Hold on to your hat!  The Albuquerque Hot Air Balloon Festival is sure to knock your socks off!  It is beyond awesome at the “rodeo launch” to witness the colorful field of balloons being filled and slowly lifting off at the crack of dawn.  The variety of shapes from Darth Vader to the space shuttle to cartoon characters to Uncle Sam, fill the beautiful blue New Mexico sky!  While enjoying the amazing view above, there are bands playing, treats to eat and booths selling balloon treasures and crafts.  This is truly a sight to behold, and can be enjoyed on the October New Mexico trip – coming soon!

Within striking distance of Santa Fe, Bandelier National Monument offers breathtaking scenic beauty and abundant archeological riches.  You will be “wowed” by hundreds of masonry structures and cave shelters that dot Frijoles Canyon.  The Loop Trail and Alcove House are sure to impress.  After climbing several ladders up to about 140 feet above the canyon bottom, the Ceremonial Cave is a spectacular sight you won’t want to miss!  The view of the creek below is spectacular! Using the trail guide as an excellent companion, this high-walled town is an interesting and fun one to explore.  The fall colors arching over the path that lead to and from this national monument will leave you in awe.  There are now two opportunities to enjoy this amazing historical site:  on both the June Desert Mountain Escape trip or the October trip to New Mexico!

I had traveled little and never considered adventure travel until my fist year of retirement from teaching. I knew I wanted to see the beautiful places in the American west but I wasn’t sure how I wanted to travel. Arranging trips with family and friends was complicated to schedule and traveling alone didn’t seem like much fun. Then I discovered Canyon Calling Adventures for Women. The Sedona Sojourn tour was absolutely the perfect trip to see if adventure travel was right for me. It was a short trip with all activities based from our lodging in Sedona. The trip activities sounded easy enough that I wasn’t concerned about my lack of experience. I pumped up my courage and off I went to Sedona on my own. The trip was a fantastic experience! Traveling with interesting women was safe, exciting and a tremendous amount of fun. After just one trip I realized the world was now mine to experience and explore. Traveling with Canyon Calling Tours is a great way to see new places and try new activities in a supportive and fun environment.

If you’re looking for a little slice of heaven in the form of a fall hike, you might want to give Lockett Meadow, outside Flagstaff, AZ a try.   In the inner basin of the San Francisco Peaks, this little getaway offers a unique hike through quaking aspen groves.  Under the blue blue sky laced with a thin, white ribbon of clouds, we hiked along to the sound of the wind in the trees and the brittle rustle of dry grass and pinecones under our feet.  It was spectacular!  Looking up, we were in the midst of an endless sea of yellow with white tree trunks that reached as far as the eye could see. The air was sharp and clean and although the colors had not yet reached their peak, the breathtaking beauty was a great escape from the office – and not yet crowded! 

Here’s an OMG cultural moment from each of our trips:

• Iceland: Hearing our guide Heidrun describe the Snorri saga and its significance to the Icekandic people.
• Costa Rica: Visiting an indigenous Indian community and buying simple handicrafts from the children.
• Peru: Visiting the floating reed islands of Uros and seeking how the people make everything out of reeds.
• Swiss Alps: Listening to a hymn sung by the yodeling choir with alphorns on a Sunday morning at Mt Pilatus.
• New Zealand: When the children at Omarumutu Marae sang America the Beautiful in Maori for us.
• Australia: Hiking the ancient song line of the Emu Man in the Blue Mountains.
• Alaska Summer: Meeting the locals in a Homer pub – right out of a novel!
• Desert Mountain: Visiting Taos pueblo and talking with the current inhabitants about their ancestors.
• Sedona Sojourn: Exploring Palatki ruins and imagining what like must have been like for the ancient Sinagua people.
• Hawaii: Our up-close view watching the slow-moving lava inch its way down from Kilauea.
• Morocco: Delivering school supplies to Berber kids and them singing their favorite song in return.
• Aurora Alaska: Seeing the aurora. Indigenous people describe them as children playing yet to be born.
• Best of the West: Hearing our guide in Canyon de Chelly tell us the story of the seven brothers.
• Utah Canyonlands: Yucking it up with the cowboys on the horse ride through beautiful Bryce Canyon.
• Arizona Spectacular: Visiting with the Hopi people in their homes and buying kachina dolls and tiny delicate pottery from them.
• Tetons-Yellowstone: Watching buffalo graze and remembering how close we came to losing these beautiful beasts forever.
• Canadian Rockies: Appreciating the conservation-inspired locals who limit access to Lake O’Hara to keep it pristine forever.

Another “must see” to be added to your list of “places to go before I die” is Bryce Canyon National Park. What a spectacular view when you first see the towering hoodoos! These rich colorful limestone rock formations are sure to amaze you. While hiking the Navajo Loop Trail, there is a seemingly endless maze of massive ponderosa pines mixed in with the hoodoos that will have you “ooo-ing and aaah-ing”!! It’s a thrill to stand next to the twisted trunk of a juniper tree and look out across the surreal landscape of hoodoos, spires and fins that stretch for miles in every direction. If traveling on the Best of the West or Utah Canyonlands trip, you will get to experience this wondrous odyssey by horseback! Cheryl thinks this is the most beautiful National Park in the world. I couldn’t agree more!

