18 - Sedona
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01 On highway 8 in SD county, headed straight east.JPG |
02 After the mountains of SD and Imperial county the landscape flattens out.JPG |
03 We pass some sand dunes before we see mountains again close to Arizona.JPG |
04 The sand dunes are close to the border, see the dark strip of fence in the background.JPG |
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05 Highway I-17 is a pretty drive and the scenery resembles that in middle Baja, Mexico somewhat.JPG |
06 The snowy peak is close to Flagstaff, north of Sedona.JPG |
07 Almost there, our first view of the Red Rock area surrounding Sedona.JPG |
08 From the Ranger Station close to Sedona we overlook the Courthouse Butte at sunset.JPG |
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09 Courthouse Butte.JPG |
10 Courthouse Butte closer up.JPG |
11 Mark at the Southwest Inn in Sedona.JPG |
12 Our fire place .JPG |
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13 On Monday we get up early and hike Wilson Mountain trail.jpg |
14 The trail starts at Midgley Bridge.JPG |
15 The sun has just come up at 7.30 and it is chilly with patches of icy snow along the trail.JPG |
16 The trail leads steadily up.JPG |
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17 We are bundled up with gloves and hats.JPG |
18 Snow on the north face of the Red Rocks.JPG |
19 That mesa in the distance is where we are headed.JPG |
20 We have already gained quite a few meters.JPG |
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21 Rock face.JPG |
22 Beautiful formations.JPG |
23 Bundled up gnome Talitha.JPG |
24 Red Rocks.JPG |
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25 Look through.JPG |
26 Still climbing.JPG |
27 Look through.JPG |
28 Awesome views.JPG |
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29 More views.JPG |
30 A deer crashes through the undergrowth.JPG |
31 Mark checks our progress on his Garmin, time, distance and elevation gain.JPG |
32 View into canyon from first bench of Wilson Mountain trail.JPG |
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33 Talitha moving on from the first bench, the snow pack will be a foot deep as we ascend more.JPG |
34 At the top we have a quick look around, but the wind is fierce.JPG |
35 View south from the top of the mountain.JPG |
36 Mmmmm mountain top lunch.JPG |
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37 View going down.JPG |
38 Talitha.JPG |
39 Mark near the end of the trail.JPG |
40 After a warming up session with hot chocolate we visit Montezuma Castle, a 1000 year old pueblo built by the Sinagua tribe.JPG |
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41 The Sinagua, in contrast to what their name suggests, did have water, from Oak Creek.JPG |
42 We take a detour to visit the Tuzigoot pueblo.JPG |
43 View from the pueblo.JPG |
44 Reconstructed room at Tuzigoot.JPG |
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45 Tuesday we drive up to the petrified forrest.JPG |
46 This is a giant fossil tree, looks like it is still made of wood, not stone.JPG |
47 The trees are often broken because of the shifting sands that support them.JPG |
48 Talitha reading interpretation, to the right a tree called old faithful, it was hit by lightning after it fossilized.JPG |
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49 A knot in the tree is still visible, most trees came here as driftwood and very few branches or pine cones are fossilized.JPG |
50 Heaps and heaps of fossils, despite the many tourists that come and steal chunks.JPG |
51 Big chunks of tree.JPG |
52 Another pueblo, also a 1000 years old, partially restored and made of the fossilized trees.JPG |
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53 Painted hills.JPG |
54 Male horned lark.jpg |
55 Ravens are common in the park.JPG |
56 A good sized specimen of tree.JPG |
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57 Cross section.JPG |
58 Detail of the christals in the previous cross section.JPG |
59 More painted hills.JPG |
60 Petroglyphs.JPG |
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61 Petroglyph of the folk tale of a stork bringing a baby?.JPG
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