LADDventure

The Photo Challenge Next Door - April

Camera settings: aperture-f32, shutter speed 1/40, ISO 100, focal length 44 mm

I took this month's photo on a quick off-road ride in the Jeep. We were on the Montana Mountain Trail in the southeast part of the valley, and it was gorgeous. I just love this time of year in the desert, with the ocotillo and cacti blooming.

My goal with this one was to capture the whole mountain scene in focus, so I opted for a higher f-stop to give me a deeper depth of field. (Look at me, knowing I needed to do that. Progress!) I didn't do any color adjusting, and just love how the colors turned out.

My next door neighbor, Kelsey, and I have a photo challenge going. We're determined to improve our photography skills, so we've set our cameras to manual to see what we can capture and learn along the way. You can view the rest of my challenge photos here, and Kelsey's here. Also check out The Girl Next Door Podcast, where Kelsey and I mix up a cocktail and chat about creativity, marriage, and life in general. A new episode is live today!

Wordless Wednesday - Looking Up

Jeep Journal - Crown King Camping

We decided rather on a whim a few weeks ago, to head to the mountains and try our hand at some camping again.  We have gone a few times, and have all the gear, but this was the first time we'd be heading up our own trip and the first time we were brave enough to bring the dogs.

The last time we were camping, I was sniffed by a bear.  But that was in a different state, with many more bears. So we decided to give it another shot, loaded up the beasts, and invited Mr. Ladd's brother and fellow Jeeper, to come with us.

We just made it a one-nighter this time since we weren't sure how the dogs would do, and if we'd forget some essential piece of equipment.  But, we could have easily done two nights and the dogs were so good, I think we will next time.

We found a spot just down the road from Crown King, an old mining town that you can only get to on a dirt trail up the mountain.  The town itself is literally a saloon, one gas pump, and a general store for the most part.  We headed past the town a bit, set up camp and proceeded to chill...

all of us...

all day...

It was lovely.

There was exploring, lizard hunting, and dirty paws.

There was cast iron over an open fire, s'mores, and a chilly evening under a crisp night sky.

At this point in the summer there are burn restrictions, because it's so dry, which means you have to camp in a designated campground with a metal fire ring.  But, at the time we went, there were no restrictions yet, and one of the really cool things about Arizona is you can just camp pretty much anywhere.  So there are these great little secluded spots that have obviously been used by others because rocks are formed into a fire ring, but otherwise it truly is being one with nature.  I never thought I'd want to be quite so familiar with nature, but the nature here is oh so worth it.  There is nothing like escaping up into the cooler mountains when the summer heat starts to creep into the valley.

Wordless Wednesday - The Great Outdoors

Jeep Journal - Predator and Lower Terminator Edition

It had been a long time since we really had the Jeep out and about, so Mr. Ladd signed us up for an organized wheeling class through the AZ Virtual Jeep Club.  It was a full day of trails in the Table Mesa Recreation Area in the Northwest part of the Valley.  We were signed up for the 202 class - the Predator trail, and then had extra time so decided to do Lower Terminator with the group as well.

Apparently the people who named the trails we were on 2 weekends ago were big Schwarzenegger fans, but it definitely fits.  They were less like trails and more like large rock obstacle after large obstacle all day long.

The day started off with this view...

...which is the only benefit to being up that early, ever.

We met up with all the other off-roaders, probably about 100 vehicles all together.  Some kind Jeepers were making everybody pancakes and sausage with their clumsy blue heeler pup greeting us as we aired down tires and had a quick talk on safety and technique from the Virtual Jeep Club.  The Bureau of Land Managment also gave a quick overview of what they're doing to keep trails like this open for recreational use and mapping/designating areas for off-roading.
It was interesting, but I was freezing.  It was definitely the coldest weekend we've had this year with temps in the 20's when we started and climbing up to 45-50 eventually. (See, it's not always 100 here.)

Then we set off and most of the day looked like this...

