Hiking to Romero Canyon isn't exactly a walk in the park!
On the fourth day of our stay at Miraval, and when the rain finally stopped, we decided to sign up for a pretty serious hike to Romero Canyon. Tucson, Arizona is surrounded by the Pusch Ridge Wilderness, containing 56,933 acres of the western Santa Catalina Mountains. This is an amazingly beautiful area with so much natural diversity, from the majestic Sonoran Desert to the towering mountain peaks. The vigorous hike on the Romero Trail provided stunning views and considerable physical challenge. I’m always so happy when I finish a feat such as this one.
Hi, Martha,
Thanks for the photos and description of your hike in Romero Canyon. I was interested to see the metate, the grinding stone used by the local Indian tribes, as well as the palo verde tree---so green in the desert. What a hike!
Kathy
Posted by: Kathy | January 7th, 2009 at 12:35 am
The finger rock trail and Pima Canyon trail are enjoyable as well. So glad you enjoyed your visit!
Posted by: Robb Anderson | January 7th, 2009 at 1:54 am
Good for you on taking this hike. I hear you when you say that the way down is more fun than the way up.
I took a mountain hike with my daughter in Banff, Alberta last fall, and one does feel a sense of acompishment when you reach the top!
Plus, you have a great view to take pictures.
Take care...
Posted by: Maureen | January 7th, 2009 at 2:50 am
I can't even begin to imagine how the Indians survived living in the desert. It would be interesting to learn more about their habitation.
Where was Alexis?
Glad your enjoying your vacation Martha!
Betsy
Posted by: Betsy Mech | January 7th, 2009 at 3:24 am
Wow Martha that looked like a strenuous hike but so well worth it, at least for the view. Beautiful pictures. Glad the rain stopped.
Posted by: sushi2 | January 7th, 2009 at 4:07 am
Hi Martha,
Nice to see pics of Alexis...such a cutie...don't tell her I said that.
Have to admit, between the Body + Soul challenge and your constant nudging, I'm walking around the pasture an extra lap each day! Thanks for the encouragement.
Posted by: tinay | January 7th, 2009 at 4:25 am
Martha,
You simply amaze me; you're such a trooper! I would not have completed even a quarter of the hike, and seeing that sign that indicated there were 6 more miles to go would have ended my activity. I don't mind hard work but I like to be in one spot when I'm doing it, like my front yard for instance.
BTW, you looked fantastic on your show yesterday, and even slimmer than you were before your vacation. I didn’t sign up for the Body + Soul Challenge last year but I think you have inspired me to do so this year. I hope I can stick with it! Trish
Posted by: Trish | January 7th, 2009 at 5:29 am
Wow....look how trim Alexis is. No doubt....very fit as well.
Posted by: sandra stephenson | January 7th, 2009 at 6:20 am
That "baby" saguaro is probably many decades old. It takes 100 years for one "arm" to grow. Also, the holes in the cactus are made by woodpeckers. You can often see them on the cacti as you drive or hike through the Sonoran Desert. I LOVE Arizona! I lived there for several years --on-and-off-- in the 70s and 80s. In response to "Betsy": there is lots to be learned from the Native Americans, much of which involves survival in desert and in snowy climes too. For one thing, I'm sure it's how we learned that one can stay hydrated and nourished by eating cactus --minus thorns of course! I think that much of what they learned, they learned by watching the animals. Thus, my motto: "Pay attention!"
Thanks Martha, for sharing!
Posted by: Lisa in Hawaii | January 7th, 2009 at 6:59 am
Hi Martha,
What a great hike... one of my favourite activities but I can't believe you stopped to make phone calls and send emails!!! Perhaps you need to learn to "switch off" when on your holiday... lol!
I hope you feel well rested now after being at the spa even though you seem to have done a lot of strenuous activity. Looking forward to your blogs for the rest of the year.... thanks so much.
God bless in 2009.
Robyn in Egypt
Posted by: Robyn Kadis | January 7th, 2009 at 7:18 am
Latter group is good. Life is to enjoy and appreciate the wonders of nature. That is what we hope you did.
Posted by: Margie | January 7th, 2009 at 7:25 am
I so enjoy your descriptions, it is almost like being there. Thanks for sharing your adventures with us, it is a joy to see all the breathtaking photo's of different places.
