When we left off, Kevin and I were about to be stranded at our Mister-Rogers-Neighborhood-meets-the-Gestapo RV Park. Knowing there was a big snowstorm coming, we’d actually considered canceling our reservations at pricey Rancho Sedona, but we didn’t have many good options. Dead Horse Ranch State Park has a 14 day stay limit, we already knew there was no availability in Phoenix, and we’d just fled a different campground south of Sedona. Plus, even if there was somewhere else to go, the whole region was about to get hammered by the storm, so we figured we might as well just stick with the plan and hunker down in crazytown.

Storm Prep

Our goal is always to avoid extremely cold weather because a) it causes things to break; and b) it can be miserable in an RV. But this winter has put us to the test as we just haven’t been able to find consistently nice weather anywhere. Add a major snowstorm to the equation and we knew we needed to come up with a plan to prepare for the situation.

Most of our plan revolved around snacks….

Nutella, Chocolate frosted brownies, chocolate chips, and beets at grocery store
You buy your toilet paper, bread and milk. We’ll buy Nutella, chocolate frosted brownies, and chocolate chips.

Other than our chocolate supply, we did make some efforts to prepare for the storm.

We topped off our propane tank and I lined the very drafty cabinets in our bedroom slide with Reflectix to add some insulation. Once we were in the coldest part of the storm, we relied on our electric heat pump and space heaters during the day while running our propane heat at night – this ensured we wouldn’t run out of propane when we needed it most, and kept our bays warm (the propane heat flows under the RV so it warms our bays and tanks). Finally, we disconnected from the outside water supply overnight – using our fresh water tank and water pump instead. This prevented any freezing of our outside hoses and connections.

When I posted this picture on Facebook:

Motorhome surrounded by heavy snow

about 800 people (OK, 2, but it seemed like 800) noted that we were smart for bringing our slides in before the snow began to fall. Only problem? Our slides are on our driver’s side… They are out, you just can’t see them in the photo.

All of which caused me to have a slight panic about whether we were causing thousands of dollars of damage to our house.

I took some comfort in the fact that none of our neighbors had brought their slides in either. On the other hand, one of these neighbors managed to burn through his entire supply of propane in three nights. So, perhaps, these were not the experts we should be relying on?

Anyway, there was nothing we could do so we just waited it out and hoped for the best.

Once the storm was over, Kevin went out and knocked the snow off the slide toppers, and, several days later, we pulled in the slides with no problems. It was a huge relief and proof positive that you don’t actually have to know what you’re doing to successfully live and travel in a motorhome.

Snow!!

The snow came down heavily for two days. Because of the intermittent melting, it’s hard to say exactly how much we got, but I’d estimate it was between 12 and 18 inches. It was gorgeous!

RV park blanketed in snow

Trees coated in heavy snow

Trees and bushes under heavy snow

Large tree branches coated in snow
In addition to concerns about snow weighing down our slides, we were also worried about one of these branches coming down on our home. While we lucked out with no damage, our neighbors had a huge branch land on their roof – it was so heavy they needed a chain saw to cut it up. Fortunately, they suffered no significant damage (at least, as far as they knew at the time).

And while we weren’t sure how our SoCal beach dog would feel about the white stuff, we had nothing to worry about. Thor was a total snow lunatic.

Thor standing in snow up to his belly
“You know, if you’d stop calling me over to take pictures, I could be having fun right now.”

Red Rocks Emerging…

As the snow melted, Sedona’s famous red rocks emerged even more beautiful than usual. Snow dusted red rocks in Sedona

While we waited for the trails to clear, we wandered the town a bit.

The Tlaquepaque Shopping Center is right up the street from the RV park and offers numerous art galleries, independent craft and clothing shops, and unique dining establishments. It is designed to feel like a Mexican village, complete with cobblestone walkways, decorative stone archways, and beautiful statues throughout. Under bright blue skies, warm sunshine, and quickly melting snow, it was a beautiful spot to meander.

We visited two standout restaurants while in town:

Elote Cafe is a reasonably priced, casual Mexican place that features authentic and inventive flavors, friendly service, and pretty views from their large windows. We chose to share several items off the small plates menu so we could try multiple dishes.

