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We travel from Wukoki's sandstone perch to Wupatki's 100-room complex, tracing trade routes, desert farming, and the living science of a breathing blowhole. Along the way, we weigh preservation, oral histories, and how plazas and ball courts shaped community life.

• Wukoki's defensive siting and sandstone construction
• Site etiquette and why artifacts must stay put
• Ripple marks as geology's timeline beneath pueblos
• Wupatki as a trade hub linking north and south
• Meanings of the blowhole in science and tradition
• Ball court uses across sports, ceremonies, and storage
• Three Sisters planting and dryland agriculture
• Nalakihu's modest footprint and Citadel's basalt walls
• Terraces, sinkholes, and the land's hidden fractures
• Living ties for Hopi and Zuni communities today

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We hike the Bonita Vista and Lenox Crater trails at Sunset Crater, share why NASA trained astronauts here, and explain how a thousand-year-old eruption reshaped this volcanic field. We give practical tips on altitude, footing, water, and protected areas you cannot hike in.

• quick overview of Bonita Vista and Lenox Crater loop
• Why astronauts trained on Sunset Crater terrain
• what to expect at 7,000 feet and why to hydrate
• views of the San Francisco Peaks, O’Leary Peak, and Bonita Lava Flow
• why Sunset Crater’s cone is closed to protect fragile soils
• accessible options on the Lava Flow Trail
• planning advice for late starts and cinder footing

If you have questions or comments about Sunset Crater, please let me know by emailing or texting me.

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We walk through a trail-tested cook system built for fast boils, hot coffee, and simple packability, comparing stainless durability with titanium weight savings. Along the way, we demo the BRS 3000T, share smart add-ons, and show how everything nests for a tidy carry.

• waterproof dry bag setup and packing order
• Stanley stainless cup with graduated marks to 600 ml
• boil-only routine for dehydrated meals and coffee
• BRS 3000T stove pros, cons, and lighting
• regulator absence and practical fuel efficiency
• GSI Spice Missile for six compact seasonings
• Sea to Summit X Mug for collapsible 16 oz drinks
• long-handled Toaks spoon for deep pouches
• stainless vs titanium trade-offs and longevity
• total kit weight of about 12.3 ounces
• affordable, durable, budget-friendly choices
• links for products and affiliate note


If you want to purchase those for yourself, there'll be some affiliate links.

Affiliate Product Links

Stanley Adventure Cup

https://amzn.to/4a75IKL

BRS 3000T Backpacking Stove

https://amzn.to/45Y06Qz

Toaks Long Handle Titanium Spoon

https://amzn.to/46HrjXY

Sea to Summit Cup

https://amzn.to/4rEka2P

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See you out on the trail!

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