Strike 3

Our Prescott, Arizona visit went very well, and it is a destination that we will likely re-visit on future U.S. trips with our camper van. With daytime temperatures in the mid-70's (F), it was ideal for golf and hiking, so we did plenty of both during our week-long stay. The challenging Stoneridge Golf Course was our favourite among the four courses in the area. The hilly terrain and numerous gulches called for accurate shots along with the use of a mandatory golf cart. We also enjoyed hiking the Watson Lake Loop (near our excellent Point of Rocks RV park and partially through the Granite Dells) and the Lynx Lake Loop which had two cold water crossings.

With rain in the forecast we decided it would be a good time to head further north towards Utah in search of some more hiking opportunities. It turned out to be a good decision. Another good decision was booking a hotel room in Flagstaff, Az. for the night since the overnight temperature was going to be around freezing. The evening rain turned into snow overnight and when we woke up there was 6 inches of snow covering our camper van! Driving further north to Kanab, Utah we dropped 600 metres in elevation so the snow disappeared and the daytime temperatures rose to comfortable levels. The main reason for returning to Kanab was to try our luck at the daily lottery for the 10 available Wave hiking permits. This did not go so well :-(  We struck out all 3 days that we entered the lottery, competing against 70-80 other hopeful hikers each day.......that would actually make 4 unsuccessful attempts if you count my attempt Feb. 1 on my drive south. We did find a couple other interesting hikes to do while hanging around Kanab. The Wire Pass trail, while unexciting at first as you walked for 2 km's in a dry wash, led to a beautiful slot canyon which had a very narrow walkway and very high walls. The much shorter and easy Detroit Rip Rap trail led us to two spots where old, crushed vehicles were piled one on top of another to prevent erosion in a small slot canyon.

Since none of the Major League Baseball teams conducting spring training in Phoenix seemed interested in the knuckleball skills of an aging pitcher willing to sign for the minimum salary of $535,000.........and not wanting to take the folklore place of the young lady from France who entered the Wave lottery for 30 consecutive days before finally getting her permit.......we decided that it was probably best to start the long drive home. I am happy to announce we were successful in achieving our goal on that task. The trip south was a nice break from the cold and snowy winter here at home. It was also a success from a hiking standpoint......29 different hikes during the two month trip, most of them on moderate to difficult trails.

So many more trails and places to discover and experience though, which always give us something to look forward to and more wonderful memories to add to our ever growing list. Our next adventure starts shortly.

Our Watson Lake Loop trail took us around the Granite Creek dam (they wouldn't let us walk across it to save time!) and through the amazing Granite Dells in Prescott, Az.

Still walking around and over the Granite Dells on the other side of Watson Lake.

Enjoying ourselves at the Stoneridge Golf Course in Prescott.

Enjoying a picnic lunch following our hike around Lynx Lake in Prescott.

The scene as we stepped outside our door in the morning after staying overnight in Flagstaff, Az.

The same day as the Flagstaff snowfall, we stopped for a picnic lunch beside the Navajo Bridge and the Colorado River.

Looking back at the entrance way into the slot canyon on the Wire Pass trail. Somewhat reminiscent of the colourful pictures we took while at Antelope Canyon in Page, Az. a few years ago.

An interesting sight while walking along the Detroit Rip Rap trail which obviously got its name from the Motor City sustaining wall. 

Spotted during the Rip Rap trail........the closest we came on this trip to seeing something that looked remotely like the spectacular Wave pictures that are advertised.

Painfully waiting for our bingo ball number to get called, which it never did........a challenge I have not given up on.

Be Careful What You Wish For

Our main reason for heading south this winter was to seek warmer temperatures. We got more than we asked for. The Phoenix area has been immersed in heat wave for over a week, with 90+F temperatures, which has curtailed much of the outdoor activity that we enjoy doing. Preferring not to start lengthy hikes at 7 am or golf at that time we narrowed our scope down to spring training baseball games in shaded seats and shorter hikes (5-6 km's), along with regular trips to the park swimming pool. With the forecast showing much of the same heat for the following week we decided to head further north where the weather was much more encouraging for outdoor activities.

