Climb Every Mountain... ...Till You Find Your Dream

The night before I hiked Camelback mountain I watched the Sound of Music on TV. I found a bit of irony in this. If you remember the end of the movie, you recall that the von Trapp family climbs the Swiss alps to escape pursuing Nazi solders. Motivation like that might have helped me climb Camelback -- a helping hand from a young Christopher Plummer would have helped too.




If you've never hiked Camelback, let me warn you, the Summit Trail out of Echo Canyon is know to be strenuous and difficult. The elevation gain is 1,264 feet (the summit is 2,704 feet) and the trail is 1.2 miles -- one way. This, however, didn't deter me.

I had originally planned this hike for New Years Day, but some wise friends warned me against this. The trail is quite popular on weekends and holidays, and if you don't like to have another hiker on your heals -- literally -- it's best to pick another day. I did and was off to a good start. I had a hiking stick to help me up the stair-like trail and to steady my steps in the rocky areas. There were quite a few other hikers on the trail, but no one was in a rush and there was plenty of time to stop and check out the spectacular view of the Valley.

I had gone 3/4 of a mile up the trail and was feeling really good. All was going well -- until I found this. A steep rock incline that you literally had to pull yourself up, hand-over-hand, along a guide rail.

Here's something you may not know about me. I have a fear of heights. Well, more like a fear of falling hundred of feet to my death. While I considered going up the rock wall, I was sure there was no way I would make it back down without help from the Phoenix Fire Department's Urban Search and Rescue Team. Although it's not a bad way to meet a cute fireman, I decided it was better to turn around and find a new trail.

Luckily there are a few other hiking options at Camelback and my trip was not a total loss. For less adventurous types there are the Ramada and Bobby's Rock trails, the latter of which takes you towards the camel's head. Both offer the opportunity to explore the urban mountain park -- without scaling a sheer rock wall.

Since my visit to Camelback didn't quite turn out as planned, I'm not ready to cross this one off my list. I'm willing to give the trip to the top one more try, but I'll take a different path -- the Cholla Trail. It starts at the back side (butt end) of Camelback. It's a little bit longer -- 1.5 miles each way -- and is still recommenced only for experienced hikers. As long as it doesn't require ropes, a harness, anchor chains and rappelling rings I might be able to make it.

This isn't the last time you'll see me at Camelback mountain. Stay tuned for "Camelback -- Take Two."

To Celebrate Christmas I Killed a Tree

I did have reservations about putting this trip on my list. Sure, I've purchased fresh-cut Christmas trees before, but I've never severed one from its roots. It's like having steak -- I eat beef but I've never killed a cow.




So here we go. Rob and I got a late start on our trip to the Mogollon Rim, leaving Phoenix close to 1 p.m. Rob was a good sport. He was drafted into this adventure because he had a truck and the tools (axe and saw) I needed to accomplish my mission -- killing a tree.


We pulled off the highway at Woods Canyon lake and were greeted by a parade of trucks and SUVs, all with trees tied on top. There were so many of them that I thought finding a tree would be easy. Wrong. This is the forest not a tree farm. True, there are plenty of pine trees in the Apache-Stigreaves forest, but most are Poderosa Pines, which are beautiful when they are mature and over 30 feet tall. However, under 10 feet they are like awkward adolescents, having thin, wobbly branches with tufts of long pine needles at the end. I truly believe they were the inspiration for Charles Shultz's for Charlie Brown's Christmas tree.

So we began our search but what we found instead of a Christmas tree was a family who had lost their way in the woods. They, too, were looking for a Christmas tree but found themselves lost, instead. We found them after they had wandered for an hour and a half, in the cold. Call it Karma, but if my being there was to help this family, adding this to my list was worth it. So we escorted them to the road and Rob gave them a ride back to their truck, which was another mile away.

Apparently, there are hazards in cutting down your Christmas tree. In fact, the U.S. Forest Service provides you with a long list of things you should bring along - food, water, blankets, warm clothes, matches, a flashlight, etc. However, none of these are much help to you when you are lost in the woods and they are in your car. Also, if you bring your dog, keep it on a leash. Another group we met had lost their dogs in the woods -- a black lab and a shitzu -- I hope they found them.

