myrtlebmack89

[myrtlebmack89]

Family Letter Parson Springs 1.15.21-1.18.21

Dear B2B Parents,

The boys have now successfully experienced another amazing outdoor adventure this weekend!

This weekend we had a 3 day trip so we started off Friday with the “end of the week” review group with Cisco, reviewing our weeks and providing feedback for one another. As always it was very constructive and beneficial for all of us, gaining more insight on ourselves from our peers as well as staff members. Following group, we got all of our gear packed up and loaded into the vans so we could leave as early as possible Saturday morning. Then we all hung out playing some cards and ping pong. That afternoon we went to the NAU recreation fields to play some football, soccer, and volleyball since the weather has been so nice. The staff had a special treat for us in the evening because we were still in town, snow tubing! There is a “snow park” at Fort Tuthill county park just down the road, the park has huge ramps for tubing which was an absolute blast for all the boys.

Saturday morning we woke up and made a group effort to get some breakfast sandwiches cooked, clean up the house and pack the rest of the gear into the vans. We were briefed on our trip shortly after that, the plan was to head down near Sedona to Cottonwood at Parsons Creek Trail for a backpacking trip. We had about an hour and a half drive down to the trailhead. We hiked for about 1.5 miles to a nice swimming hole in the creek with a nice easy cliff jump, where a few of the guys jumped off and swam around in the cool crisp water for a little while. Then we continued onward for another 2.5 miles and made it to our campsite for the weekend. We set up camp, made some food then journaled for our sharing is a caring group. Once we finished journaling up we hung out at our Creekside campsite then ran our AA meeting that night around the campfire. One of the guys shared his story of experience, strength and hope for our meeting which was awesome to hear, allowing us to get to know him that much better. After the meeting we all kicked back around the campfire for a while, chatting and cutting up with lots of laughter and good conversation. After that, we all retired to bed for the night.

Sunday morning the boys woke up a bit chilly and immediately got to building a nice fire. We sat around the campfire for a bit in the morning making coffee and breakfast then started packing up some things for a day hike we were about to go on. We headed out for our day hike going down the canyon for a mile or so, then decided to stop and do the second half of our sharing is a caring group. A few of the guys have the opportunity to share what they wrote in their journals then the group provides feedback to what they wrote. As always the group was very productive then we decided to continue on our hike. We went a little bit further then came to another swimming hole with a short little jump and swam around there for a little while. We continued on a little bit further and a few of the guys scrambled up the mountain to some old Native American cliff dwellings, which were very cool! It is crazy to think how long ago they were built and that people were actually livings in those structures on the side of the canyon walls, gnarly how times have changed! After that, we headed back to camp for the rest of the evening. Everybody made dinner around the campfire, we ran a meeting for that night than joked around for the rest of the night before heading to bed.

Monday morning was an early rise before the sun was even up yet. We got all our gear gathered and turned on our headlamps for the dark hike out. All the boys crushed the hike out in a swift time to make it back to the vans. All in all, it was yet another sick trip with lots of good vibes, good conversations, and lots of solid sober fun!

Love, The B2B Boys

from Back2Basics Addiction Recovery for Drugs and Alcohol https://back2basics-soberliving.com/family-letter-parson-springs-1-15-21-1-18-21/ from Back2Basics Outdoor Adventure Recovery https://back2basicssoberliving.tumblr.com/post/640842847899238401

[myrtlebmack89]

Family Letter Sedona Trip 1.8.21-1.11.21

Dear B2B Loved Ones,

This weekend we had the pleasure of introducing the great outdoors of Sedona to two of our new guys. On Friday, we woke up early so we could eat and clean up before our end of week review getting us prepared for a fun time camping. After group, we got the brief for our trip, packed the coolers, made the house squeaky clean, and were off on another adventure. After a short drive from Flagstaff to Sedona, we arrived at Fay Canyon for a short hike along the dry creek bed with some scrambling up the beautiful red rocks. After our hike was over, we went to settle in at our campsite, make dinner, throw cards, and played some spike-ball. As usual, we ran a night time Alcoholics Anonymous meeting then went to bed to get some much-needed rest so we can summit the peak at Bear Mountain the next day.

Saturday morning the boys woke up to a warm fire, coffee, and some breakfast. We made some sandwiches, packed granola bars, and filled up enough water to stay hydrated for the big hike. As we approached the Bear Mountain trailhead it looked easy from the naked eye, however, as we made headway up the trail it started becoming more steep and difficult. After talking to other experienced hikers on the trail we found out that Bear Mountain has three false peaks, so every time we thought that we made it to the top there would be another peak to climb over, each false peak had breathtaking views as we kept getting higher and higher. It was a spectacular view from the very top where we could see miles upon miles overlooking all of the Sedona red rocks. Once we were at the top we wrote in our journals and had some relaxation time while eating our lunches with a view. We then made our way down the mountain and headed back to camp so we could cook tacos, tacos, tacos! They were absolutely amazing. After our dinner we ended our night with one of the guys telling his story for an A.A. meeting then went to sleep.

On Sunday, we went had more of a chill and relaxing hike along Oak Creek in Sedona. There at Oak Creek, the boys went for a quick dip then shared what we had written in our journals from the previous day. It was a meaningful and productive creekside chat in the beautiful Sedona wilderness. Once we had left the creek, we all got a nice ice cream treat from McDonald’s. The boys were blown away by the sweetness and creaminess. Following our McDonald’s extravaganza, your favorite boys went to a Buddhist Stupa. The Stupa had a tranquil and serene atmosphere. We got to learn and appreciate aspects of Eastern and Native American culture and spirituality. Next, we went back to our campsite before it got too dark and started up dinner and talked around the campfire. Then we had an A.A. meeting, followed by multiple games of cards going on at the same time, and finally with more campfire chats.

