July 28, 2020

July 28, 2020

Today we are going to do one of the longer hikes at Bryce National Park. We left it till the end to make sure we are acclimated to the low oxygen of 8500 ft elevation. We parked at Sunset Point and quickly found the Fairyland Trail. This trail descends and circles the base of Boat Mesa. Most of the first section of the trail is rather open and looks like the Painted Desert with a few Ponderosa Pines thrown in for accent. Since this is a longer, more strenuous hike we have the trail virtually to ourselves. We make a small detour to photograph the geologic feature called Tower Bridge.

After circling to the north side of Boat Mesa we traverse Fairyland Canyon. It is beautiful and contains lots of Hoodoos. We are so glad we didn’t leave Bryce without doing this hike, even though we now pass several hikers that began the trail in the opposite direction.

We climb out of the Canyon at Fairyland Point. Unfortunately the hike is not finished. We still have 2.5 miles of Rim Trail to return to our car. It is up and down and at this point seems like the longest two miles ever. We survive because the view is great and the afternoon clouds rolled in.

On the way back to our motel, we make a short detour to follow the course of the Tropic Ditch canal that early Mormon settlers dug to water the Tropic Valley. I was surprised to find a Park Storyboard outside our motel room relating its history. The ditch there was dry. I learned that a pipeline has replaced the section under the commercial zone. Just east of town we find the pipe exit with an old farmer adjusting the sluice gate. He makes it clear he doesn’t want to be seen doing it. Water in the West is a contentious issue and he might have been diverting water for his benefit.

July 27, 2020

July 27, 2020

We were up early and into Bryce Canyon National Park again. Like yesterday we saw deer along the road. This time a buck and a doe.

From Sunrise Point we made our way down the Queen’s Garden Trail. This time we had to share the experience with lots of fellow hikers. Perhaps because this trail is shorter and easier. It is still a nice hike with great scenery. We return to the top on one leg of the Navajo Trail that ascends through Wall Street. An apt name for this section that climbs between two large walls of sentinel Hoodoos.

Unlike our previous National Park experiences, we have not attended any Ranger talks. No problem; a fellow hiker came to our rescue. Out of the blue, on the trail a guy asked if we knew the types of trees growing. I blurted out Ponderosa Pine without even looking. But only one was a pine, the other a fir. He proceeded to tell us that the bark of the Ponderosa Pine smells like Butterscotch. He is right!

The other difference from our prior park visits is the use of face masks. Most people are wearing them in crowded spaces of restaurants and lobbies. But what is surprising to us is the large number of hikers, especially younger ones, wearing masks on these wilderness trails. It is the Great Outdoors; the definition of social distance. I just don't get it!

We took a break back in our room to read the paper and check emails. Afterwards we visited a second park entrance named Mossy Cave. This trail follows a large creek upstream to a waterfall. The cool water is being enjoyed by all the younger park visitors. It turns out this water feature is artificially enhanced. This is normally a seasonal wash like in Tucson. But early Mormon settlers dug a canal (Tropic Ditch)  to deliver water to the arid Tropic Valley using this natural conduit. We finished up by hiking to Mossy Cave, a natural moss-covered spring.

July 26, 2020

July 26, 2020

Aimee got me up bright and early so we could hit breakfast at the opening. With our bellies full, we entered Bryce Canyon National Park. We drove very slowly because wildlife is common early in the morning. We were not disappointed, seeing a doe and two fawns cross the road in front of us. At Bryce Point we hiked down into the canyon to access the Peekaboo Loop Trail that winds around the thousands of sculpted hoodoos.

By descending below the rim, we leave the crowds behind and have the park almost all to ourselves. Hiking down, the Hoodoos also change from a line of faraway toy soldiers into up-close massive sentinels. Magical! The colors are amazing with deep green pines set amongst the white and orange geology. Around every corner is a great view. We hike it slowly to make it last. We do the 5.5 miles in about three hours.

Back at the top, we slowly drive to the end of the 18-mile dead-end road. There we do the one-mile Bristlecone Trail through the pine forest. We return to our motel room but not before stopping at most of the overlooks along the way.

