The Stats: Trail name: Tom's Thumb Trail Location: Scottsdale, AZ Distance: 4.6 miles, out and back Elevation Gain: 1,236 feet Published Difficulty: Difficult Dog Friendliness: Definitely dog friendly The Tom's Thumb Trail Guide Tom's Thumb trail is often referred to as one of the best hikes in Scottsdale. It's no wonder with its healthy elevation gain … Continue reading Hiking to Tom’s Thumb | Scottsdale, AZ
hiking
What to pack for the Milford Track
My friend and I recently traveled to the South Island of New Zealand to tackle one of the nine Great Walks scattered throughout the country: the Milford Track. It was an absolutely incredible experience. One that I would (and have) recommend(ed) to everyone. Weather-wise, we were lucky. It didn't rain once in the 4 days … Continue reading What to pack for the Milford Track
Hiking Wave Cave Trail | Gold Canyon, AZ
Catch the Wave Cave trail at the intersection of Carney Springs trailhead and Peralta Road. There are no signs in the parking lot for the trail itself, but you can't miss the wide, blocked-off dirt road that makes up the first mile of this hike. Here, you'll reach a wilderness fence line marking your entrance into the Superstition Wilderness. Go through the … Continue reading Hiking Wave Cave Trail | Gold Canyon, AZ
Hiking Boulder Canyon | Tortilla Flat, AZ
The Stats: Trail name: Boulder Canyon Trail Location: Superstition Mountain Range near Tortilla Flat, AZ Distance: 8.7 miles out and back Elevation Gain: 1,817 feet Published Difficulty: Moderate Dog Friendliness: yep, they can boulder hop to their little heart's extent Boulder Canyon Trail is, without question, one of my top three favorite trails in the Phoenix … Continue reading Hiking Boulder Canyon | Tortilla Flat, AZ
Hiking Bear Mountain | Sedona, AZ
The Stats: Trail name: Bear Mountain Trail Location: Sedona, AZ Distance: 4.9 miles out and back Elevation Gain: 1,975 feet Published Difficulty: Moderate to Difficult Dog Friendliness: Bring 'em There are a lot of hiking options in Sedona, but if you ask me, Bear Mountain Trail is toward the top of the list of must-do hikes. … Continue reading Hiking Bear Mountain | Sedona, AZ
Legends of Machu Picchu
My feelings about Machu Picchu are complicated. On one hand, it's one of the New 7 Wonders of the World. And I feel very privileged to have had the opportunity to experience the magical ancient city in the middle of nowhere. However, this is also one of the most populated tourist destinations I've been to … Continue reading Legends of Machu Picchu
Exploring Huchuy Qosqo, Peru
Huchuy Qosqo, or "Little Cuzco" in Quechua, is an Incan archaeological site north of Cusco, Peru that overlooks the Sacred Valley and the town of Lamay. It is inaccessible by road, therefore access requires either a hike up from Lamay (~3 hours), or a from Cusco ( ~5 - 7 hours; the way that we took - detailed here). Huchuy Qusqo is … Continue reading Exploring Huchuy Qosqo, Peru
Backpacking the Inca Trail to Huchuy Qosqo, Peru
When I booked my trip to Peru, I had every intention of doing the 4-day, 3-night Inca trail trek to Machu Picchu. There were guides available for several of the dates that I would be there. It was just a matter of negotiating the price. Or so I thought, until the guides started telling me … Continue reading Backpacking the Inca Trail to Huchuy Qosqo, Peru
Humantay Lake Day Hike | Peru
I came across Humantay Lake by chance. Actually, I think it was by Instagram sponsored ad after researching all things Peru. Either way, this was absolutely a day well spent. How do I do this? Humantay Lake is an adventure you can blaze on your own, but I opted to go the guide route given … Continue reading Humantay Lake Day Hike | Peru
The Grand Canyon: Our First Attempt
In December of 2018, my dad and I decided that we were going to set out on a Grand Canyon backpacking adventure. We were going to do the rim-to-rim. So we applied for a permit: May 9 - 11, starting at the North Kaibab trail, ending at Bright Angel on the South Rim. 2 nights … Continue reading The Grand Canyon: Our First Attempt