"Where are the monuments?!" I grew impatient as we approached the end of our four-hour drive to Monument Valley from Flagstaff. I spotted mural-covered buildings, cattle, and empty turquoise jewelry stands, but no spires, buttes or mesas were in sight. At last, miles from Kayenta, road signs for the Utah border surfaced, and the first towering spires came into view. I've never been so ecstatic about visiting some rock formations in ... Read the Post...
Road trip: Dinosaur tracks near Tuba City and Cameron bridge
Somewhere approaching Tuba City on U.S. 160, you might notice hand-painted signs for dinosaur tracks. Chances are you'll be intrigued. We were compelled to stop on our way back from Monument Valley last weekend. A red-lettered sign directed us onto a dirt road on the Navajo Reservation. To the left, jewelry stands sat empty, likely because of the gloomy skies and low temperatures on Sunday. Four people wandered around in the dirt, and we ... Read the Post...
Rainy-day run on Murphy’s Bridle Path
From gray and gloomy to rainy and muddy to sunny. Simultaneously, I went from tired and unmotivated to exhilarated and inspired. The weather in Phoenix on Sunday made running on Murphy’s Bridle Path a rewarding experience. It has been difficult to get motivated to run in recent uncharacteristically stormy weather. Whatever pushed me out the door that day — mostly guilt from gorging on nachos, a pretzel with cheese and chocolate-covered ... Read the Post...
Going underground at Kartchner Caverns State Park
In November 1974, two University of Arizona students discovered an enormous cave in the Whetstone Mountains of southern Arizona. In order to protect it, Gary Tenen and Randy Tufts embarked on a 13-year mission to turn it into a park. This involved keeping its existence a secret. They also needed the cooperation of the Kartchners, owners of the land that is home to their monumental discovery. An incredible journey ensued, culminating in the ... Read the Post...