July 25, 2020

July 25, 2020

From Flagstaff, AZ we drove north through Arizona crossing the Colorado River at Page. We soon entered Utah. Approaching Kanab, we got the bright idea that we might snag one of the ten walk-in permits for hiking “The Wave”. We are thinking with all the international travelers banned, our odds are very good. Unfortunately we forget we are dealing with the government. The office is closed, and the staff doesn't answer the phones.

So we continue north to Bryce Canyon National Park. The scenery along the whole drive is dramatic. After checking into our motel, we enter the park. A few months ago, I passed a milestone. I am now eligible for a Lifetime Senior National Park Pass. I am happy to finally be saving the annual fee, but I have to endure lots of ageist comments from Aimee and the Park Ranger.

In the park, we intend to drive to the road’s end and do a hike, but rain cancels that plan. Instead we go to the nearest viewpoints and walk around with our raincoats. The scenery is still astounding despite this being our third visit.

July 24, 2020

July 24, 2020

This morning we set out to explore Flagstaff. We started at the Flagstaff Monument. The city is named after the first settlers who arrived on July 4, 1876 and hoisted a flag atop a Ponderosa Pine log to honor the first Centennial of our nation’s founding. The name stuck.

We next drove north of town. Flagstaff is a small city inside a vast Ponderosa Pine forest. It sits at the base of two mountains. The tallest, Humphreys Peak, at 12,600 feet, is the highest point in Arizona. We drove up the mountain topping out at the ski resort of Snowbowl at 9200 feet. From here we get a good view of the many Cinder Cone volcanoes that litter the area. Even Humphreys Peak is an old volcano. Fortunately it has been 1000 years since the last volcano erupted.

We start up the Humphrey Summit Trail but don’t make it too far. The forecasted rain is looking imminent and may catch us halfway. Instead we do the Aspen Nature Loop Trail. This trail goes through a large Quaking Aspen forest. Beautiful! And no rain!

Back down in Flagstaff we have a late lunch and then head out to do another Elden Mountain hike. The clouds are darkening so instead we head back to the hotel. Just in time. It starts to pour shortly after arriving.

July 23, 2020

July 23, 2020

I wanted to try out golf in Flagstaff but a friend reminded me that Sedona is just thirty miles south. Sedona is one of our favorite locations in the country, so I jump at making a tee time there. We take our time driving on down Route 89. This beautiful scenic drive follows Oak Creek Canyon down from the Colorado Plateau. The eroded edge of this escarpment makes for astounding scenery. In the town of Sedona, the rocks turn a beautiful shade of red. Aimee has often commented that this area should have been a national park. Instead it is crowded with homes and businesses and tourists.

We continue south to Oakcreek Country Club where we check-in and have a nice lunch on the restaurant deck. After hitting a few balls on the range, we are off in our two-some following two singles. We wait on every hole but I don't mind. It gives us time to enjoy the scenery and take lots of photos.

The course is lush and in great condition. Every hole is not surrounded by red rocks, but enough of them are that we think we could get used to playing here. While neither of us had any blow-up holes, we found it hard to score well because we only packed half our golf clubs. We did this to make room for luggage in the trunk. Finished we make the drive back to Flagstaff stopping at the many scenic turnouts.

July 22, 2020

July 22, 2020

From Pinetop, AZ we packed up and drove 2.5 hours northwest to Flagstaff. Our accommodation is right next to Coconino National Forest. After checking-in, we geared up and hiked Fatman's Loop Trail. I immediately decided I like hiking here better than Pinetop. The terrain is so much more interesting with lots of vertical elevation change. We see lots of ancient weathered Alligator Junipers that look like they are out of the Lord of the Rings.

We initially did the loop counter-clockwise but got lost with the many trail options and poor signage. We returned to the trail-head and found hiking it clockwise much easier. The loop climbs the foothill of Elden Mountain giving us great views of the region.

That evening we met a golfing friend from Tucson for drinks at his Golf Club.

