March 1994:

Flash back to winter of 1994. Becky and Loren had met the prior summer. Spring was around the corner and it seemed time to plan a trip. While there was a mutual interest in the outdoors, we had not yet started to plan trips around nature. Loren enjoyed major league baseball prior to the big MLB strike of ’94. So, Phoenix was chosen as the destination with the central theme to attend many spring training games. We figured we’d start out with a few days at the Grand Canyon, then return to Phoenix for sun and baseball. Becky enjoys sports enough to go along with the plan. As long as there was expected to be time in the sun, she was fully on board.

Grand Canyon National Park

The first part of the trip was mostly as planned. After landing in Phoenix, we retrieved our rental car and headed North. We had booked a room for two nights at the Bright Angel Lodge on the Grand Canyon South Rim. Our flight arrived late in the afternoon, meaning our expected arrival at the Lodge would be after dark. But, some snow in the final miles pushed made it even later. We left Iowa for Arizona to get away from the snow and hoped this wasn’t going to last long.

The obligatory Park Sign photo and our historic cabin at Bright Angel Lodge:

We set alarms for an early start. The Bright Angel Lodge sits, not coincidentally, at the top of the Bright Angel Trail. Our goal for the day was a day-hike to Plateau Point, which is about six miles of hiking down into the canyon. Starting with the descent means you also have to hike six miles back up, ascending 3,100 feet. The National Park Service conveniently built rest houses at the 1.5, 2, and 3 mile marks of the descent and these are well used by those making the trek back up. Many hikers use them as the turnaround destinations. Farther down, at the 4.5 mile mark is Indian Gardens, with a campground, restroom, and water station. The campground would be a good destination for those wanting a relatively simple backcountry type of experience.

The evening was spent along the South Rim, appreciating multitude of changing colors brought out by the sinking sun.

Sedona

The next morning, we started our return to Phoenix. Loren had scouted a scenic route through Oak Creek Canyon and Sedona with the intention to spend a full day driving back to Phoenix. We enjoyed the drive and a lunch stop at Slide Rock State Park before heading into Sedona.

Thinking back, our expectation of Sedona was unfairly low. We had been planning just a drive-through before getting back on I-17 toward Phoenix. After becoming enthralled by the red rock in the area, we asked a local outdoors store employee for a short hike recommendation. The employee suggested the Boynton Canyon Trail, which is a flat and easy trail three miles into a box canyon. We jotted that down and switched our hotel plans from Phoenix to a two night stay in Sedona, knowing we’d see fewer baseball games.

After getting our logistics figured out, we visited the Chapel of the Holy Cross, had dinner, and ended the day with a sunset view over the town. As the evening progressed, storm clouds approached. Said Loren in his attempt at an old, midwestern man voice, “Storms blowin’ in Martha”. It was goofy and probably not that great of an attempt, but it struck us both funny at the time and has become the phrase we’ve used ever since when we see storm clouds on the horizon.

Boynton Canyon Trail with Native American Ruins – Important to read the signs and be respectful of the historic area.

Phoenix

After a restful couple of days in red rock country, we cruised back to Phoenix. Trying to make up a little for the lost days, we attended three games in two days. This included a Cubs game with Harry Carey at the game and an Angels game back in the days of Bo Jackson. The rest of the baseball memories have faded over the years and many of the photos were old-fashioned film where many of the attempts just didn’t turn out well. A pregame visit to Old Town Scottsdale also was on the agenda.