HikeArizona.COM

How are things progressing this year? In keeping with the idea that you are only as good as the numbers you post, I'm up to 61,436' of elevation for the year and a modest 132 miles.

Added August 2019: Looking back 10 years later, I honestly can't think of anything more offensive or unhealthy to say about one's hiking, than the above statement. Thats was my OP in 2009. Hiking should never just be about the stats recorded.

January 31, 2023: Have at it.

I've decided to continue to pet the cat against the grain and bring this thread back. No doubt to the delight of the forum browsing members.

What can I say? I won't break 200,000' of AEG this year, but might go over 600 miles. I blame the heat, a fractured left great toe in March, Covid travel issues in summer, and then laziness or lack of enthusiasm for the same local hikes over and over, as reasons for me not breaking 200,000' this year.

At least some members in the top 5 have been hiking better than some previous years. Stats were really down the last few years.

Joe crested 8,000,000' of lifetime AEG, and Mark 6,000,000'. Then two other guys are over 4,000,000'. I knocked a certain Bob out of space 5, but he isn't posting or hiking so not really an achievement and a space he can easily recapture. I know some are into miles.

What makes a toe great?

@chumley
Size and position.

On the left? Doesn't sound like you. Make another toe great again.

Jim_H wrote:I won't break 200,000' of AEG this year,

I'm just the opposite. My fitness hikes hit the same small handful of hills, but they do so relentlessly. I'm past 194,000 already and averaging over 5500/week since early March.

chumley wrote: Make another toe great again.

MATGA!
I achieved my goal on a hike a couple of weeks ago...1.8 miles into the hike and 0 AEG.

@Alston_Neal
Mall-walking is quite popular in your age group. If you want AEG though, you can take the stairs and do another loop on the upper level. That way you also get to see what's new at the Sharper Image (can you tell I haven't set foot in a mall since the 90s?). Escalator/Elevator negates that gain though. Also this doesn't work at single-level malls like Arizona Mills so plan accordingly.

@chumley
I can't seem to find the Report Post button.

Two miles away from cracking an official 600 miles on HAZ along with a decent amount of AEG. What I'm finding out now that I'm over 50 is to expect some sort of health related curveball that sidelines me for a week or two. Took me three years of being in my 50's to figure out that there is a pattern and not get worked up about it.

Game changer for me for overall health was adding in 30 minutes of walking with my dog. Not in the yearly totals, but those walks added almost 450 miles of stress free miles that loosened up my back or provided the perfect warm up or cool down from a hike or trail run.

Made it a point to scout out new trails this year as well and planning on continuing that trend.

In the short two years in which I've been off the sofa and hiking I owe most, if not all my progress to the HAZ community and the motivation I glean from everyone's trips. 255 miles on year number one and I should cruise by 400 this second year. Not a lot for the fit and young folks, but I'm happy with my results... Let's all strive for a better 2021!

I can't seem to even log my hikes these days. New level of laziness I suppose.

@cw50must
Well, everything gets old. As long as you still hike or enjoy the hikes.

Aren't we near the random point in the Earth's revolution around the sun that we brag about our statistical measurements?

Upon recent glance, I find that I'm quite content with my formidable averageness (or is it averagidity?). I shall use it as motivation to pursue similar mediocrity on the next revolution.

I think most people who are active on HAZ got tired of it several years back. The Hazosolutions or Hazolutions threads ceased a few years ago, too. Everything comes to an end, not just years. If someone wants to, they can talk about it and I'll join in. Look:

2023 was a good year for me, lots of enjoyable hikes and I ended up exceeding expectations in yearly miles and AEG, and also total AEG: over 4,322,000 feet. I crossed 12,000 miles, which was also nice. I didn't do any exceptionally interesting hikes (things like Mount Whitney or some high peaks over 12,000') this year by old my old standards, but I did revisit some old favorites like Catalina State Park to Mount Lemmon, and @PrestonSands got us to the Rincons with a trip to Manning Camp and Reef Rock. First time Back there in 8 years.

Never got higher in elevation than Mount Graham, and new low high where I didn't break 11,000' in a year. Most every year since 2006 I did 12,633' or higher, except for 2021 when I got to 11,916'.

The stats that I keep up with are different than most folks, and below are mine for 2023:

state highpoints: 0
county highpoints: 51
14ers: 0
13ers: 6
ultraprominent peaks: 3
P4K peaks: 10
P2K peaks: 42
P1K peaks: 120
Arizona mountain range highpoints: 16

These are new peaks for 2023 and don't include repeats of hikes that I have done in prior years

@DixieFlyer
Well, your 2023 miles and AEG are also impressive. I have no list of impressive peaks to report, but I do enjoy repeats. Lots of fun Santa Rita summits and hikes! I have been very impressed with your Nevada hikes this past year. I'm looking forward to when you get around to Currant Mountain. Every report and photo set I see of that mountain is incredible.

@Jim_H
If I lived down there I would do most of my hiking in the Santa Ritas I think.

I wish that I could spend a month in the summer in Nevada!