Loving Red Rock Crossing

It's official!!! I have found my NEW FAVORITE place in all of Northern Arizona. It is beautiful, magical, wonderful, glorious....how many adjectives can I write in here to help you see how amazing this place is?

Red Rock Crossing is simply special.

When you drive in you will be charged $10 which is totally worth the experience you are about to have. You'll drive through a few parking lots and can hopefully find a spot in the furthest parking lot in the back. From here you can access what will likely be my favorite picnic spot for the rest of my life. The open grass area is surrounded by historic artifacts and the beautiful Oak Creek.

As you head in the opposite direction the Creek flows in you will come upon a beautiful view of Cathedral Rock. You can cross the Creek to take a 2-ish mile hike around Cathedral rock to see it up close. You can also follow the Creek toward Buddha Beach and other picnic areas as you follow a easy path for about 1.5-2 miles.

Red Rock Crossing is a wonderful venue for you to hang out with yourself, family, friends and pets. It is easily accessible for all body types and you can get your feet in the water or layout on the beach areas to enjoy some Sedona sun.

Getting there:
Drive west from Sedona on US 89A. Just outside town, turn south on FR 216 (Upper Red Rock Loop Road). Drive about 1.5 miles  and veer left and follow the signs to Red Rock Crossing. 

It costs $10 to get in.

Top 5 Benefits of Getting Outdoors

1. Fresh air has more oxygen and just feels great! 
Capturing the unique fragrances of trees, dew and rocks feels amazing.

2. Hiking keeps you mindful!
Much research is being done on the power of mindfulness. Hiking helps you be more present in the moment. With just trees, mountains and squirrels around you it is easy to just be. And it feels wonderful.

3. Being outdoors is healthy!
Physically, mentally, emotionally- getting out there is going to make you a healthier person. Hiking gives me uninterrupted time to think, to feel and to breathe. It keeps you active, centered and increases serotonin levels.

4. Hikers appreciate the small things!
Whether it be the chirping of birds, fresh mountain dew or a beautiful sunset, hikers get IT. Hikers see nature as truly beautiful and appreciate its complexities and simplicity. We are able to be more mindful of our impact on the earth and contribute to a more sustainable way of life so as not to damage the beauty we get to see while out hiking.

5. Being outdoors helps you make decisions!
Without the congestion of media, disruptions and constant noise you are able to have a more clear mind when reflecting on important decisions, life and/or your overall self. I have made many life altering decisions in the middle of nowhere all of which I stand by and have lead to great things.

Getting Wicked at Wicked AZ!

In the words of one of my favorite musicals, "I'm starting to feel a little....Wicked."

We all are a loyal to our coffee shops, but let's get out of the chains and head into some local yumminess.

When I need a coffee fix with a fun menu, great customer service and easily accessible I head to Wicked AZ. This is THE spot. They have multiple locations around town and a drive thru for easy access to grab and go on your way. The workers are always so friendly and willing to help you in making a decision on your order because everything is so delicious! I usually go for the Almond Joy or the Mexican coffee iced without whipped cream.

I highly recommend adding them on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/wickedazcoffee) as they post discounts and deals all the time! Go get your next coffee at Wicked AZ! You will thank me :)

Snow Is Here

Winter in Flagstaff is here! And by "winter", I do mean SNOW! It is an exciting time to get out there and enjoy the beauty of Northern Arizona during this time of year.

Chunk loves the snow! He rolls and slides on his back for hours in it.

While many of the trails are closed right now, it doesn't mean you need to be stuck inside. You can head toward many trail areas, park and hike around. My favorite places include trails near Sandy Seep and Little Elden Spring. These trails are relatively flat which makes it less unknown and scary than one with a lot of incline/decline.

I also recommend Buffalo Park (a local favorite) or Schultz Pass Trail.

Chunk & Gizmo out and about in the Flagstaff snow.

If you do head out be sure you have checked the weather to ensure another snow storm isn't on its way. Additionally, people often think the cold weather suddenly indicates they can skip on water.

Uh, no.

You still need water! Always and forever :)

Finally, wear lots of layers as you will heat up throughout your stroll, but it important to still have warm clothes accessible. You can also go rent snowshoes to make your hiking more fun!

Happy snow hiking!

Top 5 2016 Hikes To Conquer

It is January 3rd and while everyone is making and maybe breaking those resolutions I am taking this tradition in a different direction. I am creating a list of hikes I want to get through this year. There are SO many options out here in Northern Arizona and I've created a brief list of the bigger hikes I hope to conquer in 2016.

Each of these holds a place in my heart as some will challenge me, others will humble me and all of them will introduce me to more of what we have in beautiful Northern Arizona (#2 is close, but is in Utah!).

