Lazarow World-Hike-About

A sunset in Sedona Ode to a Vortex Sunset, oh sunsets so great are you shining on the rocks, Give me a minute we shout, we need to sell some stocks. Where are we heading dear editor, we pleaded with a thrill, To an old favorite close by, you know, the great Cathedral. But we prayed this morning, we mentioned with a smile, Our little joke missed as usual, the editor by a mile. We climbed and approached the peak a different way, Like two children, we sauntered, skipped and did play. Recapturing moments from childhood so long ago, Especially distant for our lovely, Jenno. It created elation and joy that reflected off our faces, Not dissimilar from a setting sun on boulders and other places. As we ascended, we slid a little but climbed even more, Until we crested and were most surprised, at what we saw. There he stood in all his glory, or so he probably thought, Shirtless, tattooed and crooning towards the ball of fire, he sought. While summoning with vigor, h...

We found this view a 'knockout', only partly up the steep Wilson Mountain trail (Click on a picture for larger size) A most pleasant peak to relax and enjoy Sedona Approaching the saddle before final push for the peak Two weeks ago we climbed on Steamboat Rock, 'sailing' in background (top right corner) Our son, Gavin, said that you now have sixty hikes in your top ten. There’s some truth in that although we would have not gone higher than forty-five. After all, we don’t wish to exaggerate. On Mother’s Day, we ascended this fabulous mountain from the north—we thought it was outstanding. Today (Friday), from the south, it was probably superior although one could make a good argument either way. Jenni voted the south access as her favorite; we couldn’t decide so we announced we ‘preferred’ both. For a day hike of less than ten miles, actually nine and elevation gain of 2,500 feet, it easily meets the top-ten criteria. Now that we have put that to rest, perhaps...

From a tower in the cathedral. Sunset at Cathedral peak, with shadows, too This trip, we have managed to find new opportunities for hiking and exploration. However, we also found that approaching a previous hike in a novel way is extremely satisfying. The mountains and rock formations are so distinctive and vast that one could, for example, spend months around Cathedral Rock and still not see it all. Such is Sedona. An assault from the side—guess who gets assaulted Jenni ascending with Court House Butte 'smiling' Jenni descending down a new route Today, we decided to approach the hike from the side rather than the usual frontal attack—let’s surprise the old cathedral, we thought, instead of following the climbing trail. (We are also preserving energy for a tough pre-Shabbos hike.) We scrambled up the rocks, on loose stones and sand, around cactus plants, mostly, and through some very tricky places. We had no intention of making it a tough climb but one thing led ...

Looking down to canyon floor from peak When we look at the title, we wonder if we might have chosen better. It’s the truth and so it remains. The area is very dry, being a semi-desert without rainfall since we arrived. However, there is a nice flow of water in Oak Creek, the stream we crossed to commence a hike to Casner Mountain peak. This is one of the toughest in Sedona, in our opinion. We set out well before the trailhead, crossed the stream, and climbed 2100 feet over about two miles although the hike was seven miles. The views all the way up were spectacular, the peak wasn’t. Jenni passes water (at last), a rather strong flow for this time of the year, before walking the plank...er...the log Editor struggles through rain, snow and sun...maybe just sun Sedona seems very busy , the town, but the trails except for a few, are quiet. In fact, today, we had it to ourselves. As we climbed, surrounded by mountains and red rocks close by with blue hazy ranges in the distance, w...

Chimney Rock as sunset approaches A little tight, a little narrow (not the waistline) Tom Thumb and friends absorb the last sunrays The idea was to climb these two rocks—we did just that—and remain perched on the latter rock for sunset. What a great plan. Once the sun set though, it would mean making our way down Sugarloaf and then along a trail or path towards our car in the dark. That is when the good plan started to unravel. “Aha!” We exclaimed, to our slightly concerned editor, “and that, my dear, is why we have a moon.” Feeling rather smug at this infallible bit of logic, we remained seated on a rock as we watched the sun dip below Thunder Mountain while Chimney Rock vied for attention. In the last three or four hikes, we have viewed this mountain from many vantage points. “I’d like to make a point if I may,” our editor said. “Go ahead,” we answered, “if nothing else we like to keep the mind open.” “If you remember, today is Rosh Chodesh (new moon). I don’t th...