(Sun City, AZ, USA; 05 January 2026) Karts is in the news again with a fresh article published by the Phoenix Magazine. It outlines his upcoming hike on the Arizona Trail starting in February. You can read the article here. Special thanks to Mare Czinar for penning the article.
(Sun City, Arizona, USA; 01 November 2025) Thanks to the kind folks at Independent Newsmedia for publishing the first article about the Dale Shewalter Tribute Hike. The article also includes information about the three other aspects of the Arizona Trail hike. You can read the article for free here.
(October 15, 2025; Sun City, AZ, USA) Everything is falling into place for Karts’ upcoming Dale Shewalter Tribute Hike in Spring 2026. Most recently, local singer Brent Bowden offered his song ARIZONA’S CALLING, to be used as the hike’s theme song and background for media posts. Here is the link to the song: https://youtu.be/vs5olTz2rbQ
Karts has been surprised at the attention that the hike is receiving. This includes, regional media, celebrities, appointed and elected officials, and the hiking community in general. His main sponsor is PBD Ultralight backpacks located in Scottsdale, Arizona, USA. There are several other companies supporting the hike in various ways. The hike is sanctioned by the Arizona Trail Assocation and the Shewalter family.
The following is a required Statement of Intent to be put on all my social media platforms and this Blog:
(September 13, 2025; Sun City, AZ, USA) In Spring 2026, Karts will attempt to reset his 2018 Arizona Trail yo-yo record to 75 years of age. He will discuss this fact before, during, and after the hike as part of a record-attempt’s three subjective requirements. In addition, Karts will follow the record-attempt’s three objective requirements of: documenting eyewitnesses, recording location selfies and videos, and providing a publicly accessible GPS track. This is a Supported hike so he can accept any kind of help as long as he hikes the entire route prescribed by the Arizona Trail Association at the time of the hike.
There are three other, more important components to his hike. They include hiking to support Operation Freedom March, showing support to the AZ America250 celebration, and the fact that this is the official Dale Shewalter Tribute Hike. The hike is sanctioned by the Arizona Trail Association and the Dale Shewalter family.
September 5, 2025; Sun City, AZ, USA. In Spring 2026, Art “Karts” Huseonica has a big plan. It’s a tetralogy hike on the 800-mile/1300km Arizona Trail. As the name might imply, the hike has four major components. First, is that Karts will be hiking to help support the Operation Freedom March with the Arizona Trail Vets program. Second, he will be carrying the Arizona America250 flag to help promote the Arizona Trail as Arizona and America celebrates America’s 250th anniversary. Third, Karts will be attempting to reset his current yo-yo record to his current age of 75. He currently holds the record as the oldest person to yo-yo the trail.
Lastly, and most importantly, he will be hiking this National Scenic Trail as a tribute to its founder, Dale Shewalter. This component of the hike is sanctioned by the Arizona Trail Association and the Dale Shewalter Family. The hike is officially called the Dale Shewalter Tribute Hike. It is sponsored by PBD Ultralight (PackBack Designs) located in Scottsdale, Arizona.
June 5, 2025 in Sun City, Arizona, USA
Art “Karts” Huseonica is looking ahead to the future. After last year’s two uncompleted expeditions to finish paddling the Yukon River and to row the Northwest Passage, he is ready to move forward.
Included in his plans is a record-attempt to hike across Badwater Basin and climb Telescope Peak in Death Valley to set a record being the oldest person to do that. He also hopes to hike the Cactus-to-Clouds-to-Cactus hike. Both are extreme adventures in California.
Not done planning, Karts hopes to yo-yo the Arizona Trail again in 2026. If successful, he would remain the oldest person to complete such a hike. This is a repeat of his record-setting hike in 2018. Several celebrities are considering joining Karts on the hike for short periods of time. In addition, he will be doing the hike as a Tribute Hike to honor of the Arizona Trail’s founder, Dale Shewalter. The tentative name of Karts’ hike is “Thank You, Dale.”
Art Karts Huseonica is planning a big summer of 2024. He has confirmed plans to complete his delayed Yukon River expedition. Immediately after, he will join the Northwest Passage expedition to complete an ocean row of the Northwest Passage led by record holder rower Leven Brown of Scotland. It’s also known as The Expedition of Our Time. More details will be forthcoming. Meanwhile, here is the link to the Northwest Passage expedition: https://nwpexpedition.com/
As I look forward to 2024, I am reminded of my major disappointment in not completing my Yukon 2020 expedition to paddle the length of the Yukon River in 2023. Stopping short 100 miles/160km from the Bering Sea hit me hard mentally because I always finish what I start. My U.S. Coast Guard contact reminded me that, “It’s better to return home defeated than in a body bag.”
I have no immediate plans to return to the Yukon River in 2024 due to finances. I’m still paying off this year’s expedition costs. Ugh. I’ve certainly been invited to participate in numerous adventures and expeditions in 2024, but the monies simply aren’t there. I’ll still do regional hikes and mini-adventures solo and with a few select friends.
I’m staying very busy with training hikes, volunteering on various projects, and catching up on my reading. Subjects include adventures, biographies, and self-help books from eclectic authors. Refocusing on staying in touch with friends and family is helping to keep my mind off the Yukon. Of course, there is pressure from a lot of folks for me to write my memoirs. We’ll see.
Yukon River expedition Website: http://www.yukon2020.com
I will always greatly appreciate your support and encouragement. Be well my friends.
(August 27, 2023; Sun City, AZ, USA) The Whitehorse Star newspaper published a comprehensive article about Kart’s failure to reach the Bering Sea and set a record. You can read the article for free here. Journalist Morris Prokop has followed Karts’ adventure on the Yukon River for two years after his attempt last year was thwarted by 100-year flood event.
(March 21, 2023) Art “Karts” Huseonica is excited to announce that Melinda Land has joined the Yukon 2020™ team paddling from Carmacks to Dawson City, Yukon Territory, Canada. You can read all about Melinda for free without a subscription here.
Arizonian Explorer 