Happy New Year, dear readers! I hope that all of you enjoyed a restful and joyful holiday season. My holiday was shorter than normal, due to a new full-time day job (i.e., no vacation days) and rehearsals and concerts every evening for 2 straight months. I was very happy when Christmas Day rolled around!

I plan on updating this blog on the weekend, as I want to chronicle a fantastic local day hike, an awesome New Year’s weekend, and a new chapter in my outdoor adventuring. Check back next week for some new stories!  🙂

Well, folks, my idea of cycling down to Yuma for Thanksgiving is not happening this year due to a new job!  I have a new day job that precludes bike training (and I have nighttime gigs until Christmas that will further sap my mental and physical energy).  However, jobs = good reason to stop bike training.  That said, I look forward to Christmas festivities and adventures….all the way into 2016.  I’ve been doing little bits of research on outdoor adventures in AZ and there are a lot of places to visit.  The weather is simply marvelous now (finally) and it’s super fun to be able to go outside and not burn to death.  Daytime high temperatures now are in the low 70F / 20C.  Totally bearable!  Stay warm — or cool wherever you are — and stay safe!  I will update this blog in the next few weeks, hopefully with some pictures of holiday happenings.  🙂

Hello dear readers!  It is officially autumn in the western hemisphere, although we Phoenicians have yet to enjoy “cool” weather.  Today’s high is 100F / 37C.  Yes, it is STILL HOT.  But the mornings are cool, at least…..I can’t believe it’s been a month since my last post!  Despite my infrequent posts, I am happy to report that I have not been adventuring as much because of work.  Ever since the end of August, I’ve been talking with various music connections in order to grow my freelance business.  At this point, I have a steady choir accompanying job, several other accompanying gigs, and a recital in Prescott, AZ next month.  However, all work and no play makes me cranky and irritable, so this blog post will chronicle a few fun things that we have been fortunate to experience.

Two weekends ago, my “self-appointed trainer” (or, SAT) and I checked out a road cycling route that goes by Usery Pass in the northeast corner of the greater Phoenix metropolitan area.  This area is visited often by mountain bikers and hikers looking for easy to intermediate trails to enjoy.  Our road ride began innocently enough, with lots of easy flat miles as we rode out of town.  However, we did not know that we would get a little rain nor did we plan on a flat tire (I’ve been getting a lot of flats lately and have reached that mental riding state called “tire paranoia” — I now expect flats and other mechanical issues each time I ride.).  After my SAT fixed my flat, we reached the climbing portion of the ride, during which we stopped for a few minutes to wait out the wind and rain.  Despite those little mishaps, the rest of the ride went smoothly and we treated ourselves to fresh bagels at our local bagel shop when we finished pedaling.

Last weekend, we checked out Oktoberfest with a couple of friends and I finally did something we talked about for a long time: commuting to an event by bike.  Oktoberfest took place really close to my SAT’s workplace, so I decided to ride my bike to his building instead of driving.  Parking would have been a pain in the butt and expensive, so cycling just seemed like the obvious choice.  Too bad I got a flat tire on the way there….good thing I was almost at my SAT’s building (maybe I should start calling him my self-appointed mechanic?).  Oktoberfest itself was loud and full of beer, as one may expect.  We enjoyed some drinks, German food, and good company.

(Photo 1: bicycle valet parking at Oktoberfest; Photo 2: amusement park rides at Oktoberfest.)

In retrospect, the food and drinks consumed at Oktoberfest can be considered ‘carb loading’ — the next ride we did was, sadly, MY idea: let’s ride our bikes to Tortilla Flat!  It’s “only” 90 miles or so!  It won’t be THAT big of an increase in distance from last week!  (The Usery Pass ride turned out to be 67 miles.)  Well, the Tortilla Flat ride turned out to be 105 miles, which is a BIG increase in mileage from the previous week’s “big” ride.  It was also a very warm day for a century ride (my first AZ century!), especially since the bulk of the climbing was done in the hottest part of the day.  Thankfully, I did not get any leg cramps or suffer from dehydration.  I just suffered from poor decision making (i.e., choosing to do this ride in the heat).  There was some pretty scenery along the way, as our route took us through the Superstition Mountains, Lost Dutchman State Park and along Canyon Lake.  Our steepest climb was probably a 6% grade, which made the descent VERY fast (I hit 40 mph!).  We treated ourselves to Mexican food after the ride to replenish our salts and spirits.

