My husband and I traveled to the Phoenix area in late March to visit longtime friends. Although my husband and I really wanted a mountain bike experience, our friends were a bit reticent. So, we opted for a hike. I was familiar with Laurel's business from some Facebook posts I had seen--and she also happens to have been a student in my English class twenty-five years ago!! I reached out to WBDG and began planning our morning adventure. Laurel has always been athletic, so I was confident in her skills to guide our group. After talking with her, we decided on an "out and back" two and one-half hour hike up the 302 Freedom Trail in the Phoenix Mountain Preserve. Perfect for the four of us!! We did lots of catching-up across the 25 years since our last real conversation while also learning about the mountain terrain. Laurel was an excellent guide, pointing out various desert plants and flowers and giving us some easy survival tips...just in case (ha!ha!). We learned a couple mountain hiking rules--like...who has the right away on a narrow path. Laurel brought waters and backpacks for each of us and was carefully watching everyone's level of fatigue and drive to move forward. We will definitely tour with Laurel again...next time...on bikes!!

- Dea C.