addiction

Ok - anybody else addicted to these drinks? I quit drinking cokes or sodas (except for the occasional tiny Coke float at my mom's when we watch Desperate Housewives together every Sunday night).

La Croix - Sparkling Water: they are carbonated so I get that burning fix, but they have no calories, no fat, no sodium, no carbs, no sugars, and even no protein (ha!). I drink them like crazy and can't figure out any reason they could be bad for me. Maybe too much carbonation isn't a good thing, but I feel no ill effects. I still drink lots of good ol' water so I feel pretty safe with my newfound drinking passion.

My favorite La Croix is orange, but the lime runs a close second. Other flavors I've tried and don't dislike are lemon, cranberry, and mixed berry.

So far, the only bad news is that my new drink of choice isn't found everywhere.

www.lacroixwater.com

in the news

Cool! I got to be on the local news talk show today with Andy Justus and talk about what all is going on with me these days. Everyone at channel 4 made it easy as pie - good thing because I was nervous for some reason. Thanks guys!

The info below is what they have on their website - the link of my segment should be up soon.


Local Athlete Recognized by Athleta Clothing Company
5.0000/5 rating
Print Article
Wednesday, January 19 2011
Amy Becker Williams has had a love affair with the outdoors ever since she can remember, and now that love affair landed her as one of 10-featured athletes for (Gap Company's) Athleta Clothing's 2011 Sponsored Athlete Program.

Born into a family with a legacy of women fly fishers, Amy fostered a love for the male-dominated sport from an early age. She has fly fished everywhere from the Pyrenees in Spain to the water of Anegada in the British Virgin Islands,to her home watering holes in the Big Blue Wilderness of Colorado. In addition to fly fishing, Amy loves skiing, hiking, backpacking, and regularly climbs mountain summits of 14,000-feet to catch the breathtaking views from above - a natural high that lasts for days she says.

When shes not exploring the great outdoors, Amy is a freelance writer, book author, and elementary school teacher. She and her husband recently published two outdoor adventure books, Top 30 Things to Do in Telluride and Top 30 Things to Do in Durango. She is currently working on her next book, Girlfriend Getaways of the Southwest, a travel guide that catalogs all the great places for adventurous women. Amy's love for travel, writing, and adventure are all connected, and each inspires the other. Through sharing her passion for the outdoors, Amy Becker Williams hopes to inspire women to find a place to get outside, get some exercise, and have some fun! Amy's work has also been published in the Amarillo Globe-News, New Mexico Outdoors, Rocky Mountain Game and Fish, GORP.com and Examiner.com (Getaways Examiner).

In the classroom, Amy uses her love of nature and the outdoors as a way to interest her students in schoolwork. With the help of a fellow teacher, she developed a wellness program for the staff to build an active lifestyle by walking after school, hiking in nearby Palo Duro Canyon, and participating in runs/walks. Shes also a member of Trout Unlimited, a conservation group that concentrates on sustaining wild fish populations, and supports Project Healing Waters by getting veterans out fishing on the water.

ACCOMPLISHMENTS & CREDENTIALS:

* Traveled and fished in Colorado, Arizona, Spain, France, British Virgin Islands, Canada and more
* Hiked numerous 14,00 foot summits
* Writer for Rocky Mountain Game and Fish, Amarillo Globe News, and Examiner.com as the Dallas Getaways Examiner
* Member of Trout Unlimited, a conservation group that concentrates on taking care of fish and helping wild trout survive
* Member of the Panhandle Professional Writers Association and Texas Outdoors Writers Association

2011 GOALS:

* Catch the rare Rio Grande Cutthroat in The Valle Vidal in northern New Mexico
* Catch the elusive Gila trout in the Gila Wilderness in southern New Mexico
* Catch the roosterfish off the wild coasts of Mexico
* Summit more 14ers
* Try a new sport like cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. (Besides, these two activities just may lead to a quiet little stream in the backwoods…)
* Continue to support Trout Unlimited, her Wellness group at school, and write about her love of travel and the outdoors

the latest

Things have been busy. I'm writing an article for the local paper (the Faith section),starting another on romantic hotels for Lifestyles, querying magazines, working on the Girlfriend Getaways book, and planning an article for my newest title with Examiner.com as the National Getaways Examiner, plus setting up a June trip to my favorite hotel in Spain. Whew!

