Plane ticket: Bought!!

Shuttle heading to the southern terminus: Reserved!!

I have been trying to find a way to get back out there, and I finally have!!

On March 21st, I will be flying to Tucson, Arizona where I will take a shuttle to the southern terminus of the 800-mile-long Arizona Trail the next day. The Arizona Trail (AZT) starts at the Coronado National Monument near the US-Mexico border and ends near the Utah state line. I will be hiking through parts of the Huachuca, Santa Rita, Rincon, and Mazatzal mountains. In my eyes, the MAJOR highlight of the trail will be when I descend, and hike, in and out of the Grand Canyon. The AZT is one of the eleven National Scenic Trails (NST) in the US. This will be my fourth NST.

Like my Triple Crown hikes, I will be hiking for the Alpha-1 Foundation. The Foundation’s main mission is to find a cure for Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency, a disease which my grandmother passed away from in 2006, and that I have. So far, I’ve raised over $250,000 for the Foundation, but I’m not done yet, and I hope that you can support me by donating whatever you can!!! In addition to raising money, the Foundation’s goal is to also raise awareness of this rare disease and I will be telling everyone about Alpha-1 as I go along.

I almost forgot. I will not be hiking alone!! My trail friend Skipper, from the Continental Divide Trail, will be hiking with me!!! Together, we will be hiking through desert, forest, and mountains. We could see snakes, spiders, elk, deer, javelinas, and more during this journey that should end early-mid May.

So here it goes again!!! I’m excited!!! I’ve been researching the trail and looking at some possible resupply spots. I’ve even bought some new gear that should help me in this quest.

If you would like to follow me on my journey, please go to www.facebook.com/hiking4acure

Please consider donating. Everything helps, and everything that is donated goes towards the Foundations goal to find a cure.

Like John Walsh always said:

Keep the Faith!!!!!!

-Jonathan “Money Maker” Maidment