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Category: Flagstaff

Waited out the holiday then headed into northern Arizona

trees crepuscular rays Skull Valley AZAfter wintering in southern Arizona I returned to my home base to make plans and repairs while waiting out the holiday weekend before heading into northern Arizona for the beginning of my summer travels.

trees mts clouds smoke I17 N to Flagstaff AZLeft a friend’s house June 1st and drove further into northern Arizona and a smoky Flagstaff from prescribed burns to the west.

trees snowy peaks FR545 Coconino NF Flagstaff AZI hoped my Coconino National Forest camping place outside of Sunset Crater National Monument wouldn’t be affected.  There was a definite haze but doable.

red Paintbrush flowers FR545 Coconino NF Flagstaff AZyellow Larkspur flowers FR545 Coconino NF Flagstaff AZ

                                         Paintbrush                                                                                     Larkspur

Sparsely scattered flowers popped color on the pine needle covered forest floor.

trees Sunset Crater FR545 Coconino NF Flagstaff AZ Sunset Crater

I was excited to be under the Ponderosa Pines once again and had to hug and sniff a tree.

last light trees clouds FR545 Coconino NF Flagstaff AZI figured the smoke and clouds might bring a pretty sunset through the trees but obscure the waxing moon.

tree branches moon FR545 Coconino NF Flagstaff AZ

grass trees reverse sunset clouds moon FR545 Coconino NF Flagstaff AZThen got lucky.

a'A lava flow Sunset Crater NM AZI wasn’t in a rush the next morning to get to my next destination so decided to go the long way.  A loop drive of 35 miles took me through Sunset Crater and Wupatki national monuments.

red Penstimon flowers trees clouds Sunset Crater NM AZBeen so long I’d forgotten just how gorgeous this drive can be.

grass trees SF Pks clouds FR545 AZ

trees storm clouds FR545 AZThen add dramatic storm clouds over an otherwise fantastic landscape.

white Datura flowers FR545 AZSacred Datura

grass SF Pks rain clouds FR545 Wupatki NM AZI stopped frequently for flowers, views, and whatever caught my eye.

cattle shute FR545 AZ

grass SF Pks rain clouds FR545 Wupatki NM AZLike a corral with a place big enough to park and awesome views of the San Francisco Peaks.

Citidel ruin Wupatki NM AZ

Nalakilu ruin Wupatki NM AZ

walls sinkhole SF Pks clouds Wupatki NM AZOnly made one stop in Wupatki at the Citidel and Nalakilu ruins.

storm clouds SR64 W Navajo Rez AZAfter three extra hours of driving I returned to SR89 and continued into northern Arizona to my destination for the next several days.

Indian taco stand Gray Mt AZHowever a growling belly caused me to stop for an Navajo fry bread burger.

 

Arizona, Flagstaff, Places I've been, Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument, United States, Wupatki National Monument , , 20 Comments

Day trip for Flagstaff Fall Foliage at Snowbowl

fall aspen Snowbowl Flagstaff ArizonaI so needed a fix to see the fall foliage that I’m used to seeing on the North Rim but that’s seven hours away.  Plus with stormy weather predicted for most of the week I decided to take the open window last Wednesday and drive to Flagstaff.

meadow fall aspen Kendrick Peak clouds Snowbowl Flagstaff ArizonaI’d been thinking about it for days and figured to see some snow as well as fall colors at 7,000 feet in elevation.

trees Antelope Peak sunrise Yarnell ArizonaAwoke early to a pretty sunrise.  Packed snacks and warm clothes and left home about 7am.  I even washed the inside of the windshield though you wouldn’t know it to look at the photos taken on the fly.

View NE Pioneer Parkway Prescott ArizonaHeading up Iron Springs Road I saw it might be a while before the Cottonwoods turn colors.  Bypassing most of Prescott under blue sky yet see a cloud bank to the north where I’m headed.

Juniper-Pinyon US89 North ArizonaThen north on SR89 through the awful Chino roundabouts and past the fields of tall bright shiny gold grasses.  Didn’t see any antelope but did see long-horn cattle.  Climbing towards Ashfork the Juniper and Pinyon woodlands don’t show any obvious visual fall colors except for the golden grasses.

construction I40 East ArizonaLots of construction on I40 slowed down the drive but what a difference it will make when done and no potholes large enough to swallow a Smart car.

snow trees Snowbowl Road Kaibab National Forest ArizonaThe closer I got to Flagstaff the more clouds and the temperature dropped to 50°F.  Driving up to Snowbowl felt like the beginnings of winter.

snow fall aspen Snowbowl Road Kaibab National Forest ArizonaAs the shoulder became more white the aspen started showing a little color.  The road is in terrible condition, no shoulder and the fog line is crumbling away.  Suppose that’s the result of lots of snow and plows to clear it.

snow chairlift trees low clouds Snowbowl Flagstaff ArizonaThis was my first visit to the end of this road to Snowbowl.  Bet it’s a pretty place to snow ski, something I quit doing many decades ago in exchange for warmer winter activities in the southern desert.

chairlift snowy meadow fall aspen Kendrick Peak Snowbowl Flagstaff ArizonaFrom the busy parking lot I walked a trail towards the ski lifts and beyond.  I wanted to take in the view from higher up without climbing any mountains before walking into the forest.

snowy meadow fall aspen Kendrick Peak Snowbowl Flagstaff ArizonaTalked to a young man who came up from Phoenix for a few days to take photos of the fall aspen.