(Canyon Lake is one major point of interest along the ride.  It is about 5 miles from the “end of the pavement,” or EOP.  You can see the EOP in photo 4; most high-clearance vehicles can probably navigate the dirt road, but we did not have a choice!  Tortilla Flat is a small unincorporated community located in the central part of the state, northeast of Apache Junction.  It started out as a stagecoach stop in 1904.  Today, it is the last surviving stagecoach stop along the Apache Trail and an authentic remnant of an old west town.  Population is apparently 6 people!)

So, why are we doing all this riding?  We have this crazy idea of riding our bikes down to Yuma, AZ for Thanksgiving weekend to visit my retiree parents who spend the winter there.  In order to have a viable chance at completing our goal, we have to train.  (Of course, if my work schedule changes — which it does frequently – then I will have to bow out of this endeavor.)  There is madness to this method (lots of pain on the bike) and a method to this madness (lots of pain on the bike).  Stay tuned for more two-wheeled pain and suffering….

This weekend, I had the pleasure of spending some time with some friends in Greer, AZ for a spontaneous girls’ weekend.  The main draw of this trip was the cooler climate in Greer; current temperatures in Phoenix are STILL hitting the mid-90s (that’s around 35-36c for my Canadian friends).  While those temperatures are better than 110f, we Phoenicians are still warm.  Greer is about a 4.5 hour drive east of Phoenix and sits at 8300 ft, which means that average daytime temperatures right now are in the high 60s (about 20c).  MUCH better.  We all enjoyed feeling cold and delighted in walking around outside while wearing a jacket.  The drive up is absolutely lovely; you will see lush green forest, some red rock hills reminiscent of the Grand Canyon, and plenty of farm meadows.

(Absolutely beautiful area!)

Greer is a tiny village (year-round population is about 50) that caters to the outdoor adventurer.  Because the location is rather remote, you are guaranteed peace and quiet.  Visitors come to camp, fish, hike, mountain bike, and ski.  Greer is nestled in Arizona’s White Mountain range and is surrounded by the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest, both of which contribute to the stunning landscape we enjoyed all weekend.  We rented a cabin at the Greer Lodge Resort which was right on the river and only a few minutes’ walk from the village center.  I would love to come back and spend more time here exploring the area and climbing all the mountains!

Speaking of hiking, that was one of my goals this weekend; I knew that Mt. Baldy was nearby and its summit was calling my name.  Bagging the 7th highest peak in Arizona would have been a fantastic way to crown the weekend, but alas, it was not to be.  My friend, Katie, and I enthusiastically set off for the East Fork Baldy trail Saturday morning and kept repeating things like “it’s SO pretty here!”….”I love the weather!”….”Did you see that lightning?”

Yes, we heard much thunder and saw lightning and decided to turn around just before the halfway point up the mountain.  Rule #1: safety first.  The East Fork trail up Mt. Baldy is well marked and offers fantastic views of the valley.  It is a 7 mile trail to (almost) the top with about 2100 ft of elevation gain.  I say “almost” because the actual summit is on reservation land and is closed to non-tribal members.  I am not certain if permits are required to access the summit (perhaps disregarding the rule regarding non-tribal members would work as well….?).  We saw plenty of green forest, cool rock formations, and wildlife while breathing in the crisp mountain air.

(Start of the 7 mile trail up Mt. Baldy; Blue sky on left, ominous clouds on right.)

(Cool rock partway up trail; Katie and I at our turnaround point.)

(Cool rock formations and all-around great views.)

(Cute chipmunk; Horseback riders going into the rainclouds.)

