Desert Light

We took these pictures while walking, hiking, and exploring the Sonoran Desert in North Scottsdale. March is spring in the Arizona desert. Trees are green and flowers are blooming, making great hikes even greater. Allie and I love to explore places (our first sparks rained while exploring one), and there’s no better time to see this stretch of the Sonoran than early spring.

Since we met, we’ve used these hikes and explorations for fun, of course, but also kind of for clearing our heads. A hike strips life to essences. For a few hours, small problems and cultural pressures melt away, and there you are, walking through nature with someone you want to be with.

This effect is magnified by the desert. The desert captivates in a way similar to the ocean, only not as ecstatically. The spell on your mind is calm wisdom. The scope and scale of your surroundings makes you think clearly about big things.

During our week in the Southwest, we were outside as much as possible. It’s nice to have an outlet to the natural world when you live in the city. You’ll get a nice taste of the desert in our next few posts.   -Chris