Kirstin Olmon Tempe, AZ Kirstin Olmon and Kelly Phillips, transplants from other parts of the United States, both fell in love with Arizona from the first saguaro. Now they combine nineteen years of experience roaming the Grand Canyon state's many landscapes. Never tired of providing vicarious adventures for friends, they're thrilled to share Arizona's wonders with a wider audience in their first book. They live in Tempe with a small menagerie.

Recent Trekalong Posts By Kirstin Olmon

• The collared peccary

  The collared peccary, better known as the javelina, is one of the larger critters that you might find wandering through your campsite. Don’t yell “wild pig!”, though, since you may give offense. Javelina are a breed ap...

• Tumbling Tumbleweed

  As we were walking the dog on a blustery evening, an Ace Hardware plastic bag caught the wind and tumbled down the road ahead of us. I was reminded of the days when only tumbleweeds rolled down the road, not plastic bags. Tumbleweed, Sa...

• The Apache Trail

  “The Apache Trail combines the grandeur of the Alps, the glory of the Rockies, the magnificence of the Grand Canyon and then adds an indefinable something that none of the others have. To me, it is the most awe-inspiring and most ...

• We’re still here

  Darn February and its 28 days. The shortest month is almost over and somehow we haven’t quite established our regular blogging rhythm. Here are a few posts and some pretty pictures to make up for our recent absence.

• February flowers

  The old saying “April showers brings May flowers” needs to be revised for the state of Arizona. Here in the desert, we have two rainy seasons, one in the winter and one in the summer. In Native American tradition, the winter...

• Gilbert Water Ranch

  Spring is here and the flowers are blooming. It’s time to get out there. If you’re from the Phoenix area but don’t have time to go for a long hike, take a quick trip to the Riparian Preserve at the Gilbert Water Ranch....

• Where are the wildflowers?

  It’s not too late to see the wildflowers. Check out the following resources for current updates on what is in bloom around the state of Arizona. Arizona State Parks 2009 Ranger Cam Desert Botanical Garden Wildflower InfoSite Maric...

• Arizona State Parks struggling with budget cuts

  “In this economy…” is a phrase we’re all tired of hearing, but there’s no denying that this has been a tough year for everyone, and the state parks are feeling the pain as well. The Arizona State Parks syst...

• Fee-Free Weekends at National Parks

  The National Weather Service has issued an excessive heat warning for much of Arizona this weekend, with temperatures reaching 115 degrees and above. So now’s the perfect time to flee to the high country. To make the trip a little...

• Spring is right around the corner…

  A new year is here, and just in time for Arizona’s early Spring, Cactus Camping is going to be sending out new green shoots! We’ll be posting some sorely needed updates for our 50 best campgrounds, and of course, it’s ...