http://www.heatherdugan.com/blogBETA Travels and Journeys... Fri, 10 Feb 2012 12:57:18 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 2006-2010 heather@heatherdugan.com (Heather Dugan) heather@heatherdugan.com (Heather Dugan) 1440 http://www.heatherdugan.com/blogNEW/wp-content/plugins/podpress/images/powered_by_podpress.jpg http://www.heatherdugan.com/blogBETA 144 144 http://www.heatherdugan.com/blogNEW/?feed=podcast Footsteps Travels and Journeys... Travel, outdoors, adventure, Heather, Dugan, stories Heather Dugan Heather Dugan heather@heatherdugan.com no no http://www.heatherdugan.com/blogBETA/2011/11/18/red-rock-cathedral/ http://www.heatherdugan.com/blogBETA/2011/11/18/red-rock-cathedral/#comments Fri, 18 Nov 2011 13:11:50 +0000 Heather Dugan http://www.heatherdugan.com/blogNEW/?p=6602 http://www.heatherdugan.com/blogBETA/2011/11/18/red-rock-cathedral/feed/ 3 http://www.heatherdugan.com/blogBETA/2011/10/14/dont-look-down/ http://www.heatherdugan.com/blogBETA/2011/10/14/dont-look-down/#comments Fri, 14 Oct 2011 11:52:22 +0000 Heather Dugan http://www.heatherdugan.com/blogNEW/?p=6579 http://www.heatherdugan.com/blogBETA/2011/10/14/dont-look-down/feed/ 4 http://www.heatherdugan.com/blogBETA/2011/09/12/roadside-views-from-hwy-89/ http://www.heatherdugan.com/blogBETA/2011/09/12/roadside-views-from-hwy-89/#comments Mon, 12 Sep 2011 11:52:09 +0000 Heather Dugan http://www.heatherdugan.com/blogNEW/?p=5072 http://www.heatherdugan.com/blogBETA/2011/09/12/roadside-views-from-hwy-89/feed/ 8 0:01:11 ...Previous to that summer, my long distance automotive experiences had been heavy with interstate hauls through billboard jungles and carpool driving that racked up almost as many miles but with more predictable signage. .. ...Previous to that summer, my long distance automotive experiences had been heavy with interstate hauls through billboard jungles and carpool driving that racked up almost as many miles but with more predictable signage. .. Flagstaff, Page, Sedona Heather Dugan no no http://www.heatherdugan.com/blogBETA/2011/08/05/the-little-hike-that-wasnt/ http://www.heatherdugan.com/blogBETA/2011/08/05/the-little-hike-that-wasnt/#comments Fri, 05 Aug 2011 11:58:39 +0000 Heather Dugan http://www.heatherdugan.com/blogNEW/?p=5199 http://www.heatherdugan.com/blogBETA/2011/08/05/the-little-hike-that-wasnt/feed/ 2 http://www.heatherdugan.com/blogBETA/2011/01/28/not-a-castle-and-montezuma-never-slept-here/ http://www.heatherdugan.com/blogBETA/2011/01/28/not-a-castle-and-montezuma-never-slept-here/#comments Fri, 28 Jan 2011 05:25:17 +0000 Heather Dugan http://heatherdugan.com/blog/photo/not-a-castle-and-montezuma-never-slept-here/ http://www.heatherdugan.com/blogBETA/2011/01/28/not-a-castle-and-montezuma-never-slept-here/feed/ 24 0:02:34 It’s not really a castle and Montezuma probably never even heard of it. But Montezuma’s Castle in the Verde Valley of Arizona was the cliffside dwelling of the 12th century Sinagua Indians. Early settlers attributed the dramatic structure to Aztec[...] It’s not really a castle and Montezuma probably never even heard of it. But Montezuma’s Castle in the Verde Valley of Arizona was the cliffside dwelling of the 12th century Sinagua Indians. Early settlers attributed the dramatic structure to Aztec emperor Montezuma with enough certainty that the name stuck even if the facts didn’t fit... Hiking, Sedona Heather Dugan no no http://www.heatherdugan.com/blogBETA/2010/10/25/cathedral-climb/ http://www.heatherdugan.com/blogBETA/2010/10/25/cathedral-climb/#comments Mon, 25 Oct 2010 15:29:01 +0000 Heather Dugan http://www.heatherdugan.com/blogNEW/?p=6653 http://www.heatherdugan.com/blogBETA/2010/10/25/cathedral-climb/feed/ 3 http://www.heatherdugan.com/blogBETA/2010/10/01/bigger-than-a-campus/ http://www.heatherdugan.com/blogBETA/2010/10/01/bigger-than-a-campus/#comments Fri, 01 Oct 2010 14:40:12 +0000 Heather Dugan http://www.heatherdugan.com/blogNEW/?p=6313 http://www.heatherdugan.com/blogBETA/2010/10/01/bigger-than-a-campus/feed/ 4 http://www.heatherdugan.com/blogBETA/2008/05/21/a-well-balanced-hike-west-fork-trail-in-oak-creek-canyon/ http://www.heatherdugan.com/blogBETA/2008/05/21/a-well-balanced-hike-west-fork-trail-in-oak-creek-canyon/#comments Wed, 21 May 2008 15:08:47 +0000 Heather