I'm not complaining, don't get me wrong. I just wish I could carve out another day in each week - for the weekend of course.

I'm sitting here staring at my new Christmas rod and wondering when I'm going to get to use it. At 7'6" and a 3 weight, it's ideal for the small streams I love to fish.

I got email confirmation today that my Athleta order is on its way!

new gadget

Ok - so I haven't used it yet, but I love it. The anti-bottle by Vapur. It's BPA free, freezable, and when empty can be rolled up and packed just about anywhere.



This one cost only 9.99, but I got it on sale for 5.99!
Find 'em on Facebook.com/vapurtrail or blog.vapur.us

athleta 2011

Hooray! I'm happy to announce that I've been included with nine amazing women as a 2011 sponsored athlete for Athleta clothing. I'm thrilled to be a part of a clothing company that I've loved for a long time. Take a look at all the ladies and their impressive bios. Check back often for the Athleta Chi link of Athleta's website for blog posts by the 2011 athletes.
http://www.athleta.net/chi/featured-athletes/

snow in Durango

Christmas has come and gone with lots of family and fun. We started out in Amarillo then on to Houston for more family. Now we're in Durango, just the two of us, enjoying the beauty, stoking the fire, and shoveling like crazy. We're snowed in so to speak. The first morning at the house we dug the jeep out from at least two feet of snow. The tires were completely covered and the embankment behind the jeep even taller thanks to the necessary snow plows that come along about 6 am each morning.

We managed a quick trip into town yesterday for an anniversary lunch at Jean Pierre's. And, yes, I left with a bag of my favorite little chocolate drop cookies. Justified of course because of all the shoveling. Thank goodness I got them before the snow really stated falling again dropping the visibility and sending us hightailing it back to the house (which always gets way more snow than in town).

Here's a picture of the Stater Hotel in Durango just before the heavy flakes started pounding town again.



The texture of the snow is perfect for primo powder skiing, if you can withstand the single digit temps and the 4X4 drive. We were hoping to flyfish the Animas today with my new Christmas rod (a sweet little Dorber 3wt), but with two feet of new snow and frigid temps, we'll wait. Tomorrow we'll go for some snow-hiking around a nearby lake cameras in hand.

At some point today we'll be shoveling off the loads of snow from the upper deck and will continue the daily maintenance behind the jeep and around the tires. Fun!




Cheers and Happy New Year Everyone!

taos, new mexico and the austing haus

My recent trip to Taos was great - just as expected. Everything was at a pre-holiday, low roar. The mountain didn't have much snow, but about seven runs were open and people were happily skiing.

We didn't ski this trip, but met up with Bobby Slade, one of the owners of the Austing Haus. He gave us the low down on the place and showed us some of his favorite haunts.

Austing Haus is a great budget stay for skiers. It's called a B&B, but it's more like a small hotel (20 rooms) that serves a belly-filling breakfast for a day on the slopes. The digs aren't fancy, but after a day of hitting the mountain I've never cared for much more than a comfortable bed and a warm room. And I was able to check both of those off my list.

The breakfast area is roomy and makes for a good evening place to play games, read a book, or rest those weary muscles. If the snow is falling take time to chill and watch the flakes out all of the giant windows.

Austing Haus is convenient for skiers. It's a mile from the slopes and is the first lodging on the left hand side as you get up the mountain.

Even though the place isn't fancy or plush, the staff is great, breakfasts hit the spot, and its location rocks!

Colorado Flyfishing: Where to Eat, Sleep, Fish

Mark's book is doing really well. Check it out - He and Chad had the summer of their lives traveling and writing this book. Glad I got to chip in a bit here and there.

