When I first moved to Flagstaff, I had to severely limit myself when it came to hobbies.
There’s so damn much to do up here, which means theres also so damn much to buy.
I started “joking” about limiting myself to picking up (and outfitting myself for) one new hobby every season.
My first fall/winter here? Hiking. My first spring/summer here? Camping. My second fall/winter here? Snowshoeing. My second spring/summer here? Paddle boarding. My third fall/ winter here? Backpacking. My third spring/summer here? Trail running.
Flagstaff hobbies add up, y’all. And while I love ice skating, our local climbing gym and CycleBar spin classes, I haven’t even really gotten to skiing, outdoor climbing and biking yet.
Which brings us to… what’s this season’s hobby going to be?
Skiing?
I say hopefully because skiing is expensive!
I recently told Ryan and my friend Lauren that this is the year I’ll actually learn how to ski. I’ve been skiing once up in Oregon (and I loved it), it’s just a hobby with such a huge barrier cost that I haven’t gotten into it yet. But, this winter is the winter. I swear.
Maybe. It kind of depends how overboard I go with my spending in India because honestly, I’ll probably spend all my money and have nothing leftover for winter enjoyment.
Pst: Affiliate links!
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Downhill skis! I linked a pair of really fancy beginner-friendly skis (the Experience W 78 Carbon Skis with Bindings) just for the sake of having something to link and put in the pretty graphic, but will I actually buy the very expensive skis with included bindings? Of course not. I will probably buy something used and cheap from one of our local outdoors consignment stores. (And, yes, I know that I have to get the boots, the helmet, the goggles, etc. No wonder I haven’t picked up this hobby yet, $hee$h!)
Grayl water bottle. I recently discovered this push-filter water bottle and it’s such a cool concept! A bunch of Havasupai Falls hikers got sick due to virus-laden drinking water. Most backpacking-friendly water filters (including the Sawyer Squeeze I usually use) filter out bacteria, protozoa and debris, but not viruses. That got me looking into water filters, and I found this Grayl water bottle, which looks like it would work really well on my upcoming trip to India.
HydraPak 42 mm filter cap. Which, speaking of! I saw this linked in something on Outside Online as a replacement for my Sawyer Squeeze and I’m definitely intrigued and interested in trying it out.
Running spikes. This is a carry-over from last year — I still really want a pair of lower-profile EXOspikes for winter running! Will it happen this winter? We’ll see.
Altra “Lone Peak” running shoes. And, speaking of winter running and running in general – I’ve been trying to be nicer to my feet. My toes have started to regain a lot of their natural splay after years of being barefoot while working from home/ clad in Birkenstocks while wandering town, and my Saucony running shoes that I’ve worn religiously for years have started to feel a bit too confining in the toe box. Ryan (like many Flagstaff folks) is a big Altra fan, and I think he’s convinced me to give them a try.
Pro-Tec “Orb Extreme” mini-massage ball. Still on the foot health topic- I always love new foam rollers and massage tools, and I’ve been eyeing this massage ball for my feet and other small hard-to-reach places.
Rechargeable hand warmers. My hands (and feet and nose) are always cold. I’m a huge fan of the disposable HotHands hand warmers for backpacking trips or any other time I’m trying to pack light and cut weight, but I would love a pair of reusable hand warmers for the occasions I can bring a little extra weight just to cut back on the trash and waste.
Nite Ize NiteHowl rechargeable LED safety necklace for dogs. It’s getting darker outside, but I’m not quite ready to give up running with Ochi. I won’t ever run after dark by myself, but having Ryan and Ochi join makes me feel a lot safer — and if Ochi makes me feel safer, the least I can do is repay the favor and keep him safe with a light-up necklace for early morning and evening runs.
Heather’s Choice African Peanut Stew backpacking food. I know I mention it all the time, but a huge perk of living in Flagstaff is our proximity to the desert. All it takes is a two-hour drive to escape February’s snow and take an overnight backpacking trip while wearing shorts. Since Ryan and I try to squeeze in a few faux-summer experiences every winter (aka: non-fire season), I always look forward to the opportunity to try new-to-me backpacking food. I’ve heard really good things about Heather’s Choice and this one is on my list!
Smartwool Hike Light socks. I’m pretty vocal about how much I love Smartwool’s socks for running, hiking, biking and everyday wear. This new pattern has a navy blue background with a little mountain scape and tent design. Adorable, right? You can never have too many wool socks and Smartwool socks last forever, which makes it easy enough for me to justify this purchase.
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So, there we go. Will I pick up skiing this winter? Honestly, probably not. I will probably still remain too broke to do so.
But, will I make it down to the desert for a backpacking trip or two? Definitely.
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