A View From The Third Coast

A New Home

2010-10-05T09:04:00.001-07:00

After nearly three months of living in Chicago I have finally mustered up the motivation to update the blog. Please hold the applause. We no longer live on, or anywhere near, a Mesa....so the old name had to go. Instead, we reference what many locals proudly call The Third Coast. Living along the shores of Lake Michigan will surely provide us with windy, icy, miserable winters, but for the time being we will remain focused on summer afternoons spent staring out upon the glittering fresh water undulating under a wispy-clouded blue sky. Whatever the weather, the fact that we live in the third-largest metropolitan area in the country will undoubtedly provide us with a diversity of experiences and opportunities.

Unfortunately our computer crashed a couple of weeks ago, taking with it some pictures of our early days here in Chicago. Let this be a reminder to you, back up all of your treasured files! We were lucky to recover the photos, music, and documents that we did. This was also an opportunity for us to upgrade our desktop computer, which we gladly did, and we have been thoroughly enjoying our new Mac.

In these past several weeks we have been busy getting to know our new home, our new neighborhood, and our new city! Besides going out for meals and nights on the town; we have been catching up with old friends and family, enjoyed Chicago's Summer Street Fests (including Retro on Roscoe), saw live music, joined an open-minded spiritual community (Second Unitarian Church of Chicago), spent time in Michigan with our family, became a one-car family, and ran 5k races to support two causes we care a great deal about, Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure and the AIDS Foundation of Chicago. There were TONS of people at both events, and we enjoyed doing a little running for such great organizations. Next physical challenge, climbing the Sears (a.k.a Willis) Tower's 103 floors (2,109 steps) in order to benefit the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago, a "tall" order to say the least.

Here are some pictures documenting what we have been up to in our new digs...

This sign proclaims your entry into our neighborhood....Roscoe Village

Walkway to our "Coach House"

Our Coach House

Interior. Enjoying wood floors and high ceilings.

Our Composting Worm Farm!!!

EL Tracks

Our cross streets

EL Train

Race for the Cure...In honor of Anna MacDonald and Janet Pridemore!!!

We took a weekend afternoon to check out one of Chicago's Forest Preserves just a few miles from our house....Lots of green space, fishing ponds, trails, and hills.

My favorite picture on a beautiful day

Sold the Hyundai! We are now a one-car family!!!

Token Clover Picture

Sweet Home Chicago!

2010-07-27T13:17:00.003-07:00

We have arrived! A little more than one week ago we pulled into this fair city aboard a large rental truck, and after chucking everything we owned out of the truck, and putting a few things here and there...we have a home!

We now live in Roscoe Village, which is a small neighborhood in Chicago, Illinois that is a nice blend of quiet and hip. Lots of bars, restaurants, vintage shops, etc. But not too much traffic. It takes about 45 minutes, by combination of walking and public transportation, to get Downtown. But there is SO MUCH that is SO CLOSE!

Look for new pictures (now that we have some stuff unpacked) and a new blog Name in the coming days.....Cheers!

Spring and Summer 2010

2010-07-08T08:22:00.023-07:00

So Long to the Southwest

I write this blog post with a tear in my eye, and memories swirling around wistfully in my head. Sadly, we are winding down to our last days in the Southwestern United States, and our last days on the Navajo Nation. At the end of this week we will be packing up our home and heading back to the Midwest, where it all began. We are bound for Chicago, Illinois where we are excited to be making our new home in Roscoe Village.

After a short, but certainly sweet two years in Chinle, Arizona we are sad to say goodbye to all of the amazing friends we have made, as well as bidding a fond farewell to the grandeur of this incredible place. We feel incredibly lucky to have lived in the land of the Navajo, and to have visited so many unique and interesting features of this grand planet. We will forever remember this land. A land full of stories. A land meant for adventure.

Here are some snapshots of what we have been up to this Spring and Summer....a farewell tour of sorts.

Central AZ

Jillian, Clover and I took a weekend excursion to the Red Rock country of Central Arizona. We spent the good part of a day in and around Sedona, then drove West to Cottonwood where we set up camp in Dead Horse Ranch State Park. Lucky for us it was open, because the State of Arizona has dealt with budget shortfalls by closing many State Parks and Rest Areas. We spent the night there before heading for Jerome, Arizona one of the West's wildest mining towns back in the day. Perched on the side of a mountain, with winding narrow roads and relics from the cities wild past, it was an amazing place to see.

We then headed back east to hike on Bell Trail in the Wet Beaver Creek Wilderness. Truly an oasis in the desert, after hiking among cacti and brilliant red rock we entered the bright green riparian forest where we discovered a crystal clear creek flowing over and around the ruby red stream bed. We all enjoyed escaping the hot sun and cooling off in the shade and cool water.