Dugan http://heatherdugan.com/blog/photo/a-well-balanced-hike-west-fork-trail-in-oak-creek-canyon/ http://www.heatherdugan.com/blogBETA/2008/05/21/a-well-balanced-hike-west-fork-trail-in-oak-creek-canyon/feed/ 17 0:02:54 It was better without the bridges.The West Fork Trail in Oak Creek Canyon is a dead-end trail with frequent stream crossings. Winter flooding capriciously shifts the actual trail on a yearly basis, leaving it in a delightfully “unfinished” stat[...] It was better without the bridges.The West Fork Trail in Oak Creek Canyon is a dead-end trail with frequent stream crossings. Winter flooding capriciously shifts the actual trail on a yearly basis, leaving it in a delightfully “unfinished” state. Something about scrambling across rocks and logs elevates a hiking experience for me, and the patches of snow edging Oak Creek only added to the thrill. The very real possibility of toppling off a log into the frigid water enhanced my focus significantly and made each successful footstep back onto dry land feel like an honorable accomplishment. As the crossings grew increasingly difficult over deeper and faster waters, it dawned on us to use walking sticks for balance. And we finally understood the reason for what we took to be an artistic gathering of weathered wood at the trailhead… My stick was a “gift” from a passing hiker. It took a while to find an additional tree limb of suitable length and dryness, but our balancing poles made all the difference. We used them like gondoliers, moving ourselves carefully across unsteady rocks and logs that occasionally dipped and turned with the rush of water. As we ventured further into the canyon, we could hear the weather of the outside world stirring far above us. The sky was but a strip of darkening clouds overhead, a narrow covering in constant motion above the riparian realm we had entered. Red and white cliffs soared high on either side, clearly defining our direction and enclosing us within a hushed fraternity of ponderosa pine, Gambel oak and snow-dusted ferns. We were mere moments from Red Rock State Park and the remarkable red giants of Sedona, happily bent on a sandy trail to “nowhere” (the cliff walls eventually squeeze the canyon floor out of existence, and Oak Creek alone flows on through the narrow space). Shivering slightly as the weather chilled, we were oddly reluctant to leave this pristine place even when we could go no further. Eventually we did make our way back, increasing our pace as the air continued to cool around us. We reverently added our own walking sticks to the growing wood sculpture at the trailhead and wandered back through the remains of an interesting side note. Mayhew Lodge, burnt to the ground in the late 70’s, was the inspiration point for Zane Grey’s novel “Call of the Canyon” which becameSedona’s first movie. The property became a favored get-away for the likes of President Hoover, Clark Gable, Jimmy Stewart, Maureen O’Hara, Walt Disney and the like. All that remains today are crumbling buildings, an aged apple orchard and slabs of a cracked outdoor pool, but it’s easy to imagine the relaxed “summer camp” feeling the property might have once worn. As the afternoon quickly faded toward dusk ending our hiking for the day, we traveled south again, content to watch the sun set fire to the reds and oranges of Sedona’s monolithic rocks. Canyons, Hiking Heather Dugan no no http://www.heatherdugan.com/blogBETA/2008/05/09/big-red-rocks-sedona-arizona/ http://www.heatherdugan.com/blogBETA/2008/05/09/big-red-rocks-sedona-arizona/#comments Fri, 09 May 2008 20:00:03 +0000 Heather Dugan http://heatherdugan.com/blog/photo/big-red-rocks-sedona-arizona/ http://www.heatherdugan.com/blogBETA/2008/05/09/big-red-rocks-sedona-arizona/feed/ 28 0:02:15 Sedona always calls me back. This time, it was the mountain bike trails webbing out from Bell Rock that enticed me from the rear-view mirror. Next time… Surprisingly, Sedona reminds me a little of Las Vegas. One of those “you’ll find what you’[...] Sedona always calls me back. This time, it was the mountain bike trails webbing out from Bell Rock that enticed me from the rear-view mirror. Next time… Surprisingly, Sedona reminds me a little of Las Vegas. One of those “you’ll find what you’re looking