LAZAROW WORLD HIKE-ABOUT
New Zealand: Tongariro Alpine Crossing: Ngauruhoe Volcano ("Mt. Doom"), a perfect sunrise.
'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. Our 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.
Tuesday, January 30, 2024
Supplement to Previous Cover Picture: The Lake and Dam, Berryessa.
A peek from the peak above the dam.
The river continues beyond the lake and dam.
It's a privileged position.
61.18: Arizona: Lake Havasu: Blue Trail to Balancing Rock and a scramble to summit of the background mountain.
The toilet and picnic table for campers at the lake edge shown separately, jutting into the water (Keep an eye on the structures). Balancing rock stands proudly as usual on its own in the foreground.
Combine the above two photographs and it brings it all together, beauty in unity. A unified scene. (Focus on the rock and above).
Inspired by Turk, I found myself scrambling off trail (no trail) to the summit of the mountain above the lake. It was a spectacular experience requiring some skill, a little daring and ideally, not much in the way of brains. It was a first time experience as I never realized it was climable. (Pictured at the high point, middle of photo).
Perhaps one of the most memorable photographs I've taken. From the top of the scramble, Jen can be seen on the jutting rock to the right of the covered picnic table. The combination of rugged mountains, serene turqoise water, colorful flora plus knowing Jen was standing on terra-firma and thus safe, provide a tiny, personal highlight to my life.
While no man is an island, Jen seems to have found her niche on a peninsular surrounded in beauty.
Closing with a first time view from the peak toward the City of Havasu.
Another view, a different angle with Jenni returning to the table.
A couple of 'burning bushes'.
Let's go home...safely, Turk.
Sunday, January 28, 2024
61.16: Arizona: Yuma: Telegraph Trail, part 2.
From the peak, we looked down onto the farmlands through the light fog.
In the beginning, we head toward the low clouds.
We got higher, the clouds were lower, but we never quite met in the middle.
An indication of the trail as we looked back. In the distance is the I-8 Freeway, linking, inter alia, San Diego and Tucson.
Just below the summit, doing a little research...Research? Well, sounds a little intelligent.
Here comes Jen. One of the sharpest inclines although on a tarred/concrete surface.
She gets closer but no bigger against quite a backdrop.
I had mixed feelings of Yuma, showing typical prejudices of a ‘city slicker'. How things change. Now my prejudices are against city slickers; I favor by a wide margin the wilderness and perhaps, the country folk, too. Yuma has grown over the years since we first traveled through it and I’m still not fond of it but the mountains and wilderness surrounding the city are a different matter entirely...I like, very much.
61.17 Arizona: Yuma: Telegraph Trail plus Flagpole/Crucifix, part 1
A different hike from the above photograph, both memorable.
This view and photograph made a distinct impression upon us. The background seems to have much depth, it's extremely rugged and yet, most attractive.
I wish I could state another attractive view but that would be an exaggeration (nice tree, though). Nevertheless, it was a tough climb and tricky on the return (Flagpole hike).
A close-up of Jen trudging prior to a heavier rainfall.
Continuation of narrative from previous blog...
At mid-distance, the steep aspect of the remaining climb becomes apparent.
A hint of color on a dull day but a beauty in an of itself.
Farmland in the distance still visible despite the fog.
For those who have traveled through Yuma (San Diego to Phoenix) might recognize the I-8 going up and over the Gila Mountains. We are standing on Telegraph peak viewing the freeway's path beyond the range looking east.
Coming down is always more dangerous than ascending, the latter invariably more strenuous.
Cheers,
Wednesday, January 24, 2024
61.15 Arizona: Some spectacular opportunities over the last couple of weeks from a favorite zone.
Finding some of the hidden marvels of Page.
Mesmerized in Yuma from the top of Telegraph hike.
From a hidden vantage position in Sedona (High on the Hog), we spot this fella.
We find the Colorado River meandering through Yuma.
Wandering in Page into a remote area and discover these 'wave-type' positions. Absolutely superb.
Descending toward the water as we make our own path toward Wahweap.
A taste of Sedona taken from Bandit Trail, near the airport.
Jen heading toward the peak of the Telegraph hike, Yuma, steep and strenuous like no other...certainly of recent hikes.
Jen makes her way from Lizard Head, Sedona...interesting positions and views, with some edgy challenges.
Cheers,