A chance business meeting four years ago now has blossomed into a real friendship. Through the passage of time, the shared bonds of Phoenix hiking tours have continued to strengthen and deepen a partnership that has benefited much more than my Wild Bunch Desert Guides.

The golden oldie is well-known as the unofficial state song of the golden state and the theme behind the expansion of our country westward. Written and first used on Broadway by Al Jolson, “California, Here I Come” celebrates its 100th birthday in January of 2024 after serving in the soundtrack of films, TV shows and stage productions for generations. But I am singing a different tune these days by changing the lyrics slightly for my Wild Bunch Desert Guides, with the second season of Colorado summer hiking tours on the vacation horizon.

For the second straight year, the Phoenix adventure tours season has been one for the record books. But while 2022 was memorable for a seemingly endless stream of bookings, the 2023 calendar year has been remarkably inconsistent and maddeningly unpredictable. The most troubling trend? The rise of last-minute requests for guided Phoenix hiking tours and guided Phoenix mountain bike tours.