I’m currently on an extended vacation visiting my family in Arizona, and although I miss the greenery of my home state, I’ve taken advantage of the sunshine and dry hiking weather. Every time I visit Arizona I make it a point to hike a popular trail near Phoenix called Piestewa Peak, formerly known as Squaw Peak.
Compared to the trails in Washington where I live, this trail would be considered small. The elevation is small, and the distance is short, but the gain happens quickly. The climb kicked my butt this time around, but I did make it to the summit quicker than I had in the past. I normally hike this with family, but this time I went solo.
It took me 45 minutes to get to the top, rested for a few, and back down for a RT total of an hour and 40 minutes. Ish…
One thing that sets this hike aside from what I’m used to is the uneven terrain. My preference for a trail is one that has a steady and smooth incline. The rocks, and stones make Piestewa Peak more difficult because it requires more energy to step up onto. This hike also requires more mental attention, I find myself thinking of my next step before I even take it.
Sometimes, when the path has a rock-less option I take that path.
To the right.
I find it difficult to make the brown and dusty landscape look pretty, but that’s because my preference is always green. I was able to capture a few good shots before the dust completely engulfed the valley below, it was incredibly windy this day.
The wind was so bad I had to stop a few times to blink the dust out of my eyes.
This windy afternoon was the precursor to a “storm” that was coming. Hours later rain was falling from the sky like a flock of seagulls towards a loaf of bread. When I come to Arizona the weather is mostly consistent, and rarely deviates from sunshine. This day was completely unpredictable starting with sun, moving to wind, and ending with rain and thunder.
The perfect metaphor for life, nothing is predictable.
Learning to expect the unexpected has helped me cope when things don’t go as planned. How boring would life be if everything followed a schedule, or if we never let go of control to simply trust the process? This isn’t to say that we shouldn’t plan for things, but rather evaluate how we react when things don’t go as planned.
I wasn’t expecting overcast on this hike, but I welcomed it with open arms. I wasn’t expecting to feel like I was going to die on this hike, but I accepted the challenge to whip myself back into shape. I wasn’t expecting rain in Arizona, but I sucked in the smell of it like a brand new vacuum.
There is something magical about the smell of warm rain.
Rain is invigorating. Cleaning the air and washing away dirt, it feels like a fresh start.
It would be remiss of me not to update those of you that haven’t heard the latest on my cat. He is recovering amazingly well after his surgery, and will get his final evaluation on Saturday. He will also get to take off his cone of shame, and get his stitches removed.
He has been given a fresh start.
The little Houdini escaped the cone multiple times, is eating like a full grown grizzly, and is successfully urinating. I’d say he’s well on his way. Thank you again to those that helped this process. Please continue to keep us in your prayers as he undergoes one more procedure when I get back home.
Q: How do you react when things don’t go as planned? Meditation has helped me to react less aggressively.
Blissfulbritt 
23 thoughts on “Arizona Ascents”
Ashley
I lived in AZ for 23 years. While hiking in “the valley” is nice (like you said if you like more a brown environment), hiking in norther AZ is amazing. We have hiked up Humphery’s Peak twice now and it was amazing. It’s in Flagstaff (love it there) and is the highest point in the whole state. It’s about a 5 hour hike from beginning to end. Defiantly more green and at times there can be snow at the top.
Glad your kitty is going to be better.
When things don’t go as planned, sometimes it really hits me hard, but when it matters most, I can usually pull myself together and get through the hard time.
Brittany
I just visited Flagstaff for the first time last week. I hear it’s typically covered in snow, but there was none! I didn’t mind though, I came to Arizona to escape the snow. 😝
woodboneandstone
I love the desert.
Brittany
It has its own unique beauty, that’s for sure!
woodboneandstone
Indeed. The desert is also teeming with life.
rootchopper
The trails near me are rocky. I find I spend more time looking at the ground than at the surrounding landscape. So I make it a point to stop once in a while and take it all in. A time out for the scenery. A bit like meditation, no? Good to hear about your cat.
Brittany
I often look down myself, mostly to avoid stepping on slugs. Totally serious. But I stop every so often to soak it in, but I have to remind myself sometimes to stop.
Angie
I’ve hiked there before! Good short hike for sure! And I’m with you; I prefer the greenery and high summits for hiking. But, a change of scenery is sometimes good for the soul.
I’m happy to hear Houdini is doing better!
Meditation is wonderful. When things don’t go as planned for me, I just go with the flow. There’s nothing you can do about it anyway, so why get worked up? I find when I go with the changes, it sometimes turns into something else I enjoy and appreciate. This isn’t always the case, of course, but it helps to not stress about it.
Brittany
Yes! Your approach is much like mine, and a very healthy way to view changes in my opinion.
P
We had a pretty heavy rain day in LA on Tuesday. Had to walk around in wet socks all day (lol) but the air the next day felt so nice and refreshing! Also soooo happy to hear your fur baby is recovering well. Cone of shame awwwwww
Brittany
Haha! Refreshing is a good word. He rocks that cone.
Kate Dawson
I always thought I was pretty adaptable, but life has knocked me down quite a bit the last ten years and I’ve become a little more rigid in the way I look at my circumstances. I’ve caught myself saying lately “why does this always happen to me,” and I’m tired of being so negative when one little thing goes awry. I’m working on it, on rolling with the punches. I’m starting to get into meditation, too, although I’ve been slacking on that lately. I’m trying to say to myself “speedbumps!” They are just blips that will pass.
Brittany
We’re all human, I have moments of “why me” too. For me it’s more about recognizing this when it happens and just calmly refocusing. It’s going to happen no matter what, but shifting mindsets become easier. 👍🏻
Meghan@CleanEatsFastFeets
Hiking sounds a lot like parenting. You’d be a natural (ha!).
I’m thrilled to hear Mr. Puss is doing much better and on the mend. Give him a sloppy wet kiss from me.
Brittany
Hahaha I actually think I’d be a great mom, I just don’t have a desire to have any tiny humans. Maybe one day it’ll just happen, unplanned. 😘
Amanda Afield
Some dry weather hiking would be welcome since we get so much rain/mud here. Looks beautiful!
Brittany
I do admit hiking in the dry weather is a bit more comfortable than hiking in pouring rain! But the greenery that comes from that rain, you can’t beat it!
Ellie
Oh man I want to bring my van there and run forever!
Brittany
Yaasss, there are a few runners that run this. I die a little inside when I watch them pass me.
Nicole @ Foodie Loves Fitness
This sounds like hiking in Southern California! I thought it was funny when I visited Oregon last year and was researching hikes, because ones that were considered “easy” there would definitely be more moderate here. San Diego has lots of small mountains with uneven terrain!
Brittany
Yea! It helps me feel less lazy when I realize Washington’s mountains are a bit bigger than these. Ha!
regularguyoutside
If you want rocky trails, come out East. I grew up out West, and thought the hiking would be easy out here since the elevations are so much lower. Boy was I wrong. Broken granite all the way!
As for things not going as planned, I love this quote by G.K. Chesterton: “An adventure is only an inconvenience rightly considered. An inconvenience is only an adventure wrongly considered.”
Brittany
Great quote!! I’ll have to remember that about the east, thanks!