Phoenix, Arizona
I was not planning on doing this trip but Austyn found some really good flight deals and Bekah was excited to have more visitors. We flew into Phoenix on an Allegiant flight that was $100 round trip and had one carry on. I basically wear many layers on the plane to avoid having to pay for another bag.
This was the second flight that I got off the plane outside, the first was in Glacier Bay. Both times we joked about feeling like a celebrity but really we were taking budget flights :)
An hour after we settled in, we went to Piestwa Peak to do an evening hike. It is a very popular area but fortunately since it was a weekday, it wasn't too busy. I am afraid of heights but I try not to think about it. I do not want my fear to hold me back from new experiences. At the top, you have great views of Phoenix and the surrounding area. The hike was easy and short, just what we needed to stretch our legs after the plane ride!
Sights from Piestwa Peak
Austyn's photo of the view
The following morning we woke up early to go to the Superstitious Wilderness/Mountains. Bekah had previously done this hike and thought we would enjoy it. I would highly recommend it. The hike is difficult but manageable. There are times it is more of a scramble, using your hands to climb too. At one point we got off trail (by accident) as it was only rocks so you really could not see the trail. The trail does have a mark every so often on a rock so we kept looking for those. Eventually some people came along so we knew we had to get back over. The top is called Flat Iron and there are amazing views. Bring a lot of water and be prepared to get scrapes from the rocks.
Superstition Wilderness, hiking up to Flat Iron Flatiron on the Siphon Draw Trail (6.2 miles)
One downside of not putting off travel when you are busy is figuring how to fit in work/school into a travel schedule. Bekah and I are classmates and we both had a very long, important paper due for a research class at the end of this trip and we had a final exam that needed to be proctored. As soon as we got home from this hike, we found our proctors and completed our exams.
Flat Iron at the summit
The following morning we traveled north to Sedona. I cannot tell you how much I LOVED the consistent sunshine here. Sedona is at a higher elevation from Phoenix so the drive is great to see the different plants and climates depending on the elevation and weather. Some of the campgrounds were booked so we looked into Manzanita campground. It is a smaller campground that is only for tent camping. There were one or two spots left so we quickly grabbed one. The only downside is that we were close to the restrooms. The host, Brian, was very talkative and spent a lot of time coming around to say hi. We asked for some advice on which hikes to complete.
​
We definitely wanted to hike the West Fork Trail but unfortunately, it was flooded so we weren't able. One thing that was amazing about Sedona was the temperature change! During the day, it was 70's-80's and at night it was COLD. I don't know the exact temperature but I did not bring enough warm clothing and it was the coldest I have ever been. Bekah sleeps warm so she was fine. That night, Austyn and I were both awake and she asked if I wanted to spoon. Of course I said yes and we tried to non-awkwardly keep each other warm but it was to no avail. We resorted to sleeping in the car. I can only imagine how hilarious we looked with our little eyes peering out of the sleeping bags while leaned back in the car seats.
The first night we did an evening hike and watched the sunset. The following day we completed more day hikes. Sedona is great for any outdoor enthusiast. There were many people mountain biking, trail running, and camping. We also went into town and ate ice cream and checked out some of the shops. It is very important to pack a lot of water on our hikes! There is very little shade on most of the trails and it warms up quickly from the morning. I believe I was dehydrated as much as I tried to avoid it. After we got home from Sedona, we went to the pool. I started getting a migraine and it did not let up! On the plane ride home, I threw up 3 times and then got sick another time as soon as I got home. Remember when I said we had a big paper due for school? Well, I submitted it without any revisions because of how I felt and I will just say it was not my best effort! However, you make sacrifices to travel and these memories will last a lot longer than that grade. Thank you Bekah for hosting us!
