I just got back from a Tucson hike with our sister company, Sol Journeys. What a wonderful way to spend the day!

The hike is in the heart of the Sonoran desert. In fact, it’s very close to Saguaro National Park, where the forest of tall saguaro cacti always reminds me of Deadwood, South Dakota.

Why, you might ask? Tucson isn’t a whole lot like the Black Hills. But my memories of Deadwood from childhood, are of coming over a hillside covered in charred tree trunks, with all their branches removed by a forest fire. Coming over the hill on Gates Pass Road, with the saguaro “tree trunks” covering the hillside, brings that deep memory to the surface. It’s there for a moment, then it’s gone and I’m back in the desert again.

Anyway, back to the future… or at least back to this weekend. We had hikes for different activity levels, and then ended up with a gourmet picnic, featuring southwest goodies like dried beef from a famous local restaurant.

The piece de resistance? Getting a massage from the talented May, a masseuse with the nearby Canyon Ranch spa. Being out in the desert on a sunny day, with fresh air, exercise, fine food and a massage. Highly recommended!

Sol Journeys — Taste of the desert hikes