After a brief sojourn at home in D.C of only 12 days, we have taken off again, this time to visit several relatives in the West. We started by an early morning flight on May 15 to Phoenix, where we were to meet up with Sarah and Amber for 3 days of camping. As they could not meet us until 5 pm, and we got there at 10 am, we smartly had reserved a room at a Holiday Inn Express, and we slept. Best $100 we ever spent. Sarah and Amber arrived as planned, and we stuffed everything into the car to set off camping-- very tight packing- fortunately only driving about 2.5 hours:
We arrived at Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument and set up camp , had dinner and went to bed- in the dark- so no photos. It was cold ( in 40s at night) and windy. In fact, if we had one word that would come to mind about our few days it would be- Windy.
Beautiful campsite-- and we were sucessfull in being in a National Monument, with very few people, and so it was very peaceful and quiet.
pancakes for breakfast, coutersy of Sarah and Amber, who brought all of the food -- and a tent for Neal and me!!
Then we went off on an ambitious hike- more ambitious than we thought. We drove to the trail head at 8500 feet and set off to climb up to the ridge at 10,500 feet- then walk along the ridge and back down a differtent canyon. Off we go -
Some extra fun for some of us -
Then we started finding snow on the trail
It wasn't too deep at this point...and there were a few other obstacles to contend with ( I did not give S. permission to take this!)
more snow-
We thought of going back, but decided to trudge on-- and kept up a good attitude:
We did make it to the ridge!
From then on the hiking was much better - level or downhill and almost no snow-none that we could not walk around. We went through beautiful aspen groves -
Some of us got tired and took a rest:
We did finally make it back down- all 2000 feet elevation and 6.8 miles -- tired but happy. Sarah and Amber made a great dinner of Indian Food that night - and Neal opened our wine most professionally ( we remembered almost every needed utensil, but not all...)
After a warmer night- but still windy - we awoke to another beautiful day. We were served a superb breakfast -
We decided to be a little bit less ambitious today- so we explored the Sunset Crater Volcano park, short hikes- etc.
Remeber - Windy-- we decided to go into Flagstaff for lunch, some connectivity, and bridge- and spent the afternoon playing bridge and using the internet in a very toleratnt cafe. Also warm in there! Then, back to campsite, had a great dinner, and off to bed, wondering if it would rain, as predicted, and how hard ( as Deb and Neal's borrowed tent was purported to rain proof in light but not heavy rain!.
Well,it did rain, but lightly- so we stayed dry. We got up pretty early- and it was only drizzlinig, and cool ( about 40), and so we had breakfast and struck camp early -
After some discussion about whether to drive up to the south rim of the Grand Canyon and back -upon getting the weather report at the local visitor center that it was rainy there, we voted for some local siteseeing and then on to Flagstaff again for lunch, and to Phoenix.
We lucked out and it was pretty nice in the morning while we visited the Wapatki National Monument, which was just north of Sunset Crater. Very interesting. This site was inhabited about 1000-1200 AD.
Then it was off to Flagsstaff,where we did have a fabulous lunch at a restruant that Amber knew, and then drove home-- during which time it rained, hailed and snowed -almost all the way to Phoneix. It was even rainy in Phonix off/on. We checked back into the Holiday Inn Express where we luxuriated in showers and real beds and then went off to another great meal at another restruant that Amber knew and then off to bed.
So, as you can see, despite a bit cooler weather than planned, wind,snow- we had a wonderful time camping. We were most grateful to Sarah and Amber for putting together all of the food, and camping gear - all we had had to bring was our sleeping bags and air mattress. We had some adventures together and good times. Sad to leave, but it was time - -so they drove back to Tuscon and we flew off to Idaho--- but that will be the next blog entry. For now- All love and cheers to you. Deb and Neal
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