LAZAROW WORLD HIKE-ABOUT

Nevada: A 'cleaner' Jenni spins out of the wash, then heads to Hamblin Peak.

'LAZAROW WORLD HIKE-ABOUT: WHAT IN THE WORLD IS HIKE-ABOUT?'

Hike-about is an adventure that commenced June 2010. After storing our household movables, ridding ourselves of a house but retaining our 'home' together, we set off with the purpose of hiking in different parts of the world, not forgetting the home country, the USA.

Our primary focus is hiking to mountain peaks but any challenging hike will do just fine. Extended stays enable us to enjoy and experience living in various places amongst differing cultures. Hike-about has evolved into a way of life. It's also a process of discovery, both the world and ourselves.

We work and live 'on the road' but return to the city in which our grandchildren reside, every couple of months. This provides us the wonderful opportunity to be with them as well as a child or two, even three and of course, friends.

By the end of 2023, the blog contained over 1,560 hikes (less than that actually undertaken), each a set of pictures with stories and anecdotes from the trails. An index to the right allows the viewer to identify earlier experiences.

Finally, we are often asked about the journey's end.
O
ur reply, as accurate as we can state, is: "When we are either forced to cease through health issues or the enjoyment level no longer reaches our aspirations, we will hang up the boots."

"A Life Experience As No Other: Dare to Seize the Day Together", published by Fulton Books, depicts our life on the road and mountains until the beginning of 2017. It has developed 'exponentially' since then.

Jenni and Jeffrey Lazarow

Whereas we continue to update the blog regularly, we circulate email notifications infrequently.

Sunday, March 17, 2024

61.41 Arizona: Lake Havasu: Neighbor of 'Lizard Peak' reached via Acoma entrance and then the fun and games began.

The Colorado joins us and forms Lake Havasu on its way to Parker Dam.
It took many years to realize that we immerse ourselves not just in the inviting water and mountains, but rather, the magnificent surround. It's a simple choice. Nature gives, we take. Nature is not judgmental, in fact, it cares not. A person grabs, seizes or ideally, absorbs whatever she requires from nature without a need to reciprocate. It's one of the few or only situations in our world that a person may satisfy her desires without commitment to offer compensation. (Obviously, do no harm is implied)...continues below... 

Notice the gap/window in the roundish rock at the peak. Also, Jen is returning from the peak as we head down to the beginning with a couple miles to go. The rock is resting on two pillars of the peak.
On a previous hike to this location, note the balancing/resting rock behind. On the other side of the balancing/resting rock, the peak wall below is vertical. Note the two gaps below the boulder which show the ground.
On this hike, he stands on the balancing/resting rock.
When we recall our earlier years, we probably walked amongst the components of the land, viewed whatever attracted the eye, snapped some photographs and then moved onto the next opportunity. We'd like to think we are different today following nature's re-educating process. It seems we no longer just observe what surrounds us in the wilderness. Perhaps we become intimately part of the environment. Occasionally, prior to reaching a trailhead, we may feel tired or a little sluggish, maybe not in the right frame of mind. Once we make the first step from the trailhead, our moods change. We invite ourselves into an environment that impacts the individual, or at least us, in a way that's not easily describable, if at all. 

  To avoid a lengthy, almost unexplainable concept, we don't think it would be incorrect to intimate one becomes part of the environment, thereby returning home and joining with 'family, friends and teachers' who are welcoming, but expect one to exert great physical effort to integrate, thus allowing one access to its treasures. One crosses a so-called boundary, a separation from what is commonly referred to as civilization, after which nature is prominent and offers privy rights without compensation necessary. 

  Like a truly beautiful human soul, nature provides access to those who seek it, a miraculous experience. It's our sole choice to make.

Between the flora and volcanic rocks covering the area, one is exposed to another facet of life at this location.
and again...
We were expecting rain and maybe worse. The buildup of low clouds across the river/lake added another attractive dimension.
Loved these scenes of lil' Jen appearing lost in the great outdoors.
This one, too. More concentrated scene of rocks, sand and scrub...and of course, Jen struggling upwards.
A little sidetracked as we discover another butte along the way.
Jen heading to the peak. It's not easy to find better views than this...we'll give it a shot though...
Well, this is not too bad either. The backlit mountains add to beauty on this dull day. (While hiking below on a previous trip at the waterfront, we met a couple whose family developed the land below. It's an incredible location providing superb housing and exceptional views. While it's an outstanding place to live, we'll skip the summers.)
No water but a nice perspective of the residences including the clouded mountain backdrop.
Never tire of these scenes with the addition of dark clouds. We delayed brunch, anticipating a storm, and ate lower down, thus avoiding potential slippery rocks should it have rained.
Cheers, 

Jenni and Jeffrey 

61.37: Arizona: Sedona: High on the Hog. 61.46 Sugarloaf #2 and Lizard Head Trail.

