LAZAROW WORLD HIKE-ABOUT

Nepal: Evening below Annapurna.

'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, August 27, 2017

'Out of little, so much' as well as a small tribute to a fortunate couple.


We continue to
witness the miracles of each day being different. We remember writing that when a scene becomes boring it's not necessarily the scene that's no longer interesting but perhaps, a malfunction in the eye of the beholder—are we not stale? Although we hike at Mount Woodson often, each hike is quite strenuous and always fascinating and different regarding the visuals. Today was no exception. In fact, it was exceptional as we watched a myriad of shadows form sporadically on the clouds. The reflections off Poway Lake were no less spectacular. So goodbye to Woodson and friends as we head for Chamonix and 'frogs legs'(Yuck!) Remember, should you wish to take a look at the blog, don't wait for an email, click http://lazarowhike.blogspot.com/, any time.



'Morning has broken', first light at Poway Lake.



At the end of the hike, we heard her say, "I've never had such fun, Bob...please, take me home." Crossing into darkness.




Boat 'hits' the mountain and they shout to me something about 'royalties'.



Jenni reaches the peak and commences her 'toe stretches'.





Can her tail be far behind?




What's not to love?



Shelby and Robbie 'separated' for just a moment, a short while before their beautiful marriage, last week. Now we can return to the mountains knowing that Rob will be loved and cared for.

A friend, after viewing a few wedding photos remarked, "You two 'clean up' quite nicely." Makes one think.



We think Rob's head was somewhere up in those beautiful, shadowed clouds...lucky boy...um, man to have Shelby.
Ramona Lake below.




Meantime, Dad jumps for Joy...apparently, Joy was not watching.



The cloud scenes were overwhelming.




The contrasts on the lake surface were remarkable. Now that happy fishing couple sailed into the trees.



Keep the lights on for the fish?




You've got to love it. The perfect spot to get away from it all...and he's on a cellphone.



Cheers,

Jenni and Jeffrey

Thursday, August 17, 2017

A few more highlights from the recent past.


A view from peak of Gingolos, Crete.




A steep hike down to Captain Cook monument, the original cast of 'Hawaii 50'.(Count 'em yellow bellies.)




Hiking toward Wheeler Peak, New Mexico, spectacular day.





Peak of Mount Sulur, Iceland.




Nervous Nellies...Impalas, Kruger Park, RSA.




Rattlesnake Trail, Cedar Breaks, Utah.




Carew Falls, New Zealand.




Both showing 'a lot of attitude' in Spain. (Sometimes I wonder how I put up with it all. What a "hero!")



Dolomites, Italy.


Not limited to any country.




Somewhere in 'ice land'...actually, standing on Wheeler Peak, New Mexico, a gem.




A different perspective of 'Delicate Arch', Utah.




Peak of Gingolos, Crete, an incredible experience.




Reflections in Kruger, RSA.




One of the best hikes, headed toward Mount Cristandar, Iceland. It's the jagged edge mountain at rear.




Early morning sky on Mount Olympus, Greece.




Convergence of Red and Rio Grande Rivers, New Mexico from peak of ?.




Hot Springs, Iceland.





Smoking at Machu Picchu, Peru.




A little tight at Olympic National Park, Washington state.




Glacier in Iceland.




Approaching peak of El Pessons, Andorra, from the rear.



Cheers,

Jenni and Jeffrey

Sunday, August 13, 2017

An ever changing environment, each occasion is different, followed by the modern hiker versus the 'less modern' hiker.



“Quite a few people have asked about organizing a hike on Woodson or even Iron Mountain”, our dear editor mentioned.
“Sounds like a good idea,” I replied. “Should we undertake a ‘sixties-type’ outing or a modern-day trip?” I inquired.
“What’s the difference?” Jenni wanted to know.
“Where have you been these last 50 years?” I asked.
“Well, I had a great 2-year period followed by the last 48 with you,” she retorted. I suppose I deserved that.
“Well, you see it goes something like this,” I began an explanation. (continues at the end...)



Tower on peak of Woodson barely visible. The time is late for ending the ongoing 'civil war' in the country.
A divided house is not a home.





Double 'Jeopardy'...Jenni.




Always had a desire to fly above the clouds on my own steam.




We always have Maude in mind with scenes such as this. Lately, the region has been cloudless so we had a treat today.





'Blue waters, white death'...oops, wrong movie.




Back to near the peak.




Wasn't there a mountain here last week?




Returning to the surface.





It's a beautiful Sunday.




Sun rises above the mountain top. (Iron mountain from Woodson.)