Payson, Az. was our first destination, a scenic drive from Apache Junction. The following day we relocated to Prescott where we currently are enjoying temperatures in the mid - 70's F. We are staying at an RV park that is right beside the Granite Dells where the round granite boulders are stacked upon one another for a very scenic landscape and fun to wander through. The golf rates at the 4 local courses are all in the $35 range so we are getting our fill of golf this week, checking them all out. At 5.400 feet above sea level, and with dry hard fairways, our golf balls are travelling further than normal and we are starting to think we might be ready to join a professional tour :-)

In a few days we will head a little further north to Sedona where there are more hiking opportunities.

View of Superstition Mountains during Silly Mountain hike.

Wave Cave hike......almost there. The people in the cave are standing on the wave-like rock formation.

Goodyear Stadium lawn watching the LA Angels play the Cleveland Indians.

San Tan Flats following our San Tan Trail hike with Cottonwood friends Brian & Shirley-Ann.

Watching the full moon rising from our Apache Junction campground.

A packed stadium in Tempe watching the Dodgers and Angels play for L.A. bragging rights.

An Oakland A's fan sitting in front of us. His Rollie Fingers tatoo was initiated by getting Rollie (Hall of Fame - 1992) to autograph his arm and then he went to a parlour to have it imprinted for life. Rollie was also at this game signing autographs but we decided not to do the same thing.

Watson Lake view from the Granite Dells, a short walk from our campsite.

Alone........no more

My own personal version of “Alone” (a favourite outdoor challenge TV series of ours on the History channel) has come to an end. My sweetheart and I have been re-united after a month of self-inflicted, somewhat solitary confinement, since I headed south in our camper van in search of warmer weather and strenuous hikes (moderate to difficult, 10+ km's), while Pocahontas got her fill of skiing with girlfriends back home. While she has been a good hiker companion in the past, she is starting to show a preference for mountains that have a chairlift that will take you to the top and then let gravity bring you back down.

Since my last posting I completed two more exciting hikes in the Superstition Mountains on the east side of Phoenix, an area that my parents used to enjoy following retirement many years ago. The first one involved a climb (lots of tough, steep rock scrambling) to the top of the Flatiron, one of the highest summits that can be reached in the range (2800' elevation gain to almost 6,000'). The next day I approached from the south side and hiked to Weaver's Needle (a tall, eroded volcanic remnant), a picturesque sight that is not visible until you reach a mountain saddle 5 km's from the trailhead. Feeling a little leg weary the next day, I opted for a baseball game on the day that the Cactus League spring training season started, finding a spot on the outfield grass to relax and watch the L.A. Angels defeat the Milwaukee Brewers 2-0. Then it was off to Eloy for re-visit with Calgary friends but not before some excitement on my way. During the one hour drive south from Phoenix I had a rear tire that exploded while I was on the busy Interstate 10 where the speed limit is 75 mph. Fortunately I was travelling in the outside lane so I was able to pull over onto the shoulder fairly quickly and not damage my wheel rim. I started to get out the tools I would need to replace the tire but had second thoughts when the 18 wheelers were passing by the van less than a metre away from my vehicle and the van shaking a little every time they did.......not sure if the van was also afraid or if it was the wind. While I was still mulling that over, a highway patrol vehicle pulled up behind the van with it's lights flashing in order to create a more safe situation. Not having a cell phone with me, the officer called AAA on my behalf and advised them it was an urgent situation, to which they promised to be on-site within an hour (I was 30 minutes south of Phoenix at the time). The officer had to respond to another call so he left but I felt more comfortable knowing help was on the way. I waited outside the van, about 25 metres off the road, since I didn't feel it would be smart to wait inside the vehicle in case it got hit by a fast moving truck. After an hour and a half with no sign of AAA I tried to flag down some vehicles with no luck so I continued my wait. When 5 pm approached (3.5 hours later) and concerned about darkness setting in, I made the decision to change the tire myself. It was a slow and tiring process since the damaged tire had blocked the easiest path to the wheel well for the jack and I had to crawl underneath the van to find an alternative route. I successfully completed the task just before the sun went down and was back on my way. I called the AAA after arriving in Eloy (30 minutes later) and spoke with a supervisor who promised to look into the matter and get back to me......a week later I have still not heard back from them......strike two.

