AZT 2023 - #9 - Payson to Pine

April 11 - 13. The trail was pretty rough in this section featuring the Mazatzals and the Mogollon Rim. When I got to Pine the reality of the inability to go forward couldn't be avoided any longer. There was too much snow and ice ahead to continue so I went home. I hope to return later this year.

[@Karen-dq8nw]

Looking forward to your trip report this fall! Have a happy summer!

[@skyl4rk]

Thank you, I enjoyed watching your trip very much, I would have liked to join you.

[@kudlakp]

How do you like your pocket tarp? I just got one with doors and am getting out with it in a couple of weeks.

[@dianesoini]

I like it but to be honest I have never used it in heavy rain. I have always worried it would not be the best experience in real rain. It started out as the doorless model and I made my own doors for it because I really did not believe the doorless one would be good in the rain and I'm still not sure even with doors because the inner area is very small. I've been in light rain and it's been okay, but one night I rolled out and didn't even realize I wasn't under the tarp until I woke up being rained on! When I did the CDT I brought a Gossamer Gear Twin instead. The Twin was great in rain because it's very large. I enjoyed sitting under there without fear watching it rain. I did a test on my deck with the Pocket Tarp in heavy rain and it seemed that there was significant splattering into my bed area, but of course there's going to be a lot more splattering when rain bounces off of the deck. I'm going to return to the AZT later this week and there are thunderstorms in the forecast so we'll see how miserable I'm going to be in my Pocket Tarp if it rains on me. There should be good tree cover from Pine going north so I should be able to find a sheltered location to make it be fine.