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Thursday, February 19, 2009
Hiking AZ with Teri AnnI have always
walked in my life, including participating in the “Breast Cancer 60-mile walk” in CA. However,
when my son was about to be deployed to Iraq in 2003, I found myself wanting to do some type of activity, so we chose a hike
in Joshua Tree Park. We hiked the "Palm Oasis" trail, which was a total of nine miles, and quite
a bit of elevation gain for this beginner hiker. We manage to hike the entire trail, and it took us several hours.
Because the trail was in the high desert, the heat took a toll on us.
When Justin was deployed, I continued
my hikes, and even joined a couple of hiking groups, including the "Sierra Club". I loved Griffith Park and
hiked there at least three times a week. Soon I began doing higher elevation hikes. I thought I was
in fairly in good shape to go climb a mountain. Boy, was I ever wrong.
Over the years, I got
a lot better at climbing, and even took up “Indoor Rock Climbing”, and began “Mountaineering”.
Some of my friends and family call me crazy, being my old age and all . Why would I want to put my body through all
that? However, not losing any weight, even with the multiple hikes during the week. I
then learned about the proper diet for this vegetarian, which does not include fries, protein drinks with tons of sugar in
them, and white starches. In 2006, I began the South Beach Diet and in three months, I lost 40 pounds.
I am an advocate in total fitness, especially when it comes to obese children. I feel that they do
not get enough exercise in school anymore, and most of the time not at home either. Their diet is normally poor (what
child doesn’t scream for McDonald’s when mom and pop drive by?) I own a Pet and House Sitting
business, known as “Comfy Pets of AZ”. I do a lot of dog hikes along South Mountain as well as hiking all the
trails. I hike McDowell Mountains as well, and numerous other trails in AZ. Even though I live @
the west end of South Mountain, I have been trying to get out and explore the other trails that AZ has to offer.
My passion has always been working with animals, and now it includes the greater outdoors. So, I then decided to make
the outdoors and hiking ½ of my business venture. Services will include a children's hiking
club, a women's hiking boot camp, family hiking adventures, teaching beginners on the proper way to hike, as well as what
to wear, bring, etc. Other classes will include preparing for high altitude climbing/hiking. Our
women’s events will include a single day and a 3-day camping trip, climbing Humphrey’s Peak.
Hikes will be held at South Mountain Park, as well as McDowell Mountains and other surrounding
trails, depending on the client's needs. This business will also cater to travelers coming into Phoenix and wanting
something to do besides shopping and eating. Transportation from the hotel will also be available.
So, I
hope you will join me in celebrating this brand new part of my business. See you on the trail.
6:52 pm pst
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