Vivian Creek trail (6200) to High Creek (9200), about 10 miles round trip.... read more

May 19, 2012 Mt. San Jacinto Peak (10,834 ft) from the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway (8,516 ft). Our morning started much later than the previous weekend with the alarm clocks going off at 6am. Kyla and I stopped at Subway for breakfast, and I ordered an extra sandwich for lunch. We met Scott at the parking lot below the tram lift, purchased our tickets, and made the 4,000 foot elevation climb in a mere ten minutes. Upon leaving the tram station, we walked downhill to the ranger’s station to check in our permit. Virtually every hiking path in these mountains requires a permit. Luckily, Scott had everything planned out and all Kyla and I had to do was show up. At 8:30am, we began our hike. The first two miles we covered in an hour, which ... read more

May 5, 2012 Owing to the fact that I had missed the first two group training hikes, I needed to make up the activity somewhat on my own. Using the resource www.birdandhike.com, I decided to take the strenuous but short Mary Jane Falls trail. Although the path was only four miles round trip, the trail head sits at 7,817 feet and weaves up to the falls at 8,890 feet in elevation. With a gain of 500 feet/mile, it was as close of conditions I could match without being on the trail all day long. The drive from my Green Valley apartment took about one hour, my poor little car putting up the steep incline into the Spring Mountains. The directions from the website were very simple and I found the parking lot nearly empty upon arrival ... read more

After moving to Las Vegas in the fall of 2011, I had a series of visitors throughout the following months. But with multiple people coming into town, I didn’t want to become bored showing the same things over and over again. So I spiced it up a little with each group. Casinos and Sights on the Strip for Mostly Free When my guests come into town, they’re not looking to blow their budget on the stereotypical Vegas experiences. They are mostly looking for low-key and inexpensive entertainment. One of the places I like to bring visitors is the Shops at the Venetian. There are live entertainers throughout the day, a variety of shops to suit everyone’s fancy, and gelato. For people watching in a casual setting, I brought my guests to the courtyard area at Serendipity ... read more

The Great Journey of Callie, the Cat Monday, December 26, 2011 The weekend was a whirlwind of festive decorations, presents, and way too much food and alcohol. It was my first Christmas returning to Washington as a visitor and also my first time flying for that holiday. The flight north was uneventful, with the exception of the man next to me, who overflowed his seat. My concern was about the flight back to Las Vegas, because I would not be traveling alone. The Backstory When I moved to Las Vegas, my parents graciously accepted the temporary guardianship of my high-maintenance cat until I was settled in my new home, at which point she would join me. Easier said than done. Having never traveled with my own pet before, I was nervous about the whole process. Research ... read more