Arizona Road Trip

The day after Christmas we went on a road trip to Arizona. 

There is nothing quite like an open road rolling out before you and 6 days on the road coming up. My camera was both forgotten and dumped in water during the trip, so here are pictures that we did get . 

After settling in at my Uncle's we set off on a day's adventure. First stop, the historic Tombstone, most famous town in the west. 

We toured an old silver mine. Our guide told us Tombstone got its start as a mining town, all the drama came later on. 

It was my first time in a mine/cave of any kind. I foresee spelunking in my future... 

Next we headed up Mt. Lemmon Highway to what turned into the real adventure, rappelling down the Seven Cataracts of Willow Canyon. For those of you who were wanting to hear how I and my cell phone took a dip in a waterfall, stay tuned... 

Mt. Lemmon Highway is right next to Saguaro National Forest. For someone rather infatuated with the oversized cacti, it was a spectacular sight driving through a literal forest of the endangered fellas. 

Willow Canyon turned out to be beautiful. We parked on the road and hiked down into the canyon. The plan was to hike down the canyon, including rappelling down the Seven Cataracts, whereupon it would deposit us back on the road and we would hike back to the car. The canyon had way more water than the guide description had us anticipating, which made everything take much longer than we had planned. After two successful rappels we came to one that went down a waterfall. To make a long story short, Josh got caught in the water for 15 minutes with rope problems and when I came down I slipped on the rope and took a lovely feet first dive into the pool at the bottom of the falls. Now it was dark, we were both soaked, Josh was freezing to death, and we were pretty much unable to contact anyone thanks to my phone getting a bath. 

We found ourselves a little corner in the rocks, brought out the ever handy package of toilet paper and started trying to light a fire. And the matches wouldn't strike. There was a good deal of praying quite loudly as I worked my way through the matches, and suddenly there was a spark. Once we got our fire going, it was just a matter of time to dry off, collect and repack our gear, and head for the road in the dark. What we didn't know was there were two canyons, not just one between us and the road. After several hours of crashing through the brush up and down incredibly steep canyon walls we made it to the road, 4 miles from the car. I was never so happy to plant my feet on the road in my life and the 4 mile hike to the car felt like a breeze after what we had just pushed through. What was supposed to take all of 3 hours took us 9 hours, but we arrived back safe and sound, albeit still a little cold, with an awesome story of adventure and God's provision. 

This would be the rice, in which my phone and camera were revived. I love rice.... This would also be where my camera was the second day when we climbed Mt. Glenn with my cousins.

 This photo is thanks to my cousin's iPhone.  Highlights of that climb: stretching out all my sore muscles from the day before, one cousin making it to the top in Chucks, lovely views, another summit (4 in 2012 for me), and one of my cousins sitting on a prickly pear in an accidental slip. Hehe, can't even let down your guard to sit down in Arizona, everything bites... 

My dive into the waterfall earned me double bruises on my elbows, but the really exciting stuff was what the hike through the canyons to the road did to my shins. This picture does not do it justice. Try to imagine basically my entire shin as a bruise. 

After a final day in Tucson visiting my Aunt and more cousins (sadly, the camera missed this part) we headed for home, the long way. We drove past many fantastical rock formations in Northern Arizona and Utah. Including Mexican Hat Rock that has a town named after it. 

We took it upon ourselves to name this rock. We dubbed it "The Simba Rock". 

The beautiful LaSals. They just rise out of the desert, flaunting their beauty over the barren landscape. 

We made a pit stop in Arches National Park, one that has been on my list for a while. 

Where I saw many strange rocks, and decided to return for further adventures. 

We took a quick hike up to catch the sunset over the Delicate Arch. Pretty much best New Years Eve celebration I have ever had. 

Voted best picture of the trip. 

Josh hiked up to a little arch on the way back. And stood at the top attempting to convince me to join him. I was feeling somewhat unsure on the snow and took a rather large amount of convincing. This would be him at the top, "Emily, come on. It is just like stairs... the view is great up here! You can do it." 

This would be me at the bottom, "I don't really think I can. I will just wait here... are you going to make me? Okay, fine, here I come."

He was right about the view. And about how easy it was to climb up there. And that I could do it just fine... 

It was a long trip home and while I was happy to see the sun rise on Nebraska soil, I am already itching to hit the road again. Anyone interested in a trip up a 14er on spring break?