We just barely ordered too much, but it was so delicious we didn’t mind the post-dinner waddle home.

Hideaway House is a cool little Italian spot on one of the main streets in town (thanks for the tip, Shannon B!) While the restaurant is known for its awesome red rock views, it was a bit chilly to sit on their deck, so we sat inside. Not that it mattered. The food and service were both outstanding.

The roasted peach and caramelized Pancetta pizza at Hideaway House
The roasted peach and caramelized Pancetta pizza at Hideaway House

Sedona Hiking

Finally, the trails leading to Sedona’s famous Red Rocks emerged from the snow. The only downside of our post-snowstorm hiking was the mud. So much mud.

Thor sniffing muddy trails
Yeah, I don’t know why he gets an upset stomach either….

Sedona has a ton of hiking trails with options for all skills and abilities. We chose to tackle a couple interconnected trails in the Coconino National Forest. Here’s a map of the area:

Map of Broken Arrow Trail System
We hiked Broken Arrow to Chicken Point to Chapel of the Holy Cross, back to Hog Wash….

Once we gained a bit of elevation on the main Broken Arrow Trail, we found ourselves surrounded by 360 degree views of red rock formations and pine forest….

Red rock formations s in Sedona

The whole town is a Jeep commercial….

Seriously, I feel like Jeep should pay me for this….

Red rock walls tower high above the trails…

Tall walls of red rocks in Sedona

and interesting natural details abound.

A tree standing in front of red rock walls

While we were busy looking up and around, Thor was busy exploring the area’s water features…. turns out, we’ve got ourselves a bona fide water dog!

Thor splashing through a stream

He found every creek and remaining patch of snow. And, when I asked nicely, even sat for photographs.

Kevin standing with Thor in Sedona

I had seen photos of Sedona’s famous Chapel of the Holy Cross on various blogs and was intrigued by this small chapel built right into the rocks. Happily, there was a trail that led right to the chapel’s parking lot. It felt a little weird tromping up to a beautiful church in our red mud covered hiking boots with our dog, but no one seemed to mind.

The chapel was completed in 1956 and is generally open to visitors year round. It can also be reserved for weddings.

Chapel of the Holy Cross in Sedona, Arizona

The interior is tiny – just 6 or 7 pews on either side of a central walkway to the front.

As the sun dropped lower in the sky, we headed back to our car. With every passing minute, our surroundings grew more brilliant. Sedona’s true majesty is best captured at sunset (probably sunrise too, but that’s never going to happen for us). Kevin walking along a trail in Sedona at sunset

While we had to hoof it to get back to the car before dark, we thoroughly enjoyed hiking in the heart of Sedona.

Devil’s Bridge

In addition to the Chapel, the other iconic site on our list was Devil’s Bridge. This extremely popular hike ends at a huge natural bridge visitors can walk across to fulfill all their Instagram dreams. We hiked this fun trail with Shannon and Ken.

We took the long way via the Wagon Trail which offered some beautiful views and extra mileage before connecting to the main trail.

The Wagon Trail to Devil's Bridge in Sedona

It is an easy hike which becomes more moderate as hikers have to walk up a series of more significant inclines. The final ascent to the bridge is very steep. All of which would have been fine if not for the recent snow.

As we gained elevation across the hike, we ran into more and more snow, slush, and ice. By the time we got to the final ascent, we were looking at icy/slush covered stone steps with nothing to hold on to. At that point, all except Kevin called it a day.

Kevin, on the other hand, completed the climb and saw the bridge, but failed to take a single picture.

That kid is never gonna make it as a travel blogger.

Anyway, I’m super bummed I didn’t complete the hike but my fears (or smarts depending on your outlook), won out. I’ve no doubt we’ll be back some day and I’ll finish it then.

Boots

Speaking of slipping on messy trails, our experiences on the trails in Sedona convinced us it was time for new boots. I’ve had these Keens longer than I can remember and have put an obscene number of miles on them. The seam on my left one ripped long ago, but I’d just ignored it until recently when I noticed the inner lining under the seam was tearing as well – meaning the boots would no longer be waterproof.

Old, worn out hiking boots

And I’d noticed the tread was wearing, but didn’t appreciate just how bad the situation was until I compared them to a new pair:

Comparison of tread on old boots and new boots
Whoops. Probably should have replaced these a while ago….

