Adventures from Arizona to Alberta
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Flagstaff
It was time. Two and a half years had passed since we traveled to our home away from home in the Canadian Rockies. With Covid running rampant and borders closed, everyone lived in isolation. Traveling was a risk, not an entitlement. So Dave and I (along with millions of others) buckled down and made the most of it. However, when the border opened last fall, there was no question about where we would spend our next summer.
We were looking for gold in a mountain town. When you live on the valley floor, it’s often difficult to gauge the right time to see fall colors. Sure, you can watch the predictions on the local news, but unless you live up north, it’s best to take a chance and go.
Stands of Aspen. Nirvana—especially for desert dwellers. However, the moment is fleeting—so make sure you plan well. Usually, Dave and I would have had our fill of fall in Alberta. Alas, —2020, has changed so many things. Thankfully, the beauty of fall is attainable only two hours from home.
The Wupatki National Monument is located about 18 miles from Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument. Although we were never far from the highway, the landscape became vast and vacant, and somewhat empty feeling. We could see Vermilion Cliffs and the expansive painted desert before us.
We must have passed the entrance to this place dozens of times on our way to somewhere else. It’s crazy that in all of the years we’ve spent in Arizona, there are so many sights we haven’t seen. Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument was one of those destinations.
Sometimes the best way to accomplish a goal is not to define it. Just enjoy the process.
Towering at 10,425 ft, Kendrick Peak, a dome volcano, is one of the highest in the San Francisco Volcanic Field. The Kendrick Peak Trail #22 was about 9 miles roundtrip, with a 2,700 ft elevation gain.
Just minutes southeast of Flagstaff lies a lovely little trail that shows a different take on Walnut Canyon. Petrified sand dunes, canyon gorges, and caves—what a combination.
