Musings with Mile Marker

Musings with Mile Marker

by Madeline Acri
Day 20: Into the Superstitions and I am feeling a little bit crazy!
Mile Marker passes the 300th mile on the Arizona Trail! She has quite a strenuous day hiking all of passage 18 and starting passage 19 of the Superstition Wilderness. Are the airplanes that make noises but are not visible a figment of her imagination? Is maintaining her sanity while dating in Austin another figment of her imagination?? Let's take a listen! 00:00:00 Episode 20 00:01:28 Day 20 hiking audio clip 00:06:40 Strava stats recap 00:10:55 Nick is a lil cray when he lost Morgan and me 00:13:00 I am a lil cray from the fictious trail airplanes 00:14:35 I am still a lil cray because I am out here dating...
Day 19: RATTLESNAKE! And welcome to Superior
While ambling through passages 16 and 17 of the Arizona Trail, Mile Marker encounters a rattlesnake! Yikes! She bushwacks to avoid getting too close and walks her fastest mile yet to put the threat behind her. She makes it to Superior Arizona where she makes some new friends and gets to sleep in a bed for the night. 00:00:00 Episode 19 00:01:22 Day 19 hiking audio clip 00:06:57 Rattlesnake on the trail 00:09:32 Welcome Laundry Basket 00:15:29 Welcome Geo Dude 00:17:03 Living an expansive life rather than a contractive one
Day 18: The Gila River Canyon and running into an old friend
Mile Marker departs from Kearny Arizona donut in hand as she embarks into the Gila River Canyon. She crosses the low point of the Arizona Trail and still has pizza to munch on! Tune into this episode to hear about running into Robert and debating when to hold on to old acquaintances or embrace meeting new ones. 00:00:00 Episode 18 00:01:03 Day 18 hiking audio clip 00:09:21 Robert did a flip-flop hike segment 00:12:07 Letting people enter and exit your life 00:18:23 Flavien the bocce-playing French waiter
Day 17: Hitching a ride with the Pizza Man to Kearny AZ
Mile Marker makes it into Kearny Arizona dripping wet and huddled in the back of the local pizza man's truck! She fills up with pizza and a supply box of goodies shipped to the trail angel's house. Tune into this episode to hear about expecting the unexpected on trail can be advantageous in regular life. And remembering the importance of taking a deep breath once in a while. 00:00:00 Episode 17 00:01:02 Day 17 hiking audio clip 00:04:25 Mile 264 the Town of Kearny, an Arizona trail gateway community 00:11:16 An unexpected visit from Gary, another trail angel 00:12:47 More yoga, less stress, more whimsy
Day 16: Trails are for pedestrians, veloways are for bicycles
Mile Marker is cruisin' her way through Arizona. With 25 miles and 2,600 feet of elevation gain down, it is time to kick back, relax, and eat a pop tart. She muses on how nice it is to be on a truly pedestrian-centric path for so many days. This is in contrast to how sometimes the roads of Austin can feel not bike-friendly at times. 00:00:00 Episode 16 00:01:14 Day 16 hiking audio 00:07:05 Austin Ghost Bike memorials 00:11:08 Ways to collect water on the AZT 00:12:43 The joys of rain catchment barrels 00:14:36 Walking tamales and Pop-tarts reign supreme
Day 15: Oh Hail No!
A storm has struck the Arizona Trail! The tent is filling with water! But all hope is not lost. Tune in to this episode of Musings with Mile Marker as she hikes 18 miles in the Black Hills of Arizona. She recollects on how adapting is paramount and how 18 miles may be her benchmark between comfort and breaking in to tougher territory. 00:00:00 Episode 15 00:01:28 Day 15 hiking audio 00:05:53 Freestanding versus non-freestanding tents 00:09:09 Sleeping bag sleeve rain debacle 00:12:50 Adapt, adapt, adapt! 00:16:09 My 2026 resolution to "discover what I am capable of"
Day 14: Entering the Central Passages and Saying Hi to my Baristas
Goodbye southern passages, welcome to the central passages of the AZT! Mile Marker muses on how she made it a whole 200 miles over the last 14 days. Tune into this episode to hear about how small interactions with the people around us can become so fulfilling overtime. 00:00:00 Episode 14 00:02:18 Day 14 hiking audio clip 00:05:46 To remember or not to remember, that is the question 00:8:04 Saying hi to the baristas 00:13:01 Many small things create a big thing
Day 13: Goodbye Summerhaven, Hello Water Shortage
After a spectacular night on Romero Pass, Mile Marker makes her way through Summerhaven to Oracle, Arizona! Join her as she wanders through the Wilderness of Rocks and meets new hikers on trail. Tune into this episode to hear about why you should always prepare for what is ahead. 00:00:00 Episode 13 00:02:37 Day 13 hiking audio clip 00:07:01 Run out of water? It is a big deal! 00:10:00 Fifth wheel and all her glory 00:12:52 The Biosphere 2 00:14:45 Epic sunrise and sunset on Romero Pass
Day 12: Strength at end range and setting hypocritical goals
Mile Marker is in Tuscon! Join her as she heads out from town and hits the trail from Molino Basin, through Hutch's Pool, and up to Romero Pass on Mount Lemmon. Tune into this episode to hear about some life lessons learned from a rock climbing podcast she listened to while on trail. 00:00:00 Episode 12 00:01:09 Day 12 hiking audio clip 00:07:29 Lo mein for lunch....what a thrill! 00:15:00 Strength at end range 00:18:48 Am I just a goal-setting hypocrite?
Day 11: An extra-ordinary day
Welcome to the 11th day on the Arizona Scenic Trail. This episode elaborates on Mile Marker's seemingly ordinary day on trail and off trail. She gets a ride with to town with trail angels. She goes to the laundromat. She sits in a hot tub! Tune into this episode to hear about how a typical day can be seen through a lens of abundance and appreciation. 00:00:00 Episode 11 00:01:00 Walking through "dry Scotland" 00:03:14 Day 11 hiking audio clip 00:09:49 Giving and receiving good deeds from strangers 00:13:39 Living an "extra"ordinary life 00:16:40 Embracing an abundance mindset
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