Imagine launching your kayak just under Hoover Dam and looking up at this massive structure. Our fascinating journey began here. We traveled down the Colorado River for thirteen miles and I felt inspiration, awe and reverence for the Earth. The canyon seemed almost lifeless with the stillness broken only by an occasional bird croaking overhead, the scattered sound of the wind or the drips off my paddle. Along this wondrous trip we stopped numerous times for a short hike to the hot springs where we soaked our weary bones. The surface of the pool seemed to shimmer and dance as the water then slid over the ledge, down a narrow stream through the canyon towards the Colorado River. A delicious picnic lunch was enjoyed on the banks at mid-day. This incredible journey is a memory I treasure, and will be sure to delight your adventurous spirit! You too can enjoy this amazing trip on the Best of the West tour!

It’s amazing to me how a body of water surrounded by no vegetation can be so starkly beautiful! Lake Powell is a reservoir bordering Arizona and Utah, and is a boater’s paradise. This majesty of nature in Glen Canyon National Recreation Area is a joy to behold. Wonderful red rock formations and beautiful painted walls separate the deep blue water from the bright blue sky. What fun to stop periodically to jump overboard to cool off! A short hike brought us to Rainbow Bridge, the highlight for any visitor to Powell. Cheryl shared a wonderful Indian legend that makes the bridge come alive. Soon we pull into Dangling Rope Marina – who’da thunk you could get soft served ice cream out in the wilderness! There are an infinite number of places to pull your boat in to camp – and we found a beauty! Who knew camping could be so luxurious, with gourmet food to boot! The sunset over the water was spectacular and the night brought an abundance of stars. An overnight on Lake Powell can be enjoyed on the Best of the West, Arizona Spectacular or Utah Canyonlands trips!

Memories of the Rockies are still in my head like a little secret treasure in one’s pockets. Certainly, I know I’ve waken up many of my girfriend’s traveling adventurous spirit from this trip. Choosing to do something like this was easy for me. And it surprises me how almost ‘in awe’ most of my girlfriends are at such a thing…traveling alone without knowing anyone?…I guess there is a certain vulnerability involved, that one has to put one’s self out there and not be hesitant of the adventure, the experience, good or bad, or other women, for that sake. So, I’ve already got two who would travel in a heartbeat with me. Although, for myself, part of the fun was/is being on my own and making this ‘MY’ experience vs. ‘OUR’ experience. I think one definitely learns more about oneself as well as opening up to others without the safe hold of having a familiar friend nearby which tends to limit the experience…possibly anyway.

Of all the gorgeous hikes I’ve taken throughout the years, there is none more stunning than Lake O’Hara in the Canadian Rockies! This was a real OMG moment for me….deep turquoise water, majestic mountains – some snow capped, pines-a-plenty and beautiful wildflowers. After an early bus ride up to the trailhead, we took off for our six mile hike with our lunch in tow. The scenery around the lake was beyond breathtaking! The mirror image of the majestic mountains in the water was almost surreal! We climbed upward in elevation to Lake Oesa for our picnic lunch….passing glorious waterfalls along the way. This destination was so beautiful, that we just had to sit in silence to absorb it all! The return hike was equally enjoyable and as you can imagine, we took plenty of photos! (although they never seem to do justice to the true beauty of this wondrous land)

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to walk on a glacier that’s hundreds of years old? Let me tell you that it is an exciting adventure! Layer up your clothes…it’s cold! The experienced guide will assist you in strapping on your crampons so you can walk without the worry of slipping. Off you go! The glaciers are an amazing color of blue and white.  As you trek along, you can hear the crunch of the ice under your feet, you will peer down into deep crevaces, you will learn about how the glaciers formed (with the use of a candy bar you will then eat!), you get to drink this ice cold fresh water…the freshest water I’ve ever tasted and you will have fun! If you think this is something you’d like to try….you can sign up for a Canyon Calling trip to one of four exciting places to experience this:  New Zealand, Alaska Midnight Sun, Canada or Iceland.  I guarantee you won’t be disappointed!

Having come from the east coast, I thought there was nothing more spectacular than biking along the coastline with a constant view of the sand and the sun glistening on the salt water.  Turns out I was wrong!  While biking in Sedona, I realized that this is an adventure that must be added to your “bucket list”!  It doesn’t  matter if you like to road bike or off-road bike.  The panoramic views of the majestic red rocks are nothing short of incredible!  Whether you are zooming downhill, huffing and puffing uphill, or on a straight away, I guarantee you will have a huge smile on your face as you look around in any direction to see the vibrant red rocks against the bluest of blue skies and the contrast of the junipers.  The sun shining on the red rocks only intensifies the colors….at sunrise, when first coming around the bend and spotting Cathedral Rock waking up in the shadows, at sunset or anytime in between.  Whether you are seeing these red rocks in direct sunlight, shadows, or sillouette,  there is such a healing, powerful, magical feeling when biking in beautiful Sedona.  Give it a try….you won’t regret it!

