Tonto

Leslie and I got to see what it would be like to live in a cliff dwelling this weekend during a guided tour of the Tonto National Monument upper cliff dwelling.

We had a great National Park guide who taught us a lot more about the plants and animals around the area. We even got to try some of the wild greens along the 3-mile hike.

One of the 8-year old tourist along the hike got the unpleasant experience of having a bee fly up his pants and sting him on the leg. (been there kid). The poor guy was just standing there listening patiently to our guide when it happened...actually all of us were standing right in the middle of the 700 year old home when it happened and I couldn't help to think that maybe the bee was the reincarnation of one of the inhabitants and was kind of P.O.ed that fifteen strangers were rummaging around his bedroom.

Montezuma Castle

Leslie and I got in a short road trip up north this last weekend to see Montezuma Castle, a very well preserved Native American Village. We picked up an annual National Parks Pass so we're all set to visit as many parks as we can pack in this year.

(FYI: You can click on the pictures for a larger image)

Chinese New Year

Here's Izaac's new US/Chinese Litho Team and their families. A bunch of our Chinese team members put together a belated Chinese New Year Party this last weekend with lots of Chinese Beer and a ton of food. The group made almost 1000 Dumplings (Jiaozi)

...Someone also made Chicken Feet in the lower left corner...not too bad.

...and some real talent from one of our own teammates.

Phoenix First Friday

We dove right into the Phoenix art scene by walking around the Roosevelt Row Neighborhood on a First Friday. A cross between First Thursday in the Pearl and Last Thursday on Alberta. Thousands of people walking and shuttling around the streets of Phoenix for a great art scene. http://www.rooseveltrow.org/vendors.html

The Arizona Ghostbusters are the real deal! They were out and about during Frist Friday. http://www.arizonaghostbusters.com/

I also happen to come across a very unique place for lunch in our nighborhood this weekend. You almost have to see to believe. http://www.heartattackgrill.com/index.html

Serious Mountain Biking...Serious Crashing

Leslie and I kicked off Superbowl Sunday with a hike up South Mountain Park along part of the 14 mile National Trail. Good hike and great view of the entire city sprawl. 

This is part of the Trail. It's called Fat Man's Pass and it can't be more than a foot wide.

Here is a little nature tunnel near the end of the hike.

The hike became very exciting shortly after a group of Mountain Bikers passed us on the trail. I happened to get a video clip of them on a very technical part of the trail. About 300 yards later we caught up with them again after a woman in the group crashed and probably dislocated her hip. She didn't seem to be in too much pain, but she wasn't going to move and she was ~2miles from the nearest trail head pretty much on top of a mountain. Her friends called for help and a few minutes later a helicopter landed nearby to assist in the rescue. Hope she's OK.

Serious Mountain Biking

The crash scene with Mountain Rescue flagging down the helicopter.

Helicopter Landing on Trail