It's amazing how some experiences remain so clear in my memory, that if I closed my eyes, I could almost swear I was there at that very moment. It's as if my body can almost taste the sweet air, feel the cold, moist breeze on my skin, and remember the scent of the pine trees towering above our heads. Hiking in Payson, Arizona after a snowstorm is one of the best places I've ever visited to collect one of these memories. Payson is a great place to take the family hiking with your dog, but you'll also enjoy the beautiful scenery Payson has to offer, being located just a short drive from the sweltering heat of Desert Valley. main road I'm always amazed at how many trails we can see without even leaving the comfort of my pickup truck. Enjoying the warmth of the dry air blowing into our faces from the vents, I glanced at my best friend Baloo, sitting in the chair next to me. The slobbering, toothy grin on his face reminded me how much he loves being out of town. As he squirmed in his seat with excitement, begging me to let him out so he could romp in the freshly fallen snow, I knew I wouldn't be able to hold him back for long. I quickly put on my chocolate brown snow pants and pulled on my antique snow boots that have clearly seen better days. I keep telling myself that I will buy new ones when my feet get clammy and cold after one of our hikes. Moving quickly, I squeezed Baloo's feet into his canary yellow and black snow shoes and rubbed the Velcro on the top to make sure they fit snugly. Opening the door led him to leap from his seat and immediately go into a barrel roll, running and contorting his body through... middle of paper... blue skies and open desert filled with mesquite trees and The Saguaro cactus stretched out before us, leading us into the comfort of home. With the snow behind me and Baloo curled up next to me, exhausted after a long day of frolicking in a winter wonderland. I take a minute to carefully file away all the sights, sounds, and smells we experienced on our latest snow adventure in Payson, Arizona. All the new paths we took, the sound of water falling on frozen rocks, birds chirping and sweetly scented air, are all carefully placed into my little collection that I can revisit at any time. Payson will always be one of my favorite places to take a short trip with Baloo to enjoy the beautiful snowy landscape. Bibliography: Photo in Figure 1, “Baloo & I in Payson Arizona,” by Amanda Weyers (2012)