This was a long-anticipated trip, one we began planning back in August. Six women in our forties—who met at TI in our twenties and are all still working there—finally made it happen. With kids and toddlers, business travel, and Deep Dives, it felt almost miraculous that we could align our schedules. Given the many layers of commitments in our lives, the first weekend of December was the only one that worked.
Sedona and Joshua Tree are often recommended for cold-weather hiking, and we chose Sedona for its convenience and abundance of lodging options.
Five of us flew from DFW to Phoenix on Friday morning, while one arrived from Houston later that night. The two-hour drive flew by as we listened to each other’s favorite songs and caught up. I chose our house for its proximity to the trails, and it turned out to be perfect—right at the start of the Teacup Trail, with four bedrooms, a jacuzzi, and an outdoor fire pit.
That afternoon, we jumped straight onto the Doe Mountain Trail to catch the sunset. The hike was steeper than some of us expected, and the rocks were a bit slick in regular shoes. Still, we all made it to the top, and the sunset was spectacular. The evening ended with the jacuzzi and a sky full of stars.
Saturday began with a lovely breakfast at Casa Sedona Restaurant, followed by a hike to Devil’s Bridge. Priya and Rajani lined up for their turn on the bridge before we continued on to Boynton Trail in search of the energy vortex. Six women and one young boy sat together for an outdoor meditation. Later, we drove to Airport Mesa for sunset. Sandy, Wenjia, Rajani, and I hiked down to the base of the mesa for a few extra steps. 🙂
The viewpoint was buzzing—bands playing, incense burning, and a sea of people pausing in awe of the expansive view. The sun brushed the mesas in deep reds before slowly fading, and we stayed until twilight.
Dinner was at Angel Kitchen, a Japanese eatery. The food was good, though the prices were steep. We ended the night with a long fireside chat that stretched late into the evening.
On Sunday morning, we headed out early for a final hike on the Teacup Trail. Priya, Rajani, and I even squeezed in a group psychic reading. Reluctantly, we said goodbye to Sedona and drove back to Phoenix, already missing the magic of the weekend.
No comments:
Post a Comment