Pocahontas arrived in time to join in on the McKenzie Lake re-union in Eloy so she had a good chance to visit with our friends before we headed south to Green Valley (purchasing two new van tires along the way). While in Eloy, we played a round of golf on the well maintained local course, visited the nearby renowned skydiving centre, and had a fabulous dinner at an historic home in Casa Grande (BeDillions). After dinner Lorne steered us to the Thirsty Donkey sports bar where we caught the last period of the Flames game (OT winners) on one of their 28 TV's while listening to the play-by-play on a wireless speaker that was delivered to our table. The pub also featured 40 self-serve beers on tap, unlocked and tracked by a wristband provided to each customer......both are wonderful concepts that I'm sure will catch on quickly (fyi - the ladies moved to the table next to us and requested a non-sports channel with their own speaker). Tubac, an artsy village, was the primary destination when we left Green Valley and we supported the local economy by making several purchases before heading off to Benson and a lengthy tour of the amazing Big Room in the Kartchner Caverns. The beautiful stalagmite (from the ground up) and stalactite (from the ceiling down) formations were impressive enough but the discovery and preservation story about two college students (cavers), who discovered the caverns and then kept it quiet for over 10 years until they could work out a deal between the land owner and the State Parks organization to ensure the caves were protected for future generations to enjoy, without profiting themselves, make this place a must-see if you happen to be in the area (1 hour east of Tucson). No cameras were allowed in the cave so you will have to visit yourselves, or check some on-line photos published by the State Park, to appreciate the beauty of the Kartchner Caverns.

Today we arrived back in Apache Junction where we will complete a few 'moderate' hikes, catch a few more spring training baseball games, and perhaps a round or two of golf.

Initial hike in the Superstition Mountains, a favourite place for my parents to visit when they spent their retirement winters in Apache Junction. The trailhead for this hike was in Lost Dutchman State Park, with the Flatiron summit in the deep background. This is the Basin, a turnaround spot one-third into the trail where many hikers decide they have had enough.

A view from the summit of the Flatiron where I enjoyed an energy snack before heading back down the mountain to the trailhead in the background.

The hike leading to the rock top where Weavers Needle was finally visible.

Weavers Needle where most hikers turn around. I continued to the base of the Needle searching for the "not-very-well-marked" side trail to another canyon where the park ranger advised I could find a different way to return to the parking lot. When i could not clearly find an alternate path I made the wise decision to return the same way since I was on my own.

My lawn view of the L.A. Angels home game in Tempe vs. the Milwaukee Brewers. Even though it was game one of spring training the Angels players were all standing on the dugout steps like it was game one of the World Series.

My I-10 tire blow-out......wished I had taken a picture while it was still on the van since it looked much worse than this with the weight of the van on it, but I had other things (and worries) on my mind at the time. It was a Michelin tire with good tread still on it so I'm still not clear on what caused the minor explosion.

The Skydive Arizona (Eloy) loading spot for the skydivers taxi out to the plane. British and Canadian skydiving teams not only performed aerial exercises before opening their parachutes but after landing (smoothly, on their feet) in a field in front of us, they quickly gathered up their chutes and ran into the re-packing area where specialists re-packed the chutes for them while they grabbed a second chute (already packed) and ran over to the shuttle to catch the next plane out. We were told they were doing 10+ jumps every day. There was also a wind tunnel to practice routines and for wannabees. I shall return.

