HikeArizona.COM

after watching the various Discovery channel shows today

I'm re-confirming my thoughts
Arizona is the best place on earth!

no major flooding, tornadoes, hurricanes, earthquakes, etc...

I guess the worst we have it here is the monsoon season. Which I happen to like!
Well, aside from the fact that it's over hyped until the next big storm hits

We need to take care of this place, there are no emergency exists.

They have discovery channel on top of humphries???
just kidding ............

Joe must have watched Raging Planet on Discovery today.

I agree and I've only been here since the end of February.

It amazes me when I talk with some who have lived here all their lives that they want to leave! I guess it's "the grass is greener on the other side" syndrom, but I've been there with the green grass and I'll take the dessert and mountains any day. You all are stuck with me, I'm here for life now! :twisted:

BTW, great post Joe because every day I feel I'm in God's country and bit closer to heaven! Glad you voiced it in a forum.

Sherileeaz
Arizona

I feel I'm in God's country and bit closer to heaven!

I'm with you, I feel the same, I just Love this place!

I feel I'm in God's country and bit closer to heaven!

I spent 40+ years in the Mountains of Northwest Colorado, camping out literally thousands of nights over that time span, when I moved to Arizona I thought most of my outdoor adventure would be behind me. Boy was I wrong, this state is so diverse.

Then I discovered hiking, HAZ, great hiking partners and the most wonderful place on earth to me, The Superstition Wilderness. I have never ever connected with anything like I have the Supes. When I step into her boundaries I have a profound feeling of belonging, it is as if I'm home. ( I know some of you will think I'm nuts, while others will understand) A great sense of calmness and serentiy comes over me, I'm at total peace. It is a connection that comes from deep within, being one with the Wilderness.
Whether it is a connection with God, The Great Spirit, the Nature Spirit the Superstition Spirit, Budda, The Higher Being, however you want to reference the higher power, I have a direct connection with something when I'm in the Supes, wether it is the Supes itself or a higher power. I don't really know how else to explain it.

The Supes is just very magical to me. I know people on the Grand Canyon forum that have had the same thing happen with them and the Canyon. It is as if a spell has been cast that keeps drawing you back for more and more.

Yes, Joe, Arizona is the greatest place on earth, offering a diversity for outdoor adventure that is totally awesome, and a beauty that is a true masterpiece.

Very well said arizonaheat, your words describe so well

Arizona is the greatest place on earth, offering a diversity for outdoor adventure that is totally awesome, and a beauty that is a true masterpiece.

just what Arizona, and nature in general means to so many of us.

Amen!!!! I am here for life and as far as the Supes goes azheat I can empathize with you.... It is a wonderful world out there in the middle of the Supes isn't it!Some times I will be walking along and just start giggleing 'cause I am so thrilled to be part of it all! Best place in the world to take a worry or a struggle cause once you get them there they disappear! All is right and when you get back home things seem so much clearer.

Arizona is an awesome place. Spent the week-end domesticated camping with my two younger kids at Bonito Campgrounds near Flagstaff. San Fransico Peaks to the west, give or take, and Sunset Crater to the east, give or take. Sharp contrast that leaves the imagination to go running. We had a great time. And then on the way home, went by way of Lake Mary, Stoneman Lake, and then down into the Verde Valley. From the pine country into the desert, in a heart beat of driving. Love it.

In response to joe bartels' reply:

Preach it Brother!!!!

I am gonna live and die in this state!

Thank heaven for the rattlesnakes, scorpions, and black widows that scare the pants off many would be Arizonans. If not for these creatures we would be over over populated!

In response to Daryl's reply: "rattlesnakes, scorpions, and black widows"

OMG, I'm busting out laughing on that one since I recently moved here from the Chicago/NW Indiana area.

I love it here and all I hear from my friends and family are "rattlesnakes, scorpions, and black widows, no way." OH and "too HOT" Personally, I love it-- the hotter the better!!!

Let's not forget to add : rattlesnakes, scorpions, and black widows AND crickets, fire ants and HOT weather, forest fires, no rain.... (did I forget any????) That should do it for sure! HAHAHA :twisted:

In response to joe bartels' reply: I have lived in Arizona for about 10 years before I had to move back to Connecticut. (parent has cancer). So right now she is on my mind. But I want to tell you how I feel about Arizona. I'm 42 years old and I still cry over leaving Arizona. Right now as I think of Arizona I get goose bumps. All I think about 24/7 is Arizona. It has such a hold on me that only people like you could ever understand. Her mountains, canyons, red rock, deserts all live in me. I don't have a favorite place but the Bradshaw mountains are up there. A little kudo's go out to Utah too, also very scenic. Most every other place in the U.S. you go ooh very pretty, but in Arizona the scenery takes your breath away. Well needless to say My wife and I will be back when all is said and done.

I try to see it, feel it, the way you all do. Really I do. I just don't. With the exception of the White Mountains and Oak Creek I just don't get that awe inspiring feeling I have in other parts of the country. :roll:

Arizona certainly is the greatest place on Earth. Almost finished with my third year and I wouldn't even consider moving back to the smog and the traffic of SoCal. Luckily, my job has allowed me to travel and experience alot of what the state has to offer, but hiking is definitely the best way to experience it. Going to the North Rim in two weeks and very excited to see another beautiful part of Arizona. :GB:

In response to CindyC's reply: Dear, dear Cindy C,

That's exactly the beauty of Arizona. She is designed not to be understood by everyone. If she was she would be over run by people. I feel priviledged to have that feeling. I would never try nor want to try to convince you to what that feeling is. You either get it or you don't. I too don't have that feeling (exept a little bit for Utah) for all the other states I have visited but I do have an appreciation for them. If I do have any advise for you Cindy, is to not try and undertand Arizona but to appreciate her. Leave the loving to the select few of us.

Adelmo

Your right! That's why God created so many beautiful places. For me there is nothing as awesome as standing at the base of a glacier. Nothing so humbling as hiking in the rainforest in Washington and sitting at the base of a tree taking a rest just to realize that you are insignificant in relation to the size of that tree. It's no different than enjoying a certain type of music or food or decor. We all have our preferences, we all have something that speaks to us. I don't question why people are awed by Arizona. It is a beautiful, diverse place. It just doesn't do for me what other places do.

In response to sherileeaz's reply:

The hotter the better? Have you been here in August yet? I love the cooler parts of AZ; I don't care for the dome of heat summers in the city.

In response to JimmineyGrl's reply:

Actually JimmineyGrl's, I haven't, but that still won't change my mind. I've experienced bitter cold, with windchill's -50 in Chicago, I'll take the heat to the cold any day. It's just a personal preference of course. Confession tho, when it gets that hot, I snuggle the a/c! lol

Sherileeaz