Category Archives: Flagstaff

A critique of “Bless the Beasts and Children,” by Glendon Swarthout

Posted on March 5, 2022 by skayoliver

I picked up a tattered copy of Bless the Beasts and Children, by Glendon Swarthout at a used bookstore near our place here in North Central Phoenix. The title had appeared in a list of historic Arizona fictions that were … Continue reading →

Posted in Arizona, Book Reviews, Commentary, edgy, Flagstaff, Prescott | 2 Comments

Hiking Escape: The Arizona Trail, Passage #34 Part II

Posted on June 5, 2021 by skayoliver

Why drive 140 miles in order to do a 5.3 mile hike? Easy to explain. It was already 80 degrees when Lynn, my hiking partner, picked me up in North Central Phoenix, where temperatures were predicted to reach 103 before … Continue reading →

Posted in Arizona, Flagstaff, fun stuff, Hiking, Southwest and the desert, walking around | 9 Comments

Summer Escapes: A Walk in the Woods

Posted on August 8, 2020 by skayoliver

Sometimes you are not in the mood for a full-fledged hike. What you most want is a walk — a pleasant unhurried amble that promises discoveries along the way. That’s just how Lynn and I felt recently when we took … Continue reading →

Posted in Arizona, environmentalism, Flagstaff, Hiking, travel, walking around | 2 Comments

Hiking Escapes: Walnut Canyon

Posted on August 4, 2020 by skayoliver

How do you like to end a hike? I prefer to end it worn out, grubby and with a sense of accomplishment — nothing that a shower and snooze can’t sooth. Certanly not the way I ended our last hike: … Continue reading →