But man, thinking about where these old boots have been blew me away. Even more so than our RV or our car, our boots take us to the coolest places. From the rocky coastline of Maine to the Redwood Forests of California, from the cliffs of Nova Scotia to the white sands of New Mexico, from the mountains of Colorado to the slot canyons of Arizona, these reliable kicks have been all over the place.

We’ve seen a number of folks come off the road recently. The reality is, this lifestyle can be tough to sustain for any number of reasons. It’s not for everyone and we are endlessly reminded that any number of things could put a quick and unceremonious end to this nomadic phase. Seeing other people come off the road and considering all the ways in which our own plans may be derailed, provides fuel to the fire to explore more and not take a moment for granted.

And with that, here are my new boots:

New hiking boots in a box

…ready to take on new mountains, forests, dunes, and canyons. We’re excited to keep venturing out, and we’re happy that you’ve all chosen to come along for the ride.

Next up: Winslow, Petrified Forest National Park, and a gigantic hole in the ground.

_______________________________________________________________________

Where we stayed:

Dead Horse Ranch State Park, Cottonwood, Arizona

Rancho Sedona RV Park, Sedona, Arizona

56 COMMENTS

  1. We typically bring in our slides if it is a wet heavy snow, not so much if it is a light fluffy one. The snow sure made for some beautiful photographs and Thor really seemed to like the white stuff! Good hiking boots make all the difference both for traction and comfort.

    • Yeah, I think in the future we’ll bring our slides in, at least during the heaviest snowfall, just so there isn’t so much weight sitting on the slides. Luckily, it all worked out for us but we’ll probably do things differently going forward…

      Actually, in the future, if all goes well, we’re going to do everything we can to avoid snow, so perhaps it won’t matter?? 🙂

      And I agree, there’s a night and day difference between my old boots and my new ones. You don’t even realize how bad they are until you get a new pair.

  2. Lol, you got more snow than we did in New England!????????. Sedona is one of the prettiest places. We loved it. Our only regret with our trip to AZ was that we didn’t spend much time there. Next time we will plan differently – but rest assured we will NOT be going through the mud, lol! Love the new boots. It’s like when I get new running shoes, it’s just the best feeling. Wear those in well!!

    • Thank you! We would have loved more time in Sedona too… or, at least, more time that we weren’t stuck inside hiding from the snow. 🙂 Hopefully next time the weather will be more cooperative. There is definitely a lot to see and do there and we absolutely want to go back!

  3. Snow – Just say no! It’s a 4 letter word! After 30+ years in New Hampshire, I’ve seen and dealt with all the snow I’ll ever need in my life. The rule when we moved into Waldo was we couldn’t be anywhere the temperature was less than my age. It hasn’t quite worked out that way, but I try my damnedest to avoid cold and definitely snow (Alaska trip aside). Wouldn’t it be neat if the Keens had a built in pedometer? Then you could be a commercial for the durability of them. I love my Keens. Happy trails.

    • Haha… I love your age based rule… we have been failing miserably all winter long, but I think it’s a great goal! I do enjoy a good snowstorm, and wouldn’t mind at all if we were in a normal house, but an RV is so different, it just makes it miserable. One thing’s for sure: we will NOT be sad to see this winter end.

      And yes, I would love to know how many miles I put onto those Keens. They were great boots and I would have bought another pair had the seam not split. I thought that was weird. But otherwise, they were fantastic! And I like your pedometer idea. I wouldn’t be surprised if that’s a feature some day. Runners and hikers would certainly love it.

  4. That snowstorm made for a beautiful landscape, but I agree, it isn’t much fun in an RV. Well, except for Thor, who looks like he had a blast! Don’t you love those dry western climates where it can snow one day, and the next day is t-shirt weather? Looks like you had a great time in Sedona, and the hike was beautiful—but hey, I wanted to see that bridge! Kevin, come on! You’ve gotta document these things! It’s important! (Although I’ll settle for the photos of tacos—equally important in my book.) 🙂

    I have to say, my favorite part of this post is your musings on your boots and life. Such a good reminder to seize the moment. Here’s to many more miles of grand hiking adventures!

