Exploring Nature in Phoenix

GETTING SWEATY ON CAMELBACK MT, PHOENIX

A few months back, I received a message from Adam, a friend––couchsurfer––who hosted me during an impromptu trip to Bermuda last year. He had heard that I was about to leave my job in New York, so he messaged to let me know that he was about to do the same. We congratulated each other and agreed to cross paths at some point down the line.

We kept our promise, and just hours after hugging good-bye my roadtrip crew, I greeted Adam in Phoenix, Arizona. This would be the starting point for our roadtrip to New Mexico. As

With just a few hours of daylight left, Adam and I decided to head to Camelback Mountain hike. And by “hike” I mean an ankle-twisting, heart-pumping climb up an adult jungle gym of rocks and cactus. And while we were punished for ravaging a box of fried chicken and donuts an hour before, we still managed to summit in respectable time and to take in the panoramic views of Phoenix at sunset (albeit a noticeable shortness of breath).

The descend down was much more precarious with the fading light and by the time we made to the bottom, we could barely make out the difference between a rock from staggering cactus (hnot advisable). The sunset was well worth it and Adam and I high-fived each other before promptly destroying two plates of burritos.