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Sunset Crater and Sedona, Arizona

When noodling around the internet, the hubster found (or already knew about) Sunset Crater, which is a volcanic ash field between Flagstaff and Monument Valley on the Arizona/Utah border.   While I was in Flagstaff waiting for Paul and the boys to arrive, I noodled around on the internet and found out about the Wupatki Ruins (in a subsequent post).  As luck would have it, both Sunset Crater AND the Wupatki Ruins are on the same loop road off the main highway from Flagstaff to Monument Valley.  SO, on the way back to Flagstaff, guess where we went?

This is a different view of Arizona than what typically comes to mind (the saguaro cactus and desserts):  mountainous, cooler, still dry air, snow even in April, skiing in the San Francisco mountains behind (north of) Flagstaff.  And it is GORGEOUS!

There was a nice trail (thanks to the National Park Service and the cash-strapped Arizona State Park system) to follow–look at all of the black volcanic ash as ground:

There were several downed trees, and we wondered about the spiraling grain/growth pattern.  Before too long there was a sign that explained that trees with spiraling grain sway better in the wind, and so stand a better chance of surviving the windy storms.  Fascinating! Plus the bark makes really cool patterns…again, thinking quilting designs:

And volcanic rock:

And SCREAMING BLUE skies:

The requisite “if it is Sarah taking the pictures, there must be a photo looking through tree branches”–again, fodder for quilting designs:

And more fodder in the gnarly roots and bug-nibbled wood:

It turned out we had a bit of extra time that day.   MANY folks had told us how wonderful Sedona is, and we hadn’t realized it is a short half hour south and smidge west of Flagstaff.  So down we went.  Hmmm…   the surrounding area was gorgeous, and I’ll bet if you went out of town, it would be wonderful (Red Rocks is near there).  But the town itself?  Ick.   Serious tourist schlock and stores and junk wall-to-wall on the main streets.  All four of us took one look, said let’s eat lunch and leave!   At least the drive down was nice:


3 Responses to “Sunset Crater and Sedona, Arizona”

  1. Linda Moran Says:

    Love this area! We go to Sunset Crater and Wupatki at least once a year and I will sit and sketch for at least an hour. Then I take the requisite pics of bark…absolutely amazing stuff! The last time I was there, a Japanese tourist stopped to watch me sketch a portion of a charred tree trunk. He said, “Ah wabi-sabi.” “To which I said, “Exactly!” The art of finding beauty in small damaged things.

    Next time you come I’ll show you the red rocks up close and personal, away from all the crap!

  2. Dorothy Karman Says:

    Great photos. I enjoyed looking at them all. Was that your family in some of them?
    Dorothy in Canberra, Australia.

  3. Maggie Szafranski Says:

    We spent 2 weeks in So. Arizona near Tucson, and it was just desert and cactus and mountains. Nothing as beautiful as your views!