Well, we arrived at Flagstaff Arizona on 25 April 2023 after a few days with no reservations and basically being nomads. We both enjoyed that, so we will likely plan more nights with no reservations in the future. We stayed at Woody Mountain Campground in Flagstaff to be in the vicinity of the Grand Canyon (south rim). We were about 65 miles from it. We saw the Grand Canyon on three different days while we were there. The first day was to see it and get an idea about hiking trails. The buses at the Grand Canyon are really great. We got a peek at Hermit's Rest on our bus tour and that day we walked about 2.5 miles of the South Rim.. It was a pleasant walk with breathtaking views along the way. The pictures in this post simply do not capture the beauty we saw. If you've never been, it's a must for your bucket list as one of the seven natural wonders of the world.
Grand Canyon
While we were there that first time, we decided we should come back one day to see a sunrise and another day to see the sunset. We were busy site seeing every day in Flagstaff, and we had to wake up at 3am (mountain time) to get to the Grand Canyon for sunrise. So after a full day site seeing, the next day we woke up at 3am, were in place to see the sunrise at 5:30am (with about 200 other people) at Mather Point. We decided while we were there to do a day hike down towards the Colorado River. We chose the Bright Angel hike down. Before we left we thought about doing 3miles down, which meant 3 miles up totaling 6 miles. Actually on the hike, we decided at the 1.5 mile mark to head back up after a brief rest. We definitely felt our age with going back up. It was a 10% grade. Steve's knees bothered him going down, and Anita had a hard time breathing going up. The altitude in that area is over 6,000 feet and with the 3am wake up, we were excited to make it back up! The picture below is us very close to the end of the trek up. That day (3 May 2023) prescribed burns were happening around the canyon, so our attempt to see the canyon from the Desert View drive was thwarted by too much smoke. We couldn't see anything.
On our way down the canyon on Bright Angel Trail
We had to step aside for mule train going down with supplies
Mules know the drill...
Trail isn't very wide
Switchbacks
Almost back up on Bright Angel Trail May 2023
We did the Desert View drive on our third trip to the Grand Canyon to see sunset. Arizona State Route 64, also known as Desert View Drive, is a 23 mile scenic road that connects Desert View with Grand Canyon Village. That put us entering the park at the East entrance. We had gotten a late start that day and just taking our time to get there, we got onto the Kaibab trail close to 6pm. We thought we'd do the 0.25 mile hike to "Ooh Aah" point and hike back to watch the sunset. The hike to "Ooh Aah" point turned out to be 0.9 mile, so we caught the sunset on our way back up. Not sure what the grade was on that trail, but again it was hard to breathe on the way up. We got a picture of the sunset, but again it doesn't do it justice.
Scenic Overlook on Desert View drive - Colorado River down below
Kaibab Trail Grand Canyon
.9 miles down Kaibab Trail
Sun starting to set on Kaibab Trail
Sunset from Kaibab Trail at Grand Canyon May 2023
On 30 April, we attended the Verde Valley Birding and Nature Festival at Cottonwood, AZ. We were with a professional birder and saw 65 species of birds by the Verde River. About 15 were new life bird species for Steve. After the birding event we went to Dead Horse State Park and watched some more new birds at the feeders and where RV camping is allowed. Yet again, we enjoyed the scenic drive to get there early at sunrise was fabulous. It was the last day of the festival, but we got registered at Cottonwood State Park and joined the group at a local HOA clubhouse.
Above is a beautiful Lazuli bunting seen at the feeders of Dead Horse State Park.
Our campground was on Historic Rt 66, so we had to have dinner one night at a Rt 66 diner. We chose Galaxy Diner after a recommendation from the campground office. We were not disappointed. The atmosphere was friendly and like stepping back in time.
Monster cold sore didn't stop our fun....