Won't Get Fooled Again ???

Some fellow travel hounds in Sedona recommended a magnificent RV park they had recently visited on the east side of the Salton Sea (1 hour east of Palm Springs), called the Fountain of Youth Spa RV Resort. After verifying (through Google) that the resort indeed had natural artesian mineral water filling it's 6 pools, providing therapeutic healing effects, I decided to add it to my itinerary since I was headed to Palm Springs anyway, to meet up with my VCR sister and her husband Doug who were there on a home exchange which they do quite often on their world travels. While the hot pools felt wonderful, especially for my over-worked hiking legs, I don't feel any younger and am quite certain that my next mountain hike will remind me that I am in my mid-60's. Upon checking in at the resort, when questioned by the two ladies behind the reception desk as to how long I wanted a site for, I asked them how long I would need to stay in order to feel like I was 25 again. They looked at me and responded "more than a month". Then I asked how long until I felt like I was 50 again? They repeated "more than a month". Being wise enough to not ask how long until I felt like I was 63 again (2 weeks ago), I decided to only spend one day in the mineral springs. My world-wide search for the 'real' Fountain of Youth continues.

For those of you who have not yet had the experience of visiting the Salton Sea, don't add it to your 'must do' list. The Sea has been dying since water from the Colorado River was diverted to satisfy other California aqua needs. It lies directly over the San Andreus fault, 235 feet below sea level, and the salinity has killed almost all of the fish that used to live there along with adding a sour smell to the air. It is really sad to drive through the former burgeoning seaside towns which are also dying with more than half the homes abandoned and decaying rapidly.

Prior to this recent experience, I spent 3 more days hiking in Sabino Canyon, a wonderful destination for hikers of all levels. While I did some of the more strenuous hikes, all between 10-15 km's.....Esperero Trail (last posting), Bear Canyon to Seven Falls (7 creek crossings, some up to knee level with the impressive falls at the end of the trail), Blackett's Ridge (steady uphill with steep drop-offs on either side near the summit) and the Phoneline Trail (along the upper side of Sabino Canyon)......there are both shorter trails available and a shuttle that goes well into Sabino Canyon, offering great views for those that are not able to hike and shortens trails for those who desire that option. My only impediment turned out to be a dead van battery in the parking lot on one of those days but a park ranger lent me his phone to call AAA and I was back on the road, with a new battery, 45 minutes later while enjoying an adult beverage in my camping chair beside the van while I waited.

Following 5 straight days of solid hikes, I departed Tucson and drove to the Rancho Mirage community in Palm Springs for a visit with my sister and her husband in their luxurious home exchange property which they also shared with some Vancouver friends of theirs, Donald and Ruth. We enjoyed the backyard pool and hot tub, and spent a day visiting the busy College of the Desert Market and then took in a polo match later which was more entertaining than I anticipated partially due to the various tail gate parties along the sidelines which are encouraged by the Empire Polo Club. Another day we did several short hikes into Indian Canyons which ended a bit sooner than expected when the park rangers asked everyone to get off of the trails. No reason was given but we suspected (since confirmed on the internet) that there was a fresh mountain lion sighting / kill (non human) along one nearby trail and there was concern that the lion was still in the vicinity. Everyone was happy to return to the comfort and safety of our backyard pool.

I have now arrived back in Phoenix where I will spend several days hiking in the Superstition Mountains (near my site in Apache Junction). Only 5 days until Pocahontas joins me following her successful and injury-free expanded ski season. Looking forward to our re-union.

Tucson's Sabino Canyon - 7th Bear Creek crossing on my way to Seven Falls. This one was only calf-deep.

Seven Falls at the end of Bear Canyon. The pool at the bottom would have been wonderful to swim in if the water temperature had been quite a bit warmer.

