The Desert Dudes

The Desert Dudes šŸŒµA girl + her dudes exploring the Southwest and beyond
šŸ„¾Dog-friendly trails
šŸ¾Einstein & Edison
šŸ“© [email protected]

Tell me a stupid reason you donā€™t like something. Iā€™ll go first.The first time I watched Good Will Hunting, I walked in ...
06/02/2026

Tell me a stupid reason you donā€™t like something. Iā€™ll go first.

The first time I watched Good Will Hunting, I walked in halfway through the movie and had absolutely no idea what was going on. So, I asked my brother for a summary.

Iā€™d heard the title before, but I knew nothing about the plot, so I was fully prepared to believe whatever he told me. Big mistake.

He told me Matt Damonā€™s character had cancer and Robin Williams was his therapist. According to him, Will was fighting with his friends and girlfriend because he didnā€™t want treatment anymore.

The worst part? From the point where I started watching, that explanation actually fit surprisingly well.

It took me way too long to realize my brother had completely made the whole thing up.

As a result, I still canā€™t bring myself to watch Good Will Hunting because all I can think of is how my brother tricked me.

Which is unfortunate, because Iā€™m pretty sure Iā€™d actually love it. šŸ˜…

06/02/2026

Itā€™s no secret my dogs do a lot. So they need food that keeps up with them! | sponsored

Thatā€™s why weā€™ve been adding from Field and Stream to the mix. Made for dogs with active lifestyles who love the outdoors, itā€™s great for Einstein and Edison.

Get their kibble, wet food, supplements, and treats from your local Tractor Supply Store. Comment ā€œMOREā€ for more information or check out the link in my bio!

05/22/2026

I canā€™t imagine life without them.

Just because you work a 9-5 doesnā€™t mean you canā€™t still enjoy epic adventures!Kanab/Page is one of my favorite weekend ...
05/22/2026

Just because you work a 9-5 doesnā€™t mean you canā€™t still enjoy epic adventures!

Kanab/Page is one of my favorite weekend trips from Tucson and even easier if youā€™re coming from Phoenix.

Iā€™ve done this trip more times than I can count, and these are the stops I keep coming back to again and again.

A few notes before you go:

- Bring way more water than you think you need. This is the desert.
- Avoid hiking midday in the summer. The heat is no joke.
- Leave no trace so these beautiful places stay accessible and dog friendly for everyone.

Did I miss any must-see stops? And where should I share next?

05/21/2026

Iā€™m almost always the slowest hiker. So here are a few things I really wish were more common when hiking with others:

šŸš— Carpool to the trailhead.
Parking is usually limited. If you canā€™t all ride together, meet somewhere public and consolidate cars from there. It just makes things smoother for everyone.

šŸ”‘ Be smart about the car key.
On the way up, the slowest hiker should have it in case they need to turn back. On the way down, the fastest hikers should carry it since theyā€™ll likely reach the car first. Even better if you have 2 keys.

šŸ§­ Hike as a group, not as individuals.
People have different paces, endurance levels, and needs. Thatā€™s normal. Adjust to each other instead of expecting everyone to match you.

šŸ„¾ Donā€™t leave anyone behind.
Especially in a new place and definitely in bad weather. The few times I havenā€™t been the slowest, Iā€™ve turned around with others even when I couldā€™ve gone farther. On the flip side, Iā€™ve been left alone at the top of a brutally difficult hike in the middle of a thunderstorm. I was terrified and descended faster than was safe - and ended up on my butt in the mud a few times. No hike is worth that.
I will add though, if the person is okay being left behind, you can listen to them. But use common sense. If a hike has a difficult spot or if the weather takes a turn for the worse, wait for them.

Iā€™ll admit I donā€™t always get this right either. But at the end of the day, it matters more that everyone feels safe and actually enjoys the hike than speeding through the hike.

What would you add?

05/21/2026

Please tell me Iā€™m not the only one.

I have at least 5 trips planned for the rest of this year and 1 big one next year. I may have a problem.

Tell me in the comments where youā€™re goingā€¦so I have more ideas of what to add to my ever growing list.

Sometimes itā€™s hard to pick the right gearā€¦okay, most of the time itā€™s hard.I donā€™t even want to think about how many ho...
05/20/2026

Sometimes itā€™s hard to pick the right gearā€¦okay, most of the time itā€™s hard.

I donā€™t even want to think about how many hours Iā€™ve spent agonizing over this shoe vs. that one, only to regret my choice after a single hike (which definitely happened with a few items on this list).

So hopefully my favorites save you some time - or at least give you the push to finally grab the gear youā€™ve been debating. If you want to know why I prefer one over the other, let me know in the comments!

And if you end up hating it, has a one-year return policy, no questions asked. Iā€™ve used it a few times for things I didnā€™t like as much as I thought I would. Because letā€™s face it, you donā€™t truly know until youā€™re on the trail actually using it.

Comment ā€œREIā€ and Iā€™ll send you links to my favorite gear so you can take advantage of their Anniversary Sale!

FYI: these are affiliate links, which means I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you if you use them. Thanks so much if you do - and let me know what you end up getting!

And if youā€™d rather not use my link, no worries! These are genuinely products I use regularly and would recommend either way. Although Iā€™d really appreciate if you used my link!

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