Blind Musician, Adventurer, and Martial Arts Instructor
Earlier today I was privileged to guide Sensei Mike Armstrong across the Arizona/Utah border. In the past 57 days Mike has hiked 782.3 miles and became the first blind man to hike the Arizona Trail end to end. When we first set out on this adventure we realized it was ambitious and as we made […]
Passed the 750-mile mark of the Arizona Trail today. Team Armstrong will complete this 807-mile journey at noon Saturday. FBC CEO Marc Ashton hiked with me for 22 miles Wednesday along along East Rim of Grand Canyon–finished in under 10 hours!
We finished off 24 miles and arrived in Tusayan, we got to the hotel about 7pm and enjoyed a steak dinner. Both Sensei’s feet are sore and mine are pretty well blistered. We are both tired but we only have 10 miles tomorrow where we will arrive at Yaki Point.
Checked in with Mike last night; even though him and Bob Pelikan (Sighted Guide) were covered in SNOW (yes it does snow in Arizona) and hammered with strong winds they reached their 24 mile goal in time to enjoy a hot shower and dinner in Flagstaff as a reward. Mike has told me that his […]
Just checked in with Mike Armstrong’s logistics support and even though the GPS was giving them issues Shane and Sensei Mike have completed 21 miles today. Sensei Mike’s regular guides Ben and Yancey unfortunately had to return to work today. Luckily other guides have stepped up to help guide Mike to the finish line. Sensei […]
Just in case you are wondering attached is Team Armstrong’s new schedule. Sunday May 8th – 8.8 Miles – Bear Spring Jct (400 yardsS to spring box; no trail to Fisher Spring) Monday May 9th – 13.2 Miles -The Park (Get water at Hopi spring or Horse Camp Seep) (no water at the park) Tuesday […]
Evidently our spot messages for the past few days didn’t go through but we have now finished Passage 25 and we are one day away from Strawberry/Pine. We stayed at LF Ranch last night and it was awesome. Great food, a hot shower, and a bed was great! We just met with Sarge for resupply […]
As I posted earlier Mike Armstrong injured his leg while hiking through the Four Peaks area last Monday causing Team Armstrong to return to Phoenix while he seeks medical advice. All of the X-Rays and Test results show no breaks and the doctors believe it is a mild strain but has recommended Mike stay off […]
Today, as I celebrate Easter with my family, I am in pain. My feet are swollen, my knees ache and I have trouble sitting and standing. My body is fatigued by the 12-mile, 8-hour trek south of Theodore Roosevelt Lake on the great Arizona Trail. Yet, with all my pain, I am already looking online to determine when I can […]
It’s amazing out there, I don’t know how to describe it, It is incredible feeling the amount of raw wilderness surrounding us. It’s strange yet appealing to travel 20 miles and not hear planes flying overhead, No sounds of traffic, …or signs of today’s technology. As I look back at the 116 miles we’ve travelled, […]