Southwest Splendors....Calm my fears

[sayhello]

You're so right. We had such a hot summer this year and with the humidity it was miserable. Strangely, it's still really warm and we're expecting a high near 90 today, which isn't right for Oct in Tennesse, but it doesn't feel nearly as hot as 90 felt in June since the humidity is less. When we came back from our Nothern CA vacation earlier this year, where the temps were so pleasant, I was dreading getting back to the heat. We arrived around 10:00PM and the pilot announced that tempeature in Nashville was 75 and I thought to myself at least it will be nice tonight. But when we walked off the plane it was like walking into a steam room. It felt about 20 degrees hotter than 75 felt in CA. So, we can probably deal with the temps in Sedona. Thanks for the reminder about the water. I'm sure it's easy to forget when you're not used to the dry air.

It really is true. It's much more tolerable when it's dry.

And just to re-iterate. When they say it's dry in Sedona, they mean **DRY**. I drank so much water & other liquids that first day in Sedona, it's not even funny. Just *walking* around town. And I was there in MAY! Be *really* vigilant! But it is gorgeous!

And for anyone who's curious, Pete's been posting a few pictures & random one-line updates on Facebook, and he LOVES Sedona. So far so good! One quote:

Hard to find words to describe how beautiful Sedona is.

It should be great to hear his report when he gets back!

Sayhello

 

[WebmasterPete]

Well, we're in the middle of our trip (I'm at the Thunderbird Lodge / Grand Canyon as I'm writing this) and I can sum up this trip in one word already:

F A B U L O U S!!!!!!!!!

Our guides are Mike and Chris who are just amazing - I mean really - these guys really raise the bar for ABD guides.

I will have a full report (including pics and video - LOTS of pics and video) after I get home, but just wanted to let everyone know that we're having a great time - I'm madly in love with Sedona, had a first class meal tonight at the El Tovar. We're off to Moab in the morning - but I'm having trouble imagining how this trip gets any better.

I am updating my Facebook page with photos and updates. If you're interested, just send me a friend request : http://www.facebook.com/pete.werner

Thanks,
Pete

 

[sayhello]

Oh, Pete! I'm SO glad you're enjoying the trip! Not surprised, but so happy for you! It still remains my favorite ABD I've done so far.

I had Chris on my SWS ABD! Please say "Hi!" to Chris for me. He's a really fabulous guide, and I've heard Mike is, too. You're really in great hands!

Just wait until you see the Red Cliffs Lodge!!! I think it was Chris who dubbed it "a little piece of Heaven"!

Sayhello

 

[Bobo912]

Oh, Pete! I'm SO glad you're enjoying the trip! Not surprised, but so happy for you! It still remains my favorite ABD I've done so far.

I had Chris on my SWS ABD! Please say "Hi!" to Chris for me. He's a really fabulous guide, and I've heard Mike is, too. You're really in great hands!

Just wait until you see the Red Cliffs Lodge!!! I think it was Chris who dubbed it "a little piece of Heaven"!

Sayhello

Sayhello, what makes SWS your favorite? Do you think that SWS being your first ABD plays a part or is it just the trip itself?

 

[sayhello]

Sayhello, what makes SWS your favorite? Do you think that SWS being you first ABD plays a part or is it just the trip itself?

Bobo912, it's a combination of a lot of things. The fact that it was my first ABD probably has a bit to do with it, as it had the biggest Wow! factor due to my having no idea what to expect.

But beyond that, I have always felt it's one of ABD's best itineraries. When I read through the catalog for 2008, there was no question in my mind which trip I wanted to sign up for. I knew Sedona & the Grand Canyon were spectacular, and suspected that Monument Valley & Arches National Park (both of which I'd always wanted to visit) were, too. And they really were. There wasn't a stop on that trip that wasn't spectacular.

It's got a really good mix of activities, the jeep trips, some hiking, nature walking, shopping, historical stuff like Montezuma's Castle, the rafting. I think the surprise of the snow at the Grand Canyon even added to that.

And I think the fact of how *completely* it took me out of my normal work world and de-stressed me also puts it high on my list. I *literally* did not think about work *ONCE* from the first day on the bus from Phoenix until getting off the bus in Grand Junction.

I also think the combination of Guides I had added to it. Not that I haven't had FABULOUS Guides on my other ABD's, but Chris & Cheryl just had a real friendly playfulness with each other and with us that really added to the fun. Rae & Jesse definitely did not have that. Tina & Robyn had it, but I think with 39 adults & kids on the Med ABD, they couldn't "show it off" quite as frequently as Chris & Cheryl could on our 14-person SWS.

Don't get me wrong, I *LOVED* my other 2 ABD's. But I think the SWS one was just a convergence of a lot of things that still makes it my favorite in my mind.

Sayhello

 

[Bobo912]

Speaking of fears to be calmed...for those of you who have taken this trip (especially those with kids, but I'd like to hear from the kidless too), did you ever worry that your kid (or someone else's or yourself) would fall over the rim of the canyon? Or on the Delicate Arch hike were there any narrow passages with drop offs that would result in sure death, or at least broken bones it you made a wrong step? I would love to take this trip, but images of DS hopping around on the slippery rocks at the top of Vernal Falls last summer at Yosemite keep popping into my head. Maybe I could just get a Valium prescription for the trip.

 

[glassslipper2004]

I admit, I was a little scared that someone might go tumbling off, both at the Grand Canyon (where there probably wasn't much real risk as long as everyone used common sense) and on the Delicate Arch hike, where a wrong move could really have killed someone. To this day I'm not sure how I got through it - I was worried about my kids (girls ages 10 and 11) for several hours on several different days... I don't want to scare you, but it is true! If you have a child who is apt to go running off, or a daredevil type, and if you yourself are prone to being anxious, it might not be a good combination.

