There is a group at our church that does a regular monthly hike once the weather starts to cool down. That's a relative term, of course. "Cool" doesn't mean the same thing here as it does in most other places. Let's just say, they start to hike again once the temps hover only in the low triple-digits. Usually, though, early in the season they choose hiking locales with a little elevation, so that helps bring the average highs down in to a more reasonable range: mid 80s, or so.
Two weekends ago we went with them for the first time. They were hiking the Soldiers Pass trail in the Coconino National Forest in Sedona. For all its kooky, new age, centeredness, Sedona is one of my favorite places. I'll never forget the first time I laid eyes on the red rocks back in 2003. I can honestly say it took my breath away.
Living there would be another ball of wax, of course. I think every tourist in the Valley eventually converges on Sedona, so traffic is horrible and the roads inadequate. Also, I no longer know all the words to Kumbaya! But beyond that, it's an easy drive from Scottsdale and offers a nice reprieve from city life once you get your Red Rock Pass and hit the trail.
We ate lunch perched in one of three arches offering pretty expansive views of the trail below us and the amazing rock formations all around. As one of our fellow hikers reminded us: The art of God. A truly spectacular creation.
With love from The Valley of the Sun.
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