What I'm Listening To: "Katie Queen of Tennessee"

 

Love a good song with my name in it.

Chiricahua Peak

7 mile hike to the top of Chiricahua Peak. Narrow trail that crisscrosses the spine of the mountains. We only saw one person but saw so many ladybugs. 

Chiricahua National Monument

Patrick and I headed on a 4 hour drive to the Chiricahua Mountains to camp. Neither of us have ever been there, so we were excited. On our first full day, we headed to Chiricahua National Monument to hike a 10 mile loop that would show us the best of the park. Lots of weird looking rocks. And lizards. Afterwards, we ate our picnic lunch with views for days.

Memorial Day Weekend on the Rim

After staying home for most of the spring, I jumped at the chance to go camping. Patrick and I drove up the Mogollon Rim on Saturday morning from Phoenix. I had never been, despite only a 2 hour drive. We passed through the cute little towns of Pine and Strawberry before taking the dirt road along the Rim. The Mogollon Rim stretches 200 miles across Arizona and is the start of the Colorado Plateau--high desert area that includes the Grand Canyon and many of Southern Utah's national parks.

We set up camp right along the Rim. Luckily, Patrick's car has 4WD and high clearance and Patrick is skilled in driving off road so we were able to get here no problem. It was relaxing to sit in our camp chairs and read books and not have any place to be. One little issue though! Our campsite was windy, which made me cold, despite the sunshine. I asked Patrick to boil me some water for tea. But our sole lighter didn't work! It was dead. So our peaceful afternoon was paused while we drove back to Pine to pick up new lighters. We needed them to cook dinner, so it was at least good we found out early!

What I'm Listening To: "Bus Stop"

Before Rihanna and her umbrella, there was the Hollies, a bus stop, and a shared umbrella. 

Wonderspaces

My friend Nicole recently moved back to Arizona (so glad she did!) and invited to Wonderspaces this afternoon with some of her friends. It's an art installation piece that you experience rather than just look at. You interact with the art. There were virtual reality pieces and pieces that changed when you moved your body around.

My favorite was probably the wall of rolled-up notes. The piece was about those words you didn't get to say. It felt like a mix of Post Secret and fortune cookies. People wrote notes on pieces of paper and stuck them in. Some were heartbreaking, some were deep, some were silly. It was addicting to read them. It felt refreshing to put one of my secrets on there that has been eating at me for a few months now.

What I'm Listening To: "This Girl"

Makes me dance at the climbing gym. 

Luckily, I was able to ask my friend (who works there) to check out the name for me.

What I'm Listening To: "Luck"

Zion Day 3

Our last morning in Zion. I wanted to wake early to run the park road before the shuttles started, but I couldn't get myself up. But by 8 am, I was ready to tackle the Pa'rus trail. And an spontaneous trip to the Lower Emerald Pools and run down the horse beach trail. Legs were not feeling good, but my soul felt so alive, running along the spectacular forces of nature.

Zion, I will be back.

Zion Day 2

Church of Sunday hike. With many of the trails closed due to rock slides, it was Angels Landing again for us--except I took West Rim Trail instead of scrambling over people along the chains to the end. Just ten minutes past the hustle and bustle of those seeking the thrill of Angels Landing. I snacked and watched rock climbers ascend the rock. I laid down and let the sun lull me to an almost sleep. I could have sat there all day.

After my descent from paradise, I found friends of friends dipping their feet into the cold Virgin River. They had created a little pool from rocks to chill their beers. 

That bliss was over a few hours later when I felt nauseous on the shuttle back to the campground. My lunch and snacks came hurtling up on the side of the road. But with some salt packets, water, and couscous, I felt better later that night. Dehydration, maybe?

Zion Day 1

The first hike in Zion was Angels Landing--one of the park's most famous. The first two miles alternated between slight uphills and steep switchbacks. The last half mile is a harrowing crawl along the spine of the mountain--literally only a few feet wide with sheer cliffs on both sides. I almost turned back because I was nervous about falling--and rightfully so, handful of people have fallen to their deaths on this hike. But the views from the end were awesome, 

with Zion Valley spread out around my feet.

We followed up with a visit to a waterfall near the Narrows. With all the rain and snow this year, Zion had many spectacular waterfalls, which is pretty unusual in this desert park. The deep valley made everyone feel small. I was in awe of all the natural wonder that abounded in Zion.

Southern Utah

Long day of driving in the 12-passenger van. After leaving Tempe around 7 am, we wound our way through Phoenix, through Flagstaff, through Jacob Lake, through Kanab, to our campsite on the old highway, right outside Zion. High ground made for beautiful golden hour views of the valley below.

Rain poured down all night, but the sunny morning held promise for our weekend at the park.

What I'm Listening To: "Gloria"

What I'm Listening To: "Alaska"

Recommended by my friend Jo. Isn't it just wonderful when friends know you well enough to suggest new music or books or things to do and you love it?

"The Favourite"

A fun laugh, turned dark. I really enjoyed the juxtaposition of comedic lines with the proper society of the 1700s. Torwards the end, I didn't like the manipulative plotline of Emma Stone's character. A+ comedy-drama-historic piece.

There's Always Money in the Banana Stand

Halloween is the one time of the year I can be creative and do some arts and crafts. This year was no different, with my hand painted apron to channel George Michael Bluth. Even with real bananas!

Killing Two Seasons with One Trip

Headed up to Flagstaff for my 2nd annual Columbus Day weekend (well, just Sunday and Monday). I drove up the windy road towards the Snow Bowl and the rain gradually turned into snow. What the heck?!? It's October! I walked a but through the snowy aspen grove, but in my mind, I just wanted the warmth of Phoenix again.

What I'm Listening To: "Honeybody"

Grand Canyon: Day 3

Last day. I really didn't want to leave and head back to real life. But being at Mather Point (pictures) really turned me away. There were so many tourists hurrying from viewpoint to viewpoint to take pictures. No one seemed to be slowing down to enjoy the marvel in front of them. 

But I still want to go back. Who wants to with me? I want to go now!

Grand Canyon: Day 2

I think I'm the only person that is able to sleep in while camping. I woke up late and debated not hiking the route I had planned. But I knew I had enough time to do it before the sunset. Why not? I started at South Kaibab trailhead around 9:20 and headed down into the canyon. My hiking poles helped with my bad knee because it was either downhill or flat the entire way down. Absolutely stunning.

By lunchtime, I had made it to the Colorado River and Phantom Ranch (see below). There's a campsite and little shacks to stay in. It was so green. I filled up my water bottles here because there is no water on South Kaibab. Then it was time to go back up.

It's about 7.5 miles down and 10 back up. I think I must have blacked out at one point because it didn't seem so bad to get to Indian Garden (about half way up). But I was able to stick my feet in the cool waters of the Colorado earlier in the day. The rest of the hike was good, except for the last 1.5 miles. I hit the wall so hard. My legs weren't moving and I was chafing. I wanted someone to carry me up. The only thing that kept me going was knowing there was an ice cream shop at the top. 

:

I finally made it! 17.5 miles in 8:30. Faster than I expected. I walked like a cowboy to the ice cream shop to see that it was closed for 3 minutes! But luckily the scooper called out, last call for ice cream. I think I would have cried if I had missed it. I had two huge scoops of mint chocolate chip ice cream, proud that I made it.