Of course, you could skip the Delicate Arch hike, but it was really beautiful and gave us all a real sense of accomplishment.

At the same time, we on the trip were all mesmerized by tales of people doing stupid things and dying at the Grand Canyon. Many people in the group (my family included) bought a book about deaths at the Grand Canyon and read it on the bus ride to Moab.

 

[sayhello]

Speaking of fears to be calmed...for those of you who have taken this trip (especially those with kids, but I'd like to hear from the kidless too), did you ever worry that your kid (or someone else's or yourself) would fall over the rim of the canyon? Or on the Delicate Arch hike were there any narrow passages with drop offs that would result in sure death, or at least broken bones it you made a wrong step? I would love to take this trip, but images of DS hopping around on the slippery rocks at the top of Vernal Falls last summer at Yosemite keep popping into my head. Maybe I could just get a Valium prescription for the trip.

The only place I felt precarious was the last little bit to Delicate Arch. Once you get up to the area where Delicate Arch is, you can see it, take pictures of it, etc, without going any further. However, if you want to have your picture taken at the base of the the Arch, you have to walk maybe 1/3 of the way around the rim of what's basically a humongous rock bowl. (I may be off on the fractional part. It might be closer to 1/2 way, but I don't remember exactly). If you weren't careful, you could slide down that. We didn't have any kids on my trip, so I can't comment on how kids do on that. I know some of the adults refused to do it, and took pictures of those of us who did it.

As for the canyon, *I* never felt like I might fall over the edge, but in some areas, there's nothing to stop someone who's determined to not be safe. Again, we had no kids, so I don't know if the Guides do anything about that. But I don't recall any issues with other people's kids while we were there.

Sayhello

 

[Bobo912]

Maybe we should do the Yellowstone trip instead. Thanks for the feedback, glassslipper & sayhello. I would like to take the Delicate Arch hike, but given a choice, DS would probably choose not to, once he hears that it's a bit challenging, especially if the temps are really high. I read a review on another website from someone who participated in the alternate activity and enjoyed it very much, so maybe that's a good alternative, especially if it prevents me from having a nervous breakdown. I guess we can decide when/if we get there. It's something to consider though because I don't want to be terrified all the time that DS will get hurt and I definitely don't want to nag him about his safety. ABD and Tauck both have Yellowstone trips that encompass DS's birthday, so those are also options. I think we would both be happy with any of the alternatives, but I've got a hankering to do SWS.

 

[sayhello]

Maybe we should do the Yellowstone trip instead. Thanks for the feedback, glassslipper & sayhello. I would like to take the Delicate Arch hike, but given a choice, DS would probably choose not to, once he hears that it's a bit challenging, especially if the temps are really high. I read a review on another website from someone who participated in the alternate activity and enjoyed it very much, so maybe that's a good alternative, especially if it prevents me from having a nervous breakdown. I guess we can decide when/if we get there. It's something to consider though because I don't want to be terrified all the time that DS will get hurt and I definitely don't want to nag him about his safety. ABD and Tauck both have Yellowstone trips that encompass DS's birthday, so those are also options. I think we would both be happy with any of the alternatives, but I've got a hankering to do SWS.

You actually don't have to choose until you physically get to the parking area for Delicate Arch. The folks hiking get off the bus, and the rest stay on the bus for the alternate tour. Sorry, stay on the motorcoach.

Sayhello

 

[glassslipper2004]

I agree that the alternate activity sounded really good - I was sorry I had to choose between them. The whole park is so amazing - it was truly a fantastic trip.

 

[kristilew]

It's funny, I definitely felt the GC was a little iffy in the edge department - but I was going to say the Delicate Arch hike was perfectly safe and tame. We had quite a few VERY active boys on our trip, and they did bounce all over on that hike, but never seemed in danger. There was another boy who was obviously not the active type, who did have a crying fit about crossing over to the arch. He felt it was steep and scary and most of us felt he was very much overreacting. (I realize that phobias are real, etc, etc, but I'm just saying this in illustration of the general feeling which was that the Arch hike was not unsafe.)

Personally, I was wishing for one of those mats they give you on the giant slides at carnivals: the rock bowl at the Arch looked like the perfect place to go sliding

 

[Bobo912]

It's funny, I definitely felt the GC was a little iffy in the edge department - but I was going to say the Delicate Arch hike was perfectly safe and tame. We had quite a few VERY active boys on our trip, and they did bounce all over on that hike, but never seemed in danger. There was another boy who was obviously not the active type, who did have a crying fit about crossing over to the arch. He felt it was steep and scary and most of us felt he was very much overreacting. (I realize that phobias are real, etc, etc, but I'm just saying this in illustration of the general feeling which was that the Arch hike was not unsafe.)

Personally, I was wishing for one of those mats they give you on the giant slides at carnivals: the rock bowl at the Arch looked like the perfect place to go sliding

LOL. That brings back memories of our summer vacation. All the kids were sliding down the steep hillside on the trails at Yosemite. No mat though, so at the end of the hike their underwear was full of dirt, sticks and rocks.

 

[sayhello]

Personally, I was wishing for one of those mats they give you on the giant slides at carnivals: the rock bowl at the Arch looked like the perfect place to go sliding

Ooo! Now that sounds like fun! *Deliberately* sliding down the bowl would be fun, as opposed to *unintentionally* taking a dive...

Sayhello

 

[kristilew]

Ooo! Now that sounds like fun! *Deliberately* sliding down the bowl would be fun, as opposed to *unintentionally* taking a dive...

Sayhello

so true, so true