Author: Art "Karts" Huseonica

Art “Karts” Huseonica recently set a new Arizona Trail record by yo-yoing the trail in one calendar year.

On December 12, 2018 at 12:00PM Karts and a small group of friends and officials from the Arizona Trail Association reached the trail’s southern terminus on the Mexican border. This completed Kart’s 1,600 mile round-trip of the grueling Arizona Trail, one of the United States’ long-distance national scenic trials. He referred to it as his Arizonian Grit hike.

Only two other hikers have soloed the Arizona Trail in one calendar year.

You can stream via Facebook or Google a commercial-free CBS news story by Briana Whitney about the record-setting hike. Or read an article from the Sun City INDEPENDENT. You can also read a comprehensive article by Shawnte Salabert in Adventure Journal. Meanwhile, here’s several photos that you might have missed on Karts’ social media platforms listed on his Contact page.

Key to support for this record attempt were sponsors that included Epic Wipes extra large wet wipes, ArmaSkin liner anti-blister socks, Wild Zora food and meat bars, Huppybar nut and seed bars, and SoulCare by CCC skin products for the outdoors. Beads of Courage were also an integral part of this unique adventure.

Sun City resident Art “Karts” Huseonica will attempt to set a hiking record on the Arizona Trail this fall. You can track him here starting October 7, 2018.

Starting on October 7, 2018 Karts will hike from Utah to Mexico on the 800-mile Arizona Trail. If successful he will set a record for being the oldest hiker at 67 to yo-yo the difficult trail. He solo hiked from Mexico to Utah earlier in 2018 and must complete the hike in the reverse direction by December 31, 2018.

Only four others have yo-yo’d (round trip) the trail, but they were all in their 20’s and 30’s. In addition to the training regime, Karts spends a great deal of time and energy on logistics. This solo, supported hike will permit him to receive resupply boxes of food along the route. He can also take rides from volunteers into local towns such as Strawberry and Kearny for resupply. Kearny is frequently referred to as the friendliest town on the Arizona Trail.

Karts has received extensive preparatory medical support from Banner Health in Sun City to prepare for the grueling hike, which he is referring to as his “Arizonian Grit” hike.

During the hike, which covers a myriad of challenging terrains, he will be wearing an orange ribbon to honor a U.S. Navy shipmate, Al Derbyshire, who is suffering from COPD.

Karts has also aligned with the Beads of Courage project, carrying beads he’ll later share with children suffering from serious illnesses. He joins others such as astronaut Buzz Aldrin, the Dave Matthews Band, and country star Luke Bryan in wearing beads.

Thus, he was inspired to refer to his hike as “Arizonian Grit.” This hike moniker reflects the determination it takes to accomplish something without quitting, similar to the fight that many have taken on against serious illnesses. This includes Kart’s brother Bobby, who recently passed away.

Key to support for this record attempt are sponsors that include Epic Wipes extra large wet wipes, ArmaSkin liner anti-blister socks, Wild Zora food and meat bars, Huppybar nut and seed bars, and SoulCare skin products for the outdoors. More sponsors will be added as the hike draws near with a trail angel’s shuttle ride to the remote northern terminus of the Arizona Trail. 

Here is one of several articles written by the Sun City INDEPENDENT about the upcoming adventure.

Karts is a 1968 graduate of Homer-Center High School in Homer City, Pennsylvania, USA, is retired U.S. Navy, and a retired associate professor. He lives in Sun City, Arizona, USA with his wife Karen Carlsen Huseonica. He is an active member of the Sun City Hikers and the Sun City PRIDES.

Art “Karts” Huseonica recently completed a solo hike of the Arizona Trail. This National Scenic Trail is almost 800 miles or 1,300km and stretches from the Mexican border to the Utah state line. See the photos below and read a recent article about his adventure Almost Done – Arizona

This was not a purist thru-hike because Karts went down into the Grand Canyon on the longer Bright Angel Trail vice the South Kaibab Trail. He also went off the Arizona Trail for a few miles to hike short distances on the little-used but historically significant Navajo Trail and the Great Western Trail.

Sponsors include Craghoppers outdoor apparel, Epic Wipes extra large wet wipes, ArmaSkin liner anti-blister socks, and Wild Zora snack bars.

You can read more about Karts’ adventure here. In addition, here’s a link to a commentary about Lessons Learned in preparing for the hike.