    • I will definitely agree that the weather out here qualifies as schizophrenic! I was in shorts and a T-shirt two days ago. Today, it snowed all day. Go figure…. Hopefully we’re clawing our way toward Spring now. It’s supposed to be back in the high 60s this week.

      As for Kevin, I really don’t know what I’m gonna do with him. I mean, what is the point of going to these beautiful places and hiking these incredible trails if you’re just gonna stand there and take it all in without taking a single picture to prove you were there? I mean, really… what is he thinking???

      🙂

  5. I just realized that it’s easier to read your blogs than it is to travel/hike/blunder for ourselves! I love your sense of humor!
    Never the less, we continue to put the miles behind us and hope that we don’t have to decide whether to leave the slides out or not!

    • I was JUST thinking about you guys the other day and wondering how things were going. You guys are getting close to your departure date! So exciting! I’m sure you have a ton on your plate right now, but before you know it, it’ll all be in the rearview mirror (literally). And yes, if we can help at all by showing people what not to do (in this case, get stuck in an RV in the snow), then I will feel very accomplished with this little blog. Hope you guys are doing well!

  6. Love Sedona and one day hope to spend some real time there. Can’t say I enjoy snow anymore, 20+ years in VT cured me of that, glad Thor enjoyed it though. We’ve been reminded a few times recently of how fragile life is and how quickly it can change. We are thankful we could get into this lifestyle early, who knows when something will happen to make it end. If only our boots could talk, the stories they could tell.

    • I feel like we’re getting these reminders on the daily… I guess it’s just part of getting older, but it really does make you stop and think and re-prioritize. I, too, am so glad we are able to do this now. However long it lasts, it’s all a gift.

      As for Vermont, as much as we adore that state, it’s a very clear “Oh hell no!!” when it comes to spending winter there! 🙂

  7. Hello friends –
    Ahh….Sedona. One of our top 5 places we have visited. Enjoyed your photos, especially the trail map (okay the ones of Thor in the snow look way fun too). Reflected over the trails we’ve covered and the ones we plan too. Love Sedona.
    Thanks for sharing and safe travels,
    Jeff, Deb and Sam. ????????

    • Wow, given how many places you guys have been, ‘top 5’ is high praise indeed. But, I can absolutely see why. Sedona really is special. I’m sure we could spend months there and never see everything. Can’t wait to return!

      And safe travels to you too… Boston-bound soon!! We’ll be rooting for you guys!

  8. Wow, Sedona looks beautiful in the snow!

    Good reminder to not take full time RVing for granted. We’ve been off the road for four months now, taking care of some family stuff in Michigan. I’m itching to get back out there! I think we will travel at least a few more months before figuring out what to do next. It felt hard to take the leap to living in a trailer, but it’s just as hard to stop. I hope when we get back to it I’ll appreciate it even more.

    • We are definitely not burned out yet, but we know we’re not gonna do this forever. I guess that’s the downside of traveling full-time while we’re still pretty young. It makes it hard to figure out what to do and where to go next. There is no obvious answer and, at this point, I can’t imagine what would be more interesting/challenging/fun than this.

      I’m sure a couple months at home will make you more than ready to get back out there. And I sure hope you guys continue for a bit. Your blog is one of my favorites. You go to some of the best places and do such a fantastic job capturing it all!

  9. Slides-during cold/bad weather we will bring our slides in. Less chance of damage to the toppers and during cold weather, less area inside to heat. We can easily maneuver around inside with slides in and usually it’s not for that long a period of time. Just makes it a little cozier..

    • Yup, I think going forward we will bring our slides in. We already do for high winds. We just didn’t really think about it with the snow – because we were never planning on being in the snow to begin with. (Whoops!) You also make a good point about the cold. As I mentioned in the post, we’ve found our bedroom slide to be extremely drafty..We probably lose a ton of heat through the living room slide as well. So you’re right – if the slides are in, we’ll lose less heat because we’ll have less surface exposed to the elements AND there will be less space inside the rig that we need to heat. Win win!

  10. Glad you survived your second? Snow if the winter. Yes, that 70 degree weather has been elusive for us this year too! Happy to see you still enjoyed Sedona. We’ll be there this summer.

