Lazarow World-Hike-About

"Atta, Girl." Jen has one helluva day, third false peak before top. One proud boy watches her feat or was it feet? (Actually both, with trepidation.) Every now and again, fortunately quite often for us, comes along a hike, an experience really, that is memorable in a number of ways. This was another of those. It had desert beauty, surrounding mountains, steep and challenging climbs, narrow outside edges most of the way and an element of danger that kept us on our toes. It was an experience that will linger.  Fortunately, there are a couple of pictures from the day that have special meaning for us, particularly of Jenni in various stages of the climb. On the negative (tiny), and that's only to provide balance, the views lacked lakes or dams which would have made it near perfect. Although Yuma experienced rain these past few days, it is not something that occurs frequently, certainly insufficient to support a dam. However, the Colorado River, our favorite, flows through...

Peering through 'the looking glass' toward the mountains and farms (see below)...perhaps, the Ocotillo is more correct. A moment when the sun, clouds, and colors lined up for us just before leaving the summit. Cheers,  Jenni and Jeffrey

We've never done this hike before...in fact, we've hardly done anything in this large region, state, country and world. We once mentioned that each time we find and do something new or different, it creates multiple additional opportunities. This seems a contrary statement. Nevertheless, following the logic, it would seem the more one does, the greater are the openings available. When a person confronts the world, it soon becomes apparent who is finite and what is infinite.  A view of Lava Butte, a hike we've undertaken a few times which is effectively, a walk to a peak without a trail. It's difficult in places, involves plotting a route both ways and provides excellent views of the colorful desert, Lake Mead and Lake Las Vegas. It's outstanding. It's tough. By turning a few degrees to the left, our focus bacame Las Vegas rather than the colorful desert. Did not take much motivation to turn a few degrees back toward the right-side. We intended to play...

 Arizona: Tonto National Forest. We were in Crete, Greece when we came upon this slope to negotiate. Without hesitation, Jenni took, what she considered, a first step of attack. She went on strike. Fortunately, the rocks are much softer in Greece, perhaps slippery too.

A little sun, a little of rock formations, a little water and a lot of beauty. Taking a walk on the wild side. End of the road. No way across this end part without help. The ups, downs and overs as we made our way along the river was exciting and quite spectacular. Jen coming down...in the center. Will she or won't she? She's too smart to fall for that. Stunned by this sight. The whole region along the lake/river is covered in rock formations. Let's get off there before you land yourself in trouble. Cheers,  Jenni and Jeffrey

After the hike, we absorbed the refreshing sights below. Part way up, the peak is behind the highpoint. After the clouds dissipated, that's a view of the peak from the trailhead. Still a bit of low cloud cover but insufficient to capture the beauty of the previous week when the fires and thick cloud provided amazing colors and formations. Easy, well-marked snaking trails not without snakes. This is an approach from another trailhead. We'll go around the current summit and head to the peak behind. Having a whale of time.  (A little obvious). Cheers,  Jenni and Jeffrey