Overall it was quite the weekend and we arrived back in Chinle around sunset on Sunday and kicked our exhausted feet up with visions of natural beauty swirling around in our heads.

Camp Site @ Dead Horse Ranch State Park

Bell Trail

Blooming Prickly Pear along the trail

Clover seeking shade

Rock, Grass, Water

Memorial Day Weekend

Our summer officially kicked off with a visit from two of our very best friends Cam and Kelly who reside in Ogden, Utah. They made the drive down in order to catch us in Chinle before moving later on in the summer. We filled the weekend with plenty of time outdoors, hiking and biking, as well as plenty of time enjoying good company and good food.

Biking the Slickrock Playground

We were lucky enough to be able to schedule a guided hike in Canyon de Chelly with Elsie.

She and her family have lived in the canyon for decades, and she is kind enough to guide the curious and willing down the canyon on trails that have been used for generations. The trail we hiked down, and back up, was called Baby Trail as seen in the picture above.

L to R: Elsie, Kelly, Evan, Cam

Canyon de Chelly

Our guide Elsie leads the way down

Exploring Three Turkeys Canyon and Ruins

Zion National Park

The view of Lake Powell from our hotel room in Page, AZ. We stopped here for a night, met Jillian's sister Anna the next day, and continued on to Zion National Park. (Sidenote: If you are ever in Page, do yourself a favor and stay at the Quality Inn ... the price is right and the views are kickin')

We stayed in Springdale, Utah and explored the canyon by taking the free shuttles into the park. It was an amazing place, and although we were only there for a couple of days we were able to see some amazing sights.

The Driftwood Lodge in Springdale, Utah... the gateway to Zion National Park.

The view from our patio at the Driftwood Lodge

We were up before sunrise to catch the shuttle into Zion National Park, and began hiking up Angel's Landing Trail.

Chained Handrails

Posin'

The sun begins to illuminate the canyon walls

Steep drop-offs on either side of the trail as you approach the "landing"

Virgin River in Zion Canyon

Illumination

Hanging Garden

The entrance to "The Narrows"

Anna and Jillian @ Zion

Clover cools off while we pose

Clover Drenched

Leaving the park we drove through a tunnel, which offered up some views of the park

A Last Hurrah: "Chuska Style"

Saying goodbye to our friends in Chinle was tough, but we were fortunate to go out in style with an overnight camping trip into the Chuska Mountains with the Dunstons and the Scarboroughs. Over our two years in Chinle we had some great times with Julie, Dave, Ryan, and Patricia on hikes and bikes, over beers and dark n' stormy's, inside and outside, rain, snow, and sunshine. We set up camp on friends' land and were able to enjoy some frisbee golf, great food, and a warm campfire under the stars.

Where we set up camp

Jillian gets the tent ready

Light on Water

Clover testing the water

Dave, Patricia, and Julie on the "Frolf" course

Fruita, Colorado

At the end of June I threw the bike on my care and headed up to Fruita, CO in search of what I had been led to believe is some of the best singletrack mountain bike riding in the world. I met good friends Dominic Baker and Isaac Smith and we tore up a few trails...great riding and good times.

We also headed up to Colorado National Monument one evening to catch the sunset and see what it had to offere. I was fairly impressed with the formations and the view of the Fruita Valley below.

Independence Monument

Arches National Park

On my way back from Fruita I decided to stop in Moab, Utah at Arches National Park for some sightseeing. Here are some of the pictures I took on my afternoon tour of the park.

La Sal Mountains

Sandstone Spires

Wedding Bells

2010-06-02T12:55:00.010-07:00

April 10th, 2010

Wedding Bells

After months of planning and preparing, the big day finally came! On April 10th, 2010 at South Mountain Park and Preserve in Phoenix, AZ in front of our families and friends, Jillian and I got married! It was a perfect day, and we felt so lucky to have everyone there to share in the celebration. The ceremony was short and sweet, the food was simple and delicious, and the band was rockin' until the park rangers shut us down.

We really couldn't have pulled this off without help from SO many of our friends and families, so a huge thanks needs to go out to all who pitched in. You never really know how much goes into a wedding until you actually get married, and we are lucky enough to have exceptionally talented and generous friends who could contribute to the effort. Our good friend Cameron McLeod was gracious enough to take on the task of wedding photography. and there he was on the big day (and during the entire weekend) putting people in the right places, camera around his neck, capturing light and color and memories. Another one of our friends Patricia Scarborough did an amazing job with the wedding announcements, invitations, and thank you's. She put in a ton of hours finding the right recycled paper, creating the awesome graphic designs, and printing all of it out so that we could focus on other important items. Jillian's bridal bouqet, and the bridesmaid's flowers, were also put together by a friend of ours. Keri Hunter was creative, and brave, enough to try her hand at creating flowers completely out of fabric. What she came up with as simply amazing! A huge thanks to Keri for trying something new, putting in a ton of time, and creating exactly what Jillian was looking for.