Couple on horses Snowbowl Flagstaff ArizonaThen a couple on horse back road up and asked if I would take their picture, sure if I could take some too.  Nice way to get around and keep your feet dry, but you can see they are still bundled up, as was I, for the cold.

fall aspen Kendrick Peak Snowbowl Flagstaff ArizonaThe sun tried to peak in and out of the clouds.

red Paintbrush flower snow Snowbowl Flagstaff ArizonaI walked downhill towards the colorful forest and slipped in the snow.  A quick recovery kept me from getting wet.  Was hard to believe flowers still bloomed.

snow meadow fall aspen clouds Snowbowl Flagstaff ArizonaThank goodness for my water proof hiking boots my feet stayed warm and dry.

snow meadow fall aspen clouds Snowbowl Flagstaff Arizona

snow fall aspen Snowbowl Flagstaff ArizonaAs I worked my way closer to the forest I also paid attention to stay out of the way of other photographers.

snow fall aspen Snowbowl Flagstaff ArizonaAnd in that process met a couple photographers I’ve known only on Facebook who had driven up from Sedona.  They were all carrying tripods which I didn’t do but probably should have used it as a walking pole.

snow gold Fall Aspen clouds sunburst Snowbowl Flagstaff Arizona

snow gold Fall Aspen mountain clouds Snowbowl Flagstaff ArizonaFelt like magic walking into the forest with the snow and golden leaves almost like the seasons were confused.

snow meadow trees mountains clouds Snowbowl Flagstaff ArizonaI spent about 2 1/2 hours wandering and making photos of this wonderland that all too soon will be buried under a white blanket and covered with skiers.

SR89 South ArizonaThen it was time to hit the highway home, a three hour drive.  More construction along I40 caused me to be going slow enough to see a Bald Eagle fly.  No photo of that rare sighting.

Iron Springs Road ArizonaThe clouds only thinned a little on the way back.  More storms coming makes me wonder if that will be the end of the color at high elevation.

Iron Springs Road ArizonaIf the temperatures continue to drop I’ll soon be looking for fall foliage in my own neighborhood.

Arizona, fall colors, Flagstaff, Kaibab National Forest , , , , 20 Comments

Arrived in time for Sunrise at Sunset Crater National Monument

first light Sunset Crater National Monument ArizonaAfter nine months of several planned road trips not happening I finally hit the road Tuesday and got just north of Flagstaff to Sunset Crater National Monument.

I let neighbors know I’d be gone for a while and left keys with a friend on the way out of Yarnell on Tuesday.  Also sent a text to Berta’s daughter to let her know my plans.  Her reply to have fun and let her know if anything needs to be done at the house.  So I told her about the scorpions and my recommendation to have everything moved away from the house’s outside walls then have it sprayed.  Four days later it’s taken care of.

old gas station Skull Valley Arizona

Sierra cat behind bed pillows in truckcamperLeft town about 10:30am headed north to higher elevation.  Made one quick stop in Chino Valley and when I got in the camper Sierra was tucked into the bed covers with no plan to come out.

traffic construction Mount Humphreys storm clouds I40 East ArizonaBetween rain, construction, and an accident, Interstate 40 east of Belmont was a slow go for about 45 minutes.  Yet I felt in no rush.

multiple street signs junction Country Club Drive & SR89 Flagstaff ArizonaStopped to call a friend in Flagstaff and made dinner arrangements.  I was being taken out to my favorite Greek restaurant in celebration of one year no cigarettes.  Smile

truckcamper Bonito campground Sunset Crater National Monument ArizonaOnly 12 miles north of Flagstaff and adjacent to Sunset Crater National Monument, Bonito campground provided paved roads and sites that were almost level for $24/night or $12 with my Senior Pass.  Normally I’d have camped on the west side of SR89 for free on the forest but with all the rain had concerns about gravel road conditions.  With only 25 sites—fire ring and table—and no reservations taken I was happy to see a few sites left when I arrived at 3pm.  They are nicely spaced out under the Ponderosa Pines.

I was unprepared when opening the camper door and Sierra bolted out.  I think as soon as her paws touched the unfamiliar ground she jumped into the truck wheel well to hide forever.  I coerced her with treats and she finally relented showing up by the truck cab where I picked her up and put her back in the camper.  My ride for dinner arrived moments later.  Sorry no pics of the delicious dinner.

sunrise Sunset Crater National Monument Arizona

first light San Fransisco Peaks Sunset Crater National Monument ArizonaBy the time I returned to camp I was too satiated and tired to walk where I could see what looked like a colorful sunset.  Then after a restful quiet night I awoke early enough to see first light through the trees and it called my name.  With coffee in hand, I quickly battened down and drove east to the first parking for a trail to greet the morning.  I should do this more often, maybe.

I contemplated driving the 73 mile loop road through Sunset Crater and Wapatki national monuments yet I knew the day would get warmer and was thinking about Sierra baking in the camper.

mountains clouds leaving Sunset Crater National Monument ArizonaSo I turned around and quickly returned to SR89, headed North with a stop in Cameron for fuel before crossing the Painted Desert and on through the sparsely populated Navajo Nation.  No matter how many times I make this drive I an entranced by the desert’s beauty.

cars Jacob Lake Inn sign Jacob Lake ArizonaAt the start of the climb onto the Kaibab Plateau I saw three California Condors soaring high above.  And before I knew it, was stopped at Jacob Lake where I just had to get a couple cookies.  It’s been almost nine months ya’ know.

tree tunnel FR219 Marble View Kaibab National Forest ArizonaAnd besides I needed some treats for my next remote location.

 

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Arizona, Flagstaff, National Parks and Monuments, Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument , , , 26 Comments

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