Picking up Strays.

At the Forest Service Visitor Center yesterday Kadizzle walked out onto the plaza.  Sitting by the drinking fountain was a thin male hiker.  The Kadizzles try to spot people hiking the Arizona Trail and give them help and refuge.  Kadizzle approached the young guy and offered him a meal, a shower, and a place to camp.  Soon it became evident this young guy was not an ordinary hiker.  As his story unfolded he said he was an ex marine.  Alex had been in a special program in the marines and suffered some kind of injuries that left him constantly suffering and in great pain.  Alex claimed he had been all over the world search for a cure.  Nothing seemed to work, but some strange doctor told him he needed to do a dry fast.  A dry fast is where you heal your body by taking no water or food.  Basically you starve yourself.  Looking at Alex it appeared that was exactly what he was doing.  First, Alex needed groceries.  Kadizzle took him to Tonto Basin to get his food resupplied.  As we drove he appeared to be almost passed out.  Alex had told the Mrs. that he had not slept for days, and was hiking at night because of anxiety problems. 

Alex seemed to have a host of problems.  Before we reached the store Alex said he avoided junk food and meat.  Shopping Kadizzle noticed the worst kind of junk food in the cart Alex was pushing.  Kadizzle inquired and Alex said he had an addiction for junk food.

Kadizzle gave Alex a pass to camp in the park free and left him at a campsite with solar showers.  When Kadizzle returned several hours later to pick Alex up for dinner he seemed much better.  Apparently the food had a good effect.  Kadizzle had lectured Alex on the insanity of trying to heal his body by starving it.  Having had time to think about Kadizzle's remarks Alex seemed to be thinking more clearly. 

Kadizzle had a flash of genius and insight.  The perfect place for Alex would be with Peter Bigfoot. Peter Bigfoot is the guy up the valley with an aging hippy compound.  Alex could get room and board from Bigfoot if he helped around the ranch.  Alex would be fed good food from the Bigfoot organic garden, and Alex could partake of all Bigfoots natural cures.  Alex liked the ideal. 

Now todays goal is to get Alex up to Bigfoot.   A little back story.  Alex started hiking the trail at the Arizona border with Mexico.  Alex has hiked 400 miles on the trail so far.  His intention is to go clear to Utah.  Some of the most difficult remote parts of the trail are right her.  From here Alex will not be able to get food for perhaps a week.  He did not buy enough food to last a day or two.  Starving himself and depriving himself of water could result in his death.  Kadizzle told him of another hiker that disappeared in the Mazatal mountains where the trail goes. The man has still not been found after ten years. 

Like so many stories this one goes on and on.  Alex said his father was a convict and his mother a drug addict.  I asked him what his father does now.  He said his father is retired.  It never occurred to Kadizlzle that you could retire as a convict.  Alex said he was adopted and had a falling out with his adoptive parents when he reconnected with his real parents.  So in an hour or so the story will continue as Kadizzle tries to find Alex a home.  There are two ways to introduce Alex to Bigfoot.  One way would be to drop Alex off nearby and have him wander in as a lost soul.  The other would be for Kadizzle to explain to Bigfoot what the problem is.  That issue has to be resolved.  Kadizzle thinks it might be best to be up front and have a conversation with Bigfoot.  Bigfoot may not want the stray in which case Alex may take up the second half of the trail.  Who knows how this will go.  Hate to see a nice young guy 26 wander off into oblivion.