By Monday morning, the boys were getting ready to head back to their home and their long-awaited Hunter couch. First thing in the morning, we made sure to pack all of our gear and do a thorough trash sweep before we had our community meeting, reviewing our weekend trip. Then we finally headed out of Sedona and towards our great home of Flagstaff. This brings us up to the current moment where we are winding down from our trip, cleaning up our gear, and ready to start our weekly intentions group.

You, the family, are in our thoughts and prayers. We wait eagerly until the next time we can see all of you and hope that you are reading this in good health and spirits!

from Back2Basics Addiction Recovery for Drugs and Alcohol https://back2basics-soberliving.com/family-letter-sedona-trip-1-8-21-1-11-21/

from Back2Basics Outdoor Adventure Recovery https://back2basicssoberliving.tumblr.com/post/640223786559537152

[myrtlebmack89]

Family Letter 12.11.20-12.14.20 Sterling Pass

On this weekend’s adventure, we had another in-town trip filled with lots of fun and delicious food. To start off the weekend, we were awoken early Friday morning by the hyper black lab Tuck. (Always a good way to start off the weekend.) We started off the day with our end of the week with the staff. All the boys got some hitter feedback to work on ourselves over the weekend. After that, we had to chill at the house for the rest of the day because of the classic cable guy saying “I’ll be there between 2 and 5 pm.” Naturally, he came around 4:30. After he left and our wifi was in tip-top shape, some of the boys started making dinner. We all decided Ravioli would be a good start to the weekend. After dinner, we ran an AA meeting where we all got into deep conversations about some of our flaws and how we can be better men in the future. We ended the night with an old-time classic movie.

Saturday morning, we were woken up again getting licked to death by Tuck. A few of the boys made some fried eggs and bacon for breakfast. We then drove down to Sedona to hike the Sterling pass. Although it was mostly uphill, we all stayed in good spirits, supporting each other throughout the hike. On the other side of the mountain, we stopped for some SIC journaling time. Our topic of the week was, “Why do you take other people’s inventory.” After a nice 30-minute lunch and journaling break, we started our journey up the backside of the mountain. Rain clouds were looming over us the whole hike but luckily it didn’t start raining until we started driving back to the house. What started out as a hard rain in Sedona turned into a snowy winter wonderland as we made our way back up to Flagstaff. After a long cold day of hiking two of the many chefs, we have in the house-made some homemade chili. Although it was both of their first times making chili, it turned out amazing, quite possibly some of the best chilies ever made! Following dinner, we had another AA meeting. We then watched World War Z, a gruesome movie about zombies.

Sunday morning, the boys awoke to a hefty stack of pancakes and sausage. After all of our stomachs were filled we waited for the roads to thaw out from the snowy night before. We then headed up into the mountains for a fun sledding day. We made it a competition to see who could stand on the sleds the longest going down the hill. After we got our sledding fix in, it was only right that we finished it off with a snowball fight. After that, we went to the gym to pick up heavy things and then put them back down. When we got back to the house that night one of the guys told his story. After that, we all shared how we related to it and how thankful we all are to be in such a good rehab. (Thanks parents!) One of the guys then made his signature maple brown sugar burgers as we watched some Sunday night football. We then watched the new live-action Mulan movie. Although it wasn’t as good as the original, and we were all disappointed the comic-relief dragon, Mushu, wasn’t part of the storyline, we all thought it was a great movie. All in all, another fun weekend in Flagstaff.

from Back2Basics Addiction Recovery for Drugs and Alcohol https://back2basics-soberliving.com/family-letter-12-11-20-12-14-20-sterling-pass/ from Back2Basics Outdoor Adventure Recovery https://back2basicssoberliving.tumblr.com/post/637581349144952832

[myrtlebmack89]

Family Letter Tombstone 11.27.20

Dear B2B parents,

This weekend the boys had a four day trip out to Cochise Stronghold in southern Arizona where “Geronimoooooooo!” had his last stand. Friday morning was the usual routine: wake up, breakfast, and go to our end of the week review group where we went around checking in on how our weeks went then gave constructive feedback for new perspectives and growth. After finishing up the group we all ran through as many pounds of thanksgiving leftovers as we possibly could, stuffing ourselves for a nice nap on the long drive ahead. Our staff debriefed us on the trip, informing us that we would be doing a four day base camp trip down south. We got the vans all packed up with the gear and food, then headed out on our 6 hour journey. We finally arrived late Friday evening and set up camp, all heading to bed pretty quickly, although there was a creepy wind chime somewhere in the distance that wouldn’t stop chiming despite there being no wind. Some of the guys went on a walk to find it but it just kept moving further away… creepy.

Saturday morning we all woke up safe and sound luckily nothing crazy happened during the night. We got to making some breakfast, the classic egg and bacon croissant sandwiches as a group favorite. After, all the boys packed up camp and we headed out on a sweet 3 mile hike up this mountain to the exact place in the midst of all the giant rocks where Geronimo was held up for the last time before being arrested. It was a super sweet spot and many of the guys went on a scramble up the huge rocks to reach a high point to look out over the mountains. We headed back down the mountain and went to a new camp spot since we had daylight to find a cooler spot, which was a success. Shortly after getting to camp we got a fire roaring, someecards going and dinner being prepared. We had the famous al pastor tacos being chiefed up, which are always delicious. Everyone gathered around the warm, cozy campfire while we ate, then ran our nightly AA meeting. Following our meeting we hung-out, cut up and joked around for a little while before everyone turned in for the night.

