Tuesday

Today's hike was a solo. Dennis decided to take a day off so I picked the Brins Mesa Trail, an out and back, which was a little over 8 miles round trip. I was looking for a challenge. Although I prefer to hike with D, there is a special sense of peace hiking in the quiet. 

The first part of the hike was fairly strenuous and up hill. Pant and Gasp! And I loved every minute of it.

Beautiful Scenery, everywhere I looked...360 degrees panoramic.

I understand why so many people love this area. It is magical.

I read somewhere that Sedona is a day hikers paradise and indeed it is.

According to the Arizona highways, "...you’ll arrive on the mesa and see the effects of irresponsibility. The Brins Fire, which scorched 4,000 acres on and around the mesa, was ignited by an illegal, unattended campfire on June 18, 2006. Most of the trees on the mesa were lost, and their descendants won’t be back for many decades."

It is not often that you see snow on cactus.  

 Okay, I am heeding all the warnings and behaving in the most ecco-friendly manner.  I will admit that I have not even seen any hang-gliders and cannot imagine why they would even try to land in a forest of trees.  Hmmmmm...what am I missing?

Fun snowy trails.

I find the distinct layers in the rocks so interesting.

I got the biggest laugh while I was eating my lunch of a turkey and cheddar sandwich accompanied by vinegar and salt chips. My turn-around spot was a four-wheel accessable only type of road. I was sitting on a rock, minding my own business when this truck pulled up and six people hopped out from both sides and ran in different directions into the bushes. That must have been one bumpy trip.

On the way back, I decided to climb up this big rock.

Just as I climbd up, this guy left and I sat on the other end all by myself.  I had the queen's chair at God's  rock show.  It was top-of-the-world spectacular and this boulder was way bigger than it looked in my first photo. I waved my magic hiking pole at all the little people below and blessed their hikes.

I ended the day just as I had begun, with breath-taking scenery

and total amazement at God's artistry.

Dinner was at the Salt Rock Restaurant.  It was a Southwestern themed restaurant at a hotel and spa.  The best thing of all was the grilled corn.  Dennis and I got it as an appetizer and it was so addictive...I got another helping as my entree. Life is good!