1. Humphrey's Peak

2. The Narrows

3, Secret Canyon

4. West Clear Creek

4. Pacheta Falls, White Mountains

5. Horton Creek

Top 5 Hiking Mistakes

We have all done it. We've all headed out on a hike and messed up. It takes practice, research and commitment to be a strong hiker who knows what they are doing when in the middle of nowhere.

Here are a few of the most common mistakes people make when they decide to start hiking. Read these. Learn these. Be a better hiker!

#1 Wearing The Wrong Clothing

• Ok yeah let's go hiking with flip-flops on. Seriously? These people drive hikers crazy! Take a second to consider for a moment that you are going into the forest where pavement does not exist. Think about what you are wearing so you can be prepared for the weather and the conditions of the trail. 
• Typically I wear workout gear because I do day-hikes. I wear tennis shoes/hiking shoes depending on the trail, workout pants, sports bra and tank top. Depending on the weather I'll carry a jacket too. If I am hiking in the winter I am layering like crazy but still have big, thick shoes on to manage the terrain.

#2 Not Prepared/Pack Too Little

• If you are hiking for longer than a mile, you're going to need some stuff with you. It is hilarious but also terrifying when I see someone going on a super long hike with nothing but a single bottle of water. Not a Nalgene, I'm talking about an Arrowhead bottle.
• Always, always, always bring water. Not sometimes, not only if it is hot out....always. Say it with me....ALWAYS! And plenty of it!
• You're also going to need to bring pepper/bear spray, maybe a snack, you're phone, sunscreen, clothing if the weather changes, etc.
• I carry a waist pack if the hike is under 4 miles and my Camelbak if it is longer or if I am going to be out for awhile because it carries more stuff.

#3 Didn't Do Hike Research

• Ever go out and that 2 mile hike turned into 6 miles? I have been there. I'll admit to getting caught up in the beauty of the forest and missing a left turn. Oops. This is dangerous though.
• Use the power of Google to make sure you know how long your hike is, the difficulty and read people's reviews of it.
• I went out on a hike that was only 1 mile. Super simple! Until I got there and saw it was a mile straight down big boulders of rock which I wasn't prepared to have to climb down or back up. 

#4 Didn't Check The Weather

• I mean really???? Okay, I admit I've done this one too. Two miles into a hike on the side of Mount Elden it pours on us. I am not talking a sprinkle or some rain....I am talking full on waterfall coming down on us. The trail was a huge mud pit and we had to make some tough decisions on how to get out. 

#5 Not Following Leave No Trace

• If I see someone break this sacred rule I will lose it. You're going to go out into nature and respect it. That's the rule and that's the expectation.
• All the people who go out to Fossil Creek and leave beer cans and their trash everywhere deserve to be banned from enjoying every piece of nature. I could go off on this for days, but I'm just going to keep it to this: stay on the trail, pick up your shit and respect everything you encounter in the forests of our world.

Hiking Gear 101

Ok ya'll it is time to get back to basics!

Today I spoke with a co-worker about a valid concern: what is with people going on these long hikes with NOTHING but a small water bottle!?!?!?? It is kinda funny, kinda sad and very concerning.

Let's get it together and own the the fact that anything can happen and it is up to us to be responsible for our safety.

So here are the basic essentials I urge you to bring with you while going on a hike. This is going to focus on day hikes, as an overnight trip will be coming in a future blog!

1. Backpack/Waist Gear- If I know I'm going to be out for a few hours I load up my Camelbak with plenty of water so I don't have to worry about running out in a water bottle. The Camelbak allows you to have your hands free and pack everything you need. If my hike is less long I use my waist gear to carry a large water bottle and hold all my stuff.
2. Sun Protection- Whether you tend to tan or not you need to protect your skin from the sun rays. I like to tan so I spray on a low sunscreen to ensure I don't burn, but can still bronze up a bit. You also should consider lip protection (we all know how much we use Chapstick in Northern Arizona). 
3. Light snack- depending on the length of your hike, you're going to need to fill that belly. I tend to stick with almonds, a granola bar or fruit.
4. Medical Kit- You seriously never know when you need to patch something up before going to find help. I have had a few close calls while hiking where I thankfully was okay enough to keep going and get to my car. If you are bleeding and in bear country you are going to be thankful you have the supplies needed to clean yourself up.
5. Water!- I mean....duh.
6. Bear Spray/Pepper Spray- I hate that I have to bring this stuff. I want to enjoy nature without fear of running into some crappy people. But the world we live in tells me I need to protect myself. I keep the pepper spray in an easily accessed spot outside of my backpack. I keep the bear spray in a mesh pocket on my backpack.
7. Shoes- the right shoes. If I see one more person hiking in flip-flops I'm going to scream. I'm talking hiking boots, tennis shoes or sandals like Chacos or Tevas.

Be safe. Be smart. And most of all enjoy!!!

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