Chasing moments…
This is what LIFE is all about. I have been blessed to chase some great moments this year to include many of my favorite trails as well as those with WATER as one comes to appreciate water in every sense of the word when living in the desert Southwest!
Having a basecamp in Southern Utah affords me the opportunity to jump in the van to head to the mountains for necessary relief from the heat of a desert summer.
I headed up to Grand Teton National Park last month and Lake Tahoe (Sierra Nevada trails) this past week. It’s so refreshing to take some LAKE HIKES in the summer! One of my favorites in Lake Tahoe is the Rubicon trail which runs right next to Lake Tahoe.
Whether it is a mountain, a lake or a desert hike, the trail is the place that my soul feels most at peace. I can reflect on life while pausing to truly show gratitude and appreciation to the creator of the universe for the beauty that surrounds me. Even the remote drives to some of these places provides time to think and time to get away from screens to simply be in the moment!
Each and every time I have the opportunity to get on a trail and in nature I feel like the richest person in the world as I get to spend time with God and time with my soul. I do believe in a world of so much chatter, the trail can provide a quiet peace that I believe many are seeking.
Here are some photos of the places the trails and my van have taken me the past few months. The GIFT in all of this is the TIME to simply and peacefully breathe in LIFE.
I hope you are able to get out on a trail soon to chase some moments and find your quiet peace.
Michelle
In July of 2018 I went on a family to the Grand Canyon. As with most family vacations, we had a full agenda with all of it above the rim. After visiting Desert View to watch the sunset, I became enthralled by the Canyon. I knew that one day I would come back and complete a hike in the Grand Canyon below the rim.
Fast forward a year later. I just completed my first R2R hike of the Grand Canyon last week! It was awesome. It is breathtakingly beautiful below the rim. I had no idea just how diverse the Canyon is in wildlife and ecosystems. I saw it all. Mule deer at Phantom Ranch, waterfalls, pink rattle snakes, condors, blue jays, beautiful creeks and streams teaming with plants! It’s not just desert down there!
I went North to South. Me and a buddy did it in two days with a stay at Phantom Ranch. By the way, Phantom Ranch is fun. We met new like minded people that all love to tell you how they fell in love with the outdoors and Grand Canyon. It’s super friendly and super chill. The lemonade is a must and the stake dinner was really good.
Not sure when I will get back, but I will. I hope to do the Tonto Trail in October in a year or two. I strongly suggest that if you are able, DO IT. It is strenuous, especially on the way out. It is worth it. Here are my suggestion:
1. It is not easy. I am an avid cyclist, but I am glad a spent a few months on the stair climber at the gym. Preparation will make it a lot more fun. You will thank me for this tip that last mile up Bright Angel.
2. Take trekking poles. They saved my life. They don’t have to be expensive. You will thank me for this tip that last mile up Bright Angel.
3. Don’t over pack. Stay as light as you can…without sacrificing water. However, water is plentiful on the trail.
4. Stay hydrated and take some electrolytes or salt to mix with your water. You will be sweating more than you think.
5. Take breaks and/or break it up into multiple days if necessary. This is not marathon. It just feels like it because it is almost as long as a marathon!
6. Have fun! This is a bucket list item. Odds are that in you life time you may never meet someone that you don’t know that did a rim to rim of the Grand Canyon…unless you’re at the Grand Canyon of course!