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.