Colorado Flyfishing: Where to Eat, Sleep, Fish

Hidden treasures: Traveling the Spanish coast | Amarillo Globe-News

Hidden treasures: Traveling the Spanish coast | Amarillo Globe-News


I know it's winter, but it's not too early to be planning a little summer sun. Costa Brava Spain is a place I dream of returning to, in fact plans are in the works now! Check it out.

jingle bell runs

Hooray for all the fun runs this time of year! They're good exercise, but also a good excuse to get out with your friends and have some fun. Amarillo's Jingle Bell Run is coming up Saturday, December 11 at 5:30. The four miler is set to be a leisure run so participants can enjoy the gorgeous lights of the Wolflin area. Illuminate yourself in some way....Christmas lights, reflective clothing, blinking hats, or bring a flashlight.

Meet at Austin Park, 5:30. See you there!

If you're in Dallas on the 22nd, sign up for their Jingle Bell Run as well. It's one of my favorites. Everyone really gets into dressing up and having a good time. The Dallas skyline is beautiful and it's fun to run over the bridge and venture into a part of downtown you may not normally experience, on foot anyway.

Get Fit, Have Fun: The new motto for my work Wellness program!

telluride and taos, snow in the mountains

Gal pals, families, or honeys....check out the Mountain Lodge at Telluride for your winter stay. It's midway up Telluride Mountain and is in Mountain Village. Rooms are comfy, especially the showers and the fireplaces (which are only in some rooms). The Gondola is close by so you can catch a ride into town for dinner or shopping. I love that ML@T allows pets; my dogs love to go on vacation with me! I'm not so crazy about the rooms by the elevators...You'll hear them clinking and clanging all night long.



For chilling in the evening, hit the resort's hot tub, or relax by the giant river-rock fireplace in the lodge with a glass of wine, or whatever warms your spirit on a cold night.

On another note...
Taos ski valley is getting snow as we speak. I'll be there in a few weeks to check it out and report on a snuggly little B&B in the valley.

rocky mountain game and fish

Want some good outdoor info? Check out Rocky Mountain Game and Fish magazine....I freelance for the fishing section, but look forward to what the other freelancers have to say about trout and the outdoors. It's about time for my 2010 New Mexico Trout Forecast article to come to a close, so I hope all the NM anglers have found it useful! Even though the year's almost over, which I can't believe, the article will still give an overview of NM's waters and where to go. Gather your girlfriends, buddies, and counterparts and head out on the water.

coming up

Calling all Panhandle and surrounding writers and those who wanna.....Mark, Chad McPhail, and I will be presenting with the Panhandle Professional Writers Association, November 13 at Amarillo College. We'll be hitting on subjects including creative writing, travel, outdoors, getting published, and a ton more. It will be a fun, informative day. Check out PPWA website.

Don't forget our book signing at Barnes and Noble in Amarillo at Barnes and Noble December 4!

Life is good and busy, but I'm ready for more fun and travel....coming up.

High Country Anglers, New Mexico

Wanna get away? Schedule a late fall guided flyfishing day with my buddy Doc Thompson in Northern New Mexico. Doc happens to be Orvis endorsed and has even been granted fly-tier of the year. Whether you're new to flyfishing, just want to hone your craft, or want to experience a new locale Doc is the guy for you.

Check out his website at www.flyfishnewmexico.com

early fall

I love this time of year - the look of the changing horizon, the leaves, the colors, and the cool, crisp air. My Labor Day trip to Durango gave me the perfect taste to the start of fall - there was just a spot or two of changing aspen leaves, but it was enough to savor. The rivers were still fishing great despite some of the strong winds we fought. I think I need to work on my casting precision against the gusts though! Luckily we still landed some beautiful trout.

Lots going on right now for some girlfriend getaways like winefests, fairs, and fall events....I'll be heading to Lubbock soon for some wine sampling and fun with friends.

My wellness group at work has kicked off and we'll be participating in the Race for the Cure in the morning! Can't wait. I'll be participating in honor of five ladies, five survivors. After this big event, we should be raring to go for our trip to the canyon to hike the lighthouse. With the cooler temperatures maybe we can avoid the rattlesnakes!

Just got news of our Amarillo book signing, scheduled at Barnes and Noble December 4. Mark and I will be signing our two Top 30 books, while he and fishing buddy Chad McPhail will be signing their book, Eat, Sleep, Fish (Colorado).

