alison young | alison young • blissful hiker

AZT day 18, Boulder Creek to The Beeline Hwy (Payson) 4.5 miles

Sleeping on the grass is a bad idea and I puncture my mattress, but serendipity leads to a replacement.

A road walk leads to beautiful Boulder Canyon and sleeping with frogs.

It’s a steep flower-laden climb to Four Peaks and a spectacular balcony walk.

The final day in the Superstitions is very hard on steep, loose rock but with astounding views.

It’s a tough up and down hike through the Superstition Mountains shared with new friends.

I skip the low desert in the interest of time and move onto the mountains where the wildflowers are abundant.

Oracle Ridge is an absolute slog up and down rock-filled hills but ends with a trail angel.

It’s an enormous ascent to Summerhaven through a magical stone forest.

A surprise up tires me before heading into some of the most spectacular scenery yet.

It’s a relentless climb to beautiful Manning Camp and even harder down to the desert.