Chilling Out in Flagstaff, AZ

May - September 2019

This summer we decided to become Sunbirds, people escape the heat of the Phoenix Valley by going North. Read more

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Traveler Chilling Out in Flagstaff, AZ
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- May 19, 2019, 12:44pm
- ⛅ 46 °F
- Altitude: 6,926 ft
- United States Arizona Coconino County Arrowhead Village Mobile Home Park Riordan Mansion State Historic Park 35.1872, -111.659635°11’14” N 111°39’35” W
Day 1
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
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Traveler Chilling Out in Flagstaff, AZ
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- May 24, 2019, 12:44pm
- ☀️ 79 °F
- Altitude: 1,749 ft
- United States Arizona Pinal County Superstition Mobile Village Superstition Park East Number Two 33.418956, -111.5387533°25’8” N 111°32’19” W
Day 6
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
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Traveler Chilling Out in Flagstaff, AZ
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- May 28, 2019, 12:44pm
- ⛅ 54 °F
- Altitude: 6,916 ft
- United States Arizona Coconino County Colony Mobile Estates 35.230398, -111.57902435°13’49” N 111°34’44” W
Day 10
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
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Traveler Chilling Out in Flagstaff, AZ
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- May 31, 2019, 1:57pm
- ☀️ 68 °F
- Altitude: 6,926 ft
- United States Arizona Coconino County Arrowhead Village Mobile Home Park Riordan Mansion State Historic Park 35.1872, -111.659635°11’14” N 111°39’35” W
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Day 13
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
Looks like a fabulous place for hiking! So glad to hear from you! Hope summer is going well. Sherri C
6/11/19Reply
Yes, we’re having a good experience here. Thanks for visiting our blog—it will be pretty low-key compared with last summer! Linda
6/11/19Reply
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Traveler Chilling Out in Flagstaff, AZ
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- Jun 1, 2019, 9:00am
- ☀️ 59 °F
- Altitude: 7,090 ft
- United States Arizona Coconino County Silver Saddle Mobile Home Park Little Elden Spring 35.277219, -111.57445635°16’38” N 111°34’28” W
Day 14
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
Very Nice
6/11/19Reply
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Traveler Chilling Out in Flagstaff, AZ
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- Jun 13, 2019, 1:15pm
- ☀️ 73 °F
- Altitude: 8,786 ft
- United States Arizona Coconino County O'Leary Peak 35.401007, -111.52802735°24’4” N 111°31’41” W
Day 26
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
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Traveler Chilling Out in Flagstaff, AZ
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- Jun 13, 2019, 2:15pm
- ⛅ 73 °F
- Altitude: 8,786 ft
- United States Arizona Coconino County O'Leary Peak 35.401007, -111.52802735°24’4” N 111°31’41” W
Day 26
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
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Traveler Chilling Out in Flagstaff, AZ
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- Jun 21, 2019, 8:15pm
- 🌙 66 °F
- Altitude: 6,670 ft
- United States Arizona Coconino County Cinder Lake 35.319732, -111.51710335°19’11” N 111°31’2” W
Day 34
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
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Traveler Chilling Out in Flagstaff, AZ
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- Jul 8, 2019, 1:00pm
- ☀️ 72 °F
- Altitude: 6,890 ft
- United States Arizona Coconino County Colony Mobile Estates 35.228997, -111.58048835°13’44” N 111°34’50” W
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Day 51
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.
I don’t think we could do that hike. Tougher than we are up to. Phillip and family have been in Minnesota since the third of July and leave for home on Sunday. Are having a busy summer our calendar is full for the next two months.
7/11/19Reply
Del & Nancy
7/11/19Reply
I would love to do that hike! Such beautiful scenery! Busy with family-Ian’s lacrosse game tonight. Maddie is taking driver’s ed. Have a good summer! SC 👍
7/11/19Reply
Traveler Wish you were here to hike with me, Sherri! LB
7/11/19Reply
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Traveler Chilling Out in Flagstaff, AZ
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- Jul 13, 2019, 12:00pm
- ☀️ 70 °F
- Altitude: 9,377 ft
- United States Arizona Coconino County Alfa Fia Tank 35.330886, -111.710335°19’51” N 111°42’37” W
Day 56
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
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