About
Awe-inspiring places have a way of transforming us — especially when approached with intention.
Research into awe suggests that environments inspiring wonder can expand our frame of reference, opening space for receptivity and insight. A growing body of psychological and physiological studies has begun documenting measurable effects, including increased creativity, emotional regulation, and a stronger sense of connection to others and the world.
But awe alone is not the whole story. How we approach a place shapes what we experience. Bringing intention to an encounter — slowing down, noticing details, and arriving with a sense of what you're seeking —can deepen what unfolds.
For me, this didn't come from theory. It came from years of being changed by these places.
About Laurel
I first came to Sedona in the mid-1990s and it changed my life. Sedona quickly became home and what a home base it is! I never tire of the red rock landscape or the endless trails to explore. What began as hiking in and around Sedona gradually expanded into frequent trips across the Southwest, until travel through these landscapes became woven into the rhythm of my life.
When I'm not off on one of my regular hiking trips, I coordinate and implement Community Health Education programs. I've worked in Public Health since 2007, including more than a decade planning and leading hikes for our weekly hiking group, Trekabout — which has become more about the connection and shared experience than the places themselves.
I hold a Master’s degree in Jungian Depth Psychology and have worked as a counselor and group facilitator. I’ve also taught and practiced yoga since 1999. Over the years, I’ve been drawn to traditions that treat time in wild places as something more than recreation —rites of passage, vision quests, medicine walks. These influences, alongside my education and professional background, have shaped how I approach hiking and travel.
Many of my own moments of insight, breakthrough, and transformation have unfolded in these landscapes. They've helped me return to myself —offering perspective, grounding, and the kind of clarity that doesn't just shift how you see things, but gives you the courage to change them.
These experiences shaped my values and the way I live —what I prioritize, how I make decisions, and what I'm willing to change.
More than a decade ago, I began to sense a strong pull toward sharing this in some way —an idea of creating something that could reflect what these experiences have given me and pass that on to others.
My hope is to inspire people to explore new places —even ones that aren't on the usual path —to trust themselves enough to go, even alone, and to discover what can open when they do.
All photos and videos on this site were taken during my own explorations of the American Southwest.