Jaymz Robertson

Owner/ Trail guide
CPR certified

I grew up in the 80s and 90s, before the internet, social media, and apps that people stay glued to. Growing up my parents used to take us to camp at KOA and Sherwood Forest in Hayward, Wisconsin and Jellystone Park in Wisconsin dells, so I'm sure that's where I got my deep love for the outdoors. I loved taking the trips up there and leaving the corn behind for rock formations exposed along the side of the road, and rows of tall pine trees. When I was young I also saw a picture of Monument Valley and fell in love with the landscape, so I yearned for adventures in Arizona, and to move here one day. Fate brought me here where I cared for my mother for six and a half years during the time she was having strokes, but I have been hiking since I got here almost 12 years ago. Some hikes I've done multiple times because the views never get old, Flatiron I did 16 times, and of those 16, 3 of those include hiking up Flatiron to do the Superstition Ridgeline. One of those 3 was just up and across, then down Carney springs, bypassing peak 5057 due to the daylight fading. I learned that day to always have a headlamp as a phone does not give off enough light. The other 2 were on different times, but I hiked across and back in the same day. While it can be done, it’s never safe to race on certain trails, as the gate is only open from 6am-8pm, and locks electronically at 8. I was not able to get a permit for camping that one though, but it is by far my favorite trail in the Superstitions. I’ve also done Browns peak on Four Peaks at least 6 or 7 times, and it provides a beautiful view of Roosevelt lake from the top.

I finally visited Monument Valley and have been there three times since moving here, the last time to camp. I got up at 3am and the Milky Way was bright in the sky, and I can’t wait to go back and do it again. I came from Mexican Hat prior to coming back to Monument Valley, spent some time on the driving loop , then came back and set up camp where I had a great view looking out at the mittens. Before sunset, I hiked around the main mitten and made my way back with time to spare to be able to catch a beautiful sunset on the mittens and buttes.

I love to hike and to explore, and just hiked up to Humphreys Peak earlier today, as I write this (July 4th). One place I want to explore is Whitmore overlook, to camp above, and hike down to the Colorado River below. There is so much beauty in the state of Arizona, but I definitely fell in love with the Superstitions when I moved here, and have done so many in them. While some of these hikes, or parts of them, are some popular trails, some we may not encounter many people on.

When I’m not hiking or taking a weekend to relax or do woodworking, I also love to get out and kayak, off-road, and go overlanding. I’ve kayaked the four reservoirs east of Phoenix as well as some of Bartlett lake, been all over Watson lake in Prescott Valley, and kayaked the Colorado river from Glen Canyon dam to Lee’s Ferry and stopped the night to camp on Horseshoe Bend. My next kayak trip I want to do is from Hoover dam to Willow beach, stopping off to see Emerald cave, or going all the way down to Katherine Landing, if I’m able to.

I like other nerdy things but my passion is definitely the outdoors.