With some breaks to help this poor stuck Toyota FJ - nice girl, but she needs a Jeep.

And a break to watch this craziness.  Don't worry Grandma. Our Jeep is not set up to be quite that adventurous and neither are we.  These guys we ran into on the trail had insane rock-crawling rigs built for such things as this...

And this...

Pulled it back upright.  Good as new. 


And there was of course the scenery - the reason I get up early, pull on hiking boots and layers, and am willing to pee in the wilderness.

Wordless Wednesday - Predator Trail

Jeep Journal - Leaf Hunt

We were supposed to go camping this past weekend, but a cold front came through, and it got crazy cold up in the mountains at night.  The highest peaks even got snow, and we are not very seasoned campers, so we opted to just go Jeeping for the day on Saturday instead.  Our main goal was to get into some cooler temperatures and to see some fall color.  Mr. Ladd was convinced from his research that the Rim Road along the Mogollon Rim would be a great spot for some fall color.   I was less than convinced, because there are mostly pines from my experience, but I didn't argue (much).

At first, I was biting my tongue and holding back disappointment and "I told you so's" as we drove into the mountains.   Only an occasional little shrub along the side of the road was trying to change color.  But as we climbed, the 50 degree mountain air filled the Jeep, and we left the windows all the way down, soaking up the cold and savoring the goosebumps.  It was so nice to be chilly and to reach for sweatshirts and flannel in the backseat even if the leaves were not delivering.  Just then, we spotted a clump of blazing orange, pink, and gold through the pines.



We turned down the road to get closer, and after a hike down into a ravine, making sure to talk loudly to scare away the bears (still a little traumatized from this experience), we found what we'd been looking for!

The quiet was almost eerie as we stood in this hidden cove.  It felt like we shouldn't stay long, disturbing its perfection with our leaf crunching and camera clicking. 

Climbing back in the Jeep and continuing down the road, I was satisfied and could have left happy.   We stopped and ate our lunch on the rim with a spectacular view and then carried on.

We were hungry for more, and now carefully searching, eyes trained in every direction.  That's when the real show began.  First, shimmering gold aspens popped up nestled in the pines.

Then we turned down a few roads with the sole purpose of finding more leaves, and found all these deciduous beauties sheltering fabulous camp spots.  It made us wish we would have braved the cold and could just set up a tent right there and then!

Since moving here, we've known there is fall color to be had up in the mountains, and finally we  intentionally went looking for it.  It's not the lavish, mile after mile of blazing trees that you see in the Midwest.  I sadly took that for granted, mumbling about raking them as a kid, and not even stopping to look up when I walked out of my door at the canopy of color.  Here, it's more like fireworks - a single bright tree here, a hidden clump there, and you have to watch or you'll miss it.  You have to go carefully looking for it, which makes it all the more exciting when you find it.

I think a leaf hunt will be an annual tradition around here.  My autumn loving heart is happy!

Jeep Journal - Rubicon Trail Part 2

Now for the second half of the journey (Read all about the first half here if you missed it.)...

Camp at Rubicon Springs


Friday we were super impressed with the hospitality of the Jeep Jamboree staff as we rolled in to camp.  They gave us helpful directions about good spots to set up camp and told us when dinner was served.  It was lovely not to have to worry about packing and preparing food at the end of a long day on the trail.  It is quite the operation up at camp. While on the trail Friday, supplies and staff were being helicoptered in overhead throughout the day.  The camp is so remote, and it's the easiest way to get everything there.  It also provides quite a bit of comfort knowing if you had a real emergency, you could always be helicoptered out quickly.

Three plentiful, tasty meals a day were served up with lots of options.  There was even a bar and bartender serving up delicious bloody marys from a homemade mix.  No one went hungry, and water and Gatorade were available all weekend.

After a huge camp breakfast and of course another blood mary, Saturday was a day for relaxing, hiking, and swimming, and it was much needed.  We could just cool off and take it easy.  Going for a chilly dip in the Springs was refreshing and rinsed off at least the first layer of trail dust from the day before.