Friend and Photographer Cameron McLeod

Not to mention the help from our wonderful "dog-sitter" Carys

We also couldn't go without mentioning all of the work put in by Jillian's mom and aunts. The twins, Jean and Jan, as well as Aunt Carol and Aunt Helen. They had been helping plan and prepare for months, everything from the table settings and napkins, to a bucketful of flip-flops for people to use. They really went all out in making our wedding day a beautiful celebration. Our friends and other family members from out of town came to Phoenix rip-roarin' and ready to help; picking up odds and ends, helping us set up the park for the big day, delivering kegs, making signs, coordinating carpools, and on and on.... It was an amazing day, and an amazing weekend, and we owe it all to the people we care about most!

Here are some of the pictures from our wedding day...

Jillian's perfect wedding dress

The Gorgeous Bride

Citrus Theme

3 Flavors of Wedding Cupcake

Waiting for the Bride

The ceremony was performed by Rev. Carol Hushek and our sibling did us the honor of standing up with us

(Scott & Anna MacDonald on the left, and Sean Hammontree on the right)

Acknowledging our guests

We wrote our vows together

and repeated our lifelong promise to one another

Tying the Knot

Clover joins us as a married couple

Two Families Become One

Wedding Party

Maids

Men

Our First Dance

...to the singing of Emma Dunne and the strumming of Dave Bruza

LeMieux Connection

Good Times roll on...

A New Year and a Long Look Back

2010-02-03T16:44:00.009-07:00

Sitting here on February 3rd, 2010 it is astounding to think of all that has transpired since our last blog post in October of 2009. The entire Holiday Season has been neglected, and the newest year has come to be. We hope that whoever is reading this is enjoying a happy and healthful 2010 thus far.We have had a busy, but fantastic 3+ months since then, enjoying life with our new dog, and trying to make the most of the short days and cold nights brought on by Old Man Winter.

Winter has even brought some beautiful snow to the high northern deserts of Arizona, and the Navajo Nation. Since then, the snow has melted into the dry, dusty earth to create a sludge-like layer of mud that clings to anything and everything it can. Instead of "Snow Days" students and teachers can count on the inevitable "Mud Days" which make the thousands of miles of unpaved roads nearly impassable. It is, in fact, one of these days which has given me the time to update our blog.

We have also been somewhat consumed with the planning of our wedding in April 2010! After much debate and discussion we decided that our wedding would take place at South Mountain Park in Phoenix, AZ. Invitations have been sent, and RSVPs are being returned as we speak.

We are really looking forward to spending time with some of our closest family and friends!

What follows is a smattering of photos from the past few months organized by event.

Pine, Arizona

Jillian, Clover, and I woke up early one frosty fall morning to enjoy the wilderness of the massive Tonto National Forest near Pine, AZ. A cup of coffee, some fresh air, and a crisp sunny morning gave us our momentum at the start of

Clover loved every minute of the hike; the soft pine needle covered trails, the crisp air, the leaves, the smells, etc. etc. etc.

We enjoyed the gradual climb up to, and through, a coniferous forest with views of the mountains behind us. It was amazing to see a diversity of cacti, shrubs, and trees, yet another environment that Arizona has to offer.

Halloween 2009

Each and every year our friends Mike and Andra throw a serious Halloween Bash. The spirit of this holiday is strong among many community members here in Chinle, and as a result, this party is something that everyone looks forward to in order to unwind, enjoy beaucoup laughs, and boogie on the dance floor.

Gracious Hosts Andra and Mike appearing as Hardcore Harley and Mclovin'

With some last-minute brainstorming and pumpkin carving, Ryan and Dave emerged as Smashing Pumpkins.

Ryan as a Smashing Pumpkin in Disbelief

Our good friends Julie, Dave, Ryan and Patricia pose for a photo appearing from left to right as; Barack-oli, The Smashing Pumpkins, and a cleverly devised Blue Bird flour sack.

Little White House Ruins

Off of the "beaten-path" is a small uninhabited canyon, which houses some examples of ancient ruins of the cliff-dwelling people known as the Ancestral Puebloans. We gathered at the base of the canyon on a cold, gray, and windy day; Dave, Julie, John, Jillian and I, as well as a our small pack of dogs; Sacco, Allie, and Clover.