The rest of our time in Greer was spent with the rest of our group window-shopping at a few of the quaint antiques shops, eating cobbler from the diner, and having a hotdog roast at our cabin.  Tough life!  All in all, it was a relaxing weekend with good company and beautiful views.

(Interior of the Rendezvous Diner; The scenery behind our cabin.)

(Do you see what I see in the tree?; Adorable locomotive train in the village.)

I am not doing Sufferfest 2.  I am not doing it because I am going to a friend’s wedding and accompanying a choral concert that day.  Part of me is sad (really!) because I do miss having a goal for which to train.  The bigger part of me, though, is relieved (and by “bigger,” I mean my rear end), as Sufferfest is really really hard.

That said, I have a new goal!  My SAT (“self-appointed trainer” for you new readers) and I were brainstorming ideas for an EPIC challenge, something CRAZY and DIFFICULT that would force us and inspire us to get off of our butts and get more active.  Strangely enough, we both agreed on the same idea: riding our bikes to Yuma.  From Phoenix.  In one day.  That distance is just under 200 miles (322 km) and should be possible with the right training and attitude.  After all, I do have experience riding long distances (remember why I started this blog?) and following a training plan.  I think the funny part of this new challenge is that we will be heading to the same city in which my double century occurred and will be attempting close to the same number of miles.  Why Yuma again?  Well, my parents are retired and like to spend the winter in Yuma (the alternative is spending the winter in their native Canada….cold temperatures do not agree with my folks).  We thought we would cycle to Yuma and spend Thanksgiving weekend with them, then cycle back home.  [Author’s note: I have not yet told my parents of this plan, as nothing is definite.  However, since my mother subscribes to this blog, I am wondering how long it will take her to contact me about this cycling idea after reading this post.]

I am praying that the temperatures in Phoenix will continue to cool down soon so that my SAT and I will have the motivation and desire to get outside and train.  I won’t have a chance to start training until after the weekend, as I will be taking a little trip to Greer, AZ with some friends (update on that next week). I plan on enjoying my last weekend of pain-free living!

I am now back in PHX (aka, the centre of the sun) and am reflecting on the past few weeks of musical activity at the Institute for Young Dramatic Voices.  This program is geared for the “large” voice (think Wagner!) and I was a faculty pianist for it.  The first few days of any music program I have attended always seem overwhelming and never-ending as I adjust to new schedules and musical expectations.  Then, routine sets in and time flies by as lessons and coachings are given, ideas absorbed, and goals set.  The last night of the Institute featured a concert that showcased all of the 21 singers.  Each one of them sang beautifully and demonstrated the rewards of all the hard work over the past 3 weeks.  I had a great time here in Reno and feel very fortunate to have been invited to collaborate with the other faculty; all are top music professionals and are genuinely good people to boot.  All of us observed that we all actually LIKE each other and ENJOY being in each other’s company (case in point: some of us spent our free time hiking together and exploring the gorgeous natural scenery around us).  I intend to use the positive musical momentum from this program to kickstart my career in Phoenix; as anyone who has ever relocated knows, it can be challenging to restart one’s career in a new city, especially when social networks and contacts are lacking.  (That said, if any of you readers know of people or musical organizations in Phoenix that need a pianist, piano teacher, or accompanist, please forward my name to them!)

(Photo 1: Reno Riverwalk.  Sadly, the river level was pretty low this summer.; Photo 2: the iconic Reno arch; Photo 3: beautiful “cotton candy” clouds I saw during an evening walk; Photo 4: another gorgeous night sky!)

(The above 4 photos are from a party that the Institute attended.  Our host had an amazing property; he built his own Wild West-themed town from scratch….he also designed and built his own 18-hole mini golf course.  And let’s not forget the actual working train that encircled the entire property!  Amazing party house!)

(Photo 1: beautiful flowers during my hike up Mt. Rose; Photo 2: top of Mt. Rose, NV, elevation 10,700ft (3261 m)!  Lake Tahoe is in the background.)

(Before the final concert!)

