Good News and Bad News: an Update

The last time I posted, I was excited about the coming year and all it held. Little did we all know that 2020 would be different than any of us expected due to COVID-19. I was visiting Michigan and Chicago in early March when everything suddenly changed. I returned home to Tucson on March 15th and have been trying to navigate life ever since. My heart goes out to all who have lost family, friends, jobs and opportunities to this pandemic.

Sunset in the Catalina Mountains

I’d like to take a moment to remember Ahmaud Arbery, a black man chased down while jogging and shot by white supremacists in February. The murderers were only apprehended last week and only after a video of the chase and the shooting was circulated publicly. No one should have to fear for their life while trying to enjoy the outdoors. No one.

RIP Ahmaud Arbery

Here’s updates, some good, some bad:

First, some good news: I am going to be on the Unlikely Hikers Podcast today, Tuesday May 12th at 5pm PST! It’s a storytelling episode, you can see the live Zoom show at jennybruso.com/podcast or listen to the audio anytime. Unlikely Hikers is such a wonderful community, their group hike was one of the last outdoor events that I attended before COVID-19 took over and I am thrilled to be on the show. It’s a special day because it’s the 11th anniversary of completing the Arizona Trail for the first time and also Fibromyalgia Awareness Day. I hope you’ll head over and listen!

Unlikely Hikers Podcast guests – Daniel “The Blackalachian” White, me, Tam Wiley and Travis Clough

Now for bad news: my book, Best Day Hikes on the Arizona National Scenic Trail, has been postponed until August. Yet another thing affected by the pandemic. I had also planned on a multi-city book tour, which seems unlikely now. I’m working with my publicist at Wilderness Press to figure out virtual and livestreaming events instead. Email sirena@trailsinspire.com to be on the mailing list for the latest book updates.

Arizona Trail Super Gate near Oracle

I am also in the process of putting together a Patreon account, where folks will be able to subscribe to access exclusive content, videos, Q&A, and trip planning, as well as receive advance information about events and livestreams. Maybe even a level that will include exclusive Micro Chicken content! In the meantime, if you’d like to support my work, you can Venmo me a tip at @desertsirena or PayPal at sirena@trailsinspire.com.

Micro Chicken and Ocotillo Bloom

Good news: Last week was supposed to be my return to guiding in the Grand Canyon. I got hired back with Arizona River Runners to work their 3-day trips that go from Las Vegas to the Bar 10 Ranch, spend one night, and then helicopter down to run 90 miles on the Colorado River in a boat with another night on a beach in the Canyon. Here’s a video that shows the trip:

 

Bad news: Grand Canyon National Park is currently closed until at least June 13 (as of now) and there’s no telling when it will again be safe to open it to run this kind of trip. It’s been five years since I last guided on the river. Here are a couple memorable moments from the seasons I was lucky enough to spend down there.

Cheering at the end of Hermit Rapid at 22,000 cfs, the most fun on the whole river!

Redwall Cavern

Giving an archaeology talk at the Whitmore Pictographs

Good news: the Tusayan Community Trails Plan has been once again funded and my company, Trails Inspire, is going into the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) assessment phase of the project. I also published an article, 25 Indoor Activities for Outdoorsy People During Quarantine for Gossamer Gear’s blog. I also took this amazing photo of a levitating Javelina:

Bad news: I am in a fibromyalgia flare because of all the stress and anxiety surrounding COVID-19. Stress is one of the biggest contributing factors to my flares. I also had a small calf muscle tear occur on May 2nd that has limited my mobility. It’s not as bad as the muscle tear that required me to be helicoptered out of the Grand Canyon, but it’s definitely going to take some time to heal.

Times are tough, uncertain and ever-changing. I have so much gratitude for the essential workers who have kept our country going during the pandemic. If you’d like more frequent updates from me, follow my Instagram. Stay safe and healthy, everyone!