Hike # 49.5 - Just Short of Sedona - Aqua Fria National Monument - Bloody Basin Road Arizona

Hike #49.5

Date: August 30, 2014 

Location: North of Phoenix (Bloody Basin Rd) AZ

Hikers: Me, Julio, Ricky & Megan 

Directions: 

Take I17 North towards Flagstaff. Exit 259 Bloody Basin Road.  Take a right at the end of the ramp. The trailhead sign will be straight ahead. No Restrooms/No Water. 

Aqua Fria National Monument:  http://www.blm.gov/az/st/en/prog/blm_special_areas/natmon/afria.html

So, being labor day weekend and Julio's bday weekend I thought lets go back to Sedona to finish off my last hike.  My blog says my 50th hike will be the Grand Canyon in September. But I have done is before. So I really should find a new one right?  Megan and Ricky were interested in coming to Sedona and I thought cool.  Let's do it.  We will hike Snoopy and finish off the short hike with a sunset view and photo op.
Picture of Snoopy:
http://www.gatewaytosedona.com/media/k2/items/cache/b8292acafd72142128a3481ac4b0abff_XL.jpg

At 3:00 in the afternoon we loaded up.  Not everyone feeling tip top but what they heck. I was told "We are in the car Mom, let's go".  We did our usual QT stop for a drink and off we went on I17 towards Sedona.

By Anthem we were bumper to bumper driving really slow.  An accident on I17 earlier in the day was still causing delays.  Also, lots of Labor Day traffic was still on the road.  I changed my mind on going several times.  Well, we hit Bumble Bee road which has a story because since Ricky was little he always wanted to stop there.  The next exit was Bloody Basin and the sign said Aqua Fria National Monument.  I decided that would be the site of our hike.  There was no sense in driving in traffic to a place we can go anytime with no traffic.  Off we went.  We immediately hit a dirt road and a parking lot with a trailhead map.  It was 4:00pm and 106 degrees.  Everyone rolled their eyes and I said let's go!

History of Aqua Fria National Monument: This area is 70,900-acres of land.  It is one of the most significant systems of prehistoric sites in the American Southwest.  The land is designated and protected.  It is a result of laval that once flowed from a volcano.  There are archaeological sites within the area.  Pueblo houses and ruins.

We walked to the National Monument sign.  Looked around.  Took a couple of pictures and called it quits!  I had a great weekend celebrating Julio's bday Hiking the pool at Kierland.  Spent a nice day with Megan & Ricky too.  Sedona will happen on a cool day in the Fall.

Best Hiking Partner I have in Life! 

#49.5 is set in the record books.  Check it OFF!!  

Most impressive stats ever! 

The real #50 will happen in a couple weeks and I am so ready.  RIM to Rim in one Day!  Can't wait!

Hike #49 Mormon Mountain Summit Flagstaff AZ

Hike #49

Date: August 16, 2014 

Location: Flagstaff AZ

Hikers: Me & Tina  

Directions: 

Take I17 North towards Flagstaff. Take Lake Mary Road Exit. Exit 339.  This is Forest Highway 3. Take Right at end of Ramp. (There is a Circle K right at the North of the road) Follow Lake Mary Road for 20 miles.  Look for Forest Road 90 on the right. It is a entrance to Camping areas. (the FR90 sign is not well visible)  Follow exactly 3.4 miles. Take a Right into the campground.  Again sign not the best.  It is Daisy Springs Campground/Montezuma Lodge. Park at the entrance of the camping area. Trail head is thru the camp ground at the far end. Follow the Amphitheatre sign.  (do not take the road that branches to the left) and do not take the left into the Amphitheater.  The trailhead sign will be straight ahead. Restrooms/Water for campground only.   

Mormon Mountain:  http://www.fs.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsinternet/!ut/p/c4/04_SB8K8xLLM9MSSzPy8xBz9CP0os3gDfxMDT8MwRydLA1cj72BTJw8jAwjQL8h2VAQAzHJMsQ!!/?ss=110304&ttype=recarea&recid=55016&actid=24&navtype=BROWSEBYSUBJECT&position=BROWSEBYSUBJECT&navid=110000000000000&pnavid=null&cid=FSE_003741&pname=Flagstaff+RD+-+Mormon+Mountain+Trail+%2358

This is part two of our hikes today.  We had a great time at FatMan's pass.  This hike was in the book that Patti gave me called Hiking Guide 52 of Arizona's Best Day Hikes for Winter, Spring, Summer, and Fall.  I have actually hiked several of the trails in the book not even realizing.

We started out frustrated because the trailhead is not well marked.  Another couple was also trying to figure out where to go.  Tina ran back to the car and grabbed the book to see if that helped.  It didn't help but we figured it out and my directions at the top reflect the right way.

All Signed in

Back on Arizona Trail

This hike is 6 miles.  It talked about hiking in the trees. Being a little boring. A few meadows.  Moderate hike.  Well....it was boring in the woods. Limited view and basically straight up hill for 3 miles with only one switch back.  Let's just say not one of our favorites.  But I will still be pleasant as I share our adventure.  

The trail (once we found it) is very well marked.  A quick zip through the gate and we were on our way. 

My camera is still set on that weird setting.  Maybe the ghosts got to it?  This shot was our only scenic view.  You can see the lake and the marsh through the trees.  

