Interest Lost? Never, Ever.

A friend asked me recently if I had lost interest in hiking, noting that on facebook I was so excited about my kayak and what I could do with it and the fact that I didn't talk much about long hikes anymore. My answer had more to do with pain, working around limitations and lifestyle than loss of interest.

One of my greatest loves are horses. In October 2012 I had an accident that changed me forever. I lost control of a young horse and ended up flat on my back in a high mountain meadow. While I am so lucky to be alive and not only able to ride again, but to have conquered my fear of being in the saddle, I was left with permanent nerve damage in my right hip. In the months and year since that free fall I have had few days without some level of pain. Walking on level ground is no problem, I could go for miles, but hiking varied terrain is another story. Two hours in the saddle leaves me in pain the next day....but paddling? There's joy there. Paddling is easy on my hips and the rotating motion eases the pain in my shoulder. It loosens up my back and like hiking, being on the water feeds my soul. It's a different exploration in the arms of Mother Nature and keeps me outdoors where I most like to be.

I still hike...I do more of the baby stuff now, the trails marked easy and am grateful to do so. Once in a while I tackle a more intermediate trail knowing that there is going to have to be a date with some pain medication and ice packs on the other side. Trekking poles are my best friend regardless of how gentle the terrain now. I love reading about new trails and noting which trails sound like they will be interesting at this current level...and I know one day soon I will be back to not worrying about how much it's going to hurt at the end of the trail.

So there you have it...I will always be the Arizona Hiker Girl, sharing tips and tricks, vids and trails, just wielding a paddle and reins along with my trekking poles.

Exploring one of the many islands at Lake Pleasant. Copyright Marcia Mauskopf 2014

Product Review ~ MSR Alpine Spatula

Wanna see a grown woman cry? Watch her boil water half asleep for her morning coffee and lift the pot to find her MSR Alpine spatula melted to the side of it.

Yep! Someone washed dishes (not me) the night before and thought the grill of the cook stove a grand thing to double as a drying rack. Truthfully, only one edge was wasted, but it was a good excuse to replace it with a fresh one :)

I really like camping products that are lightweight and stowable, foldable, as in take the least room possible. At 21 grams this little tool is as strong as it is lightweight, has a strong joint as well as being just big enough to flip a midsize pancake or quesodilla. The serrated edge is a nice bonus and the handle is generous enough to keep your hand a bit away from the heat.

At $5.95 I can't say enough about this little tool...except that someday all my kitchen will be this ultralight and happy.

MSR Alpine Spatula                                                                                    copyright Marcia Mauskopf 2014                    

Late Night Surfing ~ Rahelio and Sedona

Remember my friend Rahelio? I blogged about him a while back. His tours are way, way different than other tours like say....Pink Jeep. I love hiking with him, listening to him tell stories of ancient times, spirit and even UFO's.  He has taught me more than you can know about nature, geology, serenity and peace and oh, yeah, did I mention UFO's?

We go out on my birthday every year. My favorite memory? A hike to a little hidden room along a stream bed. We squeezed between two boulders to the inside of an opened box. red rock floor and walls, ledges for seats and a small tree for shade, bright blue sky above and an orchestra of tiny birds for our music. On the way back to the trail head he bent over, picked up a small stone and with a flourish said happy birthday as he handed it to me. I opened my hand to find a small red heart. How in the world did he spot it in the midst of thousands of small stones we were walking along? All he would tell me is that he noticed it on the way up the trail and made a note of where it was to gift to me on the way back.

This is such a fun interview with him and has a beautiful, peaceful view of Cathedral Rock. If you are looking to expand your consciousness while exploring Sedona's vistas, He is number one in my book. you can book your hiking experience with him through Mystic Tours with Rahelio. Enjoy and Namaste.

Those campfire recipes ~ Easy Fruit Crisp

What's for dessert? It doesn't matter if I'm at home or in camp I hear this phrase...sometimes it's someone else, sometimes its in my own head. Every one's ears perk up when they hear this one...apple crisp, anyone? You can make this with any kind of pie filling and adding dried fruit makes it even better.

This was made in a 10" dutch oven, but if someone out there has found a different way to make it, please let me know.

You'll need:
1 dutch oven liner
aluminum foil
1 can pie filling (I like apple and peach)
4 packets maple/brown sugar instant oatmeal
1 stick butter
non-stick spray
charcoal
dutch oven.

Light 20 coals. Lightly grease liner with non-stick spray then spread pie filling evenly. Top with instant oatmeal then dab butter over the topping (the more butter the better in my book).

Crumble 4 balls of aluminum foil and place on bottom of dutch oven. This will hold your liner above the surface of the dutch oven ensuring more even cooking. Put liner in oven and make sure lid is on tight. Place oven on 8 evenly spread coals and put another 12 coals on the lid. Bake 35 minutes or until golden brown.

Easy Fruit Crisp.This one is Peach, I later made it better with the addition of dried blueberries. Copyright M. Mauskopf 2014

The Staples To My Camping Trips

I am often asked what constitutes a staple for my camp kitchen or hiking pack. Truth be told, it changes as I change. Lately there have been a number of Mountain House freeze dried meals because they are remarkably good. My big rules are as simple as possible, as compact as possible, as little refrigeration as possible.

With that said, here is what I normally carry for a 3 day camping/day hiking trip. Depending on what I am doing I do add some fresh items, but I try to keep that to a minimum.