“For the modern-day outing, the following steps need to be followed.”

1. Compile an email list of all potential invitees. Thereafter, remind recipients, at least a dozen times, of the venue and time. Deal with issues like ‘can’t we commence later, is there not a closer hike, the forecast calls for hot weather, rain, snow or a high ozone factor. For sixties era-type: call giving time and date and ‘see you there’.

2. Organizers draft a limit of liability contract warning participants of all the perils of the wilds. Of course, the wilds are in the city. Ensure that participants know that reaching mountain peaks requires walking uphill, that one may get hot and tired and even perspire, may trip, may get thirsty, could fall off the mountain etc. Sixties era-type: what liability?

3. Head for doctor’s office for a physical check-up. Ensure you are in good shape. Obtain permission letter from doctor to participate. Begin a course of vitamins and other essentials in preparation. Ensure medical and life insurance policies are current. Sixties era-type: Beer works for me.

4. Head for store, particularly REI, and obtain latest clothing, gadgets and other useful items. Essential to have ‘quick-drying’ clothing, hat, boots, extra thick socks, snake guards, utility belt, water bottle, water reticulation system hydrating the body automatically, GPS, compass, map, I-phone with ‘ear wires’ and music, at least 3 emergency numbers, trail guide, sunscreen with high block-out factor, sunglasses, spare set too, extra-lightweight backpack, hiking poles, emergency rations, snacks, high-calorie food for breakfast, high-powered flashlight, spare batteries, emergency medical kit, snake-bite kit, bags for trash and human waste, for starters. Sixties era-type: brings ‘tackies’ (sneakers.)

5. Select a hike which has adequate parking, not on gravel, off road parking, preferably with security, valet would be nice and a car wash service would make the day. Sixties era-type: Huh!

6. Meet at trailhead at 6am sharp. ‘I forgot to set alarm clock, I forgot to charge my I-phone, I can’t get out of bed before sunrise, I knew the others would be late so I slept a little later, I didn’t know which car to use. My kids hadn’t come home yet so I could not leave. Sixties era-type: Let’s get going.

7. Is there not a shorter route to the top? Is there a less steep trail? Why is the trail so sandy? Are we there yet? Can’t we rest? My I-phone isn’t working out here. I forgot to load my music. I’m sick of moving out the way to let these people pass, have they no patience? I refuse to greet strangers—you never know where it can lead. How much longer? I knew I should have gone to the gym with my personal trainer and an air-conditioning environment. I need a bathroom. “What? Out in the open? Over my dead body. I’m bursting. Keep your wipes. Do you know who I am? I don’t do that in the bush. Anyway, can we stop for lunch? Why doesn’t anyone pickup after the wild animals? Do we have to walk down? Don’t they have cable cars? Heck, I didn’t sign on for this." Sixties era-type: It’s great to be out here.

8. What a great adventure. We should do it again. I really love roughing it like we did. Next time, I’ll be better prepared. Sixties era-type: You kidding me?

(This was probably not the ideal method of cementing relationships. I told Jenni not to write it.)


A Contrast: One of recent Iron Mountain dawn pictures.



Cheers,


Jenni and Jeffrey

Tuesday, August 8, 2017

'Golden Oldies', pictures are golden, we're the other word.


As we wait impatiently for Hike-about 32 to commence, we find that pictures remind us of the recent past. This, of course, winds us up further as we recall memories of being on the trails, mountains and villages in different parts of the world. Following on from the recent idea to update the blog with some unpublished pictures and others that 'caught our eye' too, we include photographs from some western states dating back to 2012.


Bryce Amphitheater, quite spectacular, original, too.



Reaching for the sky as we head for Blue Lake, outside Bishop.




Steady as she goes at Canyonlands, Utah.




Autumn in Aspen country, Sierras, California.




Still in Canyonlands, climbing up from the 'desert floor', Gooseberry Trail.





Lone Pine Lake below Mount Whitney.




Fooling around at Bryce.




Zion, Utah, scaling some walls.





Observation Point in autumn, Zion, Utah.




San Jacinto Peak, Palm Desert, California.




No permit, no hike up Whitney so instead, grabbing comfort food (drink). 5 years later, 14 months D-Coke free.




Sunrise in Bishop, California.




Wilson Mountain, Sedona, 'stadig oor die klippe'.




A sight on the way to Parker Lake, California.



7th innings stretch, Table Mountain, Sierras.




'Crocodile' at a Tyee Lake, California.








Cheers,


Jenni and Jeffrey