By our third stop, the sun was low in the sky and I had given up on finding an acceptable Christmas tree. I wasn't going to chop one down just to cross it off my list. As I stomped back to the truck in defeat, Rob called me over to a group of fir trees. There it was -- a (near) perfect Christmas tree. So I cut it down.

Like a hunter who had successfully bagged her prey, I felt triumphant as we dragged the tree back to the truck. But my glee was short-lived. Despite the bright lights and fancy ornaments that now decorate the tree in my home, I still can't help but feel a little bit guilty about cutting it down. Would I do this again? Probably not. I'll stick with my plastic, pre-lit Christmas tree next year.

Merry Christmas, everyone!

Pinnacle Peak; No Walk in the Park

Growing up, "Pinnacle Peak" was synonymous with "Steak House." It was a western-style restaurant, complete with sawdust on the floor, and a place we took our visiting East Coast relatives. For fun, if they ordered their steak well-done they were served an old leather boot. If they showed up in a tie the waitress promptly cut it off and hung it with hundreds of others from the ceiling rafters.

Hmm? Perhaps that's why the family stopped visiting.


Pinnacle Peak Patio Steakhouse is still there, and so is its namesake -- Pinnacle Peak, which I came to conquer.

Joining me on the hike were friends, Tory and Lynne. And what a beautiful day it was for a hike, sunny but not too hot -- a good thing, since the hike is no walk in the park. The trail is classified as a moderate hike, with plenty of hills and valleys along the nearly 2 mile trek, one way. When you reach the end, don't expect to find a courtesy shuttle to take you back to the start. You need to come back over the same trail.

I consider myself in fairly good shape, in fact I ran 5 miles the day before, but that was on flat ground. Hills are a whole other form of exercise and the elevation gain on the trail reaches nearly 1,300 feet. Needless to say, I was not the fastest hiker in the group, but I wasn't there to win any race. I was there to enjoy the beautiful views of the Valley.

After the hike, we headed over to Greasewood Flat for our reward -- burgers and beer. It's not on my list, but should be on yours if you're heading to Pinnacle Peak. It's the perfect post-hike stop.

Nothing beats a big ol' chili, bacon, cheese burger after a hike. And you'll earn every calorie on your hike up (and down) Pinnacle Peak. Enjoy!

Three Women Spend 3 Days in Bisbee Part 3

Never a Dull Moment in Bisbee

Bisbee may be a small town but there is plenty to do. The main reason Jenni, Janelle and I were there - other than to cross something off my list - was to participate in the Bisbee 1000. Held on the 3rd weekend of October, the event is billed as a 5K that feels like a 10K. Why? Because it includes 1,000+ steps, plus Bisbee is a mile-high town, so the altitude can be a killer. I also discovered that the run is longer than a 5K, registering 4.3 miles according to my Garmin. Imagine my surprise when I reached the 3.1 mile mark and discovered I still had more to go. It's a good thing I trained for this, and I really did, climbing the 10-story stairwell each day at work. That's 198 steps, a fraction of the Bisbee 1000, but it turned out to be better than doing nothing.

The run is well organized - even chip timed - and includes some very interesting activities like the Made in Bisbee Marketplace, featuring local artists and merchants selling unique craft items. One artist that caught my eye was XoTerra Art, where I bought a print of the Maxfield stairs, which I had climbed earlier that day. Another event is the Ice Man, where the heartiest of competitors climbs 155 stairs while carrying a 10-pound block of ice with a set of antique metal tongs - the fastest man or woman wins. I was told that more than 1,700 people participated in the Bisbee 1,000 this year, which is almost 1/3 of the population of Bisbee. Next year I expect there will be more. 2010 marks the event's 20th anniversary and I plan to be there.

Shopping is another recreational activity in Bisbee. Main Street is lined with antique shops, art galleries and a variety of other unique local merchants. We spent the better part of an afternoon wandering from store-to-store browsing and buying. One of our favorite shops was Finders Keepers Antiques & Collectibles. It's a great store filled with old and new items, as well as a fabulous selection of costume jewelry. It also has a friendly shopkeeper, who's willing to chat with any visitors that stops by. We visited this store twice.