The trails follow an old jeep road, and as we ventured further into the canyon we realized that we were protected from the day's torrid winds and scattered showers. It was an incredible hike with incredible company, and it was great to get outside and take a peek at a relic left over from an ancient way of life.

a beautiful canyon

the old jeep road

Before we knew it, up to our left, and nestled into a wrinkle in the rock were the ruins. Crumbled ruins could be seen on the canyon floor, but the remains of a dwelling still exist in the cave 20-30 feet of the ground.

Little White House

The colorful view back down the canyon

Around the corner we found a seep in the canyon wall, and more ruins tucked into the rocks above.

An upstairs level is within sight, but not easy to get to

Posing for the Perched camera

Gallup, New Mexico

We enjoyed a short day-trip to nearby Gallup, NM on a Saturday in November. Gallup is where we can go for a variety of grocery needs, including the nearest location where we can buy that blessed nectar of the gods...beer. On this particular trip we were excited to explore the High Desert Trail System which has been developed around the community of Gallup. After finding a trailhead and examining the map we chose a short loop to hike.

The trail winds around the base of strange rock formations, with some routes that lead to the top.

Rock cairns dot the landscape along this trail

It was a brisk November day, but the sun was shining and we enjoyed spending time in the fresh air

Sepia Cairn

A cat overlooks you as you hike below the highest ridge, from a distance you aren't exactly sure what to think.

Mushroom Valley

One of the nearby remote areas which is accessible to those with 4WD is fondly referred to as Mushroom Valley. In this aptly named valley can be found fields of strangely shaped rock formations that appear out of the ground in oddly shaped patterns. On two different occasions we ventured into this area, to play an improvised round of frisbee golf, and a couple of weeks later to enjoy some fresh air and the solitude that envelopes this hidden area.

a horse caravan we passed en route to Mushroom Valley, with slickrock in the background

happy cow

a few examples of this oddly-shaped sandstone paradise

Thanksgiving Weekend: Salt Lake City, Utah

We had planned this weekend for months, and for good reason. We were going to make this a true Holiday, we being a band of friends who had first congregated at Alma College some 6 years before, and join together for some great times in the Great State of Utah. For four joyous days we reveled in each other's company, enjoyed good food and beverage, and laughed out loud for real. Here are a few memorable snapshots from said weekend...

the crew enjoying some views

Buddha and Clover; these fine ladies were best friends, and attached at the snout, from the giddy-up

Kelly and dogs patrol the base of the frozen waterfall... seconds later shards of ice were shattering down on this very spot

group shot

Smoggy Salt Lake Basin

how the dogs spent 90% of the weekend

Clover in October

2009-10-06T10:45:00.009-07:00

CLOVER in OCTOBER

Our new family photo...

A few very busy months have brought us smack dab in the middle of Autumn. While there are few deciduous trees here to provide us with the colors of Autumn, the weather has made it abundantly clear that the balmy days and nights of summer are over. Cold, windy nights and frigid mornings have arrived, and are here to stay.

In the past few months we have been extremely busy with work, and busy with raising our very first puppy. I am a 6th grade classroom teacher at Canyon de Chelly Elementary School, and I have also recently started a school newspaper after school with 15 5th and 6th graders. Jillian is as busy as ever in the Rehab Dept. of the Chinle Hospital. Being a Physical Therapist in this area has given Jillian a new outlook on health care, public health, and who she is as a therapist.

Adding a puppy to our household was a huge decision for Jillian and I to make, but after much deliberation and research we settled on getting a Labradoodle. We then found a small, family labradoodle breeder in Pueblo, CO which breeds smaller litters. This required an application, deposit, and the waiting for the litter to be born.

We waited months, and then the day finally came when we could leave Chinle to go pick up our new family member. We couldn't wait to meet this brown and white, fluffy puppy that resembled a tiny bear cub. Well, she has indeed grown in the past 2 months since we have had her, and she is all at once a wonderful, playful, hilarious, and stubborn dog.

Here are some pictures of the newest addition to the MacDonald-Hammontree Wolfpack.

Her name is Clover and she just might be the greatest puppy of all time.

Here is the first picture we had of her before we picked her up... she is 6 weeks old in this one

Our journey began after work one day, and we hit the road for Pueblo, CO

on a beautiful summer day.

She was amazing during the entire 6-hour drive home...

but she didn't know what to do about her leash.

We were excited to get her home

goofy

Mcphee Reservoir, CO

Spring and Summer 2009: Part 2

2009-07-15T09:56:00.030-07:00

Spring and Summer 2009: Part 2

In the previous post I included photos of our trips to Moab, Utah and climbing pictures we have taken in both Arizona and Utah.