The next morning the group woke up well rested from the rocky hike the day before, ready for an adventure yet to come! Before plans could be decided, however; the boys had to come together to decide the plans for the evening: mining exploring, or historic walk through of the old cowboy mining shanty town TOMBSTONE! The choice, although difficult, was decided rather unanimously to go to town. Tombstone was filled with great historical resources as well as anecdotes into the life of the wild west mining life. Tombstone, known as the town that will not die, was built as a silver mining community. Native Americans were known in the area, as well as cowboys. Tombstone marked historic as rivalry between cowboys and the law resulted in a shootout. present day Tombstone is a quaint touristy spot filled with local products for sale, historical accounts, and theatrical performances, which the boys were more than pleased having attended. All in all the trip went smoothly, towards the end heading back, staff stopped at a pie and restaurant outdoor venue to celebrate one residents birthday, and to have a reflection meeting reviewing the topics of overcoming fears.

from Back2Basics Addiction Recovery for Drugs and Alcohol https://back2basics-soberliving.com/family-letter-tombstone-11-27-20/ from Back2Basics Outdoor Adventure Recovery https://back2basicssoberliving.tumblr.com/post/636588569592545280

[myrtlebmack89]

Family Letter, Arizona Hotsprings – 11.20.20

Dear B2B families,

This weekend the boys went on a fun adventure to the Arizona hot springs located on the border of Nevada and Arizona. Before leaving on the trip, Mike and Mike revealed it was going to be a backpacking trip and that we needed to pack our big packs and get food bags ready before we leave. On Saturday, we left Hunter’s house to get started on our adventure towards Nevada. The first destination we arrived at was the Hoover Dam which is a concrete arch-gravity dam in the Black Canyon of the Colorado River. We checked out the dam from above looking over the bridge then drove below to get a closer view. The boys were very amazed & inspired by the structure and the effect it has on flood control and water regulation. After inspecting the Dam, we went on to the next part of our adventure which was hiking into the canyon en route to the hot springs. After a four-mile hike, we finally arrived at the hot springs and the boys were electrified. Before jumping into the springs we set up camp on the beach next to the Colorado river and ran an A. A meeting.

After that, the boys rushed to take a delightful and relaxing dip where some of us closed our eyes and meditated. It is a very popular spot so there were many groups camping near us and the springs. After the dip, we played some spades then decided it was time to get cozy and go to sleep. on Sunday after a nice sleep, we decided to start the beautiful day with a “polar dip” in the Colorado River then rush directly to the hot springs which altogether we call a “contrast dip” Once we were nice and relaxed we moved on to journaling about what success looks like to us for our sharing is caring topic and moved on today hiking and exploring near the hot springs. Once we finished our day hikes the boys shared on the topic of success and gave each other positive constructive feedback to think on. Before we could go for another relaxing dip in the hot springs, one of the boys shared their life story for our A.A meeting where the boys got very vulnerable and there was much love shown. We finished off our night with an amazing last dip in the hot springs and really cherished the moments together and were all very grateful. Knowing we had to wake up early, we got back from the springs and went straight to bed. Monday morning we hiked out of the canyon at 6 am and killed another four-mile hike. We ran a community group where we talked about our weekend, held each other accountable, and affirmed our peers. We got to eat popeyes after that and the boys were very grateful. Once we ate, we went home to de-rig the vans and take showers. The boys had a great weekend and appreciated every second we were out there.

Happy Thanksgiving

from Back2Basics Addiction Recovery for Drugs and Alcohol https://back2basics-soberliving.com/family-letter-arizona-hotsprings-11-20-20/ from Back2Basics Outdoor Adventure Recovery https://back2basicssoberliving.tumblr.com/post/635950602577428480

[myrtlebmack89]

Family Letter Buckskin Gulch 11.13.20-11.16.20

On this weekend’s adventure, the boys went back up to Utah in Escalante-Grand Staircase National Monument. It’s a huge natural area. We found a new route up there so it only took us three hours to get up there on Friday night. We set up a base camp in front of the cave we explored last time we were up there. Friday night’s delectable homemade meals were burgers for the boys. Although there was some controversy over whether they were cooked upright, all the guys went to sleep on a full stomach. We ran an AA meeting under the stars in subfreezing temperatures and we all got something out of everyone’s shares that helped us in our own recovery.

Bright and early the next morning, we were greeted by the delightful smell of coffee, bacon, and chocolate chip pancakes to draw us out of our tents into the brisk morning air. After everyone was satisfied, we packed our water, sandwiches, a plethora of nutritious bars, and went ‘exploring into the Cottonwood Narrows. With high spirits, we all hiked deep into the slot canyon. Aside from the cold temperatures and cool winds, we found ourselves climbing the walls of the canyon to new heights of recovery. When we made it to the other side of the canyon, we stopped for a midday lunch and journal session. The topic this weekend was “What are the weaknesses in your recovery and how are you going to work on them to prevent a future relapse.” As we navigate our way back to the start of the canyon it started to warm up a bit and a mini snowball fight broke out. (Just a little something to keep the spirits high towards the end of the hike.) When we got back to camp, some of the more adventurous guys took it upon themselves to hike the hill next to us and sled down it with sleeping pads, which made good sleds. After the fun and games seemed to die down we then had ourselves a little fiesta with “Tacos, Tacos, Tacos!” for dinner. After we were all stuffed, we ran a meeting where one of the veteran guys shared his story. It all occurred to us that we could all relate to each other more than what we had previously thought. We all shared how we related to him and the different mindsets that we all seemed to share in one way or another. Then soon after, we all bundled up for another cold night under the stars in Utah.

