mazatzal

We started our hike at the Barnhardt trailhead {in the Mazatzal area in the Tonto National Forrest} just south of Payson, AZ. It was a hot day and we made slow progress because we stopped so much on the way up the mountain. Half way through the trail we found this awesome cave and took a little nap on the cold flat rock. The rest of the hike was relatively flat and we got to our campsite late in the afternoon. We camped in a pretty little meadow at the end of a canyon {there were deer everywhere}. We rested in the shade for a while and then hiked up a nearby creek bed to find some water to filter and drink. That night we had tin foil dinners and cinnamon bears and enjoyed the amazing stars. The only problem was that it didn't cool down that much. I don't ever remember being hot at night when we've backpacked. But it was a warm night and we slept with the door of the tent open.

We originally talked about doing a loop and hiking out a different way than we came in but we were pretty tired {out of shape} and decided to make our trip shorter by just going back the same way we came in. So we got up early, packed up and made our way back. We ended up going a slightly different way on part of the trail so we could find another spring and filter more water. We drank a lot more water than we normally do backpacking because it was SO hot. We stopped at our cold, flat rock cave again and rested up. Then made our way back to the car. It was a good backpacking trip. Definitely not the best of our adventures but we had a good time. It's always good to get outside and enjoy the earth and feel the silence and peace that goes along with being in the wilderness.

the weekend

We left early Saturday morning for the Superstition Mountains (about 1.5 hours East of us). We decided on a loop trail starting at Woodbury trail head and finishing at Rogers Trough trail head.




















Eric dropped me (and our packs) off at the starting point, then he drove 2 miles to where we would end and left the car there. Then he ran the 2 miles back to me (he's awesome). It's always worth it though because loop hikes are so much better than out and back hikes.

The first part of the trail was fairly flat and wandered through some cow fields. After a couple hours we took a break by a stream and Eric took a nap. See if you can find him on the ground in one of the pictures below.




















Then the climbing began. We hiked up and up to Tortilla pass and it was hot. It was so pretty and clear though. At the top Eric serenaded me with a little song.





















Then we started hiking down and down. We finally made it to Angel Basin. It's a flat grassy valley area with great places to camp for the night. We soaked our sore feet in the freezing cold stream and it felt so good. Then we collected firewood and set up the tent. We cooked our tin foil dinners over the fire and enjoyed the peaceful wilderness. The night sky was so clear and the stars were gorgeous. We hiked about 7 miles total on Saturday.





















Sunday morning we picked up camp and headed to the main attraction of the trip, the ancient Cliff Dwellings.














Inside some caves on the side of the mountain, there are houses made out of stone. This is were the Salado Indians lived over 600 years ago. They were incredible. I can't even explain what it feels like to touch and explore the places where people lived so long ago. It's hard to even comprehend people living and surviving like that. It was amazing and beautiful. The view from inside the caves was breath-taking.







After spending a good amount of time exploring the caves, we took off to hike the rest of the way out. It was so pretty hiking in this area. Although we started hiking in more of a desert-like atmosphere, this part was definitely forest and it was gorgeous. The streams were full and flowing... lots of waterfalls. Tons of beautiful trees and mountains. We hiked the rest of the morning and finally made it back to the car around noon. We hiked about 4 miles on Sunday, making a total of 11 miles for the trip. If you'd like to see more pictures from the trip, go here.

It was a great hike, just what I wanted and needed. The earth is amazing and beautiful. It fills me with love. Eric is so awesome, I love backpacking with him. We were only away from "the world" for a little over 24 hours, but oh how it makes you appreciate all the conveniences we have. Like a warm shower and a comfortable bed.


But the best part about the weekend... our newest niece was born on February 13th, my birthday. I thought for sure they would name her after me, but they went with Gracie, which I guess is pretty good too {wink}.

forsee creek

Eric and I went backpacking over the weekend in the San Bernardino Mountains, about 30 minutes from our place. Eric thought there wouldn't be any snow, he was wrong.

We hiked 4 miles to John's Meadow where we set up camp.

It {surprisingly} wasn't that cold until the evening. Then I was wishing I had warmer clothes and a more comfortable bed.

I built up the fortress around the tent with all this wood, to protect us from the wind. We were so glad we did because it got pretty windy during the night. But it didn't get us!

Here I am setting up the camera on the sweet tripod Eric got for Christmas. And yes we took our big SLR with us. Eric carried it. I think we decided his pack weighed 30 lbs.

Backpacking is always an adventure. It was so great to be out in the peaceful wilderness. To be so alone and with nature. It always refreshes my soul and strengthens my body. After we hiked out we drove to Big Bear and checked out the lake and and ski resorts.

Mt Whitney

I hiked the highest peak in the continental U.S. this week. At 14,500 Mt Whitney is the highest peak in the united states besides the ones in Alaska. I figured I had better take the opportunity while we live in California to go do it. I hiked in 6.5 miles camped and then left my stuff, hiked 4.5 to the summit, 4.5 back, packed up camp and headed out. It was pretty cool.

Eric's stuff

Blogging seems like it's just for girls. Only girls comment and most blogs are managed by the wife. So, while I don't post very much anyway, I have been even more hesitant lately. But I guess I am like a girl in the fact that I like to talk and I like to talk about myself. So I wanted to share some of my recent stuff.

Joshua Tree
On Sunday evening I drove to Joshua Tree National park. I have always wanted to go there and it would be nice to go with Tiff but I have been working every Saturday and I want to run the trails and she wouldn't enjoy that very much. Anyway, I didn't have anything on Monday so I went. I got there and ran the "49 palms Oasis" trail. It is about 3 miles. I then went to a campsite as the sun was setting and put my mattress on the ground and climbed around all the cool rocks. All of a sudden a bright light shinned in my eye and I looked and it was the moon coming up. It was a full moon and I watched shadows appear as it rose. It was really bright. I decided there was no way I was sleeping with that. So I drove to a trail and started running. It was so great. Just me and the desert on a flat path along sagebrush under the moonlight. The trail went down into a riverbed and was really sandy and it was dark because the moon was hidden. I kept thinking I was almost stepping on rattlesnakes. (maybe I was?) I had enough and turned around. I got lost on the way back and could not find the trail anywhere. I ran to some rocks and climbed up them to look around but could not see a trail. I knew where I was and where my car was, so it wasn't that scary. But I thought about how I have always wanted to be lost in the desert (actually I have been a few times) but when it happens it is kind of crazy. I ended up running back through the brush following paths that I kept thinking were trails. I ended up at the road to the trail head and ran a little ways to my car. that was probably 8 miles. I slept in the car and the next day climbed more rocks and ran another trail for 8 miles. Then I drove home. It was awesome.

Sport Court
This is a picture of the first court I sold and completed a few weeks ago. I have been working on the others and there are supposed to be some ads running in some magazines soon and hopefully more leads will come from that.