Sedona Jeep Tour

Saturday, we took the Broken Arrow tour with Pink Jeep Tours in Sedona. We had a great time even though the temperature hovered around 100 degrees. Luckily, afternoon clouds and a few sprinkles cooled things down a bit while we were actual on the trail.

The Broken Arrow tour is the original and most popular tour. When I booked it, I wish I realized that would mean that we would be sharing our tour with another foursome--eight people was a tight fit and required one adult to sit up front with the driver. The other drawback to the Broken Arrow tour is the traffic. At least, four other jeeps pulled out with us, and we went along the trail, one after the other like a pink amusement park ride.

BUT, if you want a tour that's going to take you where you thought a vehicle couldn't go, this is it. Even though the trail is open to the public, you need a high-clearance, short wheelbase 4x4 to maneuver through the rocky terrain. The girls really enjoyed driving up then straight down boulders. I liked stopping at two points to take photographs of the incredible scenery.

Lake Havasu Lighthouses

A few years ago, when I was researching Great Escapes Arizona (Countryman Press), I learned about the lighthouses on Lake Havasu. Since then, I've wanted to see them. It's not that I'm into lighthouses or know much about them. I'm just fascinated by the idea that these mini-lighthouses are replicas of famous ones throughout the world.

The first lighthouse was actually built by the Lake Havasu Marina, and although it is not a replica, it served as the inspiration for building the replicas. To date, there are 18 lighthouses, including the Marina Lighthouse, with plans for nine more in the works (at least, according to the Lake Havasu Lighthouse Club website, http://www.lh-lighthouseclub.org/).

I only saw a few of the lighthouses on my last trip. The Marina Lighthouse was the easiest to spot, and I got the best pictures of it (see above) because I could photograph it from the marina parking lot and at low speeds near the boat ramp. The rest, we jetted past at warp speed. I did manage to get one shot of the Vermilion Lighthouse. The man and his pick-up truck puts the lighthouse in perspective. They're not life size replicas, but the Havasu lighthouses serve their stylish purpose of making the lake safer for local boaters.

Havasu ATV Trails

I have to admit: I didn't quite get the whole ATV / quad thing until I went to Lake Havasu. We bought a Polaris about a month ago, and it was kind of fun riding our neighborhood's dirt roads. I put the emphasis on "kind of," though. Havasu was different.

Behind my sister's Havasu neighborhood is a wide open area crisscrossed with riding trails. Some are steep, some rocky and some sandy. One--or maybe more than one--goes down to the lake. My favorite, though, are the bumpy trails, the ones that make you feel like you're on a rocking horse, gently going back and forth. Unfortunately, because it's so hot now, you have to go early in the morning, and by 8a.m., you're still gritty and sweaty.

After that first ride, I noticed that all of Havasu seems to have access to some trail system or another. I don't know where the best trails are. I don't know what the regulations are. I am, after all, new to the whole quading thing. Still, if you're looking for a great area to ride, check out the Havasu area. Just maybe....wait until the fall when it cools off.

Lake Havasu

I've been swamped with deadlines since I've been back in town, so I'm a little late posting. Here's a few pictures.

Heading to Lake Havasu

I'll be leaving for Lake Havasu tonight to spend the 4th with my sister's family. I doubt I'll have Internet access, so this will probably be my last post until Monday. We'll be boating, riding quads and hopefully doing a little sightseeing. I need some new pictures of the Bridge, and I'd like to see the lighthouse replicas along the shoreline.

Camelback Mountain

My friend Heidi suggested that we should climb Camelback Mountain. She exercises four times a week and regularly hikes South Mountain. Let's just say I don't. Still, it seemed like a "good" idea, and my 12-year-old, Kelly, wanted to go. After studying our water-damaged hiking book (that's another story), Kelly decided we should attempt the "easier" Cholla Trail. Heidi thought that was fine, and we agreed to meet at 6:30 am last Saturday.

I knew it was going to be hard, but I wasn't prepared for all of the setbacks. First, Kelly and I got lost. I was almost to the McDonald exit going north on the 101 when I decided I must have confused McDonald with McDowell, and I knew McDowell wouldn't get me to Camelback, at least not directly. (And, yes, I've heard of maps and MapQuest, but I was in a hurry!) So, I turned back and went south on the 101, planning to head west again on the 202. According to the hiking book, I should have exited on 44th Street anyway. Of course--thanks to ADOT--the interchange from the 101 to the 202 was closed, and I was forced to get off the 101 in Tempe.

After realizing my original mistake, though, I got back on the 101, got off at McDonald and turned south on Invergordon, like I should have in the first place. By now, it was 6:45, prime hiking time during a Phoenix summer. You can't park near the trail head because the neighborhood's multi-million dollar mansion owners don't want us everyday folk driving up and down their streets. You have to park on Invergordon and walk to Cholla. Then, you walk a quarter of a mile, according to Kelly and the hiking book, to the actual trail head. If you arrive late, like we did, and have to park farther down Invergordon to begin with, you could walk more than a half mile before you even get to the trail.

I was tired enough before beginning the trail, but I almost died when I realized that this trail wasn't the gradual switchback up Camelback that I had expected. Cholla Trail is a winding series of rock "steps." Think intense intervals on the Stairmaster. I don't know how far we got. I was about to put 911 on speed dial, just in case, when Kelly gave up.

Kelly had bounded energetically ahead at first. After marker 14, though, she suddenly fell back with me and began complaining about the heat. I didn't think much of it because it was hot. It was June and humid after all. When she said she didn't feel good, though, we immediately stopped. I think she got dehydrated. (Even though we all had water packs, she admitted she had only had a few small sips.) While she and I made our way slowly back down, Heidi went on to the top.

Hiking Camelback Mountain is something every Phoenician should do at least once, or so I'm told. (Actually, I think Heidi was the one that told me that. Hmm...) I think it's going to be a while before I try again. At least, not until January.