    • This was the second time we saw snow, but the first time it really accumulated. And this was enough to convince us that Florida is where it’s at for winter. (Seriously, if it snows there next year, I’m gonna cry…)

      You’re gonna love Sedona. It’s absolutely beautiful and during the summer, it should be spectacular!

  11. I loved this post. LOVE Sedona and have loved it since our first visit in 1971. It’s changed a lot since then, but the beauty still hits you over the head each time you step out the door. I love Thor’s enthusiasm and foolishness. I love that you let him be a puppy and get muddy and wet and silly. I love it when a large, formidable looking dog allows you to see that he’s really just a dog. I love the story of your old boots and the promise of the new ones…..here’s to many more adventures and to living life on the road.

    • Awww, thanks Sue! This was a challenging stop because of the weather, but there were some pretty awesome upsides to it… not least of which was seeing how happy Thor was in the snow. Boy, is he gonna be in for a rude awakening when he has to deal with an east coast summer with all its humidity this year! We’re pretty confident he’s gonna take to swimming though, so we’re looking forward to that. Everything is new for him, so it’s always “a little scary” followed by “complete joy.” It’s fun to watch!

  12. I just got a new pair of Merrell’s due to being worn out also, it was amazing feeling having the proper support compared to the old pair that was about 5 years old. Glad you are enjoying the furry friend, seems like a perfect match. Take care, I am sure our paths will cross again. Come join us in MOAB in May of next year.

    • Yup, I broke out the new boots this past week and the difference was incredible… You really don’t realize how much of an impact they can make until you get a new pair. As for Moab, that is definitely on our list and if all goes well, we’ll be back out west next spring, but I haven’t gotten that far in the planning yet. I’ll keep you posted though. I’ve no doubt we’ll cross paths somewhere and it’ll be great to catch up!

  13. Love the pix of Thor romping in all the mud. It looks like it’s a lot harder to get the mud out of his fur than Opie’s. I see you’ve turned him into his own pack mule. Now to start training him to carry your supplies too.

    I cannot believe how much snow you got in Sedona. We’re kinda glad our plans got derailed or else we would have been stuck boondocking in Sedona during that storm. UGH. There are so many great trails in Sedona so I’m sure you three will make it back again and hit the bridge next time.

    • Yes! I meant to tell you that we used the pack with him! He wasn’t a big fan when we had weight in it, so we took the stuff out and just had him wear the pack for this go-round. Next time we use it, we’ll add a bit of weight and see how he does. It’s all new for him, so he just has to get used to it, but it’ll be good for him to carry some weight. Should help tire him out. 🙂

      I think you are definitely right about your change in plans being a blessing in disguise. It would have been a nightmare to boondock in those conditions. It was absolutely freezing at night and you would have been stuck for days waiting for the mud to dry up before you could move anywhere. As much as we did not enjoy our campground, we were happy to be at a campground with utilities and paved roads leading to it, etc.

  14. You guys sure experienced the extremes of weather in Sedona / Cottonwood. Although weather whiplash is obviously annoying, it makes for dramatic differences in your photos! And as any travel blogger knows, that’s the important thing. Here’s to many happy miles on the new boots in many gorgeous places.

    • Agreed, the change from what seemed like a black and white environment to the stunning reds of Sedona was pretty amazing- especially given how quickly it went from one extreme to the other. It was like Dorothy opening the door to Oz. And, as much as we did not enjoy freezing our butts off, as a blogger, I did appreciate that we were in a beautiful place made even more beautiful by the crazy weather. I mean, we all must suffer for our art, right? 🙂

    • Yes. Yes, we are.

      You know about these Millennials… too lazy to carry their own loads, expect everything to be handed to them, don’t want to put the effort in. Well, that’s just not gonna fly with us! Nope. Young Thor is gonna have to put in the work. Just like his folks. Walk to school in the snow, uphill, both ways!!! 🙂

  15. I love Sedona, but haven’t been there for a while. We did lots of muddy hikes looking for vortexes while there…never did find one (not sure what it would look/feel like), but we did see some interesting folks being one with mountains. 🙂 You had much more than our 6 inches at Fort Huachuca….it’s been weird weather for sure. Yay for new boots! Put them to good use.

