LAZAROW WORLD HIKE-ABOUT

Tenerife, Spain: Mount Teide projects.

'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.

Saturday, January 29, 2022

50.13 Utah: [Peak 10420] via Guardsman Pass and Bloods Lake with blood on hands and legs. (Unfortunately, the state ran out of letters.) Don't look at us, we only try to climb them.

A view from the peak, looking toward Lake Mary—stunning sights.
Our first view of fall colors, the beginning of autumn, September.

Nearly a month later, some progress, if you like autumn.
You have to wonder how a peak gets the name, 10420. Then again, if that's the effort they make to name their mountains, we should not ponder too long over it. 

It reminds us of the original name of Mount Everest. Talk about keeping it simple. The British, obviously not having a homeland with meaningful mountains, did not take the Asian continent too seriously. When they first noticed what is now known as Mount Everest, not a low hill by any means, they named it Peak XV. We ask you: Were they serious? Could they have taken a little more time to find an appropriate name. Maybe, Big Hill or anything. 

Years later, they decided to rename it after a civil servant. It always reminds me of one of the first jokes I learned as a kid. "Which is the world's laziest mountain? Everest, of course...it's forever resting." Okay, okay. But for a nine-year old, that's not too bad. Anyway, we decided not to dignify the people who named Peak 10420 by inquiring as to the origin. Maybe it's pride, could be laziness but it just did not seem appropriate. Instead, we think of it as Mount Shortsteep. 

Another view of the wilderness, from the peak.
The climb was on the short side but incredibly steep. Jen did not whine once...more like 4 or 5 times.
 
Passing 'blue'-Bloods Lake on the way up to the peak. Lackawaxen Lake below.
and more.
Unfortunately, business calls and we have to place a trade. That's the advantage of dealing with a superb company: TD Ameritrade.
Jen leaves the summit and I have to clean up.
Lackawaxen Lake, seen from Clayton Peak, the next one down from "10420", on another occasion. (We suppose after all our complaining about mountain naming, "10420" seems quite refreshing against Lackawaxen.)
Next 2 showing the later colors from Clayton Peak (similar location, tougher climb).
Cheers, 

Jenni and Jeffrey

Saturday, January 22, 2022

"Why are you returning to visit South Africa again?" We have been asked. We thought of providing a pictorial answer.

A few people wondered and then fewer asked why we intend to return to South Africa so soon after our recent trip. Of course, we realize South Africa no longer offers the safety one would expect. As an aside, the United States doesn't either. Traveling is difficult these days with restrictions imposed which change upon a bureaucrat's whim. This adds to the risks. 

Just in case someone might think I'm trying to be subtle, don't! The mentality of these officers and employees of government drive me nuts. But worst of all, after 69 years of life, I have to say the lowest level of societies (there are a few exceptions) not populating the prisons are without doubt, the political class. With that I'll conclude the rant. I believe expressing myself as I did is a lot better than the alternative of violence that we experience currently. To show how low I might have stooped, but for the rant, I could have done something extremely foolish and dangerous: Consumed a whole tub of ice-cream at one sitting. So, thank you. 

To continue with our reasons, just two of them, for a revisit: Obviously, any opportunity to see Mom is a good one and the second follows in the form of a random selection of visuals of this beautiful country. Please note it's a tiny sample, mostly based in the Cape, a few from KwaZulu-Natal. 

To add more color to our lives.
To bridge the gap.
To improve balance.
For rock climbing.
To visit old friends...who are not that old.
To deal with athlete's foot or feet.
To observe the sun pour into the ocean.
To take time to relax via the devil's ravine.
To witness intrinsic beauty.
To scale new heights a.k.a. to show off.
To lug around an old bag.
To wash our clothes and boots more often than usual.
To negotiate wonders.
To stand above South Africa (in Lesotho) and look down in awe...or just to express ourselves.
To reflect at Howick Falls.
To revisit where we met Doug Morton, Elsa and Derryl.
To avoid the potholes on the macadamized roads by walking these.
To free ourselves from chains...well, not always.
To prepare for our upcoming movie: Rocky (IX).
To try to swim upstream.
To take the gap.
To reach the 'Table' the difficult way.
To follow Jenni.
To get our heads into the clouds.
To know fear and overcome it.
And reach above and witness treasures.
To never forget to provide a security blanket.
To see Franshoek from a peak.
To revisit the fairest Cape of them all.
As the kids are wont to say: To hang out or at our age, hangover.
To witness a new age where men are less inclined to tip their hats to- or offer a seat to a woman.
To enjoy the gifts granted to us even as Jen struggles upwards.
To stand and gaze in awe.
To search for a Lion's Head below.
To close (almost) and return in color.


To welcome the dawn with joy...sometimes, with tears.
These are a few of our favorite things, Julie. 

Cheers, 

Jenni and Jeffrey