A cold March afternoon greeted us as
we arrived at Wupatki National Monument, where the ancient red stone walls of
Wupatki Pueblo rose from the high desert beneath a sky filled with passing snow
showers. The weather only added to the atmosphere. The dramatic clouds, crisp
air, and empty landscape made it feel as though we had stepped back nearly a
thousand years to when this remarkable pueblo was home to hundreds of people.
Some adventures become milestones. Our
June 2007 visit to Canyon de Chelly National Monument was one of those days.
The White House Trail was unlike
anything we had attempted before. Dropping roughly 600 feet from the canyon rim
to the canyon floor, the trail is narrow, steep, rocky, and lined with dramatic
sandstone cliffs. At the time, many people believed taking a child with
significant mobility limitations down the trail was impossible.
More than one person told us,
"You can't do that."
We decided to find out for ourselves.
In March 2016, our family reached Saguaro National Park during one of the biggest adventures of our lives—a cross-country move from St. Johns, Florida, to Roseville, California. After days of driving across the South, the Sonoran Desert was unlike anything we had seen. Towering saguaro cacti stood like silent guardians across the hillsides, stretching their arms toward a cloudless Arizona sky. Every mile brought a new landscape, making this stop feel less like a break from the drive and more like an unforgettable destination.
Petrified
Forest National Park marked a memorable milestone for Chris, Kellisa, and
Egypt. During their cross-country move from Jacksonville, Florida, to
Roseville, California in January 2016, Arizona became the 40th state
that the three explored together. The stop was part of a whirlwind journey
west, proving that even while relocating across the country, there is always
time to add another adventure to Kellisa's growing list of accessible hikes.
The
photos capture a landscape unlike almost anywhere else in America. They show
Kellisa smiling beside enormous, fossilized tree trunks that have been
transformed into colorful stone over more than 200 million years. Other images
highlight sweeping views across the Painted Desert, where layers of red,
purple, gray, and orange stretch to the horizon. We also photographed the
surreal Blue Mesa badlands, whose soft blue and lavender hills resemble another
planet, along with overlooks where the wheelchair could be positioned safely to
enjoy the scenery. Together, the pictures emphasize that the park is about much
more than petrified logs—it is a place of vast open vistas, remarkable geology,
and shared family memories.
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