I’ve now been in Reno for one week and have heard a LOT of operatic singing.  There are a lot of talented singers at this program and they are working very hard to process all of the information doled out to them in lessons and public masterclasses.  All of the faculty are housed in extended-stay hotel accommodation, which is terrific because we all have our own rooms with a kitchenette, giving us the option of cooking our own food.  As hotel guests, we receive a discount for a gym pass at the gym down the street.  Hooray!  I bought a pro-rated gym pass for the duration of my stay and have been really impressed by the quality of the facility.  One of my goals while in Reno is to maintain a basic level of exercise.  That is the reason I checked out a spin class yesterday morning.  “Spinning” is a type of group fitness class conducted on a special stationary bicycle that focuses on endurance, strength, and high intensity.  I thought I would try it to work out my neglected leg muscles.  It wasn’t too bad.  The instructor would yell out the number of turns we had to turn the dial up or down to increase or decrease resistance.  She would then direct us to stand (and pedal furiously) or sit (and pedal furiously), all the while urging us to “push it!”  The hour-long class ended with some stretching.  During the entire hour, I had 4 thoughts that kept circling around in my brain:

1. I would rather be outside riding a bike than be inside and pretend to ride up a big hill (I know, I didn’t think I’d think that either!).
2. I have never had sweat sting my eyes before (this was because the class was in a small room with only fans to promote air circulation….I wasn’t working THAT hard!).
3. Why was the room not air-conditioned?
4. The seat of my stationary bike was way too cushy and padded.

I think I’m a bike snob now.  At least I got a workout in yesterday!

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Today, two of my colleagues and I decided to do a day hike in Tahoe National Forest.  It was such a pretty hike and we all agreed that it was the perfect thing to do on our day off.  While we would have liked to have seen Lake Tahoe, we thought that a shorter outing would suffice for today.  (I plan on visiting Lake Tahoe next Sunday and hope to hike there as well.)  We hiked the Five Lakes trail and saw beautiful granite cliffs, many shades of green, and peaceful lakes.  Since one picture is worth a thousand words, I will stop writing and show you many thousands of words with the following pictures!

 

Last week, I realized we didn’t have any plans for the long weekend.  My SAT (that would be my “self-appointed trainer,” for those of you new to my blog) and I discussed a few camping options and decided that camping sounded like too much work, especially when I would be leaving right after the long weekend for a short-term opera accompanying job.  “Eureka!” I exclaimed.  “Let us partake in a staycation and take advantage of the sweet summer deals in town!  After all, there should be a plethora of discounts at this time of year because no one in his or her right mind would intentionally plan on visiting Phoenix in the summer!”  So, we did partake in a staycation and it was indeed relaxing.  We spent the 4th of July weekend at a charming resort in Fountain Hills, a golf-oriented community nestled in the foothills of the McDowell Mountain Range, about 20 miles northeast of central Phoenix.

(View of our resort.)

It was a delightful stay, full of good food, nice weather, and yes, even some cycling.  We started both days with a bike ride, mainly to create a calorie deficit for the impending (over)consumption of food to follow.

The main point of this blog entry, though, is to record my second bike ride of the weekend.  Why?  Well, that bike ride featured the most climbing I have done since moving to Phoenix.  When I was training for my double century in Las Vegas waaayyy back in January and February, my rides included a respectable amount of elevation gained by blood, sweat, and (mostly) tears.  A typical 50 mile training ride would encompass 3500-4000 feet of gain.  Here in Phoenix, the terrain is flat and my normal 30 mile ride boasts an impressive 700 feet.  However, my second staycation spin featured almost 2500 feet of climbing!  Ok, so I only biked 32 miles.  But it was like biking 40 miles with all that elevation, right?  One cool segment we discovered was a wicked 18% downhill descent; according to my cycling computer, I hit 44.5 mph going down that hill!  That is the fastest speed I have attained on my bike to date.  It was really fun!  Sadly, going back UP that hill was a grind….ah, who am I kidding?  Like I would bike up that hill.

(I was almost 10 mph over the speed limit!; Pretty mountains.)