The Bear

As you may know I am fairly new to this whole outdoorsy thing.  I was proud of myself for peeing in the woods. I was hot and dirty, but didn't whine or freak out about anything...well until Saturday night that is, when I had a complete meltdown after being sniffed by a bear.

Let me give you a little context to this story.  There was a mama bear and her two small cubs who lived very close, and had been active in camp.  The night before we had actually seen her from a distance just meandering down the trail and up and over some rocks near the campsites.  She had gotten into a couple of jeeps and done some minor damage looking for food , which really wasn't that plentiful at the campsites because the food was all provided and locked up.  However she had apparently learned that campers + coolers = food, and was still going to try.

Note the bear bite marks on a fellow Jeeper's cooler.

This of course made me fairly uneasy Friday night as I triple checked that we had no food anywhere near our tent, and was startled awake by every little sound.  But this was nothing compared to the lack of sleep I got on Saturday night!

I had fallen exhausted into my cot that night and was hoping for more sleep than the night before.  I tossed and turned and snuggled into my new sleeping bag as Mr. Ladd promptly passed out in the cot next to mine.  I cursed him in my head for his ability to instantly fall asleep anywhere under any circumstances as I tried to get to sleep.  What I'm guessing was about an hour or so later, I heard crunching footsteps approaching the tent.  At first I thought it was just a fellow camper up to go to the bathroom.  The lumbering footsteps came right along my side of the tent, and I quickly realized this was no human as I heard '''PHoooouh (snort)...sniff, sniff, sniff, (fur brushing against tent)."

Now, I don't know if you've ever had your face sniffed by a bear through a millimeter of nylon, but there is #1 no mistaking that it is indeed a bear, and  #2 nothing you can do except pray to Jesus that she doesn't claw her way through your tent with one swipe and proceed to eat your face off!  I have never been so terrified or paralyzed with fear in my life.  I thought I would pass out from holding my breath.  I then decided that might not be a bad idea,  because at least I wouldn't feel anything when she mauled me to death.   I thought I heard her go away, but I was sure as hell not peeking my head out to look, and I still could not move or speak to wake up Jeremiah, who had of course slept through the entire ordeal. 

Allow me to illustrate.

So I just laid in the same position I had been in pre-face sniffing, until I thought my hand would fall off from lack of circulation, and that I might actually pee the cot.  Jeremiah finally stirred, so I thought it safe to tell him what had happened through whispering, hysterical tears with my headlamp on like I was in the Blaire Witch Project.  His loving response to my panic over almost being eaten was, "It was probably just a squirrel or a lizard (roll over)."  See #1 above if you would like to know how satisfied I was with that feeble reassurance.

I begged him to walk to the bathroom with me, and get the knife out of the Jeep.  When we got back to the tent I scooted my cot as close to him as possible, dug my fingernails into his arm and prayed for daylight.  I shivered for the rest of the night, wide awake and listening as dogs barked and people tried to scare the bear out of their own campsites.  The dawn did finally find me alive and vindicated as the people in the tent right next to ours had also been paid a visit by said bear, and there were paw prints bigger than any squirrel or lizard to prove it. 

On the Way Out

Needless to say, I was excited to pack up and hit the trail again that next morning.  We loaded up on some breakfast and took some snacks for the road.  Jeremiah had even more confidence in his driving skills this time around, and this section of the trail was greener and shadier, feeling a lot less punishing.

However, as promised, the entire Rubicon Trail is relentless.  It makes you work for every mile, and the last 5 hour leg of the journey on the way out of camp and back to civilization is still no Sunday drive.  Cadillac Hill can actually be quite dangerous.  It's very steep with lots of tight turns, and someone had a very bad rollover accident on that part of the trail the week before.  But the trail guides were a huge help with exact tire placement and spotting every step of the way.

Taken from the actual angle I was on inside the jeep next to the edge!