The next morning seemed to be colder than the last as we all awoke to fried eggs, bacon, more pancakes, and as always strong coffee to get us going early in the morning. Then we all piled into one van and headed down the bumpy road to the Buckskin Gulch. We stood at the edge of another slot canyon ready to tackle the obstacles ahead of us. As we trekked down the hill to what seemed to be getting more narrow as we went, many jokes and deep conversations were being held in the depths of the red rocks that surrounded us. After the first slot opened up into a deep wide canyon filled with hills, grass, and cave paintings, we had a rare sighting of the “Utah Bears” (cows). They were running up one of the next slot canyons we were hiking into and seemed to be unfazed by the people hiking near them as they just hung out and went about their days eating grass and doing other things the Utah Bear has been known to do (inside joke). As we continued our hike, we saw traces of those bears deeper in the next canyon and wondered how they made it through those narrows. As the canyon opened back up, we found a nice spot to chill, eat lunch, and then discuss what we had journaled about the day before. There was a lot of good feedback and observations getting thrown around and it seemed that some of the guys had been philosophers in their past lives. We then turned back and retraced our steps through the canyon and back to the van. On our way back to camp in the deep wilderness we stopped in Kanab UT for some grub for the boys. We all felt bad for the people working there because of the large order we put in, but surprisingly our food came out hot, and not a single thing messed up. We then receded back into the cold night and because of our quick-minded, fast reacting, helluva good driver, we nearly missed a deer on the highway on our way back to camp. Although a few of the guys joked how nice the rack would look above our wood furnace back at hunter’s house, we were all thankful the deer made it across the highway safely. As we bundled up for one last night, we all dreaded the early morning wake up we knew was upon us.

We awoke to the funny homemade Garageband song one our talented guides had made a few nights before, which made the dark cold wake up call a little better. About halfway through our drive back we stopped at Glen Canyon for a community meeting where we discussed how we thought our weekend went. All in all, a phenomenal trip, minus the cold weather…….some said it builds character…

Love, The BOYS

from Back2Basics Addiction Recovery for Drugs and Alcohol https://back2basics-soberliving.com/family-letter-buckskin-gulch-11-13-20-11-16-20/ from Back2Basics Outdoor Adventure Recovery https://back2basicssoberliving.tumblr.com/post/635146555276591104

[myrtlebmack89]

Family Letter First Snow 11.6.20-11.9.20

This weekend the boys had a great time hanging out and experiencing awesome sober activities. It was a blast and quite relaxing as well. We stayed in town since two of our guys were having their family weekend. Which we all hope both of those went very well and were very supportive/proud of our boys for pushing themselves to grow tremendously. Friday morning we had our end of week check-in the group to see how everybody felt they were doing with their program and where we saw improvements or places we could help each other. After that we hit the gym for a couple of hours, playing wallyball, working out, then finishing up with a nice polar dip in the outdoor pool followed by an immediate contrast dip in the hot tub. To pick you guys up to speed real quick, the boys have started doing “polar dips” – getting in the outdoor pool at the gym, 40-50 degrees, 10 minutes, submerged up to the neck, controlled breathing, endless benefits for the mind and body, basically an ice bath and “contrast dips” – immediately running to the hot-tub in the locker room to warm up. Yes, it is completely safe and healthy; if you keep it at just 10 minutes it boosts serotonin and dopamine, helps with inflammation,  soreness, achy muscles, helps the central nervous system, trains the vagus nerves, helps to aid stress responses.  After the gym, we went straight to the movies to watch Informer, rated 9 out of 10 from the B2B rotten tomatoes reviews. For dinner, we had a cookout with the guys in the transition house, steak, and potatoes which were absolutely delicious. We ran an AA meditation meeting following dinner then hung out and watched movies for the rest of the night at the house.

Saturday morning we woke up and whipped up some bacon, egg, and cheese breakfast sandwiches. We tidied up the house real quick then headed to Flagstaff Extreme Adventure ropes course. It took us about 2 hours to complete making our way through countless different obstacles 30-50 feet up in the trees, it was a great experience. We got back to the house, made some lunch, and kicked back for a little bit after that. Then it was back to the gym for another wallyball, workout, a polar dip, and a contrast dip session for the boys. Once finished up at the gym, we headed back to the house, cooked some fire al pastor tacos, ran another AA meeting, winded down with a movie, hot cocoa, and a fire.

Sunday morning we woke up to snow beginning to fall. After whipping up some breakfast, we went off on our first snow hike of the season out on Bismark Lake trail over by Snowbowl. It was awesome, especially for the boys who came to B2B from the less snowy southern areas. We had our staff member’s 6-month-old pup with us which made the hike all the better, plus we got to be a part of his first snow experience. We completed the hike then it was back to the house for lunch, relaxation, and yet another fire. We also ran our sharing is caring meeting and AA meeting. That afternoon it was back to the gym for the boys, I’m sure you already know the routine by this point in the letter. The one difference with this trip to the gym was the crazy snowfall going on during the polar dip which made it all the more satisfying. There was lots of exercise and many activities taking place this weekend. We left the gym and had the rest of the night to cook dinner and kick back to relax.

Monday morning was an early rise to get breakfast made, shovel the driveway, and clean up the house to be ready for the beginning of the week. We ran our community meeting, reviewing how the weekend went for everyone, and then had a quick hour session at the gym for a morning pump. All in all, another successful weekend that I’m sure everyone would agree was a blast. Lots of fun and most importantly, recovery.

