I consider my opinion of Machu Picchu to be complicated. It's one of the New 7 Wonders of the World, so I have this sense that I should feel privileged to have gone, and I do. However it's also one of the most populated tourist destinations I've been to in recent years. It felt less … Continue reading Experiencing Machu Picchu
hiking
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 Huchuy Qosqo, Peru
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 Inca Trail to Huchuy Qosqo, Peru
Humantay Lake, 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. You are able to hike this one alone should you so choose, but I opted to go the guide route given I was traveling alone. … Continue reading Humantay Lake, 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
Kayaking the Black Canyon Water Trail
I 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 Canyon … 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