After a few more hours and boulders later, we saw some pavement finally as we came to the end of the trail.

High fives and some more stories were exchanged as we aired back up and swapped contact info with some new Jeepin' buddies.  We had made it, and it truly was exhilarating!

A Shower and a Toilet

We headed back home toward Phoenix, but planned an overnight stop at The Spalding House, this small historic bed and breakfast in the heart of Visalia, CA.

I have never been more excited to see running water.  After 3 days, and lots of dirt, I think Jeremiah even took 2 showers.  I slept hard and sound knowing there was no possibility of a bear encounter in this four poster bed.

But I would do it all over again!

Jeep Journal - Rubicon Trail Part 1

Earlier this month, we joined up with Jeep Jamboree USA for their most difficult guided trip, the Rubicon Trail in the Sierra Nevada Mountains of northern California.  This trail is rated a 10 in difficulty, and is famous as one of the most challenging off-road experiences in the United States, and it definitely lived up to that reputation.

I have written here before about my new found passion for wheeling, but this trip took it to a whole new level.  

The Roadtrip

We embarked from Phoenix way early Wednesday morning, grumpy with each other and feeling rushed. But after a little apologizing, a bit of a late start, and a lot of Starbucks we were off!  We had a 13 hour road trip over 2 days, which included a lovely stay at the Holiday Inn Express in Fresno, CA  ( Let me digress for a minute, but I'm not kidding, as far as right off the highway road trip hotels go, the good folks at Holiday Inn Express have it figured out.  No, I am not getting paid to say that, I just really appreciate super clean sheets and a free breakfast.  Highly recommend.) 

After a good night's sleep, the Thursday leg of the roadtrip started out with some more of this...                                         

Have I expressed my love for a coconut iced soy latte? Try it.  You won't be sorry.

Followed by a stop here....

Cue some more arguing.  Someone (me) was glad we had bought a tent heater despite spousal protest, and someone else (Mr. Ladd) was wishing he would have bought water shoes as I suggested, so I guess we know who was right on both counts.

We finally made it to the hospitable mountain town of Georgetown, CA where we promptly lined up to register for the next morning and get our vehicle inspected.

After that, we checked in to the friendly little Rock Creek Inn down the road and went with the innkeeper's recommendation for dinner at Camp Virner, where homemade Italian and German food was served up with a charming German accent behind cozy gingham curtains.

We headed back to our inn for the night and turned in early, because 5:00 a.m. would come awfully early.  Let me tell you what, this waking up early thing is still a part of Jeeping that I need to get used to. 


The Trail - Friday:

This is what it looks like at 6:00 a.m. when 70+ Jeeps are lined up to head off for a grueling adventure.

Ready to go!

 It was a chilly, gorgeous morning and we had some breakfast, lined up according to our color group, and hit the road.  It's about a 40 minute drive to the beginning of the trail, and early rising paid off big time in the form of a Loon Lake sunrise.

We aired down our tires (which you do to get better traction and conform to uneven surfaces) at the beginning of the trail, aptly named Gatekeeper.  This trail is no joke from start to finish, and the Gatekeeper section seems to smirk while asking, "Are you sure you want to do this?"  I use the term trail loosely, because while it is an official 4x4 trail, it does not look like a place you are supposed to drive.  There is really no evident path, and without trail guides it would be easy to get lost.  Multiple boulders, fallen logs and river crossings are generally things you go around with your vehicle not over or through.  Ah, but that is the beauty of the Jeep, especially with some tough tires, and heavy duty rock rails, bumpers and skid plates you would be amazed at what these things can do!

Tire before the trail

Tire about 3 or 4 hours into the trail.  A little worse for the wear, but still climbing rocks like a champ!

Lunch break

Then there was the hardest section of the trail Big Sluice.  Again, less of a trail and more of a downhill boulder field with huge trees sprinkled in for good measure.  Lot's of landing on rock rails, and sliding down on skid plates.  Eventually you get used to the bone jarring sound of granite on steel.