Maple Instant Oatmeal
Salt
Pepper
Cinnamon
Summer Sausage
Instant Coffee
Instant Drink Mixes
Tea Bags
Hot Chocolate
Tuna (in foil packets)
Chicken (in foil packets)
Top Ramen (chicken flavor)
Peanut Butter
Dried Chives
Butter
Cheddar Cheese
Tortillas
Mountain House Scrambled Eggs with Ham, Red and Green Peppers
Pie Filling
Shelf stable Milk in 8 oz. containers
dehydrated refried beans
dehydrated mixed vegetables
dehydrated blueberries
instant loaded mashed potatoes
Water
Apples
Dried Fruit such as apricots and prunes
Vaccuum packed ground beef
Taco or Tostada Shells
Au Gratin Potato mix
Jiffy Pop

Just a few of the items in my camp kitchen.                                                                                 ©Marcia Mauskopf 2014

What can I do with just these items in three days?

Breakfast
Oatmeal and scrambled eggs

Lunch
Poor Man's Pad Thai
Cheddar Cheese Quesadillas
Crackers and Cheese with Summer Sausage Apples and Dried Fruit

Dinner
Shepherd's Pie
Bean and ground beef tacos (fresh cabbage added)
Tuna Casserole

Desert
Fruit Crisp
Popcorn

What can you do with the items above? Let me know what you come up with, I'd love to share recipes with you.

Those Campfire Recipes ~ Tailgate Tacos

I'm always checking out new to me items in the grocery store and trying to figure out how I can create meals in the campsite...my requirements? Little prep and bonus points for non-refrigeration.  I found a couple of items recently that turned into Tailgate Tacos.

Albertson's has dehydrated refried beans in a seven oz. package. Add water and simmer for five, count'em, 5 minutes and you're set. I've seen bulk dehydrated beans at Winco also, but this is already measured, a big plus for me. Walmart stocks vacuum packed pre-cooked and seasoned ground beef. Six ounces of goodness just ready to heat up. These two items inspired me to an easy first night camp dinner.

Tailgate Tacos
makes 10 tacos

One 7 oz. package Mexicali Rose Instant Mexican Refried Beans
Two and one half cups water
One package Rosarita Spicy Seasoned Beef Crumbles
One package El Paso Stand and Stuff Taco Shells
One 8 oz. package Shredded Mexican Cheese
One 14 oz. Package Shredded Cabbage
Hot Sauce or Salsa

Mix water, beans and ground meat in skillet and simmer 5 minutes or until beans are fully re-hydrated. Layer taco shells with meat/bean mix, shredded cheese, cabbage and salsa. Eat :)

©Marcia Mauskopf 2014

Late Night Surfing ~ The Arizona Trail

Can't sleep either? Here is the full length documentary The Walk Across America.

Rocking Ancient Art ~ V-Bar-V Heritage Site, Sedona AZ

Southern Sinagua Rock Art in Sedona AZ                                                                         @Marcia Mauskopf

My GF Pat Bullock Williams always has the best ideas :) Recently she wanted to go check out these petraglyphs just outside of Sedona...now, I had been out this way before, even on the road out to the site, but never quite made the last half mile to the parking lot.

V-Bar-V Heritage site is both an easy drive and easy hike that can be done by almost anyone. Note that you do need a Red Rock pass to park, but admission is free beyond that. Once parking your car, the petroglyphs are only about a half mile away on a wide trail that runs through shady forest. Start your visit by taking the main trail to the Visitor Center and make sure to bring water as there is none on the property. While the hike is short you will want to spend quite some time viewing the rock art.

So what will you see when you get to the site? Only the largest and most well preserved petroglyphs in the Verde Valley. Created by the Southern Sinaugua Tribe, the glyphs were drawn between A.D. 1150 and 1400. It's awe inspiring to know that they have survived so many centuries of wind and rain as well as the hand of man and I highly recommend visiting this site at least once, I know I'll be back very soon.

For more information go to Verde Valley Archeology Center.

Late Night Surfing ~ When You Just Can't Find Jiffy Pop

A fast and dirty way to have popcorn by the campfire :)

Those Campfire Recipes ~ Pigs In A Blanket

Want to surprise every one on your next trip outdoors? Serve up some Pigs In A Blanket paired with spicy brown mustard and you will be pronounced camp chef royalty. Easy to make with the help of your trusty dutch oven and oh.so.good.

You'll need:
1 dutch oven liner
aluminum foil
2 packages refrigerated crescent rolls
1 package little smoky cheese and beef sausages
non-stick spray
charcoal
dutch oven.

Light 20 coals. Lightly grease liner with non-stick spray. Cut each crescent roll into 3 triangles and wrap a sausage in each one.* Spray liner and arrange on tray one deep. you will have to make this in at least 2 batches depending on your size dutch oven.

 Crumble 4 balls of aluminum foil and place on bottom of dutch oven. This will hold your liner above the surface of the dutch oven ensuring more even cooking. Put liner in oven and make sure lid is on tight. Place oven on 7 evenly spread coals and put another 13 coals on the lid. Bake 15 minutes or until golden brown. Serve with mustard.

*Note: little smokies have about 40 pieces in the package and you actually have enough crescent rolls for 48 so cut 40 pieces of dough and reserve the rest to stuff with something else or just enjoy a crescent roll or two for yourself.

Pigs In A Blanket. Everyone was so surprised when these showed up at a camp potluck.   Copyright Marcia Mauskopf 2014

 

Late Night Surfing~ The Dakota Fire Hole

A Little bit different kind of "Cook Stove".

Late Night Surfing ~ Awesome Car Camping Idea

How to extend the square footage of your living space in wooded areas. A rope, a tarp and tent gives you shelter for all your gear.