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Chilling Out in Flagstaff, AZ
  • DeanandLindasTravels
  • DeanandLindasTravels

Chilling Out in Flagstaff, AZ

This summer we decided to become Sunbirds, people escape the heat of the Phoenix Valley by going North. Read more
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  • Trip start
    May 19, 2019
    DeanandLindasTravelsChilling Out in Flagstaff, AZTraveler
    San Francisco Peaks

    Cool Flagstaff

    May 19, 2019 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 46 °F

    We are spending the summer in cool Flagstaff Arizona. With an altitude of over 7000 ft. it is a very nice summer escape from the heat of the Phoenix valley. The San Francisco Peaks are even higher, and have snow on them all year. It is a beautiful backdrop for photos.Read more

  • DeanandLindasTravelsChilling Out in Flagstaff, AZTraveler
    The Lost Dutchman
    Red Barrel CactusPaper CactusMexican Fencepost cactusTotem Pole CactusSaguaro fruit (red) that come in June after the flowers have bloomed.

    Warming up in Apache Junction!

    May 24, 2019 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 79 °F

    It was chilly this week, with high temps only in the 50s, and it snowed several times. We decided to spend our 4-day weekend back in Apache Junction to warm up. This May has been unusually mild for the Phoenix valley. The temperature has only reached 100 twice! It was great to use the pool and spa over the weekend. We are so glad that our Summer “Home” is only 2 ½ hours from our Winter Home this year. We saw some cactus flowers that we don't normally get to see, as we are never there this late in the season.Read more

  • DeanandLindasTravelsChilling Out in Flagstaff, AZTraveler

    Volunteering for the National Forest

    May 28, 2019 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 54 °F

    Our friend Bruce has a 5th Wheel RV he wasn’t using, so we are living in it over the summer and doing needed repairs in exchange. We are volunteering for the US Forest Service in exchange for free camping. We work four half-days per week; Dean is in the shop making signs and doing repairs, and I am at the front desk interacting with visitors and helping wherever I can. There is so much to know about Coconino National Forest, that I probably won’t be able to answer all the questions by the end of the summer!

    Here we are in Camp Elden, an area behind the Ranger Station, set aside for work-campers like us. Our location is perfect: on the edge of Flagstaff across Route 66 from a shopping center, yet set away from the highway so it is not noisy. Our summer home is on the left. It is very comfortable!    Read more

  • DeanandLindasTravelsChilling Out in Flagstaff, AZTraveler
    1

    Hiking in the Coconino National Forest

    May 31, 2019 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 68 °F

    I am learning about the National Forest so I can give good information to our visitors. Our campground is very close to Mount Elden, which has a fire lookout on top. I found the way to the nearest trail at the base of Mount Elden, which took me a while the first two tries. Now I can make it in about 7-8 minutes, and then hike one direction or the other to explore. The base of the mountain has lots of huge boulders along the trail.Read more

  • DeanandLindasTravelsChilling Out in Flagstaff, AZTraveler
    Dean and Earl Grilling
    Just some of the volunteers' cars along the road.Safety Talk before work beganThe Arizona Trail stretches from Mexico to Utah, 800+ milesMom and Son volunteeringLunch time

    National Trails Day

    June 1, 2019 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 59 °F

    Today we helped with National Trails Day. Volunteers came to help clear one of the trails. It was heartwarming to see about 100 people giving their time and energy to this project. Some came with organizations like hiking groups, mountain bikers, and businesses such as REI, while others came on their own.

    I helped register people, and after they finished their work, we served them lunch.    Read more

  • DeanandLindasTravelsChilling Out in Flagstaff, AZTraveler
    The San Francisco Mountains
    O'Leary Fire Lookout TowerWork Area-Pam showed me how to locate where smoke is coming fromPam at work

    O'Leary Lookout

    June 13, 2019 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 73 °F

    Dean and Earl, his co-volunteer in the shop, had to make a trip to O'Leary Lookout for a job, and I got to go along for the view of the San Francisco Mountains. They are volcanic in origin as you can tell by their shape. The highest is Humphrey's Peak, at 12,633 feet.

    The Lookout Tower is 8916 feet in elevation. I met Pam, the operator of the station, and saw how she lives and works. It is beautiful up there, but one has to be able to enjoy alone time!    Read more

  • DeanandLindasTravelsChilling Out in Flagstaff, AZTraveler
    Sunset Crater and Lava Flows
    The road at the top of O'Leary Peak

    Views From O'Leary Lookout

    June 13, 2019 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 73 °F

    Here is a wonderful view of Sunset Crater, which erupted in 1085 CE. The lava looks like it flowed just a few years ago!

