes on my own, such as marsh valley loop, the ridgeline and black mesa/weaver's view loop combo

hitting battleship again and brown's peak with johnr1 and tibber on consecutive weekends
brown's had been on my list and it was nice to have john's guidance
i think brown's peak was secretly on angela's wish list all along ;)

a very enjoyable partnership with cactuscat on at least two things i would not have done on my own:
an aravaipa backpack and salome jug canyon
thanks, girlfriend! i love your spirit of adventure
several other water hikes made for a great spring and early summer

humphrey's peak/weatherford/kachina was fun, and goes on the yearly to do list

a great climbing partnership with johnr1
we got out numerous times this year, hitting mt. lemmon, jack's canyon, the mcdowells, camelback and blue ridge
climbing so often made for a memorable summer
thanks for taking the amc anchors class with me

pursued peaks, fast times (for me) and a variety of trails
fought some injury battles the second part of the year but think i'm on the mend now
hoping to finish the year strong given some work constraints
should accomplish my original mileage goal of 1200 and come close to my goal of 300k aeg

ambika, sam, patrick, denny...hope to hook up with you all again in 2013
thanks to joe, too
this website has definitely broadened my horizons and brought me good friends

[johnlp]

Always a pleasure hiking with you Kelly!

[johnr1]

I had a wonderful time and you are an awsome climber partner. :thanx:

[Tortoise_Hiker]

I look forward to it!

[Jim]

Can we all participate, or is this a thread for single member only?

Some 2012 highlights for me:

My Tucson spring hikes, and especially hiking Mt Lemmon from Catalina SP up and down this time. I couldn't have done it with out going minimal, and I'm glad my feet could do it even if just barely.
Mount Harvard, for it was a nice summit with great fall color and the best weather I have ever had at any altitude over 14,000' at any time of year.
Being on Humphrey in June & August, just because it is an old favorite, and it was nice being up there. I'll miss the easy access to that peak.
Trico Peak and camping in the Mineral Basin at 12,800' in January. I don't think I have ever been camped in weather so cold, but been OK, and the San Juan views were a great way to start (and end) winter.


Some low lights:
The foot puncture obtained on the Skeleton Mesa trail. Put me down for a month.
Failing in the La Platas, several times. Lack of snow, then a fire and smoke, and then monsoon season all conspired against me. I think I'll skip another visit.
Camping at Red Mountain Pass a few weeks after Trico/Black Bear and actually being so very cold. What a miserable night!

Some fellow HAZ fun:

Flatiron with Jake. He got me over to a place I would have never visited on my own, and I realize I could explore more of that area. Fun day, with good BBQ after and a nice drive through some of the last citrus groves in Mesa. Ah, citrus flowers in spring.
Meeting imike and hiking some of his hikes. He likes off trail all day slogs way too much.

[cactuscat]

Those trips with you were some of my best highlights as well!
And I absolutely can't wait for Grand Canyon backpack-o-rama in April 2013!

[imike]

ah, 2012... missed out on most of the Spring months, but camped out most of the Summer, experiencing some wonderful off trail explorations. Rounded out the 2010/2011 injury pattern, but seem to be moving back into a more progressive and positive mode these final months of the year.

May finally be feeling my age...? I guess it would be time! Yet, thoughts are drifting to 2013 and a few new records (... hiking every day of the year!?)... so 2012 is generating those wayward thoughts; can't be a truly bad year if it does that!

New hiking partners appeared... big change in pattern for me, but solo remains my mainstay. Still can't quite figure why so many folks have problems with the thought of solo hiking...?

Overall... a good year.