Lazarow World-Hike-About

From Red Mountain, Las Vegas awakes. Las Vegas, much earlier in the morning, sun highlights Red Rock Canyon. From Hamblin Peak, Lake Mead extends. Thankfully, there are many fascinating inhabitants in our world. The drawback is that during a life, one fails to meet even a fraction of them. Each country has its own flavor, its culture which manifests itself in the people—even those that deny it. With so much acrimony existing within the United States, it’s especially refreshing to come across people, both on the trails and in small towns, who enlighten, entertain and reveal the depths of the positive side of humanity. As an aside, whereas we are deeply saddened by the hatred, intolerance and nastiness abounding, we don’t think that will change until we change ourselves. It seems so easy and typical to believe one is correct and almost perfect in one’s thinking and views and therefore, every contrary opinion is that of a moron or someone to frown- and look down- upon. Many pe...

The two opening pictures provide perspective of the San Francisco Mountain range taken earlier this year. Mount Humphreys is left-rear. We completed our third successful peak climb of Mount Humphreys, a giant that rises to an altitude of 12,633 feet making it the highest in the State of Arizona. On a clear day, a person can see the deepest hole in the state from the peak, the great Grand Canyon. While it does not have difficult climbing sections, it makes up for it by being over ten miles in length, a rocky and treacherous trail surface and an elevation gain of 3,333 feet. One has to be guarded about foot-placings the whole trail. We had been at sea-level for the past month or more so beginning at 9,000 and reaching 12,600 made an impact. We lost appetites, not a bad thing, lost strength, not a good thing but nothing serious. Truth be told, our muscles complained and offered an opinion that the height gain was closer to 4,000 feet. We never argue with muscles.   Hump...

I wonder whether it makes a difference injuring oneself in a careless or stupid accident compared with a careful/intelligent accident. The result is usually the same—a person gets hurt. I think I have a preference, but the conclusion is similar which seems unfair. Why is the punishment for the latter behavior similar or could even be worse than for the former? Sounds silly from someone who has lived a fair amount of years, not the accident, but that life should be fair. Well, that’s another topic so I’ll put it aside. When we have the answers, we’ll get back to you...continues at end.                                                      "Hey Jen, isn't that an incredible position to perch?" We received a note from Gail Edelstein suggesting: As you are aging (straight-shooter she is) perhaps you should begin 'photo-shopping instead of risky climb...

We enjoyed another treat when clouds came in low again and provided views that were incredible. It's quite a feeling beginning at a trailhead and only being able to see few hundred feet ahead. The clouds from below are invariably grey and dull whereas from above, are virgin white. However, once a person walks through and above the clouds, it's as if one has arrived in a new world. The dynamics are so powerful that one should not wait to take a photograph because in minutes, sometimes seconds, the scene will be lost. Nature, if nothing else, is not lazy. Nevertheless, the succeeding view may even be more interesting. The lesson to learn is don't hike with a photographer, he'll slow you down. 'We've looked at clouds from both sides now...' Leaving the bench: Jenni steeling herself for some boulder climbing. Looking across to Madonna Mountain on the way up to Bishop Peak, a religious route. Bishop Peak: A tricky climb t...