(Pretty morning light.; Official stats of the ride.)

My goal for the next few weeks is to make time for a few good workouts per week, continue to eat as vegan as I can (I have a kitchenette in my hotel room but very limited time to cook), and abstain from excess sugar (i.e, no Coke/soda pop, processed sugar).  I have another adventure on the horizon a couple of weeks after I return home, so it behooves me to be good over the next while!

Last weekend, a group of us decided to check out Salome Canyon, just outside of Punkin Center, AZ (yes, it is “Punkin” and not “Puking,” as my old, tired eyes kept thinking!).  Why go hours out of our way to check out an old canyon?  Because “The Jug” is in it!  The Jug is the lower portion of Salome Canyon and contains enough challenges to make it a ‘canyoneering adventure,’ according to summitpost.org.  The bonus part of the hike/adventure is that a good portion of the day was spent in water, which was a welcome diversion, as daily temperatures in Phoenix easily and normally reach a high of 45-47C (110-115F).

The entire hike is about 5 miles, of which just over a mile is in the canyon itself.  We started hiking just before 10am and this is what we saw at the start of the hike:

(Photo 1: starting the hike; Photo 2: a pretty bush…vines…whatever this is.)

After hiking down a well-maintained trail for ~2 miles, we saw the water and we all rejoiced, as we were getting pretty warm (there is no shade along the trail).

(Photo 1: so close to the water!; Photo 2: the trail after we saw our first glimpse of water.)

Finally!  When we reached the water’s edge, it was obvious that there was only way to go and that was IN.  From here, we waded, floated, and swam.  I was the shortest person in the group and at the deepest point, the water level hit my shoulders.  For those of you thinking of visiting this canyon, it is worth mentioning that 1) your backpack WILL get wet, 2) you and everything you are wearing WILL get wet, 3) if it isn’t already obvious, you need to be able to swim before attempting this hike, and 4) bring rappelling gear and someone who has rappelling experience and has already done the hike (more on that a few paragraphs down).  I lined the inside of my backpack with a dry sack and encased my phone in a Lifeproof case.  Nothing was damaged.  Of course, plastic garbage bags will work to line backpacks and ziplock bags would be sufficient to protect keys and ID cards/money if you don’t already have dry sacks or fancy phone cases.

Back to the hike….The beginning of the water portion of the hike is in cloudy water with lots of reeds:

Then the water gets deeper pretty quickly (and slightly colder, but nothing that will chill you or kill you).  One of the best parts of this hike is the cool water slide, about 3/4 of the way into the canyon:

(Photo 1: the waterslide!  When you hit the point closest to the bottom of the photo, you drop into a waist-deep pool; Photo 2: goin’ sideways!)

The most technical part of this hike is near the end, when you have the choice between jumping off a ledge and into the (deep) water about 50 feet below OR rappelling down into the water.  Our group was evenly divided as far as descent options went (I rappelled down, as I wasn’t keen on flinging myself off of a ledge.  Apparently, I am only fine with flinging myself into space when it requires a plane.  I know, weird.).

(Aerial shot of a pool after the rappelling portion.  This gives a sense of how far down the pool is when jumping off the ledge.)

The water got shallower and murkier as we approached the end of the “Jug” portion of the hike, so much so that we all were a little grossed out!  Nothing life-threatening was sighted and nobody has mentioned any illnesses since the hike, so I think the water was fine, but definitely undrinkable!

(End of the water portion of the hike.)

The last couple of miles were a bit of a slog, as it was pretty warm, we had no shade, and we were all tired from playing all day in the water.  All in all, it was a really cool outing and another reminder that adventure is everywhere around you….if you have an open mind and a willingness to explore.

(Photo 1: looking back down into the canyon we enjoyed; Photo 2: on the trail back to the trailhead.)