Notice the mirror tucked in so as to get through.

We made it through the toughest parts and got into camp at Rubicon Springs Friday night with plenty of time to settle in to our cozy spot and explore a bit.  We were all tired and dirty in the best of both ways as we pointed out battle scars on our Jeeps, and traded stories from the trail like old war veterans around the campfire. 

Join me tomorrow for Part 2 of the Rubicon Trail where I almost get eaten by a bear, we conquer Cadillac Hill, and finally get a shower. 

Adventurous Intention

I have not yet shared my newest obsession here on the blog, but I want to make it a regular feature.  You see, I have a new love - an unexpected one that involves big tires, rough rides, climbing rocks, dirt, mud, even occasionally peeing in the wilderness.  I love Jeeping! 

Now, this alone is not shocking, but those who know me understand that I have not at all been an "outdoorsy" kind of girl.  I was not a tomboy.  I did not make mudpies, climb trees, or go camping as a kid.  I didn't like to get dirty, and I thought the kids in the neighborhood with frequently skinned  knees and bare feet were a hot mess.  I was far too busy playing school and doing my nails.  I was NOT adventurous, generally trying to avoid anything that made me sweat, bleed, or cry.

This was evident from early on.   In fact, when I was a toddler my mom could put me on a blanket in the middle of the lawn while she did yard work, and I would stay there, because I didn't like how the grass felt on my toes when I ventured off the safety of the blanket.  Going places wasn't necessarily important to me. I grudgingly learned how to ride my two-wheeler at about eight years old finally, only after many a frustrating attempt to learn, and serious pressure from my brother Ben who was two years younger and had already learned how to ride his without ever needing training wheels.  I also remember a particularly terrifying incident at the age of probably nine.  It took place at the top of a firepole type structure on the playground at the zoo.  All the other kids joyfully slid down like American heroes, and I clung to the top of the pole, with one foot still on the platform crying like an idiot until someone came over to "spot me."  Even with assistance, I still wrapped my legs around so tightly that I squeaked down slowly an inch at a time until I reached the ground safely, and once was enough. Again...far from adventurous.  I was a hold on tight, close my eyes, stay on the blanket kind of a girl.

Moving into adulthood I was a little less close-fisted about life, but still prioritized comfort and safety and tended to avoid the unknown.  When we decided to move from Wisconsin to Arizona in 2009, part of me was sick of playing it safe.  I really wanted to show myself and everyone else I could do it.  I could be uncomfortable and uncertain, and just do it anyway.  I could avoid stressing too much about the details, and just enjoy the ride.   We moved basically for the sake of trying something new, and that experience has changed a lot for me. 

It's hard to explain at times, but I feel like that was the beginning of wanting to "live life with adventurous intention." Living with adventurous intention is the idea that all of life - where you live, who you choose to live with, what you experience, takes on a whole new light when you intentionally view it as an adventure, and look for opportunities to experience something that scares you, excites you, stretches you.  Too many people, including myself for too much of my life, just go through life with the goal of simply staying safe and clean.  Sometimes getting dirty, and skinning knees, and seeing things you didn't know you were missing by doing things you never thought you'd do is the only way to grow.

When we bought our Jeep I had no idea I would love it so much, or that off-roading would become our new favorite pastime.  But it has become a metaphor for me about living life with that adventurous intention. It's going from driving around and through the mountains to being in the mountains. It's picking a trail and going off the pavement, taking the road less traveled, and coming home at the end of the day tired in the most complete way.  But, it's not just reckless thrill seeking, as it shouldn't be in life either.  It's consciously taking on a journey with a start and end point in mind.  It's setting yourself up with a plan and the proper supplies, but knowing that you will have to climb over rocks and navigate narrow bridges - that you'll get dirty and sweaty and maybe even have to pee in the woods. But much like life, the more rocks you're willing to climb, the better the scenery will get.