Thus far in 2009 we have been fortunate enough to visit two different music festivals, spent a wonderful weekend with Jillian's sister Anna, and gone on a guided hike on private land...

It has been a busy year thus far!

The Countdown is now in its final days as we await picking up our puppy at the end of this month. He/She is currently 6 weeks old and we will be picking up the newest member of our "wolfpack" July 31st. Check out the litter here. We have the 3rd pick in the "draft" and will know this coming weekend which of the puppies will be ours. We did some research and found a reputable, small-scale family breeder who socializes the puppies to other dogs and children from an early age. We can't wait to pick him/her up!

Now if we could only settle on a name...

In other news... After many ups and downs, a great deal of uncertainty, and much hand-wringing I learned this week that my teaching contract with the Chinle Unified School District has been renewed for the coming school year. I was thrilled to find out I will have my own classroom of 6th grade students at Canyon de Chelly Elementary School here in Chinle.

School starts August 3rd and I am excited to begin my first full year of classroom teaching.

Here are some more 2009 photos in Part 2 of our Spring and Summer "mid-year" blog

McDowell Mountain Music Festival

April 24-25th, 2009

We ventured down to Phoenix one weekend in April in order to refresh our souls with some live music, sunshine, and shiny happy people. We drove the customary 5 hours down to Phoenix where we stayed with our most gracious host on many occassions Anna MacDonald. Friday night was all about Michael Franti & Spearhead, too much dancing for many pictures from this show, it was incredible!

On Saturday we hung out in our camp chairs and on our blanket listening to great music from Railroad Earth, Matisyahu and The Flaming Lips. It was a gorgeous day, and we left the venue on Saturday night with our eardrums ringing and our thirst for live music thoroughly quenched. For a little while...

The Flaming Lips wrapped up the festival on Saturday night.

I have never seen a musical performance like it in my life...

Opening song and Wayne Coyne is crowd-surfing and singing inside an inflated plastic ball...

for real

Confetti Cannons

Telluride Bluegrass Festival

June 20th, 2009

We were lucky enough to be invited to the Telluride Bluegrass Festival by our good friends Mike and Andra. They have lived in Chinle for a few years, and own a home 2.5 hours from here in SW Colorado. We stayed with them Friday night, and drove to Telluride early the next morning. We weren't blessed with the greatest weather (many hours of rain) but the music was sensational and everyone there was in great spirits. We had a blast!

See you next year!

The aforementioned Andra & Mike, these guys rock for being so amazing in making us feel welcome since we arrived a year ago in Chinle. Thanks guys!

Telluride lies in a box canyon formed by the San Juan Mountains in SW Colorado. If you have never been there, think about a visit at some point in your life. More info from wikipedia here

An awe-inspiring place in any season.

The rain and clouds settled over the audience, and the bands played on...

But the clouds eventually cleared for a sweet sunset.

Telluride's Gondola

Peace Train

Patricia, Ryan, Julie, Dave (left to right)

Trip to Ogden, UT

We took off for a long Memorial Day Weekend with Cam and Kelly for a weekend of catching up and hanging out. We had a great time getting to know their new location, eating and cooking good grub, climbing, hiking and biking along the river trail. Most of the climbing pictures from Part 1 are from this trip, and what a great day that was. We hiked out the front door of a friend's house to the end his street, which then turned into a trail up the mountain.

We branched off a few times (always uphill) to the crag, where there were a dozen or so bolted sport routes. Good level of challenge for beginners, and Jillian topped out every route!

A beautiful place, and perfect for two of our favorite people... we are heading back to Ogden for Thanksgiving this year and can't wait!

The valley behind Snow Basin

Spring had just arrived in the mountains, emerald green

Sisters MacDonald Weekend

Jillian's sister Anna came up for a nice long weekend in early June to escape the Phoenix heat and spend time with her sister. On Friday we had the opportunity to go on a guided hike in a canyon 30 miles or so from Chinle. We saw some incredible petroglyphs and some well-preserved cliff dwellings, and our guide talked to us about the history of the canyon, his family, and even the invasive plants that had infested the canyon in some areas.

We then drove up to the Four Corners National Monument where the borders of Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado and Utah all meet. We continued on Telluride, Co once again for some sights and a great lunch, and stopped in Dolores, Co for a river festival and some live music.

It was a great weekend with laughs galore!

We are looking forward to the rest of the summer, and the rest of 2009.

Look out for puppy pictures in August!