B2B Boys

from Back2Basics Addiction Recovery for Drugs and Alcohol https://back2basics-soberliving.com/family-letter-first-snow-11-6-20-11-9-20/ from Back2Basics Outdoor Adventure Recovery https://back2basicssoberliving.tumblr.com/post/634531257938755584

[myrtlebmack89]

Family Letter 10.30.20 -11.2.20 Spooky Slot Canyon

Dear beloved family,

To start off the four day weekend for the Back2Basics crew, we packed up the vans with all of the base camp necessities, then the guys headed north for another trip to the beautiful Escalante Staircase, located in Utah. On the drive up, we passed through the town of Kanab and grabbed some burgers from an amazing local spot called Big Al’s. A few of the guys found their love for Marshmallow milkshakes. With stomachs full, we continued to Escalante and found a spot to camp near the next day’s hike. It was at the right convenience for us to hike through Peekaboo and Spooky canyon narrows on the day of Halloween. The Back2Basics crew had to squeeze through a few miles of narrow passes, barely getting through without becoming stuck in some areas. After exploring the slot canyons on Saturday, we headed an hour back south to another area of Escalante to set up the base camp for the next two nights. With the comfort of the base camp, the group feasted on tacos and listened to scary podcast stories, fitting for Halloween. Sunday morning came around and the crew drove to a spot around 10 miles away to hike. The spectacular area the outdoor guides took us to explore was Hackberry Canyon.

After getting back to the base camp, some of the crew scrambled up a 500-foot rock tower which was an amazing sight to overlook and see the surrounding mountains along with the base camp far below, which looked tiny. We ended the last night with a wonderful meeting on the topic of gratefulness and left early the next morning back to Flagstaff.

from Back2Basics Addiction Recovery for Drugs and Alcohol https://back2basics-soberliving.com/family-letter-10-30-20-11-2-20-spooky-slot-canyon/ from Back2Basics Outdoor Adventure Recovery https://back2basicssoberliving.tumblr.com/post/633866885188943872

[myrtlebmack89]

Family Letter 10.23.20-10.26.20 Sedona Wind Tunnel

Dear B2B Parents,

This weekend started off with us staying in town, at the house on Friday since we had just received a new member to the crew here, along with another last weekend. We are stoked to have two new dudes added to this solid group of guys and they are fitting into everything great. Most of the day we were able to just fellowship while staff finished up the whole intake process. The majority of the day was filled with activities, getting to know each other, cutting up, jamming to tunes and of course lots of spades and ping pong. Of course, when it comes to ping pong there are lots of defeated and exciting times but it’s always a blast for everyone. In the evening we went to the fields with the transition boys and had a few very competitive games of volleyball including much light-hearted competition. From the fields, we headed straight to Harkins Theatre to see ‘Synchronic’, solid 7 out of 10 from the B2B rotten tomatoes reviews. Everybody always highly enjoys getting to go to the movies and relax for a while.

Saturday, we woke up and started to get everything ready and rolling for the trip. Made a quick breakfast, got briefed on our trip, packed everything up, cleaned the house then headed out. Sedona was our destination this weekend for a chill base camp trip, so it wasn’t too far of a drive. When we first got out there we did a short little hike in the West Clear Creek recreational area. After that, we headed to our campsite for the weekend. We set up camp, did a little brief on outdoor expectations and rules for our new members then jumped on cooking up some chicken pesto pasta “slop” since we accidentally cooked the pesto sauce it turned out a little soupy, although still delicious. We ran an AA meeting following dinner, talked a little while then turned in for bed after our routine bedtime story guessing game from one of our residents.

Sunday morning was a normal morning starting in the outdoors with the usual egg, bacon, and sausage bagel sandwiches; a group favorite. We got loaded up in the vans and had quite the experience driving out of our campsite, The road was rough, Which is expected while being in an “outdoor adventures” program. Later, one of the tires popped and all the boys hopped out to get it changed in record time, while some helped with the moral support. We visited Secret Slide rock, not to be confused with overpopulated slide rock. and did a quick hike to visit the sick Wind Tunnels which everyone loved. There we journaled for Sharing Is Caring then shared on our journal entries and gave each other constructive feedback. We got back to camp that evening, taking a different and easier route for our tire issue just to be safe. Winding down for the night we played a round of intense spikeball games which ended with a 2-2 tie still awaiting the tie-breaking game, to be continued. As well as more spades and hearts plus lots of cutting up. We cooked up some fire carne asada tacos and ran our AA meeting for that day realizing we can never be oranges and just have to be the best apples we can. Then, of course, we had our bedtime story for the night so everyone could get some good shut-eye.

Monday morning we woke up to the first super chilly morning of the season. We cooked up breakfast, ran our community meeting, packed up the vans, and headed back to flagstaff. All-in-all it was yet another amazing trip with the boys, filled with lots of laughter and good recovery.

Love B2B Boys

from Back2Basics Addiction Recovery for Drugs and Alcohol https://back2basics-soberliving.com/family-letter-10-23-20-10-26-20-sedona-wind-tunnel/ from Back2Basics Outdoor Adventure Recovery https://back2basicssoberliving.tumblr.com/post/633338404753604608

[myrtlebmack89]

