HikeArizona.COM

I know lots of people have more important things to be preoccupied with, but I found this video and posted it on youtube. It very poorly captures one of my highlights of the year. I know some have delicate ears, so expect to hear me curse.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HUKf_wVgFNI

I have a bunch of highlights for the year.
I've seen more of this wonderful state in the last year, than the previous 11 years I lived here.

This one was almost in my back yard.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l8RrAJ1nyMU

This one with a couple of goofs.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NvGQK8n2kDo

First Trip to the Canyon... and w/ a Backpack for the first time
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mXV04t7hVhQ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hf3UeLcCHro

These were just a snipet of the highlights for me this year....

I can hardly wait to see what's new for 2011!

Good year for me, for a pleasant change. Although I kinda sorta keep track of miles, my goals never include mileage or elevation gains, only covering new ground, and trying to continue to improve my fitness. Seeing new country is always A#1 for me. In the meantime, I do rack up a few miles. Finally made a backpacking foray deep into the Blue Range for several days in June. Did several more backpacking trips: Bear Wallow, Baldy, Black River, Aravaipa and Grand Canyon's Boucher-Hermit loop. Went to Utah--Grand Staircase, etc. Went to Telluride to do first aid for Mountain States Cup big mtn bike races. Went to California for Labor Day and managed to not body surf, although I made an attempt (water was freezing!) Bought a car that uses little gas, which freed me up a lot. Good grades in school. Moved to Flagstaff in November, which freed me up even more. And more day hikes in one year than I had done in the previous two years combined, I think. A little mountain biking now and then, but very little road biking. Cross country skiing up through April, as I recall. I took downhill (alpine) skiing lessons at Sunrise, which thoroughly cured me of that sport! I probably won't try it again. I don't like going that fast and risking knee injuries, etc. Scared the heck out of me, to be honest.

Next year's calendar already is filling up. White water kayaking classes at NAU pool in Feb. culminating in a practice run on the Verde. Indoor rock climbing class. (I aim to get some upper body strength! Rock climbing is not a new sport to me, only I have not done it in over a decade.) Yet another Salt River rafting trip in March or April. River rafting guide school in Colorado in May (hopefully). Backpacking to Rainbow Bridge, Bill Williams River, and who knows where else? Road biking in Yuma with a club I belong to, for a few days in January. Maybe a road trip this coming summer, or maybe an outdoors job somewhere, who knows?

I dislike repeats, so very likely, even though I am in Flag, I will climb Humphreys only a few times, for the exercise. It is good training for the Canyon. I will probably keep Elden as my neighborhood hike to do over and over, though, hauling my overnight pack up there before Canyon trips, etc. Dayhikes in the Canyon, I will always be looking to cover ground I have not covered before, so will try to hit parts of Tonto, Waldron, Dripping Springs. More dayhikes in Sedona and the Verde Valley watershed. Backpacking in the Canyon in the fall, likely will put in for Tanner-Beamer, or Tanner-Escalante-Hance. North Rim is calling me, too. Nankoweap, N. Bass, Kanab Creek, Deer Creek, Powell Plateau, etc. Or even the busy N. Kaibab, ha ha. Hope I can get over there sometime in spring or fall.