Trekking Adventures

This is yet another good example of what happens when John has to much time on his hands.  This video has sound.  I would recommend turning it up as loud as you can.  But then, that is my suggestion.

Brent, Southwest Trekking, Lead Guide, and I, John Heiman, Owner of Southwest Trekking, took off for a ride and to video a bit.  This section of The Arizona Trail is one of our favorites.  One of our many favorite sections of The Arizona Trail.

The last section of the video is of Brent coming down the previous section.  It is, in case you can not tell, very fast, very steep, freaky, fun.   All the above.

We can take take you here.

You can ride here. 

If you can ride here.

Come join us at Southwest Trekking and let us show you how diverse the Sonoran Desert can be for all your riding pleasures.

Arduous Journeys For Those Who Indulge In Extremes

john@swtrekking.com

Southwest Trekking

Professional Guide Services

www.swtrekking.com

John@swtrekking.com

NOTE: 

Turn up the volume and the resolution as high as your system can handle.  Sit back and enjoy.

Hi there. My last blog was about cristate (or crested) saguaros. I’m going to touch on that subject again because I found an even more spectacular specimen.

This Carnegia gigantea (otherwise known as saguaro) can be found almost exactly across the canyon from the first I blogged about last time. It is between the Lower Javelina (east leg) and Alamo Springs trail. I had looked for this cactus for some time for I had seen a map indicating is location. While hiking on Lower Javelina trail the cactus is not visible. From Alamo Springs trail you have to know just where to look in order to see it. I however didn’t see it from either trail. I first saw it while hiking down Wild Burro trail. When I first saw it I wasn’t quite sure what it was because of its extreme size. It only took a second to realize just what it was. I saw it at just the right time because the sun was rising right over the ridge it was on. Outlined in the sun it seemed as though it was calling for me. Here I am. I’m only going to give you a second to see me. If you walk any further you will miss me. Fortunately for me I heard it calling.

Whoaaaaa buddy……. 

Sir Greg strikes again.  (See story below)  Greg put this video together of his ride while visiting in Tucson.  I  might suggest you also go to the youtube version to further check out what else he said about, that, that, John Heiman and his so called business called Southwest Trekking.

Greg, Iam very glad that we were able to pull this together for you.

Come visit Tucson anytime and we will show lots and lots more trails that will rock your socks.  Whatever that means.

I do so hate it when it all comes to together and clients have fun. 

Major bummer.

I am so sorry.

I do have to tell you though that I had agreed with Greg that I would meet him at the end of the trail in a half hour and if he didn’t show up I would come looking for him.  Well, he didn’t show up and I went looking for him.  I didn’t find him.  And now I know why, he spent so much time doing shots of the ride that it took him forever to complete the ride.  And of course when he did finally arrive he didn’t bother explain what had happened.  And of course I didn’t want to ask because, well, I didn’t want to know.  No blood, no broken bones.  So it couldn’t have been that bad. 

It was worth it Greg. 

So that being said.  Thanks Greg for the kind words, even though I do so deserve them.  Rock on baby.

And, below is another video that Greg turned me onto of his other rides.  I have to admit, I am kinda wondering if Greg works at all or if he just tavels and rides his bike.  I am so sorry for your very sad life Greg.

john@swtrekking.com

www.swtrekking.com

Professional Guide Services

You yeah, and we like to have fun.  Go figure.

We are very excited about all our relationships with all of our partners.  And we are very complemented with our relationship with the JW Marriott Starr Pass Resort and Spa here in Tucson.  There is some of the best hiking and biking in Southern Arizona, right out their back door.  Road and mountain.

Make sure you down load their link to the biking and hiking map.

Check out the links below and the remainder of their site.

http://www.jwmarriottstarrpass.com/Tucson-Arizona/Biking-95.html

http://www.jwmarriottstarrpass.com/Tucson-Arizona/Hiking-94.html

john@swtrekking.com

www.swtrekking.com

Professional Guide Services

So Greg e-mails and wants to do some mountain biking while in Tucson.  He is here for some training and had to pretty much beg his boss to let him stay an extra day so he could ride.  He has always wanted to ride in The Southwest and here he was, in the Southwest.  Sounds like a great plan.  But, go figure, a monster storm moves into the area pretty much eliminates any chance of going.  Heck they even closed the Sky Harbor airport in Phoenix.  The tenth busiest airport in the country.  To tell you how crazy the weather was.  So, we discuss options, maybe a night ride, maybe he can get off early and we can squeeze even an hour or two in.  The instructor is now teasing him that they may get done early and we can sneek a ride in.  But no, she keeps them until dark.  I could even tell in his e-mails that he was getting desperate to ride.  We had to make this happen.  Alas, I pick him up today at 9AM and the clouds break.  Yahoooo  Lots, and lots of wind 50+ but heck we are riding our bikes in the desert and mountains of the Southwest.

Had Mexican food for lunch after the ride. 

I don’t know, rough day it was.

We had a great time.

Greg, you be bad. 

While riding he is taking video and still shots.  Promises that he will send the video when he completes it.

So I get an e-mail from him later in the day and he attaches a video of where he lives and where he rides.

Check it out.

And no, this is not in Arizona

Could be Northern Arizona, maybe.

John@swtrekking.com

www.SouthwestTrekking.com

Professional Guide Services

I put together a short video/collage of pictures that we took and of pictures sent to us by past clients.  I think it says a lot about what The Sonoran Desert has to offer.  A very complex, diverse enviroment.  Oh yea, it has ways to have a lot of fun too.

Come Trek, hike, bike with us.

Southwest Trekking

Professional Guide Services

Arduous Journeys For Those Who Indulge In Extremes

www.swtrekking.com

Well, it looks like rain has come to the desert. We sure can use it. We’ve been in a drought for several years so whenever we can get some moisture it’s a celebration. Not just celebrated by we humans but by every living thing in the desert.

The first thing you notice is the pungent perfume that permeates the air. This is the creosote bush, the desert’s natural incense. There is nothing quite like that smell. It’s something that many desert dwellers long for in those long dry months. It’s a sure sign that relief is here.

This time of year when it rains we get some beautiful annual wildflowers spreading across the desert floor. The javelinas seem to feel a bit more active and the likelihood to see them increases. The saguaros take a big drink and swell up. Storing up to 230 gallons of water to be used after the rains have gone.

So much for the weather report for now. I’m itching to get out there and breathe it all in.

See ya out there
Rick Gray Lead Guide/Southwest Trekking
Ritz Carlton/Dove Mountain