Inner Basin & Weatherford

A visited this weekend, so we did a shuttle hike--up Inner Basin Trail (#29) and down the Weatherford (#102).  I didn't take one photograph, but I have plans to do Inner Basin again, that trail was beautiful.

We got kind of a late start.  We drove up the primitive road to Lockett Meadow and to the campground.  I had never experienced the north-eastern slopes of the San Francisco Peaks--they're beautiful.  Hiking with A is always a treat--striking up conversations about the vegetation and animal life.

After a steady--but not too steep--climb uphill, you end up in an aspen forest.  Our timing was perfect--it was a shimmering fairy land of quaking aspen and filtered sunlight.  Just stunning.  From there you head up into the Inner Basin.

There were lots of wildflowers--lupine and geranium and penstemon.  After the last steep section we arrived at the Weatherford.  Just in time for a monsoon to blow in.  After A convinced me we were safe (or at least safer than the people who continued up to summit Humphreys) we continued on.  A didn't have any rain gear, so he was freezing.

The Weatherford was beautiful--through Weatherford Canyon.  I had faint memories of reading that the  Weatherford is an old road that took Model T Fords to the summit (or close to) of Humphreys.

All in all, it was a fantastic trip, and I can't wait to go back early October to try to see some fall color!

Elden Lookout Trail

These are from Elden Lookout Trail #4.

Kachina Trail

Saturday I went to Kachina Trail #150.  It was beautiful!

There were lupine everywhere!

So much growth!

Devil's Bridge, Sedona

On Saturday, I drove down to Sedona not really knowing where I was headed.  Oak Creek Canyon was gorgeous, the greens were spectacular!

Oh a whim, I turned off on a sign for Vultee Arch, because I had been there several years ago with some Teach For America buddies.

I decided to walk down the road, and the lighting was really neat because of all the rainclouds blowing in.

 On another whim, I turned at the sign that said Devil's Bridge.  There, a sign said Devil's Bridge was .7 miles away.  Not knowing what Devil's Bridge was, I decided I'd check it out because it was so close.

And it was so cool!

 I definitely want to go back and have someone take my picture on the bridge.

Instead, this is all you get.

 The arch looked cool from all angles.

Spring blossoms!

Then I checkout the public library.  Can't pass up an opportunity to check out another town's library!

 Between the stone work, and the beams, and the windows, and the lighting fixtures, and the fireplace, and the outdoor reading patio…I loved it!

They even had cool atriums!

I thought I'd try to stay in Sedona and catch Grand Budapest Hotel, so I hung around Talaquepacque (I'll have to look up the spelling later).