Spring and Summer 2009: Part 1

2009-06-16T12:53:00.021-07:00

Spring and Summer 2009: Part 1

With only a single blog post to our credit for the current calendar year I have finally decided to do my part, and update the world of the web with some of our recent comings and goings. The days seem to fly by whether we are having fun on the weekends, traveling to get groceries, visiting our family in Michigan, or grinding it out during the work week...

We are ecstatic to report that we were recently engaged to be married! I couldn't imagine a more amazing person to spend the rest of my life with. We are still in the planning process, but hope to schedule something for the summer of 2010 as soon as we can. Suffice to say it has been an incredible and interesting year thus far.

We have spent the last year in Chinle, AZ adapting to a style of rural living that lacks many of the amenities we had grown so accustomed to before moving here (the list is too long to include here). However, we are also learning so much each day, and growing in so many ways through our experiences with the great people of our local communities. Not to mention the natural spectacle and grandeur that abounds and surrounds in the Southwestern United States.

We have shared many good laughs thus far, made new friends, and gotten to know some truly fantastic people. The breathtaking scenery here in the Southwest has also provided the backdrop to the fun we have had with some of our greatest friends and family. Our location has offered us so many accessible outdoor adventures throughout the first six months of the year including gorgeous snow-capped mountains during the Winter, blooming deserts and seeping canyons in the Spring, and now forests and alpine meadows during the Summer.

Climbing

We have recently started rock climbing which has been a physically challenging and mentally technical (not to mention potentially dangerous) addition to our lives. It is something we are getting schooled in gradually, and hope to continue improving on as we gain more experience (and strength).

Action shots!

Jillian scrambles up a route at Jack's Canyon, AZ

Evan inspects a dripping leg while clinging for life

Left: Jillian works the belay device

Right: Kelly Schmuckal reaches for some chalk and takes a peek around the nose

Friends and "climbing mentors" Ellen (left) and Natasha

Cameron Mcleod cooly belays a climber above

Meanwhile, Jake is skeptical of the entire business....

Jillian works to solve a difficult route...

and conquers!

Moab, Utah

The state of Utah is a world-class venue for outdoor adventurers and enthusiasts of every ilk. Whether one seeks thrills or otherworldly views and geological spectra, he or she are surely not to be without options. Among the most popular places to visit in the state is the town of Moab.

Located in SE Utah on the Colorado River with both Arches and Canyonlands National Parks in the immediate vicinity, this oasis provides as base camp for hikers, bikers, campers, rafters, climbers, and everyone in between. I have been fortunate enough to visit Moab on two different occasions this year with radically different experiences. It happens to lie nearly halfway between where we live and where our friends Cam and Kelly live in Ogden, UT and also where our friend Dominic lives in Breckenridge, CO.

Here is some visual documentation......

Our campsite on the Colorado River

Happy crew at the sound of the breakfast bell...cold morning called for copious cups of coffee

We witnessed the glory of Spring and that magical color of the season.

A refreshing morning hike along a stream in Negro Bill Canyon with the warmth of the greatest friends in the world and some sweet sunshine... The hike ended at Morning Glory Natural Bridge, tucked deep into the canyon above the source of the spring we had been following up the trail. You could hear the water rushing below the fissure in the canyon wall and floor.

Morning Glory Natural Bridge

Source of Spring

Just outside of Moab is an area we stumbled upon known as Castle Valley. Within view of some incredible mesas, and the La Sal mountains is a small canyon called Onion Creek. A magnificent dirt road takes you past backcountry campsites, and winds through towering sandstone figures and across a shallow stream numerous times with each curve revealing another geological marvel to gawk at.

If only photography could do justice to this stuff.

And beyond Onion Creek lie the massive Fisher Towers, where sandstone spires reach up hundreds of feet overhead. The wind was whipping and whistling through the rock as we hiked.

The hike takes you up to the base of the towers and around the geological complex to panoramic views of Castle Valley, Onion Creek, and the Colorado River.

Fisher Towers

...even the dog is doggin' it

Spiral Spire

(if you were wondering, that guy is not one of us)

Mountain Biking Moab

Moab is undoubtedly one of the most renowned mountain biking destinations in the Southwestern United State, if not the world. Its unique sandstone, known as slickrock, provides a one-of-a-kind mountain biking experience.

Again, we camped along the Colorado River, this time with more of a slant, but also much more shade. I met my good friend Dominic Baker for a weekend of mountain biking, campfires, and catching up.

The Slickrock Trail is an extremely popular trail, and was our target for the first morning's adventure...

D. Baker points out our trail

Huffing and Puffing, I am glad to pose for some pics....on top of the world with the La Sal's in the background.