Ok where to begin?….New Zealand=sailing with a mating pod of over 200 dolphins, climbing the Franz Josef glacier then standing inside an ice cave that was not “there” 2 days prior and would be gone in 4 more (see the CC website I think that pic is posted), or participating in over 24 hours of community invitation and acceptance rituals with Maori (that humbles you in the face of God and has you saying “oh my god.”)—then there’s Iceland…..which frankly should be called Greenland and vice-versa. The most astonishing geography/geology I’ve seen outside of Death Valley. Lordy Lordy…..one of the best kept secrets in the world. Of course for me…the people anywhere you go are so important and Cheryl never leaves this out. You definetly KNOW the country you visit by the guides and experiences you have. Then there are the “people” on the trip with you…your travel mates…..the women that you meet and hang with and laugh til everything hurts…and cry sometimes too. I’ve said this before on Facebook and I’ll say it again here….I’ve learned as I’ve traveled with Cheryl and CC that I simply say “OK” to whatever she suggests or has for the gang to do…she has it down and everytime I venture and explore the challenges embedded in the trip I am filled with countless “OMG” moments. I’m back for another in little over a month…Costa Rica…yea baby…no I mean “OH MY GOD here we go again!” Celeste (Sacramento, Ca)

I traveled with Canyon Calling to the Canadian Rockies this past summer. WOW! This was a memorable, life altering trip for sure! Life altering, as it opened up a new opportunity for me to help guide women’s adventure trips…a “dream job” for me! Memorable for so many reasons. The scenery was absolutely breathtaking. (to the point that it often brought tears to my eyes), the adventures were beyond fun…but the most spectacular of all was the bonding of a group of women from all walks of life. Almost instantly, this group of eight gals became friends. There was a sense of comfort among us. We laughed, sang, supported one another, shared stories and just plain had fun! We toasted one another at our “happy hour” before dinner. We encouraged each other as some gals were stepping “out of their box and comfort zone” on this trip….and all felt genuine happiness as one another reached new goals. Cheryl is an amazing leader, and leaves no detail left undone. She ensures that EVERYONE feels they are an important part of the group, and makes the decisions so that all you have to do is come along and have the time of your life!

I’m often asked how I decide on locations for new trips. I will be writing many blogs on this topic.

Firstly, it must be a location offering multi-activity options. For example, Ireland is unlikely to be on our schedule as it’s limited to hikes and horse-rides plus the weather is notoriously unpredictable.

Then a close second is the “OH MY GOD” (OMG) litmus test. Does the scenery knock your socks off – ie, would you hang a picture of it on your wall? Or, is the cultural experience so profound that you’ll remember the experience ten years down the track?

Here’s an OMG scenery moment from each of our trips:

• Iceland: Watching hundreds of puffins up close on the edge of a cliff – they look like clowns with feathers!
• Costa Rica: Seeing smoke from indigenous people’s fires coming up through the jungle as we raft the Pacure River.
• Peru: The first site of Machu Pichu as we hike through the Sun Gate.
• Swiss Alps: Hiking beneath the Matterhorn on a clear sunny day.
• New Zealand: Southern Alps perfect reflection in Lake Matheson at 6am.
• Australia: Holding a koala – no feeling quite like it in the world!
• Alaska Summer: Canoeing past icebergs at Spencer Glacier.
• Desert Mountain: Walking through ancient cliff dwellings in Mesa Verde.
• Sedona Sojourn: Sitting in the saddle of Cathedral Rock.
• Hawaii: Sea kayaking and having dolphins pop up next to you.
• Morocco: My first site of the Sahara – I would never have imagined a big pile of orange sand could be so beautiful.
• Aurora Alaska: Seeing 20,000′ snow-covered Denali almost all day on the train to Fairbanks.
• Best of the West: Soaking in hot springs while kayaking the Colorado.
• Utah Canyonlands: Sitting under Delicate Arch at sunrise.
• Arizona Spectacular: The turquoise water at Havasu Falls in the midst of the desert.
• Tetons-Yellowstone: A mama grizzly and cubs roadside in Jellystone.
• Canadian Rockies: Lake O’Hara – enuf said!

What was your OMG moment on a trip? I look forward to getting your comments.

In my next blogs, I’ll discuss OMG cultural moments, and the interaction between the women on the trip. After all, it’s not all about the scenery!

Until our next adventure!

Cheryl Fleet

Welcome to the Canyon Calling blog! I look forward to sharing new developments on our trips, in the travel industry – specifically the women and adventure travel industry segments, and general travel and life experiences.

Dee Beckmann, a Canyon Calling guide, and Mary Schnack, a tour client, will also be blogging and we welcome any of you to participate as well. Share your diaries from a Canyon Calling trip, any travel-related information you want to pass on and whatever else might be relevant to women interested in unique travel experiences. If you want to be a regular contributing author for the site, just let us know (name, email and a password) and we can set that up as well.

I also hope you are following us, linking with us, friending us—on Twitter, Linked In and Facebook. Of course, you can always find us under Canyon Calling.

Looking forward to our next adventure!

Cheryl Fleet