Blacketts Ridge view into Sabino Canyon. The Phoneline Trail (next day hike, longer) is visible along the right side.

Our Rancho Mirage backyard resort - with my sister leading the way.

Empire Polo Club match near our sideline. VIP seats on the other side.

Non VIP attendees are encouraged to create their own tailgate parties....next time we will be better prepared.

Indian Canyons - Andreas Canyon walk with massive palms and lovely rock formations along the creek.

Roadside view of Glamis Dunes along highway 78 on my way back to Arizona - heaven for ATV and motorbike enthusiasts.

Hiking up a Storm

Still filling my days with hikes as I move around Arizona finding both suitable hikes and supporting weather. While in Sedona I hiked Bear Mountain, only 8 km's but pretty much straight up and down with a 2,000 foot elevation change (summit at 6,500 feet) over difficult terrain, with wonderful 360 degree views at the peak. The next couple of days I upped the stakes with two hikes a day including Soldier's Pass (10 km's including a few other trail extensions). Cathedral Rock (moderate, scramble), Broken Arrow to Chicken Point (6 km) and the Bell Rock Courthouse Butte Loop (8 km).

Although there were plenty more challenging hikes to do in the Sedona area I decided it was time to move on after spending a week there and headed west to Prescott via Cottonwood (short stop at the Native American Tuzigoot ruins, mostly reconstructed), settling at the Point of Rocks RV park with the gorgeous Granite Dells right behind my site. Beyond strolling thru the smooth, round rock Dells, I hiked the Thumb Butte Trail plus portions of 4 other trails to create a 12 km loop route, finding some snow and icy path spots which told me it was time to head further south.

My next stop was in Eloy, about an hour south of Phoenix, where good friends of ours (Lorne & Sue) are enjoying their recent winter home purchase. They were wonderful hosts and Lorne even let me win our golf game which was on the Robson Ranch property. We will get together again when Pocahontas arrives later this month.

From there I continued further south to northern Tucson but not before stopping at Picacho Peak for a strenuous but enjoyable hike to the summit. Taking the shorter but more difficult Hunter Trail (3 km straight up) I encountered approx. 10 chains anchored into the rock to assist hikers in the steep uphill climb (not suitable for anyone afraid of heights). It took 2 hours to get to the peak but it was a good challenge and I enjoyed it. I am now somewhat settled in that I have changed RV parks twice in two days and will be searching for a new spot tomorrow due to the spotty internet service (actually terrible) that seems to be pervasive in the Tucson area for some reason. Meanwhile I am hiking in the Sabino Canyon Recreation Area which offers a multitude of moderate to difficult hikes. Today I hiked 11 km's of the Esperero Trail, turning around at Cardiac Ridge (aptly named). There is a shuttle that carries visitors well up into Sabino Canyon but that would be sacrilege to a serious hiker so I will consider it an emergency escape if anything goes wrong on one of my upcoming adventures.

Rain is forecast for the w/e so I will keep my eye on the weather and be prepared to venture on to another 'dry' location if necessary. Adios (since I am close to Mexico).

Sedona - Javelina spotted along Soldier's Pass trail

Bear Mountain - or what I thought. This turned out to be the half way point with the final summit still hidden.

The Devil's Kitchen sinkhole, a former cavern along the Soldier's Pass trail.

Chapel of the Holy Cross in Sedona, built in 1956.

Part of the view along the Broken Point trail in Sedona.

Prescott - the Granite Dells and Watson Lake which were both a short stroll from just behind my campsite.

Picacho Peak south of Eloy - not for the faint hearted.

One of the many cable assisted portions of the Picacho Peak trail.

