Each time we pass through Arizona, we always stop for a visit to Mitch’s mom.  We were here for two weeks and enjoyed the various attractions in the area. A visit to Old Scottsdale was one of the many stops.  The town was packed with people as it was several days before Easter.  The city has various shops, restaurants, and wine-tasting rooms.  Statues of cowboys and old west feel can be seen as one walks around.  When visiting, a trip to the Sugar Bowl is a must.  Be prepared to wait; it is one of the most popular spots in town, especially on a hot Phoenix Day.  The ice cream is delicious, but they serve food as well.

Of course, we can’t miss any hiking opportunities that may arise, and this time, Mitch chose a hike on Camelback Mountain.  You know it’s problematic when the Rangers ask if you’ve ever hiked this before, if you have enough water, and if you realize this is the most challenging hike in the area.  I have so many expletives for this hike, but I will leave what they were up to your imagination.  Camelback Mountain Echo Canyon Tail has an elevation gain of 1,264 ft, and the trail length is 1.4 miles and is rated extremely difficult.  In many spots, you feel like you are a rock climber.  It’s tough when you are only 5 feet, and your leg stride isn’t wide enough to get to the next boulder.  We started this hike at 1 pm. (Probably not the best time to start). 

Honestly, this was the most challenging hike I had ever done, and I had every intention of making it to the top.  But this time, the mountain won, and I was done right before the last quarter of the hike, which was the steepest.  On the next visit to Mitch’s mom, I challenge myself to persevere and enjoy my victory to the top.  The mountain will not win again.

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The Hole in the Rock is a short hike that should not be ignored. Intriguing rock formations are across from the Phoenix Zoo, and one stands out among the others. One can see a hole where visitors wait to take pictures there. It’s not a strenuous hike, but once you reach the hole, it lends a view you wouldn’t want to miss. This would be a great hike to watch the sunset.

If you are a Frank Lloyd Wright fan, the Taliesen West complex would be an interesting visit. This was his winter home and desert laboratory, where apprentices learned Mr. Wright’s style. Mr. Wright’s philosophy was to incorporate architecture with the surrounding elements. One can take an audio tour stopping at each station to learn more about his reasoning for building the structure and the daily happenings of his winter stays. We have visited three of his structures, and the Fallingwater in Pennsylvania is the most impressive in my book.

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Our home base stay in Tucson was in a KOA (Campgrounds of America). It was not the usual environment we enjoyed, but this park was huge and offered several amenities. Each site had a garden table with four chairs, not the typical wooden picnic bench. Some sites had fruit trees of oranges, lemons, and grapefruit. Our neighbor was kind enough to share some of the grapefruit. It had an onsite restaurant, a library, and two pools.

We hiked in the Saguaro National Park, where—you guessed it—there were tons of saguaros. Each was different in its own way. Some were tall; others were short to the ground. Some had arms, and others just stood straight up. I was hoping the desert would be in bloom, as there had been a lot of rainfall, which was perfect for blooming desert plants. Alas, the blooms decided to wait. Desert hiking is not my favorite, and this trip left a painful memory. While hiking, I somehow was attacked by a cactus of tiny needles. I didn’t brush against one but was told a plant will adhere its’ needles just by passing near it. Mitch had the task of picking the tiny needles from my pants. Not an easy task.

Upon our return, we positioned ourselves on the truck tailgate to watch the sunset. It was a great way to end our day.

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