for” sort of places with a split personality that alternately caters to the New Age/ Art Gallery set(s) as well as to outdoor enthusiasts. I hereby confess that I bypassed the town of Sedona completely this time, seduced instead by the scenic hiking opportunities that spread out beyond its arty abundance. Sedona’s eclectic mix of art and new age shops are obviously a huge draw for many. But its monolithic red rocks anchor the Arizona town firmly into the more natural beauty from which it sprung to life. The slightest stirring of passing clouds sweeps the dramatic landscape with ever-shifting thrills of color. And within the fleeting minutes of a Sedona sunset, the giant rocks glow appearing to radiate their own buried light… Southwest of Sedona off of State Route 89A, the trails of Red Rock State Park meander along the region’s famed Oak Creek and up reddened trails into the pinyon-juniper biotic zone. During my recent visit, silvery sagebrush, prickly pear cacti and gnarled junipers sparsely dotted the higher elevations. Liberal amounts of oxidized iron colored the clay, limestone and sandstone varying shades of red. Occasional flowers bloomed stubbornly out of what sometimes looked like shards of broken clay pots along the trails. The mysterious House of Apache Fire is perched above it all, teetering into ruin on the edge of a cliff. The forlorn adobe structure begs questions. Its intriguing history includes lavish living, the dismal deterioration of a marriage and the shady maneuverings of a cult… Ultimately the adobe house and former Smoke Trail Ranch acreage landed in the preserving arms of the Arizona State Park Service. And this lovely land, spotted from the air and selected to be a very private get-away became Red Rock State Park and another compelling reason to return to Sedona… More “Arizona” to come… Hiking, Sedona Heather Dugan no no http://www.heatherdugan.com/blogBETA/2008/04/05/tipping-toward-spring/ http://www.heatherdugan.com/blogBETA/2008/04/05/tipping-toward-spring/#comments Sat, 05 Apr 2008 16:11:43 +0000 Heather Dugan http://heatherdugan.com/blog/photo/tipping-toward-spring/ http://www.heatherdugan.com/blogBETA/2008/04/05/tipping-toward-spring/feed/ 0 0:01:52 Ahhh, the restorative powers of travel…  As I glance out my window to a damp and dreary day, I’m fairly certain it’s sunny in Arizona. On cloudy days like these it’s good to know that sunscreen is still essential in some part of the world. It’s a[...] Ahhh, the restorative powers of travel…  As I glance out my window to a damp and dreary day, I’m fairly certain it’s sunny in Arizona. On cloudy days like these it’s good to know that sunscreen is still essential in some part of the world. It’s an affirmation of the Earth’s steady rotation and 23 ½ degree axis tilt.   It’s a reminder that our own turn with warmth will come again. Last week, I kind of bumped myself ahead in the line of those awaiting select signs of spring (flowers always trump mud puddles). Once my kids were launched toward their Hawaii trip with dad, I did a quick late night pack for my early flight to Phoenix/Sedona. Fortunately this required little actual brain activity beyond deciphering the scribbles on my various “to do” lists. My reasoning skills had diminished to “mom minimum” by then. Without the lists I’d have had to rely on restaging room entries until my brain found a familiar path back toward its original intention (“OK, I was compelled to walk from my bedroom to the kitchen because…? Oh yeah. I’m thirsty”). I had blearily suspected that I was exhausted and tried to build some breaks into the daily schedule, but it’s impractical to expect a mother of three to walk past burgeoning piles of laundry in her own home. For six lovely days in Arizona, however, I stuffed my worn clothing into a plastic hotel bag, liberated from laundry at last. I ignored schedules beyond the rhythm within and loaded up on my favorite outdoor activities. Camelback Mountain, South Mountain Park and Preserve, McDowell Mountain, Montezuma’s Castle and Well, Sedona, Red Rock State Park, Oak Creek Canyon… The most rejuvenating path is most often the scenic one.And the only thing “forgotten” was the stress I gladly left behind… Arizona, Phoenix/Scottsdale/Tempe, Sedona, WEST Heather Dugan no no