Karen
Posted by: Karen Gonzales | January 7th, 2009 at 7:49 am
I was sad to hear the news of the passing of Emily Hoffman from MSL radio, my sympathy to you Martha and to her family and friends. She has what I call a "spot on" radio personality voice, she was always so cheerful and filled with so much information. I enjoyed listening to her and I will "miss" that wonderful voice. We can send people to the moon, make billions of dollars, but we can't cure Cancer- YET. I am hopeful in my lifetime and yours that we do.;
I have lost seven pounds so far on The Martha Challenge this is what I can it, not Body & Soul or Whole Living but just The Martha Challenge. I began mine a week ago
Sounds like you had a nice trip to AZ and then The Bahamas and now it's back to work for another half season.
What's planned for us this year? Any hints?
Pam from California
Posted by: Pam from California | January 7th, 2009 at 8:10 am
To Lisa in Hawaii,
Thanks for helping all of us "pay attention" by telling us more about the aging of the saguaro, the woodpecker holes, and knowledge of native Americans. I was happy to hear all these details.
Kathy
Posted by: Kathy | January 7th, 2009 at 8:26 am
Hi Martha, Thank you for sharing this fabulous hike you and Alexis took to the Romero Canyon. Your photos and comments are once again fantastic. Thank goodness the weather improved! Your photos remind me of the hikes I used to take, with my youngest brother, in eastern Washington near Vantage, above the Columbia River. We didn't have the beautiful Saguaro, but we did have sagebrush, rattle snakes, scorpions and horn toads. BTW you looked fabulous on your show yesterday. Jan
Posted by: Jan Erickson | January 7th, 2009 at 8:57 am
Bravo Martha...it would be a 'good thing' to have you as a friend because you 'participate' in doing neat things and pushing oneself. All the while finding interesting stuff along the hiker's path!
Posted by: Sherey | January 7th, 2009 at 9:15 am
Martha,
My friends are always teasing me because I want to be like you in so many ways. In Highschool I started reading your magazines. They were so inspiring! You have exposed me to many things I would not have been exposed to other wise. I am always inspired by what you accomplish and I have featured you on my own blog many times.
I am a better mother, wife and friend because if you.
Thanks Martha, you are a great expample of what a strong and creative woman can become and God knows we need more of those people!
Posted by: Emily Watson | January 7th, 2009 at 1:11 pm
What beautiful pictures! What was the average temperature there?
Posted by: Sherry | January 7th, 2009 at 2:21 pm
Another great hike, Martha! You are a true outdoorsmen and Alexis is too.
I had a fun surprise a few months ago while I was hiking Jordan Pond on Mount Desert Island…I got to see you on the trail. I had the urge to say, “Hello”, but my husband convinced me that you probably didn’t want to be noticed. And I quickly agreed with him.
It was so much fun to see you hiking.
~Gloria
Posted by: Gloria Brown, Winterport, Maine | January 7th, 2009 at 2:27 pm
I'm so glad you've been enjoying our Arizona beauty and what a great time to come out and visit, the weather has been great lately!
Posted by: Stacy Guthrie, myweddingfilm | January 7th, 2009 at 5:55 pm
Martha, I love that you made the entire hike. And I love that you stopped to make calls and send emails. And I love that you weren't in a hurry either. You inspire so many people. Thanks for the pictures!
Posted by: Gigi | January 7th, 2009 at 7:30 pm
Martha
Why dont you have your staff put down some salt on the porch and walkways, I always keep pleanty of salt around during the cold witnter months here in central Ohio. Happy New Year, I cant wait for spring.
Posted by: Trent | January 8th, 2009 at 12:43 pm
I'm a desert rat now living in Denver, but seldom a day goes by that I don't think of the desert, and especially Tucson, which I consider my spiritual home. YOur travelogue thru the desert mountains shows so well why I consider the desert so beautiful. I"m a hiker of long standing, and I share our sense of almost ectasy at seeing the end of the trail!
Posted by: chris angle | January 8th, 2009 at 4:38 pm
what a beautiful hike ! I always enjoy my visits to your blog...
Posted by: lisa brawner | January 13th, 2009 at 1:36 am
Thanks for coming and spending time in AZ...Winters are great..it been nice and warm this week.This when all my NYC friends want to come but not so much in Summer.Thanks for coming and have a great 2009.Glad you took the kittens as we also adopted one from a "No Kill Shelter"which right now has 400 cats and is having a hard time making ends meet.....good for you...so now we have three cats.
Posted by: Emma Figueroa | January 21st, 2009 at 3:49 pm