Family Letter 10.17.20-10.19.20

As a result of a fellow resident’s family weekend and the arrival of a new resident, THE BOYS spent our weekend in and around Flagstaff. Friday morning, the group headed out toward Winslow to swim, dive, and sunbathe at East Clear Creek. The residential group was joined by our friends in the transitional phase of the program during this outing. Having moved to the second phase of the Back 2 Basics program, our transition friends were able to relay to us their own struggles, obstacles, and solutions pertaining to dealing with life outside of the residential phase. Though many of us are still several months away from this phase, it never hurts to hear the advice of those who have walked the same path we are currently on. After returning from Winslow, The Boys concocted a culinary masterpiece worthy of a five-star restaurant or, at least, a hundred-plus-like Instagram post. Baked tilapia with mustard sauce, chicken grilled to perfection, and cayenne-spiced broccoli were enjoyed by all. The night ended on a high note; a meeting on the importance of spirituality and living in God’s will as opposed to our own. Saturday was our “Fitness Day” and the morning started with voluntary yet highly-suggested push-ups, healthy smoothies, and a delicious egg scramble. The group then went to the gym to lift weights, play “Wallyball” in the racquetball court, and enjoy what we call the “executive workout,” better known as sitting in the sauna and taking a shower. After the gym, the boys went rock-climbing in an indoor gym and our muscles, spirit, and teamwork were tested once again. It was an activity everyone enjoyed and we had to be reminded by the gym staff that our time had run out, but our day of fitness did not end there. In the afternoon, we enjoyed a good, brisk hike along Fatman’s Loop. The night was topped off with homemade burgers worthy of Gordon Ramsay himself and a meeting on the importance of “keeping a clean house.” Sunday was what the boys call a “crush day.” The obstacle? Mount Kendrick. The mission? Crushing it. It was a long journey, a journey 10,425 feet upward to be exact, but the group made it to Kendrick Peak and enjoyed a view like no other. Before heading down, we ran our “Sharing is Caring” meeting and talked about where we are at with our Twelve Step Program, what we have learned, and our current reservations. The night was once again concluded with a healthy, hearty, and homemade meal of brussel sprouts, asparagus, and grilled chicken and a meeting on the importance of keeping an open mind.

from Back2Basics Addiction Recovery for Drugs and Alcohol https://back2basics-soberliving.com/family-letter-10-17-20-10-19-20/ from Back2Basics Outdoor Adventure Recovery https://back2basicssoberliving.tumblr.com/post/632579656882716672

[myrtlebmack89]

Family Letter 10.9.20-10.12.20

Dear B2B parents,

This weekend the boys’ trip took place out in Escalante, Utah. We had our end of week intentions group Friday morning, where we went over everyone’s week and what we struggled with as well as how we feel we progressed. Once the group finished up we were briefed on our trip than quickly packed up since we had a long drive ahead of us. After many hours of driving, we finally made it to the trailhead of Boulder Mail Trail around 9 pm and headed out on a little night hike into the canyon. About a mile in we found a campsite to set up for the night, ran an AA meeting then hit the sack.

The following morning we woke up and set off further in the canyon. While hiking, about another 3 miles in we stumbled along with a beautiful massive alcove where we decided to set up camp. We posted up, made some food, checked out some cool petroglyphs then set out for a day hike further into the canyon. We hiked another mile or two than took some time to do our sharing is caring for writing. Post writing a little sand rock war took place which later continued throughout the trip. We went back to camp, made some dinner, played some cards then ran another AA meeting.

Sunday morning we woke up early and made a group decision to crush out of the canyon back to the van and try to hit another cool spot. We took a short venture down to Bryce Canyon national park, which is a beautiful sandstone canyon with fairly easy hiking trails throughout the park. We hiked around for a couple of hours checking out the amazing views and awesome hoodoos took some hitter solo and group shots that we hope all of you enjoy. I can speak for the whole group when saying that it was one of the most amazing places we have been to. Definitely blessed our spectacular guides took us there to visit another sick spot on the same weekend. After finishing up in Bryce we hit the road again to go visit a third spot, where there are massive toadstools. There, we shared our sharing is caring writings and gave each other feedback on them, followed by a meditation AA meeting. Lake Powell was our final camping destination since it was on the way back and closer to Flagstaff for a shorter drive home Monday morning.

Monday Morning was another early rise since we still had to run our community meeting than head back to Flagstaff. All in all the weekend was yet another 10 out of 10. It was filled with fun sober times with great friends and of course lots of laughs.

B2B Boys.

from Back2Basics Addiction Recovery for Drugs and Alcohol https://back2basics-soberliving.com/family-letter-10-9-20-10-12-20/ from Back2Basics Outdoor Adventure Recovery https://back2basicssoberliving.tumblr.com/post/632039916295077888

[myrtlebmack89]

Family Letter Sedona / Beaver Creek 10.2.20

On this weekend’s outdoor adventure, the fella’s explored the Sedona area. We set up a basecamp just south of Sedona near Cottonwood, which set us up in a nice central location for activities. Saturday morning, we had a creek day, hiking around Oak Creek north of Sedona. We ended the hike at Grasshopper Point, which is a popular hangout spot, but we lucked out and it wasn’t very crowded. We swam, ate some lunch, and then hiked back up the canyon to the van. That night, we cooked up some burgers and hot dogs, then played a few games of Spikeball. We held our own AA meeting in camp, focusing on reading out of the big book. The following morning, we slept in a bit and made some delicious breakfast sandwiches. We prepped some deli sandwiches for lunch and set off towards “The Crack”, which is a great cliff jumping spot along Wet Beaver Creek. We had to hike in about 4 miles so everyone was in good spirits. Mid hike, we found a nice shaded spot along the creek and did some journaling. Most of the group had never been to “The Crack”, so we were all really excited to explore the area. After a few hours of swimming, jumping, and relaxing, we packed up and hiked the 4 miles back to the van. We stopped at the same creek spot to share our journaling with the group and then drove back to camp.

