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
hiking
Kayaking the Black Canyon Water Trail
I had read about this trip on Bearfoot Theory's blog and was immediately intrigued. A kayaking trip that drops you at the base of the Hoover Dam? Is this for real? On Memorial Day weekend in 2018, a couple friends and I packed our bags for a 3 day, 2 night trip down the Black … Continue reading Kayaking the Black Canyon Water Trail
Cabin Loop Trail: Mogollon Rim
The Stats: Hike Date: July 28 - 29, 2018Distance: 19.5 miles round tripElevation Loss/Gain: 3,927 feetDifficulty: ModerateDog Friendliness: the babies will love it. If you are familiar with Arizona then you know that north of Payson you trade cacti for pine trees, your zoos and gardens for actual wild things and your monstrous monsoons for … Continue reading Cabin Loop Trail: Mogollon Rim
Hiking Havasupai – What We Learned
Memorial Day weekend 2018, a group of 6 of us packed up our bags for what would undoubtedly be a weekend we would never forget: the hike from Hualapai Hilltop into (and a couple miles past) Supai, AZ. We were right. We will also never forget the things that we learned. ONE: You will … Continue reading Hiking Havasupai – What We Learned
West Clear Creek Canyoneering
The Phoenix heat is brutal, as anyone in Arizona between June and October can attest to. Because of that, I decided to head further north, out of the concrete jungle, up to West Clear Creek. The Stats: Hike Date: June 7 - 8, 2018Distance: 4 milesElevation Gain: -750 feetDifficulty: Difficult steep climb down to the canyon … Continue reading West Clear Creek Canyoneering
Havasu Canyon – Hiking the Falls
On February 1st, 2018, my friend and I set alarms for 6:30am, determined to get a permit to hike to Havasu Falls this year. Every year, within minutes of going on sale, the permits sell out. For the year. You read that right. We were not going to miss out this time - so we … Continue reading Havasu Canyon – Hiking the Falls
Four Peaks via Browns Trail
Took a day hike from Phoenix / Scottsdale to hike the Four Peaks via Browns Trail.
Alta Trail to Bajada Trail to National Trail
The Stats: Hike Date: April 8, 2018Distance: 7.7 milesElevation Gain: 1,601 feetPublished Difficulty: Hard The Skinny: Tip #1: Start early if you're going any time after March. It took about 3 hours to hike this one, and by the end, it was hot. Tip #2: Have more than one tip when you start a numbered list. As … Continue reading Alta Trail to Bajada Trail to National Trail
Wind Cave Trail
The Stats: Hike Date: April 7, 2018Location: Mesa, AZDistance: 2.6 milesElevation Gain: 770 feetPublished Difficulty: Moderate The Skinny: Honestly? Not my favorite hike. It was incredibly packed with people, and the cave at the end was a bit disappointing. That is, if you're willing to call it a cave and not just a rock overhang. I spared … Continue reading Wind Cave Trail
Bell Trail
The Stats: Hike Date: March 17, 2018Location: Rimrock, AZDistance: 6.9 milesElevation Gain: 587 feetPublished Difficulty: Moderate The Skinny: First off, and possibly most important to note: there is no backpacking or camping on this trail effective August 1, 2017. Which I clearly did not know, so we ended up making it a "practice backpacking hike." You know, … Continue reading Bell Trail