    And here are views of the road up to the lookout tower. It is 4.9 miles to the top, and a lot of people hike up. The road is not open to vehicles, just forest service trucks.Read more

  • DeanandLindasTravelsChilling Out in Flagstaff, AZTraveler

    Cinder Lakes Crater Field

    June 21, 2019 in the United States ⋅ 🌙 66 °F

    This evening we went to a Ranger Talk about the Cinder Lakes Crater Field, a training area for the Apollo astronauts before they went to the moon for real. This year is the 50th anniversary of the first moon landing, and Flagstaff is celebrating its Lunar Legacy. In 1967 a replica of the lunar surface was created here because of the type of soil leftover from Sunset Crater's eruption. To create craters that the astronauts could practice on, explosives were used.

    This picture shows a display of these activities in our Ranger Station.    Read more

  • DeanandLindasTravelsChilling Out in Flagstaff, AZTraveler
    4

    Hiking Fat Man's Loop

    July 8, 2019 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 72 °F

    Here is another nice hike that is nearby. It is called Fat Man's Loop because some people might have to squeeze through the rock formations.

  • DeanandLindasTravelsChilling Out in Flagstaff, AZTraveler
    Humphreys Peak in the background
    View of Kendrick Peak. It doesn't look like it, from here but its elevation is 10, 423 ft.

    Summer Views at Arizona Snowbowl

    July 13, 2019 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 70 °F

    Today we rode the chairlift at AZ Snowbowl. We wore our uniforms so we could get a free ride--Forest Service people are welcome so we can become familiar with the area. The more we know, the better we are at helping people with information.

    The ride is 30 minutes each way, and goes to 9,500 ft elevation and all the ski runs are black diamond up there. A flower, the San Francisco Groundsel, grows above the treeline, and nowhere else on earth. It won't be blooming for another 2 weeks.

    The view is wonderful-we could see the rims of the Grand Canyon 60 miles away.    Read more

  • DeanandLindasTravelsChilling Out in Flagstaff, AZTraveler

    Picture Canyon

    July 14, 2019 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 79 °F

    The city of Flagstaff maintains this area of natural and cultural beauty. The Rio de Flag runs through the landscape and a short canyon. The “pictures” are pictographs pecked into the rocks by the Sinagua people between 700-1300 AD. A Sinagua pit house is also on the rim of the canyon. When it was used, it would have had a thatched roof of grasses.Read more

  • DeanandLindasTravelsChilling Out in Flagstaff, AZTraveler
    Jacob Lake

    Jacob Lake, AZ

    July 19, 2019 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 79 °F

    We wanted to see the North Rim of the Grand Canyon, but it is 4 1/2 hours from Flagstaff--too far to go there and back in one day. So we stayed for a night at Jacob Lake Inn, 45 minutes from the North Rim. The resort was built in the early 1900s and definitely has a rustic feel. On the left is our duplex cabin, which has add-on showers. The Inn also has a motel and a dining room with good burgers.

    The Inn was moved away from Jacob Lake because it was downhill from the road, and the Innkeepers noticed people wouldn't drive down the hill for fear of not being able to drive back up. The lake was named after Jacob Hamblin (a Mormon). There is also a historic ranger station at the lake.    Read more

  • DeanandLindasTravelsChilling Out in Flagstaff, AZTraveler
    Beautiful view from the lounge!No crowds on the terrace!This would be a great cabin to stay in!

    Grand Canyon Lodge

    July 19, 2019 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 79 °F

    The Grand Canyon Lodge is right on the North Rim. There are also cabins and a campground. Due to the smaller crowds, it is so much more relaxing than the South Rim. The North Rim only receives 10% of the visitors that the South Rim has.Read more

  • DeanandLindasTravelsChilling Out in Flagstaff, AZTraveler
    Angel's Window, framing part of the Colorado River
    Wotans ThroneVishnu TempleThe San Francisco Peaks by Flagstaff, 60 miles away

    Cape Royal

    July 19, 2019 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 79 °F

    The winding, narrow road to Cape Royal is about 15 miles from the Lodge, but seems longer. This is the Southern-most viewpoint on the North Rim. The trail passes by Angel's Window, one of the most famous formations in the Grand Canyon. You can see the Colorado River through the window, from some vantage points.

    The North Rim is 1000 ft higher than the South Rim, and because of that, it gets more rain and snow. Consequently, more erosion occurs, which over the centuries has created more side canyons and "islands" off the edge of the canyon walls.    Read more

  • DeanandLindasTravelsChilling Out in Flagstaff, AZTraveler
    This road leads to a former "town" that was a set for Westerns.

    Grand Staircase-Escalante

    July 20, 2019 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 81 °F

    This National Monument in southern Utah is composed of "steps" of varied rock in different colors. From a distance, you can see the steps. Up close you only get to see one or two steps. The national monument is hard to access, on dirt roads and hiking trails.