Another unique shop is the Bisbee Bicycle Brothel, which is located on Brewery Avenue. At first it seems more like a museum than a bike shop, but don't let that fool you. Everything is for sale. But beyond that, the store has some other unique features - a full bar in the back room and a zen water feature in the adjoining room. These are not open to the public, but purely for the proprietor's benefit. Lucky him! I wish my job had such great amenities.

Another place you must stop in and see is the Bisbee Mining and Historical Museum. A Smithsonian affiliate museum, it offers a fabulous education on the town and the industry that brought it to life - mining. But unlike the Smithsonian in Washington D.C., it's a fraction of the size, so it won't take you too long to go through. Remember, there's plenty to do in Bisbee and I have a few more stops to make.

Do you believe in ghosts? You will in Bisbee if you take the Old Bisbee Ghost Tour. We met our "Ghost Host" on the steps of the Mining and Historical Museum. From there she took us up Main Street and around the town showing us a variety of spots with ghostly activity. Some were stores, others were bars and hotels. Even a park in Bisbee is said to be haunted.

This wasn't my first ghost tour. I've been on one other at the San Carlos Hotel in Downtown Phoenix. There we were encourage to take a lot of photos because spirits would sometime show up as "orbs" in the image. Take a look at the two images below. They were taken outside of the Bisbee Grand Hotel,where you'll find a female ghost haunting the upstairs rooms and a male ghost haunting the downstairs bar. The first picture is my original photo. The second second image was adjusted to add more light. Do you see any orbs floating about in the second photo? I see a lot. Are the spirits? I don't know -- could be.

Bisbee was built on mining, so if there is one stop that should be mandatory it's the Queen Mine Tour. Now it's not for the claustrophobic. You will be going deep inside the mine. First you'll don mining lanterns, hard hats and slicker - not a stylish outfit, but will keep you safe and dry. But not warm, so take a sweatshirt. It's a cool 40 degrees underground.

The mine tour is billed as one for all ages, but parents PLEASE leave your small children at home. I don't have any children of my own, but I do know small children don't like the dark. This is a mine -- its dark. One couple brought their three children into the mine on my tour, twin girls about four years old and a boy just over one year old. The girls were quiet but kept dropping their hard hats on the floor every two minutes, which echoed throughout the caverns. The boy cried the entire time we were underground. These children probably won't remember their trip to the Queen Mine, but I will remember them - for sure.

I know it's early on my journey and I still have a lot more things to cross off my list, but I'm sure Bisbee will remain among my favorite stops. If you're in Southern Arizona I recommend you stop there too.

Three Women Spend 3 Days in Bisbee Part 2

Eat'n & Drink'n

Visiting a new place gives me the opportunity to try new things. Among my favorites are new foods and drinks. If you enjoy this too, than Bisbee is the place for you. There are no chain restaurants in town. No Applebee's, McDonald's or Starbucks, just plenty of great, local drinking and dining spots.

Our first stop was Mexican food at Santiago's, and the 40-minute wait was worth it. It's a small and very colorful restaurant with a menu that ventures beyond the traditional tacos and enchiladas. The citrus marinated pork tacos, which Jenni and I ordered, were among the best I'd ever eaten. Janelle's fish tacos were delish too. In addition to the traditional accompaniments of rice and refried beans, we were given a choice of black beans and roasted corn. Two healthier alternatives I was happy to have. While a Mexican beer would have been my normal choice of beverage, I ordered a local brew: Dave's IPA. It's produced by the Electric Brewing Co. and was surprisingly good.

If you're looking for a good burger in Bisbee, go to the Bisbee Grill. It's not fast-food, judging from another 40-minute wait, but a casual restaurant with an array of traditional American menu items ranging from sandwiches to steak, as well as seafood and pasta. Burgers are among my guilty pleasures, so how could I resist one smothered in melted blue cheese and sauteed red onions -- plus it came with beer-battered fries. All I can say is YUM! Well you can't have a burger without a beer so I ordered the local lager, Dave's Electric, which was the perfect paring for my mid-day meal.

There are a number of bars in Bisbee. Some, like the Stock Exchange and St. Elmo's, looked a little rough so we didn't venture inside. To be frank, we were a bit worried that one of us might get their ass kicked by a biker's babe for checking out her old man's tattoos. But one bar we couldn't pass up was the Copper Queen Saloon. Set inside the Copper Queen Hotel, this small bar was filled with tourists and locals. There was no room on the patio, so we bellied-up to the bar and ordered three drinks, which came to a grand total of $12. No big city prices here. But like many of the bars and restaurants in Bisbee, you may have to wait to be served.

