Shea Oliver's Blog

Stories, Adventures, Thoughts, Updates, & Other Things

Man in orange helmet talks in foreground; logo "The Hiking CEO Shea Oliver" above. Three inset images: stone building with statue, a bus named "Royal Traveler," and a person eating a sandwich. Text: "Shea's Rapid Recap #47 Coronado National Forest and Memorial plus Fort Huachuca, Bisbee, & Arizona's National Scenic Trail.
Exploring Coronado National Forest, hiking sky islands, visiting military museums, and savoring local flavors in Bisbee. An adventure worth every step!
Man with glasses in the foreground speaking. Overlay text: "The Hiking CEO Shea Oliver," "Shea's Rapid Recap #46," detailing a journey through Arizona’s Past. Inset images showcase Coronado Forest, historic structures, and vibrant cactus scenes, all set against a sunny backdrop.
Explore historic Patagonia and Sonoita, AZ ranches, the scenic beauty of Coronado National Forest, and an unexpected challenge from a dirt road on my Ultimate American Quest.
A man in a green cap and glasses stands before a timeworn brick and stone wall. Nearby images reveal an interior hallway, a tasty plate of gorditas, and a historic mission building. "The Hiking CEO Shea Oliver. Shea's Rapid Recap #45: Feel the Echoes of History in Arizona's Missions & Trails.
In this mini-adventure, I explore Tumacacori National Historic Park, savor delicious Mexican food, and chat about a change to my website and a clarified focus for my adventure.
A black Jeep with roof storage is parked next to a small, silver teardrop camper on a dirt clearing in the Sierra Vista District of Coronado National Forest. Sparse greenery and rugged hills surround the area, shaded by overhanging trees, creating a serene camping atmosphere under a partly cloudy sky.
Rolling back into a forest with larger trees was emotionally soothing and allowed me to check off National Treasure #48 on my quest list, with #49 and an interesting museum close by.
Sunny outdoor courtyard at a Mexican restaurant, featuring rustic wooden benches around a circular table. A white building with a wooden door and windows stands in the background. Two colorful skeleton statues add flair by a stone wall next to a small tree, under the blue sky with some clouds above.
After a wonderful visit to the Tucumcari National Historic Park, I was craving some good Mexican food. While I haven't had the best luck in Arizona, I knew this place would be tasty.
A black Jeep is towing a small teardrop trailer through a desert landscape, evoking a sense of déjà vu. Sparse vegetation and dry grass cover the rocky ground. Rugged mountains rise against a clear blue sky, one prominent peak towering on the left, all bathed in bright daylight.
When I returned to the force Road near Amado, I was happy to find that the exact same camp spot was available and someone made it even easier to back in than last time.
A person wearing a green cap and red t-shirt smiles in front of the Sonoran Desert National Monument sign, their desert home. The sign includes logos and mentions it's managed by the Bureau of Land Management. Dry brush and distant mountains stretch under a clear blue sky.
While this wasn't exactly my original plan, returning to one of my favorite places in the Arizona desert provided me with the isolation I needed to work on a major website project.
A black Jeep with a roof rack tows a teardrop-shaped camper, parked on a dirt patch under cloudy skies. Mountains rise in the background of Amado's desert landscape, their peaks visible from the sparse vegetation surrounding an unused fire pit nearby.
I was a little bit apprehensive about leaving the Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge and heading south of Tucson. The weather had once again turned windy, cold, and uncomfortable.
A black Jeep with a roof rack is parked on a dirt path in the Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge, towing a compact gray teardrop camper with a kangaroo logo. The dry, sparse landscape and bare trees bask in the warm light of sunset under a clear blue sky.
Needing a place to tuck away for the weekend and get some work done before I headed south of Tucson, I found a great isolated area with good Internet and no one else nearby.
A smiling man in glasses stands amidst a tree-filled, arid landscape with an off-road vehicle nearby. Inset images reveal desert scenes with arches and cacti. Text: "The Hiking CEO - Shea Oliver," "Shea's Rapid Recap #44," "Experience the unparalleled beauty of the Sonoran Desert like never before.
Oregon Pipe Cactus National Monument was more beautiful than I ever expected, and I had two perfectly wonderful hikes: one to a mine and mine store ruins and one to a double arch.
A person sits in a camping chair with a laptop on their lap, relaxing beside a parked camper van on BLM Land. The ground is covered with a black mat, and the scene is bathed in warm, late afternoon light, with shrubs and distant hills at Gunsight Wash in the background.
Talk about finding a perfect place to camp while I visited the Oregon Pipe Cactus National Monument! This BLM area was about perfect for what I needed, and the weather was great.
Man with laptop outdoors next to large sign "The Hiking CEO Shea Oliver." Three photos overlay: a colorful mural of a woman's face, a small brick chapel, and graffiti-covered street. Text reads: "Shea's Rapid Recap #43 - Discovering Hidden Gems around Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument.
I'm now hanging out in Gunsite Wash, near Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument, after checking out a unique roadside shrine and admiring some sweet street art in Ajo, Arizona.