Thursday, October 15, 2009

Day Trip to Sedona

Sedona is a world destination because of the incredible beauty of its rock formations. It is a New Age haven, an artsy fartsy community, a guru-proclaimed "vortex" of cosmic spiritual harmonic convergences, an aging rich hippie hangout and a tourist trap. One of the "events" that people come for from all over the world is the changing of the leaves in Oak Creek Canyon. I know changing leaves aren't a big deal for you who live back east. Cacti don't do much in the way of arboretal dramatics in the winter here. But its not just the leaves, its the setting they are in too.

Anyway, the wifey is on fall break and we decided to take a day trip and look at the leaves. They didn't disappoint (though we were maybe a week early for the real show.) Here's some pictures from the day. (Click on the pictures to enlarge them to full screen).



The hike goes along a creek that runs between two cliffs that are hundreds of feet high.



This is part of the creek and one wall of the cliffs on either side that has been eroded away.

The wifey is standing under the overhang for a perspective on the dimensions of the rock formations. You can see the opposite cliff walls from here and the direction we were hiking. You can follow the creek back about 4 miles between the canyon walls.

This is a view looking back on where we came from on the hike.
And just for grins, a picture of Sedona's "Red Rocks" that I took last year and posted before...but it was a once in a lifetime lighting condition, I pulled off the side of the road and I only had my point and shoot digital camera with me. But, this is why people come here.

13 comments:

James the Thickheaded said...

Wow. Beautiful pics. THanks! Sure beats my trip to sedona some years back

123 said...

My trip to Sedona consisted of listening to NPR as Colin Powell and John McCain soke at the 1996 Republican Convention while driving through Sedona at night. I was late leaving the Grand Canyon to get to Phoenix as I drove cross-country to LA. It was a beautiful experience, but I missed the rocks.

You are right about us East Coasters. This (apart from the last photo) looks like the Poconos or Catskills, with maybe a little more in the way of rock features. I could probably also convince myself I was hiking along the bluffs of the Mississippi in MN or WI.

Ashley Siferd said...

If this is just the start and not even the full blown show, I can't imagine how awesome it must look like a week from now! Thanks for sharing!

Abraham said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
JMac said...

Thanks for this. I commute through Sedona and Oak Creek Canyon to get to and from work in Flagstaff and after a while I start to take the beauty for granted (especially when I get stuck behind an RV going 20 mph). That area is one of Arizona's most amazing treasures. The locals have a huge interest in spirituality and the mystical; I just hope and pray that one day that interest will be satisfied in Christ rather than in New Age occultism.

Unknown said...

I don't know that they're not a big deal -- it's more like fall leaves aren't something we travel to see (since they're all around us). This year, though, we went directly from summer to winter; the leaves were just turning when we got this nasty snow.

And it's still snowing.

Moo! said...

RWP, I heard the East Coast weather reports and say your blog picture. Looks like global warming ummmmm...never mind. We're having close to 100 (degrees, not inches of snow).

Unknown said...

"We're having close to 100 (degrees, not inches of snow)."

Head for the ice rink (hint: air conditioning).

Elizabeth @ The Garden Window said...

Simply incredible photos. I love the colurs......

Steve Robinson said...

Jonathan, Indeed. I've thought for years of how to plant an Orthodox mission there. But just moving there and setting up a household would be pretty expensive.

Athanasia said...

You have a very nice backyard s-p. I am glad I got to see it. Perhaps there will come a day when I get to see your front yard with you standing in it, but alas - not this time.

Anastasia Theodoridis said...

These are gorgeous! I especially love the first and the last photos. But they're all incredibly beautiful.

ryan said...

magnificent...