Finding Pandora in Arizona
Leaving Saguaro National Park I ran into a sad reality - a traffic jam. The traffic turned a 3 hour drive into a 5 hour slog. It also brought back terrible memories of spending a couple hours a day, 3 days a week, in stupid traffic in Denver to get to work. I was grateful that this wasn’t my reality any more.
I got to my campsite in time to catch an amazing sunset over the Chiricahua Mountains - the destination for my next two days of hiking.
I woke up the next morning to guinea hens outside of my van. Real life nature outside the van is one of the great perks of van life.
My destination - Chiricahua National Monument. My reaction on my drive through the park - “This looks like Pandora in Animal Kingdom!” I imagine that also looks like Pandora in Avatar, but I’ve never seen it. Greenery draped hoodoos everywhere you looked - mind-blowing.
I really wanted to do the Echo Canyon Loop hike, but when I got to the lot it was full. Pro-Tip: If you find yourself in this situation, drive back to the visitor center where you can get a shuttle. I didn’t know this at the time.
With my preferred trail unavailable, I decided to hike nearby Sugarloaf Mountain. It is a ~2 mile out and back trail to an old lookout tower. This trail was on the easy side of moderate, with most effort expended on the trip up. It’s never super steep though so it’s not too difficult.
The pay off is pretty nice too. You see hoodoos on the way up and then get a 360 degree view of the surrounding area. Not bad for a back up hike.
I made it back to my campsite in the afternoon with time to sample some of the wine at my Harvest Host - Birds and Barrel Winery. If you find yourself there, I recommend the Malbec. It’s chewy and delicious.
Fortunately I was able to find parking at the Echo Canyon loop the next day and I’m so glad I did. The first mile of this hike is one of the most beautiful hikes I’ve ever done. I honestly don’t have words to describe the hoodoos. Everybody loves a hoodoo. Add a little greenery to it - otherworldly. If you do this hike, plan for extra time for the pictures you will take.
By day four of consecutive hiking, my "former athlete" self had to have a heart-to-heart with my "current reality" self. I was exhausted. I called another audible and canceled my campground for the night after next so I could spend 2 days in a row at the same place with no plans for tomorrow.
The biggest takeaway from this leg of the journey wasn't a view or a hike—it was the realization of how truly happy I was. For years, friends warned me that the stress of my corporate life wasn't worth the toll it was taking. I knew they were right, but the “golden handcuffs” held me tight, I was terrified that I couldn’t afford the life I’d built. What I’ve learned out here is that the answer wasn't to earn more to keep up; it was to change the lifestyle entirely. I didn’t just change my address to a van; I changed the way I define a life well-lived.