Art “Karts” Huseonica recently filmed a new adventure show with international celebrity survivalist Bear Grylls. The results of the ten episode show was a unique format of 20-minute plus shows streamed online from Facebook Watch, titled Bear Grylls: Face the Wild.

Episodes can be watched any time on any device for FREE from Facebook Watch. Click here to watch the episode that features Karts Huseonica: Kick the Bucket-List. It first streamed May 9, 2018 but is available for streaming any time on any device.

Karts is currently finishing an 800-mile thru-hike of the Arizona Trail, one of the U.S. national scenic trails. He still took time to conduct a public video chat with Bear Grylls. You can watch it here: Video Chat with Bear and Karts. Karts comes into the video at about the six-minute time mark. This video will also remain available indefinitely for streaming.

You can read more about Karts’ adventure here.

Future plans include visiting family around the country. This includes his two grandchildren in Wisconsin.

THIS IS A NOTICE OF INTENT BLOG POST

Art “Karts” Huseonica intends to thru-hike the 800-mile/1,300km Arizona Scenic Trail (AZT) starting February 27, 2018. For this thru-hike he will carry all of his yearly sponsors to help support this colossal effort, avoiding the desert heat and deep mountain snows. Yes, it snows in Arizona.

Sponsors include Craghoppers outdoor apparel, Paleo Meals to Go freeze-dried meals and snacks, Epic Wipes large wet wipes, ArmaSkin liner anti-blister socks, and Wild Zora snack bars.

Other support will be provided by Trail Angels who will offer Karts  transportation to and from the trailheads, shower facilities, laundry services, and a home cooked meal. He will also ship resupply packages to the Trail Angels containing food, fuel, and spare clothes. 

Karts anticipates that it will take him six to seven weeks to complete the 800-mile journey from Mexico to Utah, crossing several deserts, mountain ranges, and varying alpine terrains. His path will also take him through the Grand Canyon from the South Rim to the North Rim.

Before he departs he will publish his public GPS tracking link courtesy of SPOT Gen3 so that everyone can follow his adventure in real-time. Several hikers will join up with Karts as he traverses Arizona south to north through the 43 passages that make up the Arizona Trail.

This is classified as a supported thru-hike. This means that Karts will have the above noted support. He will also use a trilogy of proof, including a publicly accessible GPS track, location selfies, and witnesses.

At least every four or five days, Karts will provide updates and photos on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. This Blog will not be updated until after his adventure is complete.

 

 

 

 

Art “Karts” Huseonica faced Borah Peak again with reality TV star Jeff Zausch and two of their friends. Thus time Karts’ nemesis was deep snow on a layer of ice from a recent, unexpected snow storm.

Before the team’s arrival Karts, make a solo attempt on Borah Peak, but found deep snow and an unknown route to the summit along the summit ridge. The few other climbers on the mountain also retreated.

Knowing that a summit was unlikely, the team still made a summit bid a few days later, only to be turned back by reaffirmed dangerous climbing conditions. Despite this, the team had a great time.

Other team members included former gymnast Angelina Lance from California and National Guardsman Tyler Hieb from Idaho.

At 12,660 feet/3,860 meters, Borah Peak is a challenging climb due to its knife-edge-ridge approach and 5,200 feet/1,585 meters prominence.

Karts’ sponsors included EPIC Wipes, Armaskin socks, Paleo Meals to Go, and Summit Sealants.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Art “Karts” Huseonica returned from Idaho and chasing the total solar eclipse. See the article below by Independent Media (readership 50,000) about his adventure.

Karts is returning to Borah Peak in Idaho on September 26, 2017 to climb it again with Jeff Zausch to obtain quality summit photos. They will have the mountain to themselves and lots of fresh snow.

Art “Karts” Huseonica was recently interviewed by Holley Kelley, from Aging GreatFULLy. He comes on-air at the 13-minute mark when Holley introduces him.

You can still listen to the Contact Radio broadcast here: Full-Throttle with Karts.

They talk about adventuring while growing old which entails a healthy mind-set in addition to a healthy body. Holley gets Karts to expose his inner most feelings and fears as never before.

Full-Throttle is also available for FREE on iTunes at Full-Throttle on iTunes

 

 

Preparations are complete for the August 21, 2017 climb of Borah Peak in Idaho. See recent article below about Art “Karts” Huseonica and his climb with TV reality star Jeff Zausch.

Karts’ sponsors include EPIC Wipes, Armaskin socks, Paleo Meals to Go, and Summit Sealants. Their solar eclipse viewing glasses were designed and made by American Paper Optics and their 3DGlasses division.