Back in camp, we cooked up some al pastor tacos, steamed some tamales, and of course, had a great appetizer of chips and mango salsa. Later in the evening, with a gorgeous blood red moon rising, we held a group meditation meeting after a reading from the AA big book. It was a beautiful moment as we all shared our experiences. The following morning, we woke up a bit earlier and cooked another delicious breakfast, and then packed up camp and headed back into Sedona proper. We stopped at one more creek spot, went for a morning dip, and we all jumped from a rope swing. Before driving back to Flagstaff, we held our “Community” meeting at the creek, summing up the weekend.

from Back2Basics Addiction Recovery for Drugs and Alcohol https://back2basics-soberliving.com/family-letter-sedona-beaver-creek-10-2-20/ from Back2Basics Outdoor Adventure Recovery https://back2basicssoberliving.tumblr.com/post/631334138759233536

[myrtlebmack89]

Family Letter 9.25.20-9.28.20 Indian Maiden Falls

This weekend the boys were briefed after mid-week intentions group Friday morning. We went to Indian Maiden Falls, in Sedona. Everyone went through their stuff and packed what they needed for the 3-day backpacking trip down into the canyon. They made sure they had enough water packed for the hike out, stovetops and pans to cook their food in over the weekend along with making sure they all got their food bags. Before heading out they had to make sure the house was cleaned up, beds made nice and tidy before we left. We got everything packed up and loaded in the vans then headed to our destination. Once at the top of the trail, we unloaded the vans and grabbed our bags and headed down the steep trail all the way to the bottom of the canyon to the water and looked for a spot to set up camp in the nice sand. Later that night we ran an AA meeting with a topic from the BigBook before relaxing and getting comfortable. The next morning we woke up and everyone made their own breakfast and got their day packs ready with lunch for the hike. We headed up alongside the breathtaking river until we came to a spot where we had to blow up a raft for our day packs and swim across. Another mile or so after we got to our beautiful water park for the day, complete with ledges to sun ourselves on, cliff jumps, and a gorgeous waterfall. After frolicking in the waterfall for a couple of hours we ran an AA meeting, gathered our things, and headed back downriver to our weekend home. During our hike back to our camp, we came across a dead rattlesnake so we had to be careful where we stepped because there were snakes in our general area. Once we got back everyone relaxed and made food after a mild kinda hard hike. People conversed and played cards with each other. Sunday we woke up, had a quick breakfast and headed back up to a good swimming hole. We climbed and swam all afternoon before running our sharing is caring meeting.

After a quick dip again we headed to our beach home to cook ourselves dinner and run our community meeting before bedding down for the night. Monday we woke to gentle tunes and prepared for the grueling hike back up the canyon. After one last quick creek dip by some of the boys, we headed on up. With the sun beating down on us we labored up the steep trail to get to the vans. A short bit of dirt roads in the vans and we were on our way back to the hunter house to finish off another fantastic weekend.

from Back2Basics Addiction Recovery for Drugs and Alcohol https://back2basics-soberliving.com/family-letter-9-25-20-9-28-20-indian-maiden-falls/ from Back2Basics Outdoor Adventure Recovery https://back2basicssoberliving.tumblr.com/post/630616717678280704

[myrtlebmack89]

Family Letter, Sedona Solos, 9.18.20-9.21.20

Dear Beloved Families,

On this weekend adventure, we traveled to the edge of the world, located in Flagstaff AZ. This location looked over Sedona AZ. The scenic landscape was absolutely spectacular, something out of a postcard. The boys were all grateful for the spot the outdoor guides picked for us and it couldn’t have been a better spot. We did a solo trip which was a soul searching process that involved an experience of feelings and emotion. Each of us had our own campsite and were given a food bag along with a five-gallon canister of water. It was a very therapeutic experience where we all learned a great amount about ourselves and what the future has to offer if we accept the life of sobriety.

We were at our own campsite completely alone from 1 pm on Saturday to 8 am Monday morning with the exception of two very short checks in’s to make sure everything is going smooth and no one is having a bad experience. Everyone was given work from their therapist and was asked to write a couple of pages on mindfulness and how it relates to us and our recovery. We all really enjoyed the time spent alone and it became a spiritual experience for every single one of us. Our lives have been touched genuinely from this trip and I’m sure we will be able to value this mindfulness experience for the rest of our life.

Till the next time.

from Back2Basics Addiction Recovery for Drugs and Alcohol https://back2basics-soberliving.com/family-letter-sedona-solos-9-18-20-9-21-20/ from Back2Basics Outdoor Adventure Recovery https://back2basicssoberliving.tumblr.com/post/629975621305516032

[myrtlebmack89]

Family Letter 9.10.20-9.14.20 Colorado River

This weekend was quite the “grand” adventure for the Back 2 Basics boys. Our trip to the Grand Canyon started with a one-night pit-stop at Utah’s Lake Powell where we enjoyed tacos, a dip in the lake, and a fitting meeting on hope under the clear, starry sky. Like our friend John Wesley Powell, whom our home for the night was named after, our next stop in our journey was the Colorado River. Unlike Mr. Powell, who was part of the first official U.S. government-sponsored passage through the Grand Canyon, we would not meet our untimely demise at the hands of Colorado’s waters. But, it was definitely a close call.

The second day of our trip was full of river-rafting and sightseeing. If the immense walls, peaks, and cliffs of the Grand Canyon didn’t take our breath away, it’s ice-cold waters sure did. We traversed through rapid after rapid, holding on for dear life along the way. We rode our way past notable rapids like the House of Rock, one of many rapids in the Grand Canyon that is rated past a “6” on the universal 1-6 scale many whitewater aficionados may be familiar with. Yes, it was intense, to say the least. That night, we enjoyed fish tacos on a beach made of some of the world’s finest sand, and for once, we didn’t have to do the cooking.

The next two days of our voyage continued much like the last; good food and good times with good people. Along the way, we took a break from the Colorado River and hiked up to a beautiful, scenic, and historic view by the Nankoweap Granaries (also seen on National Geographic). Our history lessons were coupled with amazing, breathtaking views and our next noteworthy stop was the aptly named Blue Spring where the Colorado River meets Little Colorado. There, the water was surprisingly warm and incredibly blue due to the calcium carbonate minerals in the water. We did our own body-rafting down Little Colorado and its turquoise waters before finding camp and enjoying prime rib and key lime pie.