Chimney Rock protrudes at rear (above middle of picture). The foreground, well quite a sight.
Cross a channel, climb for a while and another beautiful Sedona sights confronts the viewer. One of us stands across the way with additional views available to the right.
Jen stands on an edge, a little backdrop at rear.
Let's take another look but switch the focus.
From a great vantage point, it appears the deer does not know we are about...Jen thought he might smell Jeffrey.
Even from distance, it looks like he's confused as he peers down. Reaching this point is a highlight of the hike although the position is not part of a trail.
Jen waves from one edge to another.
Very friendly guy. He returns the wave.
Jen crosses the rocks. In the distance at height is the butte to which we are heading as shown in photo above.
As we return from higher up, we sink down onto submarine rock and enjoyed some climbing thereon. 
One of the big guys, 'Thunder Mountain' (Capitol Butte), dominates the scene. A friend of ours, Howard Greek, has a beautiful house/home at the base of this overpowering mountain. Howard is no pushover either.
Sugarloaf #2, Lizard Head Trail. 

A new trail for us that exposed some very narrow edges.

On the way back, we missed a turn and ended up on a sharper edge. This one was easy.
Jen shows her mettle along a tricky ledge.
...and rewarded in reaching an enjoyable peak.
Then returning home on scree...not too pleasant
Typical Sedona scene, imagine whatever you wish to view.
Crossing the peak with the airport on the plateau in the distance.
Cheers, 

Jenni and Jeffrey

Thursday, March 14, 2024

61.43 Nevada: Red Rock Park: Calico Basin/Tank, an interesting rock scramble on-and-off trail(s).

A close-up of Turtlehead with a chance of rain in the desert.
A view from Turtlehead, just above the saddle.
Jenni testing the water in the early stages...perhaps that should be testing the boulders.
Striding out...it's an incredible feeling being in such an environment.
Climbing up. Sometimes, it's difficult to grasp the extent of the boulder/rock covering.
Some scaling going on in the background.
'Is that Las Vegas again?' "I'm afraid it is." Hard to get away from the 'Strip'.
Sitting in a wonderful position at height, we admire the positioning of the lone tree and wonder what the engineer who designed the road below was drinking...um...thinking.
Confronted with 'a leap of faith' or a wise retreat.
'I wonder whether those rocks below are softer than they look.' We pose the question as we noticed that many of the rock climbers carry mattresses with them to place below their climbing route. When we first saw this we did not understand whether they were campers, or lazy day-hikers or porters. We asked a couple of youngsters and learned of the safety function of these items.
There's that city again. Enjoyed the reflection of the sun off the building in the middle. (We think it, the shining, might in fact have been a code sent to us following a clandestine meeting we attended recently. We've probably mentioned too much already. Kindly keep it to yourself.)
Reaching the end of the line, perhaps, the proverbial tree-line.
Enjoyed the coloring very much, excluding Jenni's windbreaker.
Reaching the water tank, too.
Love it despite it being close to a repeat.
The rocks are distinctively separate in color and yet seem similar in formation and texture.
Cheers, 

Jenni and Jeffrey

Tuesday, March 12, 2024

61.39 Nevada: Wandering across the dry desert with very little water about...oops, well if you are able to ignore Lake Mead.

'Only the lonely'.
"We'd like to introduce you to a buddy who needs company, too. It's also a bit of a whet."
Sometimes one stops and stares and stares and...
An unusual window into the natural world.
"Oops! I think I notice a leak, Jen. (Could it be one of the reasons for the high water level?)"
"Right now I could care less about leaks...I'm trying to negotiate the scree slope, if you don't mind. Besides, you flatter yourself, you're nothing more than a squirt.
Jen takes a break after the short but very steep climb. "It was well worth it."
The only thing worse than Jenni showing off on a tricky ledge is Jeffrey attempting the same thing.
"Big deal! It's only blue water. Why do you get so excited?"
"Why don't you look beyond the blue water? How about the two-tone-blue?"
"Hey, I'm talking to you. Don't disappear, we're not yet done."
"I'm taking a peek at Fortification Hill, if you don't mind. When I absorb this sight, it reminds me of an occasion during which Jen and I climbed to the peak and played on those rocks." Now that was a day to remember. On a second occasion, we met one of the few black people we've seen on any trail, surprisingly. I really enjoyed talking to the man. However, when he asked me about my background, I mentioned that I was an 'African-American'. Unfortunately, I don't think he saw it that way. You win some, you lose some.
We first noticed this patch when we climbed to the peak above Black Canyon Road. We could not believe the shade of green was real. Add the contrast of the dormant tree and it's quite a sight. Thereafter, we noticed they appear to be branches of the same tree. Then we were really stumped.
Hmm! Waiting for someone to step on it and hoping it's us.
Love this scene. Similar to an earlier one but we omitted the higher mountains from the background.
Another angle, another gorgeous view. I don't think I have a bias.
Cheers, 

Jenni and Jeffrey  

Jenni begged and pleaded for one more photograph. I could not refuse her request. What a guy!