Perennial adventurer and record-setting hiker Art “Karts” Huseonica is at it again. In February, the 75-year-old Sun City resident will embark on an epic hike with a four-pronged mission.
“This hike, I’m going for a big, long walk on the Arizona Trail – 1,600 miles,” says the U.S. Navy veteran and associate college professor, who began hiking at age 10 in his native Pennsylvania.
Huseonica has already set an international record for his age group doing the grueling “yo-yo” hike: trekking the 800-mile Arizona National Scenic Trail (AZT) south-north from Mexico to Utah, then flipping around and doing it in reverse, all in one fell swoop. Now, he’s out to break his own record while saluting several of his favorite causes and people, including AZT founder Dale Shewalter, who passed away before seeing the completion of his vision.
“The reasons I’m doing the hike are the tribute, of course; the yo-yo reset; to promote Operation Freedom March; and to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the United States.” Huseonica will carry small flags to represent each project. Anybody can follow his progress online, and hikers who happen to spot him along the trail – he plans to hike February 7 to May 31 – can get signed flags.
“It’s [a record-setting attempt], so I have to have a publicly accessible [GPS-equipped] SPOT device, and people will be able to track me on that,” says the super-fit senior, who has spent his retirement years adventuring in places like the Yukon, the Northwest Passage and Australia.
Additionally, Huseonica plans to stop at the Dale Shewalter Memorial at Buffalo Park in Flagstaff for an informal ceremony sometime in April.
While his adventures are hyper-focused and purpose-driven, Huseonica has some simple advice to inspire people to get out and hit the dirt. “They don’t even need a reason,” he says. “Just get out on the trail.”
— Mare Czinar
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