    At the visitor center was a wonderful display on the various dinosaurs of this area, many of which we'd never heard of. What elaborate head frills some of them had!    Read more

  • DeanandLindasTravelsChilling Out in Flagstaff, AZTraveler
    The San Francisco Peaks with rain coming
    The Peak was once 16,000 ft + highShultz TankRogers LakeA Forest Service RoadA better Forest Service Road

    Coconino National Forest Views

    August 2, 2019 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 73 °F

    Driving around the forest, we always see views of the San Francisco Peaks. This is a view when rain was falling nearby. It really shows the layers of the mountain range. The peaks were once a single volcanic mountain that was over 16,000 ft in elevation. It imploded like Mount St Helens did, leaving an inner crater surrounded by several peaks.

    There are several "tanks" in the forest, made by ranchers for their cattle to drink from. They are great for wildlife too. We often see "intermittent" lakes around the forest as well. During the dry season they become meadows.

    Some of the forest roads are not good for passenger cars. As volunteers, we can sometimes use a truck to explore the forest.    Read more

  • DeanandLindasTravelsChilling Out in Flagstaff, AZTraveler
    View from the North end of Sycamore Canyon, looking toward Sedona
    One of the Sycamore FallsAnother Sycamore Falls

    Sycamore Canyon Wilderness

    August 3, 2019 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 81 °F

    Sycamore Canyon Wilderness is Southeast of Williams. The only way to go into the canyon is by hiking/backpacking, but we were able to drive on forest roads to several rim viewpoints. At one point along the rim is a dry waterfall, which flows during snowmelt and after the monsoon rains. During the dry times, people like to rock-climb here.Read more

  • DeanandLindasTravelsChilling Out in Flagstaff, AZTraveler
    Painted Desert, from top of Doney MountainRuins of ancient building in middle of picture.

    Doney Mountain Hike

    August 8, 2019 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 81 °F

    Benjamin Doney was a pioneer, gold prospector, rancher, and in 1904 was the acting mayor of Flagstaff. This mountain (actually four cinder cones), was named after him because he prospected here. From the top, one can see great views of the San Francisco Peaks to the southwest, and the Painted Desert to the northwest.

    There are also remnants of Sinagua shelters made of lava rocks, used to hold their agricultural tools between uses. Hard to believe they could grow crops so far from water sources!    Read more

  • DeanandLindasTravelsChilling Out in Flagstaff, AZTraveler

    Kachina Trail in the Wilderness

    August 9, 2019 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 63 °F

    Kachina Trail traverses along the flank of Agassiz peak, the one where we had ridden the chairlift to the top a few weeks ago. This trail is in the Kachina Peaks Wilderness area, so there is no sound of motors and it's very peaceful.

    In addition to the Ponderosa pines, there are lots of aspen groves, as well as meadows of waist-high ferns and wildflowers.

    Along the trail are huge boulders that the trees are trying to push through or around!    Read more

  • DeanandLindasTravelsChilling Out in Flagstaff, AZTraveler
    View from the rim of Walnut Canyon
    Starting down Sandy's CanyonThe floor of Walnut Canyon

    Sandy's Canyon Hike

    August 11, 2019 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 77 °F

    This hike has beautiful scenery and is only about 5 1/2 miles from Flagstaff. It starts out along the rim of Walnut Canyon, then shortly drops down Sandy's Canyon, the trail to the bottom of Walnut Canyon. It was pretty easy going down, but I wondered how long it would be to the bottom, knowing I'd have to climb back up at the end of the hike.

    At the bottom of the canyon, it is so pretty with a trail down the middle between rock walls lined with trees and meadows. At the end of the trail it connects to the Arizona Trail, an 800+ mile trail that traverses the whole state from North to South. At the junction of the two trails was some amazing scenery, somewhat like the colors and texture of the Grand Canyon. Then I had to hike back out, but the uphill climb was only 8 minutes, so not bad.    Read more

  • DeanandLindasTravelsChilling Out in Flagstaff, AZTraveler
    No living room, just a table, chairs, and bench for dining or playing gamesStairway to the loft, which has 4 twin-beds.Dean and Earl, with finished project

    Fernow Cabin: A Room With a View

    August 22, 2019 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 75 °F

    Rooms With a View is a National Forest program in which they rent out restored historic (often rustic) cabins. Dean and his co-worker, Earl, were building a storage shed for firewood at this one, and I was able to go along to explore the area. This used to be a guard station where fire crews would stay during the fire season. It sleeps 8 people, perfect for a family reunion! There is running water, which is pumped from a tank up on the hill. Propane is used for the refrigerator, stove, lighting, and water-heating. The cabin is tucked into a scenic draw. Although it is only 22 miles from Flagstaff, it takes about an hour to get there due to the gravel forest service roads.Read more

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