The last day of our trip started with an early, 5-am call, hot coffee, and already-made breakfast. After eating our fill, packing our lunch, and packing our bags, our 10-mile hike up to the rim started. The boys were all well-rested and well-fed, so the usually daunting and grueling hike was made a little easier than usual. We stopped by Indian Gardens to conduct a meeting reviewing the week before continuing our trek upward, to the vans, and back to the place we call home. For now, at least.

from Back2Basics Addiction Recovery for Drugs and Alcohol https://back2basics-soberliving.com/family-letter-9-10-20-9-14-20-colorado-river/ from Back2Basics Outdoor Adventure Recovery https://back2basicssoberliving.tumblr.com/post/629355904627834880

[myrtlebmack89]

9.4.20-9.7.20 Family Letter Durango

Dear B2B parents,

I can speak for all the boys when I say we had an awesome trip this weekend. This weekend we took a nice road trip out to Durango, Colorado for a base camp trip. It was the first time visiting for almost all of us so we all had a blast. After getting both the vans all packed up, we set off on the road Friday morning since we had a 6-hour drive ahead of us. Since we have a smaller group now each one of us got a whole row in the vans to ourselves, many napped, while our trusty staff members took one for the team and drove. Except for the Vibe Van, three of us were vibing the whole way down there. We arrived in Durango and found a campsite for the night around 11 pm after searching through the San Juan Forest for an hour since it was so packed being Labor day weekend. We set up camp pretty quickly then retired for the night.

Saturday morning we woke up pretty early, made a hearty sausage and egg breakfast then headed out. Since we were so deep in San Juan we decided to pack up camp and move our base camp to a new location so we wouldn’t have to drive so far to and from our activities. We headed out of the forest to a park near downtown Durango and threw the frisbee around for a little bit. Then we took a hike down the Animas River which runs all throughout Durango. After a little bit, we took a dip in the river to cool off since it was pretty sunny out. The water felt great and we slid down a little man-made slide that creates some minor rapids when the water is higher than what it was this weekend. We all had a great time and even slid down together holding onto each other’s shoulders, it was definitely the highlight of the day for many of us. Once we finished up we headed to an in-town AA meeting, which turned out to be a really solid and raw meeting that everyone got a lot out of. Then we went back to camp and made some fire carne asada tacos for dinner.

Sunday morning we woke up, made some breakfast and set out for another sweet day. We headed up to a higher place up the Animas river with a couple of double tubes and put in to float all the way down. It began as a very relaxing float, as the current wasn’t too strong. As we progressed down the river the current picked up in certain places and we had to dodge some rocks here and there. We had a blast swerving past the rocks and going down some very minor rapids. There was a small section at the end that had some man-made slopes and drops for people to surf down when the river is higher and flowing stronger. They were still flowing and had some nice little drops that we were able to hit in our inner tubes (safely) which everyone loved. After a relaxing, yet fun-filled day on the river everyone was pretty beat from being in the sun all day long and we had a few guys come out looking like lobsters since they believed they “wouldn’t burn”. We once again headed back to camp and whipped up a delicious stir fry for dinner. Then we held a group AA meeting led by yours truly, played some spades and kicked back cutting up with each other for a while enjoying some good laughs, per usual before heading to bed.

This morning we packed up and headed out around 4 am since we had a nice drive ahead of us and had to be back at the house before noon. Big shoutout to our very kind staff members for being our drivers while everyone got to sleep on the way back. We made a brief stop to run our community meeting, recapping the weekend and giving each other constructive feedback along with affirmations. All in all, it was another phenomenal trip packed with great vibes, laughs and recovery!

Yours truly, B2B Boys.

from Back2Basics Addiction Recovery for Drugs and Alcohol https://back2basics-soberliving.com/9-4-20-9-7-20-family-letter-durango/ from Back2Basics Outdoor Adventure Recovery https://back2basicssoberliving.tumblr.com/post/628714183130824704

[myrtlebmack89]

Family Letter Escalante 8.21.20-8.24.20

On this week’s adventure, we decided to take on a challenging backpacking trip and hike West Fork Trail. The trail has been rated as one of America’s most beautiful. The trailhead started on Woody Mountain Road, only a short drive from Flagstaff, and ended in Oak Creek, near Sedona. As a group we ended up hiking a total of 14 miles, Saturday morning we hiked around 6 miles, Sunday an additional 2 to find a better campsite, and at 6 am on Monday morning, hiked the rest of the way for another 6 miles. The scenery on the trail was stunning, and as a group we all had a really fun time laughing, getting to connect more on a deeper level, and getting to connect more with nature and ourselves.

At first, we were supposed to hike in the canyon halfway and then back the way we came to the vans, but the Elite Outdoor Survivalist Experts (AKA Staff) decided it would be better to hike all the way through. We all were excited to see the rest of the trail because we heard it was one of the most scenic hikes in the country. While hiking the first 6 miles or so there wasn’t really a trail so we had to hike through a lot of water, occasionally the water was up to our shoulders, so we had to take our backpacks off and carry them above our heads through the water. We ended up setting up camp 7 miles in and sitting down to eat, Talk about shame and guilt, and run an AA meeting. This was one of our better topics for Sharing is caring and we all spent a lot of time delving into our personal work. We woke up early so we could make it out and back to our house on time. The last 8 miles were beautiful with red rocks, crystal clear water and so many different plants.

We had a great adventure this weekend, we all had a blast and can’t wait for what next week’s adventure has in store for us.

from Back2Basics Addiction Recovery for Drugs and Alcohol https://back2basics-soberliving.com/family-letter-escalante-8-21-20-8-24-20-2/ from Back2Basics Outdoor Adventure Recovery https://back2basicssoberliving.tumblr.com/post/628076407574183936