This story starts on a freezing cold day a few years back, when we were skiing down the face of Mount Snow in Vermont and I got caught on a tricky patch of ice and nearly slid into a tree. As I collected my nerves and tried in vain to search out a less-icy line,Continue reading “How our family started uphill skiing”
Author Archives: Sara Hesselsweet
Beaver Creek
By Emma Hesselsweet | January 2022 I helped my dad heave the bar down on the lift half-mindedly; I was also watching the beautiful fresh powder sprinkling onto the barren frozen ground. When the frigid metal bar was down, I set my mittened hands on it, and dropped my chin on my gloved hands toContinue reading “Beaver Creek”
Winter towing: the drive from ATX to Breck
January 1-3, 2022 | Austin, Texas –> Breckenridge, Colorado We spent the month of January at Tiger Run RV Park on the north side of Breckenridge, Colorado at 9,600 feet. The drive from Austin to Breckenridge was our most harrowing yet, particularly as we had a small weather window for towing. We left Austin onContinue reading “Winter towing: the drive from ATX to Breck”
Emma’s review of Breck restaurants (with an Aspen bonus!)
By Emma Hesselsweet | January 30, 2022 This post is mainly to review the restaurants in Breck — the local’s term for Breckenridge, and to give you a tip on which are best! We haven’t gone to that many restaurants in Breck, but I definitely have a favorite. Aurum is totally the best in probablyContinue reading “Emma’s review of Breck restaurants (with an Aspen bonus!)”
An unconventional Thanksgiving week (with LOTS to be thankful for!)
November 21st – 28th, 2021 Tucson, AZ → Carlsbad Caverns NP → Marfa, TX → Big Bend NP Our trek from Gilbert Ray Campground in Tucson, AZ to Big Bend National Park (where we’d planned to spend Thanksgiving) was one of our few remaining long-haul tows (about 10 hrs) before we spend the month ofContinue reading “An unconventional Thanksgiving week (with LOTS to be thankful for!)”
Grand Canyon: Bright Angel Trail to Plateau Point
By Emma Hesselsweet | November 16, 2021 My eyes were groggy and I sat up, shivering. My teeth chattered, and I looked around. My gaze fell on my brother. His eyes were shut, and he was rhythmically breathing slow, tired breaths. I got out of my bed, and peeked through the curtain that separated myContinue reading “Grand Canyon: Bright Angel Trail to Plateau Point”
Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum
By Emma Hesselsweet | November 21, 2021 We wandered away from the ticket booth, at saguaro national park. My eyes did too, and they finally focused on the map of the museum my brother had grabbed. I glanced at it, thought, and then spoke. This is a pretty big museum, I pointed out, noticing theContinue reading “Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum”
Fry Bread
By Emma Hesselsweet | November 17, 2021 The Fry Bread House in Phenix, Arizona, is a one story restaurant that specializes in fry bread. Fry bread is a fairly new native american tradition. They started making it in 1864 when Navajos were forced off their land by the American government and forced to walk 300Continue reading “Fry Bread”
MTB at Dead Horse Point SP
By Emma Hesselsweet | November 5, 2021 Bike Types Rigid bikes are bikes with no suspension, so not as comfortable as other bikes, which does, however, make the bike slightly less expensive. I have a hardtail bike, which means it has shocks on the fork, but none on its rear–[which is why it’s called hardtail]–it’sContinue reading “MTB at Dead Horse Point SP”
Devil’s Garden Hike
First week of November, 2021 With steep swirling sandstone cliffs and fins and slickrock ledges, an often treacherous climate with wild daily temperature swings, spooky slot canyon systems with flash-flooding risks, tarantulas, scorpions, and rattlesnakes, hiking in the Southwest is no joke. Our lack of familiarity with the climate and terrain (we have done mostContinue reading “Devil’s Garden Hike”
The Peace of Wild Things 