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What to take with you:

• lots of water to last the whole day.  Perhaps also Gatorade or electrolytes to make up for lost salts.
• food
• hat/sunscreen/lipbalm/sunglasses
• dry sack or garbage bag to line the inside of your backpack
• waterproof phone case (for those who want to bring their phones) or at least ziplock bags for keys/ID/phone
• rappel gear: harness, rope (at least 100 feet), extra webbing, belay device
• duct tape or moleskin for blisters (I had duct tape and a small knife, both of which came in handy for my friend’s blisters)
• towel for sitting on for the ride home (yes, I had this!).  Some people may want to leave a change of clothes in their car for post-hike.
• shoes or sandals to hike in that can get wet.  I wore my Teva water shoes the entire day and they worked fine.  Next time, I think I will wear my regular hiking shoes then change into my water shoes.  It would be nice to hike the ‘normal’ trail without being plagued by all the little rocks that got into my water shoes.

(The rocks that got into my water shoes rubbed off the polish on only ONE toe.  Weird.)

No adventures to report.  It’s too hot.  Today’s high in Phoenix, AZ was 47c (116.6F).  Apparently, Death Valley, CA had the same high temperature today.  Isn’t that funny?  So, I can actually say that today, living in Phoenix equalled Death!  Haha.  Due to the hot weather, Phoenix’s nickname is “Valley of the Sun,” but I’ve re-christened the city as “The Center of the Sun.”  🙂

We went for a bike ride this morning — left home just after 6am — and by the time we finished (~8:30am), the temperature was already 35c (95F).  Yikes.  My riding has decreased dramatically since moving to Phoenix; I don’t believe my body has fully adapted to the ridiculously hot weather.  As they say, you can take the girl out of Canada, but you can’t take Canada out of the girl….or something like that.

I am currently preparing music for an opera program at which I will serve as faculty and one particular aria (song) came to mind.  However, while the heroine in the aria sings of winter coming too soon, winter can not come soon enough for me!

Sigh.  It is one thing to read the weather forecast in the comfort and safety of one’s home and quite another to experience it in the (burning and searing) flesh.

Spontaneous road trips are fun!  I spent the past two days sightseeing in and around Page, AZ with two friends and got a few decent pictures to boot.  We decided to check out Lower Antelope Canyon, which is a popular destination for photographers and nature lovers.  The canyon was formed by erosion during flash floods; rushing water and sand carved pathways through the narrow slots, smoothed the sandstone surface, and shaped contours into the rock.  Apparently, Lower Antelope Canyon (“spiral rock arches” in the Navajo language) is less popular than Upper Antelope Canyon (“the place where water runs through rocks”), mainly because the lower canyon has stairs.  The upper canyon is at ground level (flat) and boasts more sunbeams.  I think what we saw in the lower canyon was absolutely beautiful and the stairs were an added bonus (after all, I actually LIKE hiking). Since the canyons are on Navajo land, they require a tour guide for entrance.  Not surprisingly, the tours generate a significant amount of income for the Navajo nation.  We booked our tours through Ken’s Tours and our guide, Ben, was very patient and knowledgeable as he led us through the canyon and suggested different angles for the millions of pictures our tour members took. (Photo 1: pretty detail of the rock; Photo 2: reminds me of an eagle; Photo 3: I see a bear!; Photo 4: “Twin Peaks”.) (Photo 1: “The Lady”; Photo 2: I can see another, less pretty lady on the left…) (Photo 1: can you see an Indian chief?; Photo 2: “Elephant.”) (Photo 1: theoretically, one can see all the way through to the end of the canyon in this picture; Photo 2: casting my shadow over the top of Lower Antelope Canyon!) After our tour of the canyon, we drove a few miles to Horseshoe Bend, another picturesque and oft-photographed spot.  The Colorado River cuts through the rock in a horseshoe shape 1000 feet (300m) below the lookout point. The rest of the evening was spent eating food and just hanging out at our campsite on Lake Powell, a few miles away from Page, AZ.  We slept in the next morning and took our time enjoying a leisurely breakfast before we all braved the refreshing lake water and immersed ourselves in it.  Our drive back was uneventful and filled with good conversation and plenty of junk food.  When’s the next trip?  🙂