July 21, 2020

July 21, 2020

Today we explored the area to our east by driving to the little village of Greer tucked in the pine forest at the end of a road. In Greer the west and east forks of the Little Colorado River join. The river is tiny and can be jumped across. It is a far cry from the large teal-colored river that empties into the Colorado at the start of the Grand Canyon.

As we are donning our hiking gear, we watch a Hatchery employee dip out several net loads of Rainbow Trout to stock the stream. Over the next couple hours I think they are all caught by the many waiting anglers.

For the next two hours we hike south along the West Fork of the Little Colorado. It is a pretty hike with lots of wildflowers along the bank. They are mobbed with hungry bees and butterflies.

Afterwards we drive into the nearby town of Eagar in the valley to the east. We have lunch at a Sonic Drive-in diner for the first time. It is perfect for this era of social distancing. We both have the Hatch Chile Cheeseburgers. This seems to be the new trendy meal of the Southwest. Roasted chile peppers from Hatch, NM add a great flavor to food. Aimee used a bunch a neighbor brought back to make a delicious Chile con Carne meal. We drove back to Pinetop in the rain. The temperature dropped to a wonderful 51F!

July 20, 2020

July 20, 2020

Today we chilled out in our room reading the newspaper. After a late breakfast we went to the Pinetop Lakes Golf course where we walked the 18 holes of this par 63 course. The holes weave through the neighborhood tucked inside tall stands of Ponderosa Pine. The course was crowded and our playing partners told us the real estate market is hot because this year everybody is vacationing local.

July 19, 2020

July 19, 2020

This morning we again got out and got some much needed exercise. We hiked the very nice, but too-short Rim Trail along a section of the Mogollon Rim. This is the forested cliff that separates the high Colorado Plateau from the lowlands of southern Arizona. The cliff edge is red rock like so much of the exposed sections of the plateau. The trail has lots of interpretative signs so we learn a little about the Alligator Juniper and the Manzanita groundcover. We also learn that we are hiking within the largest contiguous stand of Ponderosa Pine in the world.

We then drove to the Porter Mountain area and did a section of the Panorama trail. This nice hike through the Ponderosa Pine forest weaves around the many cinder cones that litter this area. We get nice views from the side of one hill. When we make it back to the car, our shoes and socks are thick with red dust. That is the downside of hiking in geologic areas, lots of fine volcanic dust.

In the afternoon we check out some more real estate options before getting Thai for dinner.

July 18, 2020

July 18, 2020

Since we are on vacation with nothing pressing and no house responsibilities, we slept in a bit. After coffee we drove to the nearby Big Springs Nature Area and did a 3 mile hike on Hitching Post loop trail. While this low-density pine forest is mostly uninteresting, it sure beats our umpteenth walk in the neighborhood.

We made a brief stop at a Craft show before getting a Subway lunch. We spent the rest of the day checking out the greater White Mountains golf and real estate scene to determine if we would want to summer here in the future. The heavy crowds make us think half of Arizona is here escaping the heat.

July 17, 2020

July 17, 2020

This has been the longest period of home-bound time for us in many years. I am starting to go stir-crazy especially since the summer heat of Tucson is in full swing and the monsoon humidity is on the rise. I can’t do any more home projects and finally I convinced Aimee we need a Covidcation.

Cooler weather is our goal. Nearby Mt Lemmon is out of the question because of the long series of forest fires in the Santa Catalina Mountains. So we make the beautiful drive northeast toward the White Mountains. Our only stop was the overlook of the Salt River Canyon. It looks so much like the Grand Canyon. It is a slow drive down the steep canyon walls, across the bridge, and back up. As we climbed atop the Colorado plateau, through the Apache Reservation, we got a few raindrops.

After three hours we reached the Pinetop-Lakeside area. We are in a Pine forest at almost 7000 foot elevation with the temperature in the low 70’s. Ahh, Heaven. Checked into our cabin, we had a beer on the doorstep and reveled in the fresh air and pine scent.

For our al fresco dinner we walked across the street and had happy hour margaritas followed by a delicious Seafood Enchilada. It is funny how we can slip so easily back into travelling mode.