View down the Colorado River

Top of the Trail

Slickrock Trail: Epic Ride and highly recommended

Our second day's main event was the Porcupine Rim Trail. A combination old jeep road, and singletrack that climbed a few tough miles, and then descended for the next 11 miles down to the Colorado River. An exceptional trail that challenges even the best riders, with very technical sections throughout.

We had to shuttle ourselves to the trailhead, and arrived early in the morning to beat the heat.

From the trailhead...

The view from the highest point on the trail

D. Baker navigates a tricky descent...

We were also able to explore a little in the afternoons...when the sun got HOT

Weaving through rock formations at Onion Creek area

I hope you enjoyed checking out some of my photos, and a little insight into some of what we have been up to so far in 2009. We hope that you and your family are enjoying a happy and healthy 2009, and would love to hear how everyone is doing. Drop a comment at the end of the post, or email us @ either,

etree22@hotmail.com OR jillianmac@gmail.com

In order to keep things organized this blog post will be in two parts. Coming Soon....Part Deux!

Biking in the Backyard

2009-02-25T10:59:00.022-07:00

After living in Chinle for 6+ months, I can safely say that my new favorite outdoor activity is mountain biking. I have often used my mountain bike for transportation, but this environment creates an entirely different experience. Roughly 10 miles from where we live there is a rather large outcropping of sandstone, commonly known as slickrock.

*Moab, UT the Mountain Biker's Mecca of such terrain is located 200 miles to the North of us.

This terrain takes the activity of biking to a whole new level, and provides a variety of challenges I have never before encountered. The images that follow chronicle the average trip to, and around the route usually taken. This area is wide open, and your mountain bike can travel over most of what lies before you. Choosing your own adventure is part of the fun, but its also wise to conserve energy over the long haul as there is a lot of rock to climb. The trail we follow has been developed over the years by other riders trying to negotiate up, down, and around the canyons and cliff walls that encompass you. It is fairly easy to maintain your bearings, as long as you stay above the deep canyon walls that twist and turn in every conceivable direction. We have only spent a few incredible hours admiring and exploring this local wonder, and look forward to many more in the weeks and months ahead...

The route begins on a dirt road that leads you to the top of the mesa behind the hospital complex. Once you reach the top of the mesa the panoramic views are stunning. You feel as if you are leaving everything behind...

Old Sheep Corral

The dirt road winds along as wide open spaces speed past. There are a few homes and hogans, but they are certainly far between. In the distance Black Mesa can be seen, a sharp shadow looming on the horizon.

Although open-range cattle and roaming h0rses tend to stick to their fields for grazing, these animals are no strangers to the open road. This equine beauty watches us with great caution as we roll by.

There is a two-track that marks the beginning of the loop, and where you can park your car.

Then it is time to get on your bike and go....

Over the handlebars... car parked in the distance

Band of Slickrock

Curved Walls

This is a land of striated rock that hints at its past, sandstone in forms and shapes that makes you think of the sandy ocean floor.

like being at the beach...without a drop of water

Jillian and Natasha take their own picture

Good Light

Sandstone "Fins" in the distance

After making your way up higher into the slickrock, you reach a new world of sandstone. You pedal over layers of this petrified sand and gaze at the water-worn passages and canyons that surround you...the only sounds heard are the wind whistling and whooshing past your eyes and ears as you focus on the ride...

taking a Pause, catching my breath, and enjoying the views

Swirling Sandstone

Sandstone Pool

Day-Glo

And we ride into the sunset, thankful for life and for another day well spent soaking up sunshine and this incredible planet. Peace.

The Sacred and Serene: Canyon de Chelly National Monument

2008-12-16T08:46:00.000-07:00

As I mentioned in the introductory post Canyon de Chelly is the sacred landmark that makes this area stand out in a land filled with wonders. There are numerous opportunities for one to admire and explore. Yet, you can also feel the history in the air, and gaining the perspective of what happened here makes it all the more worthwhile. Just to give you an idea of the extent to which this land is remarkable to historians and tourists alike, I include this link to a map of the general "Four Corners" and surrounding area. (Notice, there are many "places of note" not listed within the Navajo Nation because this is a U.S. government map)

We have had a few lucky opportunities to hike into some of the canyons that are contained within the larger Canyon de Chelly area. The map below will help you get an idea of what this canyon "system" looks like from above.

These canyons are a labyrinth of sheer cliffs and coiling turns carved into the red sandstone by the steady trickle of water flowing downhill from the mountain ranges to the North and East. I can testify to the extra-sensory experience that a trip into these canyons can be. Not only can you see the markings left by both man and nature, but you can almost hear those who left them laugh and cry. The canyon floor is composed of the blood and dust of early humans who lived and died within the walls, and it seems one can smell and even taste this history.