 We followed behind the young couple for a while.  The young guy dropped his shirt and did not know it.  Tina picked it up and then we passed them and continued up the mountain.

 This hike was all up hill. We kept thinking that it would end but it didn't.  We complained the whole time. LOL.

Elk Hoof Markings

We hit the corniferous area that was not what the book described.  Boring!  But the clouds came and it was actually pretty cool.  It felt like it was almost night time but it was only 11:00 a.m.  The trail finally flattened out but it was difficult to understand where the summit and the views could be. 

We finally hit a slight downward part of the trail and BANG. It was over!  At 3 miles up here ya go.
We pulled out the book and read how to scramble to the summit.  Again not the best description.

We headed up a path that was not obvious and hit a dirt road.  We figured one way or the other would have a summit but we were not impressed. We turned around and decided to head back.  We saw the young couple taking pictures of butterflies.  They were looking for the summit too and basically were rolling their eyes like us.

 We commented on how the trail going down would be better than up.  It looked different going the other direction.  You could get lost in a couple places if you were not careful.  We discussed our clothing and food choices for the Grand Canyon.  We checked the GPS a couple times to make sure we were on the same path.  I figured out which dot to follow.  (inside Joke)

 In the end we hiked 6.2 miles and it took us 2 hours and 20 minutes.  We really did not stop much.

Wasn't the best hike but Hey, is was a new one!

I thought this would be my last new before the Grand Canyon  but Tina said "The Grand Canyon is not new for you". Really...did she have to say that.  So even though I said that would be #50 I may have to find one more new before the Grand Finale!

Hike #49 - CHECK IT OFF! 

Good Bye Cool Temps

Hike #48 FatMan Pass Loop Flagstaff AZ

Hike #48

Date: August 16, 2014 

Location: Flagstaff AZ

Hikers: Me & Tina  

Directions:  

Take I17 North towards Flagstaff. Then 40 East to Exit 201 (Page/Grand Canyon) Turn left off the exit.  Drive over a bridge and take the first right onto Highway 89.  Drive .5 miles to Mt Elden parking lot.  Do not go into the Ranger Station.  The parking lot is after that.  No Restrooms/ No Water 

FatMan Pass:http://www.aztrailheads.com/p-69-fatmans-loop-trail-25-elden-mountain.aspx

Mountain Elden: http://www.fs.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsinternet/!ut/p/c4/04_SB8K8xLLM9MSSzPy8xBz9CP0os3gDfxMDT8MwRydLA1cj72BTJw8jAwjQL8h2VAQAzHJMsQ!!/?ss=110304&ttype=recarea&recid=55140&actid=50&navtype=BROWSEBYSUBJECT&position=BROWSEBYSUBJECT&navid=110400000000000&pnavid=110000000000000&cid=null&pname=Flagstaff+RD+-+Elden+Lookout+Trail+%234

Today we are heading to Flagstaff for two reasons.  Get out of the heat and get two hikes done.  I really want to get the 50 completed before the Grand Canyon hike.  Matt is sick, Jim is busy so Tina and I hit the road at 5:30 a.m.  Stopped at QT and were at the Trailhead by 7:30 a.m. Sleeping in is over rated.    
This is part one of a two parter.  

Our starting temperature was really tough to handle.  

One of Ricky's friends Mom told me about this trail one day when we saw each other at Target.  She said it was a fun trail.  This trail is not to be confused with Fatman's Pass at South Mountain in Phoenix.

The parking lot was fairly large but we were early so got a good spot. The trailhead is right at the parking lot.  Mount Elden offers a lot of variety in hiking.  After reading up on this location it would be a great place to come back and do other trails.   

We signed in.  There were already several people on the trail. Not too busy but people are up!

The trail is very well marked. The hike is a 2.5 mile loop.  There is a short hike to get to the actual start of the loop.  We decided to do the loop clockwise.  The path was not rocky and exactly the kind of terrain that we like! 

The views of Mount Elden are pretty. It is so clear you can see the lookout tower from below. 

My camera is possessed and looks like I took this in 1969. 

The trail is very well marked.  The loop starts and off we head to the left.  It is a good climb.  It is a moderate hike. Our hearts are pumping thanks to the elevation change for us desert rats.  There are really cool twisted trees and large boulders that we maneuver around.

There were a lot of wild flowers growing.  Lily's and little yellow flowers.  If Matt was with us I would have the real name but I will make them up for now.  The rain in the past couple weeks have made a big difference.  The flowers all around Flagstaff in the meadows were beautiful.  

We stayed on the Fatman trail and continued up til we hit about 1.5 on my GPS.  We stopped and took some pictures in the boulder area.  The views to the South were pretty.  We could see Fisher Point where we hiked earlier this summer.

 Tina got off the hook today and was taking me doing stupid stuff.

We made it to FatMan's Pass.  We are feeling pretty skinny! 

The rest of the hike was down hill.  We saw some runners and hikers coming up this way.  It was a very fun hike.  Good for kids or out of town guests.  I was able to get Tina to do her strength poise.  

 This was a nice quick hike. Took us about one hour to do 3.37.  It was a little longer than expected because you walk to where the loop starts.  It is not even 9:00 and we are ready to head to Morman Lake directly south to where we are.

A quick Bathroom stop at McDonalds across the street at the Flagstaff mall and we are Off.  This is our view back at Mount Elden.  We will go back someday and hit the Summit.  

Hike #48 Done
Check if Off!