I never fail, I succeed in finding what doesn't work

Following a shortened camper van trip (minor health issues) to the lovely Paso Robles wine region in the fall, I was keen to start a new adventure in the new year. At the end of January I drove to Kamloops to visit with my 95 year old father who is hanging in there despite some health issues of his own. We had a good visit and hopefully there will be many more. I then headed south towards southern Utah where the plan was to get in as much hiking as possible. Pocahontas meanwhile remained home to get in some more skiing with her girlfriends and to paint a few rooms in the house (a couple of January outings on my snowboard was enough to scratch my itch). She will join up with me in a few weeks, hoping that I will have had my fill of strenuous hiking by then.

I had a few glitches on the drive south, taking a few incorrect routes, a combination of trying to get out of sub-zero temperatures as quickly as possible, the fact that my regular navigator was AWOL (meaning I looked at the map once in the morning and was sure I would remember all the turns I had to make), and being fully engrossed in many interesting Skeptics Guide to the Universe podcasts. When I arrived at Zion National Park (a southern Utah favourite of ours) after 2 full days of driving, there was snow on the ground (not ideal for a warm weather hiker) and the only campground in town was closed for the winter........so I continued on to Kanab near the Arizona border for the night. The next morning I entered the lottery for one of the 10 hiking permits that would be granted for next day hikes to The Wave in Vermilion Cliffs Wilderness Area. If you have not heard of The Wave then you should google it to see the amazing sandstone rock formations to understand why it is a highly desired destination where they limit the daily traffic to better preserve the landscape. I was not one of the lucky winners (30 applicants even though it was a very cold time of the year) and while I had planned to hang around for a few more days to roll the dice again, I changed my mind after attempting to do a couple of nearby hikes during the day (I eventually found the Toadstool hike which was excellent, due to being in a warmer canyon). If the trails were not covered with snow they were muddy from melting snow during the daytime also making some dirt roads to trailheads difficult to access. We were also advised that the 8 mile road into The Wave trailhead was also only passable with a 4X4 at this time of year which would have meant walking an extra 16 miles just to get to the 6 mile trail, or trying to make an arrangement with another lucky winner. I plan to return again, perhaps at the end of this trip on the way home when it is warmer and my hiking partner is with me.

My next stop was the Grand Canyon South Rim. Once again however I encountered a lot of snow at the rim (one foot). While the rim path had been cleared I was concerned that the start of the paths down into the canyon would be icy (since they get enough traffic) and after learning that Phantom Ranch was booked solid I decided to move on rather than entering the dorm lottery the next morning for last minute cancellations, or attempting a one day down and back up hike which I would still like to do some day after having time to spare when I did my trip down to Phantom Ranch 4 years ago.

So at this point I am thinking quite a few things have not gone according to plan on this trip so far (or rather I have been successful in finding what doesn't work). Checking the weather forecast I noticed that Sedona was experiencing mid-teen temperatures during the day (ideal for hiking) and nighttime lows of 7-9C, so no need to worry about freezing pipes. I am now in Sedona, de-winterized the van (now fully functional) and plan to remain here for the next week. Yesterday I hiked the Huckaby Trail (12 km return from my camper van site), an up and down trail with gorgeous red rock views and the roaring Oak Creek. Today I repeated that hike after realizing that I had forgotten to re-pack my camera case in the backpack at the far end of the trail after sitting on a rock to have a snack and enjoy the raging creek. It was still there when I arrived this morning. A pattern seems to be developing here that I am not particularly proud of :-)
As a self-imposed penalty I continued my journey for several more km's with a walk into town to scout out a couple of sports bars to watch the Superbowl tomorrow, and found one that should be a blast (along with being in walking distance).

Adios for now.

My 95 year old father relaxing in a place he loves.

Kanab - old Gunsmoke TV show set

Toadstool hike - only one I discovered without snow

Another toadstool and a good view of the up and down terrain

The Watchtower at the Desert View rim of the Grand Canyon

View from the top of the tower with the Colorado River in the background

Mather Point viewing area - supporting my decision not to take the nearby Bright Angel Trail down into the canyon

Sedona - half way point on the Huckaby Trail which finished at the base of the bridge in the background beside Oak Creek