Coffee is a big part of the Bisbee culture -- big enough for two coffee rosters. There is the Bisbee Coffee Company, which has a large Starbucks-like cafe in town where you can sit, sip your latte and do some people watching. And there are plenty of interesting people to watch in Old Bisbee. Your other source for caffeine is the Old Bisbee Roasters, which does not have a fancy coffee shop. If it does, we couldn't find it. What they do have is a solitary Barista stationed in a Main Street alleyway. This may sound a bit seedy, but it's all quite legit. Both roasters have fabulous coffee. However when it came time to buy some beans, I chose the Old Bisbee Roasters. Their Batista, like a good sommelier with his wine, matched his coffee beans to my taste.

If you are looking for dining that's a bit more upscale, try Cafe Roka. It's claim to fame is that it's the only restaurant in rural Arizona to have received the coveted three-diamond designation from the AAA 2002 Guidebook, but it didn't get high marks from us. Now the food is delicious, but the service we received was less than inviting. First we were scolded by the hostess for being 15 minutes late for our reservation. This seemed unnecessary. It was 8:30 p.m. and well past the dinnertime rush, plus there were plenty of empty tables and only one other couple waiting to be seated. So we were escorted to a table at the back of the second floor, which was certainly not the most desirable seat in the house. The ambiance was not inviting and the staff wasn't as friendly as other places we had visited that weekend. As for the food, which I will say again was very good, it was not exactly as the menu had described. I ordered duck with a side of root vegetables. I did identify a few small cubes of sweet potato among the medley on my plate, which also came with corn and edemame. When where corn and edemame classified as root vegetables? On the upside, Cafe Roka does have a nice wine list and includes a few Arizona vineyards. I always like to try Arizona wines when ever they are available.

They say breakfast is the most important meal of the day, which is why I saved the best for last -- The Bisbee Breakfast Club. This restaurant is actually in Lowell, which is a mile outside of Old Bisbee, on a street where more buildings are shuttered than open. But once you're inside you'll find a bright and cheery restaurant with a 50's-style lunch counter. Our waiter was interesting too, resembling a well-tanned Sean Connery with a long ponytail and tattoos around his bulging biceps. He suggested we each try something different, which we did -- a Crab Omelet, Scrambled Eggs with Andouille Sausage and the traditional Biscuits, Eggs and Gravy. And the Biscuits at the Bisbee Breakfast Club are to die for. Big, flaky and fabulous. The Bisbee Breakfast Club is a great way to start your day.

"Where's a good restaurant," is the first question I ask when I go to a new town. So when the locals told me that any Bisbee restaurant would be a good choice, I didn't believe them. But now I do. Bisbee is a great place with a lot of flavor.
Next Post: Never a Dull Moment

Three Women Spend 3 Days in Bisbee Part 1

"What's at the top of your list?" It's a question people keep asking me. I can't really say, because the list is not ranked in any particular order. But if it were, Bisbee would be near the top as one of my favorite trips.

Bisbee is an interesting mix. A combination of the old west and new age, where you'll find artists, hippies, bikers and cowboys all side-by-side. The common denominator is their desire to escape the "City." But can you really blame them? On more than one occasion, when asked where I was from, was told, "I used to live in Phoenix," in a tone implying that they were much happier living in Bisbee.

Joining me on the trip to Bisbee were my cousin Jenni and her daughter Janelle, who were the perfect traveling companions.

There is Room at the Inn

There are no chain hotels in Old Bisbee, so if you're traveling there on a busy weekend -- and, yes, Bisbee does have busy weekends -- you'd better plan ahead. And you better have good Internet search skills too. What you'll find tucked among the shops, saloons and local residences are a number B&B's and small inns, with a limited supply of rooms.

We, or rather Janelle, found a charming suite at The Carolina, a small property consisting of three refurbished miner's apartments perched on "B" hill above Brewery Avenue. The red-brick building dates back to 1905, but inside it has all the conveniences of modern day living.