It's great to be busy - more to come.

more outdoor fun

East fork of the San Juan is an easy getaway from Durango, Colorado. It sits between Pagosa Springs and South Fork (just the Pagosa side of Wolf Creek Pass). The road up along the river washed out a few years ago, so it's exciting to have it back open for some fishing and fun.




Big Meadows' South Fork of the Rio Grande is another gorgeous spot, but on the other side of Wolf Creek Pass. While the fish in the pic isn't huge, some pretty big lunkers do hide along the banks and occasionally tempt their fate as they shoot out and dart for a fly.











For now, the fishing is still good in both places. I'll be back soon for some fall weather fishing and hiking around. Can't wait!

Over the next month or two I'll also be poking around from Durango to Santa Fe and Dallas plus lots of stops in between.

July winds down

My month was made with a quick trip to my home waters of Lake City, Colorado the other day. The town is still a tiny hamlet surrounded by 14,000 foot peaks, and hasn't changed much since I celebrated my first birthday in a tiny cabin on the Lake Fork Gunnison River. I've missed visiting Lake City only a handful of years and only one in the last twenty-one. It is one of the most beautiful places on earth to me, and one of the most sentimental as well. When I'm on the waters I can't help but think of my dad and my grandmother, who were both so influential when it comes to fishing, the mountains, the outdoors. I like to think they had something to do with the two giant trout I had on my line a couple of days ago....the two that got away. I've caught fish and lost fish before, but these were something special. For one, they were huge in terms of trout, but they were caught in the waters below Fred's Bluff (named by my family for my dad). This section of the river is usually crowded, but on this day - not a soul in sight. Perfect. Can't wait to return and land those two beautiful rainbow lunkers.

Tomorrow I head out for another camping excursion high above the Florida River, full of hungry trout!

Lately and July 4th Plans

I'm in love with Sedona, Arizona! The red of the towering rocks is mesmerizing, the sunsets glorious, and the amount of outdoor fun - endless. My trip was too short, but I'm already planning a return trip so I can fit in all I didn't get to do. What a perfect place for a girlfriend getaway.
















Zion National Park and the Grand Canyon were both impressive, to say the least. The rock hound and geologist fan in me couldn't get enough.













Las Vegas deserves mention as one of my recent trips as well. Friends, pack your bags for some fun along the strip (bring your walking shoes). I highly recommend the Wynn Encore for classy, and a little swanky, lodging and chilling. And, I'm still singing songs and snapping my fingers to the tunes of Jersey Boys.




Over the last several days I've been camping, hiking, and fishing around Durango. The dogs came along and were great sports through all the ups and downs of the mountains and the rocky bottoms of the streams. After the 4th I'm heading to some other parts of CO for more outdoor fun...Rocky Mountain National Park, Steamboat, Vail, etc...here I come!

But before my next outing, I'm heading into Durango on the 4th for a 5K along the Animas River.

Summer, I love your boundless fun.

update

So it's been awhile...I've been writing for Rocky Mountain Game and Fish, the Amarillo Globe News, and Examiner.com all while teaching and trying to travel and have fun as much as possible. Life is busy. Life is good. The last few months have seen me at the Alabama coast, Houston, Oklahoma City a few times, along with my regular stomping grounds of Santa Fe and Durango. Upcoming travels include Dallas, Houston, Durango, Sedona, Moab, Las Vegas and who knows where else in between.

Our Top 30 books have taken off and we're making plans to add to the series: Amarillo, Santa Fe, Oklahoma City, and Sedona. My Girlfriend Getaway book may be morphing into a specialized book on the Southwest. Stay tuned.

Happy travels.

Santa Fe, New Mexico

Santa Fe, New Mexico, The City Different, overflows with art, shopping, and fine dining. And, tons of history to boot. One weekend in Santa Fe is good, but you'll just be getting your feet wet with all this cool, historic city has to offer. Spotting the exclusive art galleries and museums is easy, but be sure to check out the hidden nooks and crannies off Santa Fe's square as well. You'll find goodies like strings of dried chili peppers, expensive rugs, and Day of the Dead knick-knacks. Venture a little farther off the square down Canyon Road for more art. A trip to Santa Fe isn't complete without a peek at one of the popular, historic churches. When all the poking around town makes you work up an appetite; try Guadalupe Cafe (in nice weather grab an outdoor seat), Pasqual's (the long line is worth it), and La Fonda's French bakery for breakfast or a sweet treat. I like staying off the square so I can walk a ton of places with ease. St. Francis, La Fonda, and the Inn at Loretto are a few places to consider. There's more to Santa Fe than the historic square, but it's not a bad place to start your adventure.