    • Yeah, there was a fair amount of the new age/spiritual stuff in town, and I saw some stuff about hiking to vortexes, but I never really looked into it. In the end, we were just happy to get out on the trails at all. Hopefully next time we’ll have more time and can maybe track down some of these interesting natural features. Plus, there are a ton of scenic drives we’d love to do… those were just not an option with all the snow and mud. Next time….

      As for the weather, yeah. “Weird” is one way to put it. “Oh my god, enough already!!” is another.

      Come on, Spring. Let’s do this.

  16. Well the snow did make for pretty pictures but it is really to bad it foiled your plan to get up to Devil’s Bridge, definitely do it again when the weather is better as it is worth it … although I was to chicken to cross the bridge 🙂

    • From what I’ve been told, once you’re actually on the bridge, it’s not that scary because it’s pretty wide. I don’t know though… it’s a big drop with no barriers. We’ll see. First we have to actually make it back there. Then we’ll deal with everything else. 🙂

  17. What a gorgeous post Laura! From the beautiful snow pictures to the yummy pizza and a happy Thor totally enjoying himself! And then to end with a story about boots and adventures and living everyday to the fullest.

    Sedona remains one of our favorite stops…we have visited several times. I do hope you return and see Devil’s Bridge! It is worth the wait!

    • Thank you! Sedona’s popularity is well deserved. There’s just something there for everyone and the scenery is tough to beat! I have no doubt we’ll be back at some point – between our desire to see more of it and hike more trails and it’s relatively central location, I am sure we’ll get back there soon enough. I’m looking forward to it. Devil’s Bridge is just too cool to leave on the bucket list!

  18. I love the white snow against the red rocks. In January, I drove up from Phoenix to capture some snow images and almost totaled my camera as my feet slid out from under me. Had my fill of snow and ice that day. Sure was pretty though. There are so many great hiking trails that it’s hard to pick just one during a day visit.

    Yeah, ya never know what life will throw at you. So, keep on rolling and exploring and enjoying the journey!

    • Ugh, glad you didn’t get hurt. The snow and slush can be so dangerous, especially when you’re walking across rocky surfaces. That’s why we waited so long to head out, and we thought we were fine… until we got to the top of Devil’s Bridge. If we had waited another 2 days, it would have all been melted. We were just a tad early. Anyway, I guess there’s a price to be paid for all those beautiful snow capped red rock views, huh? I’m just glad neither of us paid with a broken wrist or ankle.

  19. While living in AZ for 20 years, we visited Sedona at least once a year. Never experienced the snow…Beautiful but challenging!
    Just never take these beautiful places for granted….

    • Absolutely… As much as the snow made things challenging, we were happy to be able to see such a beautiful place covered in white. We kind of got the best of both worlds, really.

  20. I love Sedona so, so, so much. I think it’s in the top three of my favorite places so far. You experienced so much more than we did because of where those boots took you. We got caught in two consecutive snowstorms at the Canyon last year. We had the slides out for the first one and put them in for the second (just to make the square footage smaller to use less propane to heat at night and to avoid snow removal). It’s funny how much we learn by trial and error, but, like you, we continue to learn how to survive and thrive. So happy Thor loves the snow–our Lexie comes alive in the colder temperatures (she’s a bullmastiff and is VERY lazy) and adored the white stuff, too. Thor is quite the handsome boy! Safe travels to you guys and I really hope to eventually meet you on the road.

    • Us too! Would love to meet you guys, and if Lexie is pretty low key, she and Thor might get along pretty well too! It’s worth a shot, certainly! I agree, so much of this life is trial and error and making things up as we go along. I’m just happy that there’s this great online community that helps one another out. Another commenter mentioned the heat issue with slides and that totally makes sense. It just never occurred to us. It’s not the kind of thing they tell you at the dealership, but now, thanks to comments on this blog, we’ve learned a new way to address a common challenge. Awesome!

    • So true… I was not expecting to take a walk down Memory Lane when I bought a new pair of shoes, but they really have been an integral part of our travels. And now I can be super excited to break in a new pair and imagine all the places they’ll (hopefully) take me. Fun times!

