End of line: In the early stages, one of us makes a wrong turn but nevertheless, enjoys the magnificence of the region.
A tough hike for a girl not yet recovered from illness.
Should we be appointed travel advertisers for Sedona's hiking club, we might select this hike as an example of a solid challenge with incredible beauty viewable throughout the hike. At no stage on the trail is there anything but great visible offerings—truly remarkable. It's over 2,000 feet in elevation gain but we would argue the vertical gain is greater or all our previous hikes were overstated. Unlikely. Nearly seven years ago, we undertook the hike and a couple of times before then, too. Although Jen remembered most parts of it and in detail too, my memory proved disappointing. My new attitude to compensate for memory deficiency is to follow the designer's trail and let the path take me to the top...well, 'take' me might be the incorrect verb.
It's a little sobering and might we add, humbling, although we had a good excuse, that I don't believe we required the same level of effort some seven years before as we did today. Hopefully, this tough bout of 'flu is the culprit rather than a dilemma we call...do we need to be specific?
On the way up, at about the half-way stage, we passed a young couple (perhaps they were also ill). At the peak, we saw them again as we ate breakfast, at lunch time. While we took in the sights, the couple departed ahead of us. Upon arriving back at the car, we decided to pass the local 'Safeway' supermarket. As we placed our purchases alongside the cash register, the couple seen on Bear Mountain were paying for their goods ahead of us. An incredible coincidence that occurs relatively frequently.
Another couple on the summit were engaged in loud conversation, discussing 14,000-'ders'. It did not take a genius to ask them if they were from Colorado, the home of some fifty-odd peaks of that altitude.
Thus far, the mountain trails have been very quiet but the feature hikes such as Devil's Bridge are busy.
Better to absorb without noise.
Soft-light on the back mountains, semi-desert floor.
Jen drops below the checkerboard as we leave a beautiful part of the hike.
Thunder Mountain, a dominant monolith in the town, viewed from Bear Mountain summit.
Jen on way down but not out.
We came across the San Francisco mountains from another angle. (See previous blog). Note the wall since built to stop people scaling the edifice. (View from summit.)
Courthouse Butte prominent in the background.
Jenni reaches the checkerboard.
Perhaps the most wonderful position in a wondrous region.
Hmm!
Finally, the summit of the Bear.
'Tranquility and softness' in a harsh place.
Cheers,
Jenni and Jeffrey
1 comment:
Love Love Love Sedona, beautiful place, would love to retire there one day, so serene and special, loved your pics
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