At the front of the building was a long porch, where we could sit and look out over the town, as well as count the Harley's outside of St. Elmo's bar. But in the back was the best feature of all. A hidden garden. Apparently few residences in Bisbee have backyards, or much of a yard at all, so this was a real treat. The perfect place to enjoy a glass of wine in the early evening or perhaps a 12-pack and some pot late at night. Not us -- someone else, as we guessed by all the empty beer cans and the strange little "pipe" they left behind.

But what can I say, it's Bisbee. And other than some noise, no harm was done. In fact, it only added to my fascination with Bisbee.

Next Post: Eat'n & Drink'n

Pueblo Grande Museum Part 2

Is It Better In The Modern Age?

After attending the Native American craft class at the Pueblo Grande Museum I decided to stroll through its outdoor exhibits to learn a bit more about the Hohokam culture. As I walked the grounds alone I was the struck by three things:

1. THE HEAT: How did the Hohokam's survive the summer without air conditioning? I was instructed, by one of the museum's volunteers, to take an umbrella on my walk. Not because it was raining, but because there was no shade outside. However the umbrella did little to offset the 100+ degree temperature that day. I am well aware that all the concrete and asphalt we have added to the city has increased the temperatures, but I'm sure the summers were still hot 1,000 years ago. I doubt the Hohokams escaped the heat by heading to San Diego each August the way Phoenicians do today. Instead, I learned that they stayed deep within their adobe structure where it was cool, only coming outside after the sun went down. Sound familiar? It should. Today we go from our air-conditioned home, in our air-conditioned car, to our air-conditioned workplace and never venturing outside until night time - maybe.



2. THE CONSTRUCTION: If you live in the Valley there's a good chance your house is made of stucco. Mine is. An efficient building material, stucco is touted as a durable, attractive and weather-resistant wall covering. But those of you who have owned your stucco home for a number of years know it's not completely indestructible. Our searing summer heat can crack its finish and a variety of Arizona-pecking birds can leave it riddled with holes. How many years can we expect our stucco homes to stand? Will they last 1,000 years like those of the Hohokam's? True, only parts of their original structure still stand at the Pueblo Grande Museum. But I'll bet it's still more than you'll find of my house after 1,000 years in the Arizona desert.



3. THE SOUNDS: As I stood on top of the Platform Mound, I tried to imagine what it was like
   
   to live there thousands of years ago. I closed my eyes and quickly noticed the sounds of the city. Today this former Hohokam village sits in the middle of a metropolis. Tall buildings surround it, a freeway passes by and planes from Sky Harbor International Airport fly over head. These are things that the Hohokams never could have imagined, and perhaps were better off without. They heard the breeze blowing through the Palo Verde trees, rabbits and quail rustling in the brush and thunder from a storm on the horizon. None of which I could hear, for sound of the cars and planes, and even the bell on the Light Rail train, were much louder.

So comparing our lifestyle today to that of the Hohokam's, very few things are the same and a lot of things are different. But are we really better off?

Pueblo Grande Museum Part 1

Hohokam for the Holidays

Is it too early to start preparing for Christmas? It's not, if you are the State of Arizona.

For the first time, our state will provide the United States Congress with the Christmas tree placed in front of the Capital building in Washington, D.C. A 75-foot, nearly 125-year-old spruce has been selected from the forest in Northern Arizona. It will take about 10,000 lights and more than 5,000 ornaments to decorate the tree. Most of the ornaments will be made by Arizona school children, but a few opportunities to create decorations for the tree are available to the public. That's why I'm at the Pueblo Grande Museum early on a Saturday morning, to make Native American Gourd Ornaments for the Capital Christmas tree.

Twenty other crafters filled the community room at the Pueblo Grande Museum, including my friend, Jeanne Olcott. We were each given a gourd, a variety of paint markets and went to work. Most of the group transformed their gourds into birds. Mine, I thought, looked more like a whale. But whales aren't native to Arizona , so I painted a lizard instead.

But the lizard only covered one side of my gourd, so on the back I painted a prickly pear cactus.

Nearly three hours later, all the gourds were finished and drying outside. There were birds of all varieties and colors, a snake or two and even a hot air balloon with the the Arizona state flag.

As the Capital Christmas Tree travels across the U.S., each ornament will promote the state of Arizona -- its diverse culture and rich history. You can follow its progress at the interactive website: http://www.capitolchristmastree2009.org/.