  21. As a Californian girl I love to see snow but unsure if I’d love to be in your situation 🙂 still I go crazy with the white landscape! I love Sedona for the hikes and the scenery but since our first visit in the early 2000s,(even went on a Pink Jeep tour) it has grown too touristy and was shocked to drive now with all the roundabouts.
    You mean you did not give Kevin a kiss as you remind him to take a picture from up there, us too wants to see the view from the top!
    Thor has adapted to his new on the road lifestyle, he gets to play in mud and snow.
    You just reminded us to get a new pair of hiking shoes from your musings. (not that we are hiking here like crazy ????

    • Ah yes, the fun roundabouts… between Sedona and Cottonwood, we saw more roundabouts in two weeks than we have in our entire lives. And a lot of them were just completely pointless… It was very odd. Overall, we didn’t find the town to be TOO busy, but I think that was mostly a result of the storm. When we went to Devil’s Bridge, there were certainly plenty of people there. I can only imagine what it must be like during the height of summer. And yeah, speaking of Devil’s Bridge, I guess I should have reminded (or threatened) Kevin about taking pictures. I just couldn’t believe he didn’t take one! All that death defying climbing on ice and no proof he was even there? Insanity!

  22. Oh, my, I love seeing Thor romping in the snow and loving the water and mud on the trails. That red dirt makes for some exciting new colors for Thor’s fur!! He is getting broken in the right way by carrying his own supplies. What a cutie!! I hope get to meet him one day. Sedona is such a beautiful place. We so enjoy the variety of trails (not the crowds though). They have one of our favorite Starbucks views. The snow photos are beautiful. You certainly had the right attitude to handle the storm in an MH!! Wow!! You definitely got the most out of your hiking boots. We always find it comical when we compare the treads of the old boots and new ones. You are going to burn up the trails now, leaving Kevin in the dust!! Let us know if you get to the Vegas area again. We are heading out for six week to tour a few state parks and National Monuments in California mid May.

    • I have to say, I am feeling much more confident walking on the trails with these boots. Who knew having actual tread would make such a difference? I can imagine you guys must go through boots pretty quick with all the miles you put on! As for Thor, we are ALL about breaking him in the right way. Can let them get too comfortable and think it’s ALL about the fun of romping in the snow and chasing sticks and begging for treats. Ok, actually, that’s pretty much his whole life, but we won’t hold it against him. He’s a good boy (most of the time). I hope you get to meet him soon too. We’re eastbound for now, but we expect we’ll be back out west next year – and the way time has been flying recently, that’ll be here before we know it! Safe travels in California. Can’t wait to see all the awesome places you guys find!

  23. Having stupid internet means everyone else already said what I was thinking, so I’ll do the summary.
    Snow in Arizona is stupid!
    Thor is a funny pack mule!
    Sedona is beautiful!
    Bad Kevin!
    Yay, new boots to lead you to new and wondrous adventures!

  24. We were in law school together a long time ago and had been talking with some mutual friends that pointed me to your blog. I have been enjoying your blog and hearing of your adventures. Thanks for sharing all these stories! Hope you are doing well. Thanks!

    • Hey Joe! It’s so good to hear from you! It sure has been a long time since law school, huh? Seems like another lifetime, really. Hell, the school we knew barely even exists anymore – new buildings, new name, new everything. Crazy! Anyway, at some point Kevin and I will start acting like mature adults again, but for right now, we’re just trying to have as much fun on this adventure as we can. Maybe we’ll cross paths with you next time we’re back in DC, assuming that’s where you’re still living? Either way, I’m glad you found our little corner of the web and took the time to comment. It’s great to hear from you!

  25. Absolutely love this post. Thanks for sharing the great stories and photographs. I got many good laughs out of your stories. It looks like you were well prepared for the snow storm, at least in regards to snacks :-). I love all of the pictures showing the snow on the trees and the red rocks. It is just beautiful. What a great and memorable experience. It looks like you weathered it well. Sedona is one of my favorite places. I’m looking forward to returning some day. I’ve now got a couple of restaurants to try out while I’m there. Thanks! Best wishes for many new experiences with the new boots.

    • Hey! Thanks for stopping by and commenting! We, too, loved Sedona and, looking back, know it will be one of our most memorable experiences. The weather was so unexpected and the snow so enhanced the already beautiful landscape, it really was special. Of course, none of it would have worked out had we not been well stocked with snacks. 🙂

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