Founder’s Circle ’12 Camelback Hike and Zipline

The Saturday of Founder's Circle 2012 was a free day, and some of us booked some excursions. I got brave and said I'd go–and the one we went on that morning blew me away!!!

We got up early that morning, backpacks and water bottles in tow, and were picked up by two awesome Paragon Adventures guides and driven out to a wilderness area south of St. George, where it is a really good thing no one informed me that we were going to climb to the top of Camelback Mountain. I would never have signed up for it if I'd realized it was going to be that challenging–but I'm SO GLAD I didn't know, because it was AMAZING. Ah-MAZ-zing!! I am really proud of myself for making it.

Much of it was "just" walking over relatively mild terrain, but even just walking is an adventure when you are a sit-at-home-mom like me and the altitude is high and going higher with each step. I was huffin' and puffin' during parts of it, let me tell you, and struggling with dizziness and a little nausea. But the views! My goodness. Everywhere you looked there were both big and small things to drink in. The recent rains had caused some really cool pools and a lot of gorgeous desert flowers, and we even saw critter tracks in the softened sand. And the geology was just astounding–all those different types of rock, and such strange natural formations.

Nothing like being on a mountain top… it was perfectly exhilarating, just an absolutely quiet and pristine high desert morning. I kept thinking, "My Dad would be so proud if he could see me right now!"

I didn't worry too much about taking photos because the trip included a CD with a couple hundred, so that was really nice. We will definitely be planning another adventure with Paragon if I ever get to go back to this area. Will have to try really hard to earn myself a spot in the Top 100 Demonstrators again!

I'll admit, I was very ready to be done, though, by the time we climed back up the last hill to the vehicles! I enjoyed God's creation immensely, but this city girl needed to sit a bit! But there was more adventure to come–my first time ziplining!!!

It was totally awesome! I loved it and wanted to go again right away. It was a little freaky waiting for my turn and then sitting on the edge of the cliff wall with my legs dangling out over nothing. But the instant–the instant–they let me go and I sailed out, I was totally relaxed and I even broke the death grip I had on the rope and waved at the others, then twisted around and waved at the ones waiting on the other end of the line (as I was rushing through the air straight at the canyon wall. But they stop you in time). It was super fun and that will definitely not be my last time ziplining!

I hope you've enjoyed my posts about the trip YOU guys made possible! I appreciate every single person who hosted a party, placed an order, ordered online, and signed up to start their own stamping adventure this last year. I am incredibly grateful for the mind-blowing experiences I've enjoyed on this and other Stampin' Up incentive trips! I'll return to posting mostly stamp pictures now, but I'll try to remember to snap a pic of the thank-you card I made for Shelli and the Events Team before I put it in the envelope. I will never forget this fabulous trip!