Up and Away

I'm usually not one for heights. I'm not sure if it's the fear of falling to certain injury or worse, but I shy away from activities that put a great (or even small) distance between me and solid ground. But I'm working on this, and on my recent trip to Palm Springs, I tackled the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway.

This tram is by far one of the best vertical experiences I've had. Climb in a large tram car with a rotating floor (so you can really get those 360-degree views) and spend 10 minutes traveling from the hot Palm Springs floor up the cliffs of Chino Canyon nearly 6,000 feet to the summit, typically 30 degrees cooler but with all the brilliant sun the area has to offer. Once at the top, the hiking opportunities and views are spectacular. I've captured a few of these below, including my co-worker Bethany smelling a Jeffrey Pine tree, whose bark hints of vanilla and butterscotch. Enjoy!