Below are images that we have collected in our hikes and adventures over our few months here:

Canyon de Chelly National Monument

The view from one of the many overlooks along the south rim of Canyon de Chelly

From the Rim: Start of the trail down to White House Ruin

From the Rim: On a Cloudy Day

Strange "flowing" sandstone along the walls of Canyon de Chelly

A Shadowy Canyon

The Walls Up Close: Layer upon Layer

Canyon Walls Catch Rays

Walls Towering Above

The Canyon From an Overlook

Canyon Overlook at Sunset

Slim Canyon

We had the wonderful opportunity to take a hike into a private canyon whose owner was the patient of a doctor at the hospital here in Chinle.

A hike on a late summer evening with friends and neighbors was just what we needed in the middle of the work week. We began by descending a narrow trail down to the canyon's floor and proceeded to hike eastward "upstream" stopping to see ancient ruins as well as messages left by people throughout many centuries in the forms of petroglyphs and pictographs.

The Canyon's Prickly Floor

Streaked Walls

Steps in the Wall

Faint Markings

More Messages...

If these walls could talk...

Approaching a Cliff Dwelling pt. 1

Cliff Dwelling pt. 2

The Anasazi carved hand and toe-holds into the sandstone, our guides show us how they used them.

and some followed their lead...

Slim Canyon Ruins

Canyon del Muerto

Antelope House Ruins & Navajo Fortress

Navajo Fortress at the confluence of Canyon del Muerto and Black Rock Canyon

Navajo Fortress

Canyon del Muerto (upstream)

Reflective Pool

Grazing Grounds Below

The Overlook

Sliced

Geological Fiction

B&W Carved Stairs

B&W Pools pt. 1

B&W Pools pt. 2

Our Own "Out Back"

2008-12-12T14:50:00.000-07:00

There is an abundance of truly amazing geology located throughout the state of Arizona, and in the Southwest in general. We are lucky to have some of this in our own "backyard" so to say. At the base of Black Mesa located behind where we live is a section of sandstone best described as "slickrock" that gives one the feeling that they are in another world. It lies in wave-like shapes that unexpectedly curve and undulate, time and weather each having tattooed the rock over eons. This makes for incredible mountain biking, hiking, and photographs but also bears a reputation as being uninviting to us "billigana" (white non-natives). This is private land, and permission to use this area for recreation is an unspoken understanding of sorts.

The capital of the Navajo Nation in which we live, is Window Rock, AZ. Located directly on the New Mexico/Arizona border and about 65 miles from where we live. This is a town so-named for the impressive Window Rock landmark considered sacred by the Navajo people, and a natural wonder of the world by those who go there.

(click here for more info)

There is a similar small "window rock" that we have access to behind our "compound", not nearly as massive but still a special place. We went there early one morning with a few friends for the sunrise, and here are a few photos. From left to right Jillian, Natasha, Sarah & Ellen

"The Wave" engulfs Jillian as we approach

The first rays of light through

"Little Window Rock"

"Shadows on the Sun"

"Lit Sandstone"

After this excursion we swore that we would spend more mornings soaking up the sights and the sun in our beautiful "backyard"

Introduction To Our Blog: A View From The Mesa

2008-12-11T09:28:00.000-07:00

Hello! To set the backdrop for this blogging of our lives I suppose introductions are in order; our names are Jillian and Evan and we are Michiganders (Midland/Traverse City, respectively) who currently live in Chinle, Arizona. This small reservation town is located in NE Arizona and is surrounded by canyons, mesas, buttes and plateaus striated with every color imaginable. It is a land that lays open to inspection, displaying the earth's history as it has been both constructed and carved since its birth.

Chinle itself is a small, rural town located at the mouth of a spectacular canyon. In fact, this whole area is highlighted by the majestic and mysterious Canyon de Chelly, which houses ancient cliff dwellings (Anasazi), family farms, orchards and epic cliff walls. This is a glittering landscape that provides daily reminders of how sacred this planet truly is, and is the sacred home of people who know how to appreciate and worship it as such.

The main goal of our blog is that we will be able to more easily share our experiences with our friends and family. It is difficult for us to live life "merrily down the stream", so far away from the people that we have known and loved for so many years. With luck (and if we can find the gumption) this blog will document our own adventures and travels, as well as the major chapters and events in the lives of those we love, and of course the things in life that makes us LAUGH and CRY and THINK the most.

Truth be told, there is no plan for what this will be so please bare with us as we plod along through the blogosphere for the first time.