Be sure to keep an eye out for a yellow and orange lizard hanging in the tree. When you see it, I hope you will think of me.

The List

I've always used lists. Whether it's a grocery list, mailing list or some other kind of to-do list, these checklists keep me on track. This one shouldn't be any different. Here is my list of 50 things to see and do in Arizona before I turn 50.

PHOENIX AREA
1. Hike Camelback Mountain DONE!
2. Visit the Pueblo Grande Museum in Phoenix DONE!
3. See the holiday lights at Mesa’s Mormon Temple DONE!
4. Take a tour of the Orpheum Theater in Downtown Phoenix DONE!
5. Eat an ice cream treat at the Sugar Bowl in Scottsdale DONE!
6. Visit the Phoenix Art Museum DONE!
7. Visit the Heard Museum in Phoenix DONE!
8. Visit Taliesin West in Scottsdale DONE!
9. Visit the Queen Creek Olive Mill DONE!
10. Hike Pinnacle Peak in North Scottsdale DONE!
11. Visit the Arizona Historical Society Museum in Tempe DONE!

SOUTHERN ARIZONA
12. Visit the Southern Arizona wineries DONE!
13. Visit Bisbee DONE!
14. Hike Sabino Canyon DONE!
15. Visit the Casa Grande Ruins DONE!
16. Visit Tombstone DONE!
17. Stargaze at the Kitt Peak Observatory DONE!
18. Dine at the Long Horn Bar & Grill in Amado DONE!
19. Feed the ostrich at Rooster Cogburn’s Ostrich Ranch DONE!
20. Attend Mass at San Xavier de Bac DONE!
21. See the Hummingbirds at the Ramsey Canyon Preserve DONE!

CENTRAL ARIZONA
22. Visit Crown King DONE!
23. Take a ride on the Verde Canyon Railroad DONE!
24. Attend the Prescott 4th of July Rodeo
25. Sleep at a haunted hotel in Jerome DONE!
26. Slide down Slide Rock in Oak Creek Canyon
27. Visit the Verde Valley wineries DONE!
28. Hike the Red Rocks of Sedona DONE!

NORTHERN ARIZONA
29. See the sunset at the North Rim of the Grand Canyon
30. Take a ride on the Grand Canyon Railway in Williams
31. Take a summertime chairlift ride at Arizona Snowbowl DONE!
32. Hike the Grand Canyon
33. Hike to Havasupi Falls
34. Walk on the Grand Canyon Skywalk
35. Cut down my own Christmas tree in Northern Arizona DONE!
36. Hike in Walnut Canyon
37. Visit the Four Corners Monument
38. Stay at La Posada in Winslow
39. Take a jeep tour ride in Canyon de Chelly
40. Hike Antelope Canyon near Page

WESTERN ARIZONA
41. Visit the Vulture Mine in Wickenberg
42. Walk across the London Bridge in Lake Havasu
43. Take a tour of Hoover Dam
44. Explore the Grand Canyon Caverns
45. Dine at the Road Kill Café in Seligman

EASTERN ARIZONA
46. Visit Hannagan Meadow
47. Go fishing at Hawley Lake
48. Take a raft trip down the Salt River
49. Visit Tortilla Flat
50. Travel the Arizona Salsa Trial in Graham County DONE!

While I've organized my list by region, the items are in no particular order. They are simply places I've never been and things I would like to do. But don't be surprised if I take a few detours along the way.

Let the adventure begin.

What I Learned From The Wizard of Oz

Dorothy wasn't some dumb, little, farm girl. True, she wasn't a quick learner either, but she did finally get the message in the end--there's no place like home.

Many of us travel far-and-wide, searching for a new adventure. However, some of the most interesting places may lie right in our own backyard.

That's what I'm hoping for and what has sparked this journey.

You see, while I've lived in Arizona for nearly 40 years, I realize that there is still so much to see and do in this great state. So I'm putting together a list of 50 things to see and do in Arizona before I turn 50, which is in August 2012.

With helpful suggestions from family and friends the list has more than 60 entries. Trimming it down is a tough task, but I hope to have it finished soon.

Unlike Dorothy, I can promise that my adventures will be flying monkey-free. You are welcome to tag along or you can follow me on my blog.

Next Post: The List