Vail, my latest European luxury - stateside. Driving to Vail on I-70 just doesn't do it justice. Yes, the scenery is beautiful, but noting like you'll find inside the confines of Vail proper. The highway isn't visible, in fact, the only motorized vehicles you'll see will be the occasional bus transporting people from one stop to the next. Vail is a walkable town, only a mile in length, and no cars allowed. (Park your car at one of the two big parking lots off I-70 then walk down a big flight of stairs for a little piece of heaven.) The newest part of Vail even has a restriction on bicycles so pedestrians can mingle and meander with ease. Vail is lined with more restaurants than I had time to investigate, but you'll have a choice from German to Italian, and Italian, and every choice in between and beyond. Good thing it's easy to get exercise in Vail.

Galleries and shopping draw in everyone from the monied to those wishing to be. I mentally racked up thousands of dollars on fine art, jewelry, and last seasons hottest ski gear and snow bunny attire. While Vail does seem for the rich, it's a comfortable, quaint town with friendly people (locals and visitors alike).

In summer months take the gondola up and hike down Berry Picker trail. It's quiet and gorgeous, but a little longer than it looks so be sure to wear good hiking shoes. My dogs made the ride up and the hike down and loved it. Vail is surprisingly dog friendly.

Next time I plan on skiing down the mountain. Can't wait.

Flyfishing (or just hiking) along Hermosa Creek in Colorado is a blast. It's gorgeous, great exercise, and fun-filled. Hike the trail into the canyon or hit the East Fork of the Hermosa. If you take the East Fork, go far enough until you see the old 1920's car then stop for some cool photo ops. Either way, take extra water and pack your sunscreen.

A few weeks ago I hit the DFW Metroplex and took some time away to spend a little quality time in Grapevine, Texas with some of my gal pals. Grapevine, Texas is a cool, old-fashioned looking town with a hip vibe. Catch the Grapevine vibe at the wineries, several right on Main Street, restaurants, unique shops, and art galleries. A few of my buddies and I hit SuVino Winery and sampled five wines for only $5 per person. We chose a few different wines so we got to sample each others' too. We all left with bottles in hand and plans to return to bottle our own and create our own label. A perfect night out to come for the girls. Cheers!

Check out the Springs Resort and Hot Springs in Pagosa, Colorado. It's perfectly designed for girls to get away. My hubby can't sit still long enough to enjoy the place. Any girls I've ever been to the Springs with love it and we all end up talking (gossiping) and laughing the whole time. The benefit, besides just having fun, is that your body feels rejuvenated and completely relaxed by the all-natural, therapeutic hot springs. It's a great place to get a little sun-kissed too. You'll burn quickly here with the close proximity to the sun, so come prepared. My mom, who's afraid of the water and of showing her legs, loved the Springs so much we had to drag her away (by the end of our day, Mom was even posing for the camera and showing her legs)! Stay at the resort for a package deal and a come and go pass. It's nice to be able to leave for lunch/dinner and come back since there's not much to snack on, on premises (nachos/snowcones/etc.).
Take a look at the details: Pagosa Hot Springs

The cover mock-ups for the books Mark and I are doing (Top 30 Things to do in Durango & Top 30 Things to do in Telluride) are ready and look great. Way to go Wayfinder! They'll be on shelves soon. The books aren't focused on women, but they certainly have plenty of cool things for your gal pals to do together.

Mark and I each presented at the Panhandle Professional Writers Conference today, Frontiers in Writing. It went well and everyone is excited about the upcoming Girlfriend Getaways book. I don't know any girls who don't love a girlfriend trip or outing. The book is changing focus a bit, but I'm excited and will share more once things are finalized. Girlfriends, pack your bags. We have some more traveling to do.