We had heard that we should see Walnut Canyon National Monument and Sunset Crater Volcano while in Flagstaff. We went to both of those one day while we were there. Wikipedia gives the following description: Walnut Canyon National Monument (Hopi: Wupatupqa) is a United States National Monument located about 10 mi southeast of downtown Flagstaff. The canyon rim elevation is 6,690 ft the canyon's floor is 350 ft lower. A 0.9 mi long loop trail descends 185 ft into the canyon passing 25 cliff dwelling rooms constructed by the Sinagua, a pre-Columbian cultural group that lived in Walnut Canyon from about 1100 to 1250 AD. Sinagua is Spanish for "without water", an acknowledgement that the Sinagua people were able to live in such a dry region. By living in such a region the Sinagua became experts at conserving water and dealing with droughts. The Sinagua were also believed to have been active traders whose activities and influence stretched to the Gulf of Mexico and even as far as Central America. The Sinagua, who inhabited the dwellings in Walnut Canyon, left mysteriously around 1250 AD. It is thought that the Sinagua left because of fear of neighboring tribes or droughts, but it is not certain. The Sinagua left over 80 cliff dwellings behind. The Sinagua built their homes under limestone ledges, deep within the canyon, some time between 1125 and 1250 – taking advantage of the natural recesses in the limestone cliff walls which were eroded over millions of years by flowing water. The dwellings themselves were small, but large enough for the inhabitants to cook and sleep. Most of the cliff dwelling rooms are situated near the loop trail, typically slightly above the trail and immediately outside the loop itself. A typical room might have been the dwelling of a single family, and might measure approximately two meters high by six meters long by three meters deep. Because of the area's dry climate, the water present in the canyon was essential for its inhabitants over 700 years ago as it is for animal and plant life today. The plant life is very diverse in Walnut Canyon, with more than 387 different plant species, including the Prickly Pear cactus and the Arizona Black Walnut. The biodiversity of the area includes high concentrations of sensitive plant species that probably contributed to the decision made by prehistoric people to settle in the area.
Sinagua dwelling along trail at Walnut Canyon
Sunset Crater's website says: The lava flow lies on the land like a dream, a wonderland of rock. A thousand years ago the ground was torn open and lava erupted into the sky, forever changing the landscape and the lives of the people who lived here. A thousand years later, trees and flowers grow among the rocks, and people visit the lava flow to see and remember the most recent volcanic eruption in Arizona.
Steve and Anita saw just black rock all around. It's amazing that the area is preserved and we're glad we saw it, but it wasn't a favorite. During the summer of 2022 two forest fires burnt through this area.
While in Flagstaff, we visited Sedona! Sedona is beautiful! We enjoyed walking around the town and had learned at the visitor center about Chapel of the Holy Cross, which we drove to. It was beautiful! We had taken the scenic drive on 89A to get there, so just getting there was awesome!
Holy Cross Chapel Sedona AZ
We visited the Lowell Observatory one afternoon/evening. Anita learned quite a bit about telescopes and astronomy. Steve enjoyed the history of Lowell as it being where planet Pluto was first discovered. Unfortunately our night visit was too windy to open the wooden roof and usage of the original 24in refractor built in 1896.
Toward the end of our time in Flagstaff, we did a hike at the local Buffalo Park. It was OK. The locals seem to know the park well, but for us, it could have used more information and/or signage on the trails. We still enjoyed the hike and Steve toyed with a bird that was singing for a mate. He found that bird's call on his phone and played it. The bird was looking for the source of that sound! It was pretty funny.
On Cinco de Mayo we stopped in to see Our Lady of Guadaloupe Catholic Chapel on our way to dinner. It happened that we arrived as a liturgy was beginning, so we stayed for the Holy Hour and a rosary. Our Lady of Guadalupe no longer has Sunday masses, but does weddings and special masses on occasion. It is a historic building, having been built in 1926. We didn't have reservations anywhere for dinner, but we wanted Mexican food. We tried a couple of places and finally decided to wait the hour at the third restaurant, Agave. We actually only waited about 20 minutes and it was well worth the wait.
We attended mass at San Franciso de Asis on our first Sunday in Flagstaff, and on our second Sunday we went to mass Holy Trinity Catholic Church held inside the Newman Center at NAU (Northern Arizona University). Mass at NAU reminded Steve of going to mass when he was in college. It was Anita's first time at a mass in a college building and it was really nice. It was packed, mostly with students! It was very encouraging to see so many young people into their faith.
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