The Postmasters Wife – Sedona
Yes that’s right, Sedona, AZ is named after the first Postmasters wife – Sedona Schnelby, T.C.’s wife. There was no postoffice in what was known as Indian Garden or Oak Creek at the time so T.C. applied to the U.S. Postal Service to start a Post Office and the place needed a name and his first two submissions were rejected so on his brothers advise he turned to his wife and asked if she wanted a town named after her. It was said she was a beauty and very hospitable which is very fitting. The Red Rock country holds great beauty!
Yesterday, 7/8 we hiked the West Fork trail in Oak Creek Canyon yesterday about 4.5 miles. The trail follows a stream back up into the canyon.
At sunset we hiked up the Summit trail that overlooks most of Sedona for a beautiful view of a brief storm that often blows through Northern AZ this time of year (they call it their Monsoon season). With some refreshing beverages and some Pepperidge Farm Macadamia Nut cookies we marveled at the beauty of God’s creation from high atop Summit butte.
Today 7/9 we hiked Boynton Canyon trail. Boynton is a box canyon with a trail of 2.8 miles making the round trip 5.6. We hiked at 10:30 am and the day was already beginning to heat up. About half way into the canyon the large pine & oak trees begin to cover the trail & with the summer breezes the hike was cool enough to keep us going. Some claim that Boynton Canyon is one of the key locations for the “New Age Vortexes”. Not to sure about that one. I did recall what was said to Job:
4 “Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation? 
Tell me, if you understand.
5 Who marked off its dimensions? Surely you know!
Who stretched a measuring line across it?
6 On what were its footings set,
or who laid its cornerstone—
7 while the morning stars sang together 
and all the angels[a]shouted for joy?
8 “Who shut up the sea behind doors
when it burst forth from the womb,
9 when I made the clouds its garment
and wrapped it in thick darkness,
10 when I fixed limits for it
and set its doors and bars in place,
11 when I said, ‘This far you may come and no farther; 
here is where your proud waves halt’?
12 “Have you ever given orders to the morning,
or shown the dawn its place,
13 that it might take the earth by the edges
and shake the wicked out of it?
14 The earth takes shape like clay under a seal;
its features stand out like those of a garment.
15 The wicked are denied their light,
and their upraised arm is broken.
16 “Have you journeyed to the springs of the sea
or walked in the recesses of the deep?
17 Have the gates of death been shown to you?
Have you seen the gates of the deepest darkness?
18 Have you comprehended the vast expanses of the earth?
Tell me, if you know all this.
Hiking The Grand Canyon – At Night! (And More)
Yes, that’s right we hiked in the Grand Canyon at night but more about that later. Haven’t been able to post since 7/1 & our hike up the Narrows in Zion Canyon.
On 7/2 we hiked the Upper & Lower Emerald Pools as well as the Groto trail at Zion National Park. It was HOT & very crowded. The park was packed with tourists (including us) but we enjoyed the Zion Lodge & an enormous Cottonwood tree & its shade for a cool afternoon snooze.
On 7/3 we packed up camp and headed to the Grand Canyon to spend the first night at the Yaipavi Lodge and pick up our Backcountry Permit from the Park Ranger to camp at the Bright Angel Campground and Indian Garden.
In order to beat the heat of the trip to the Inner Gorge via the South Kaibab Trail we had to wake-up at 3:00 am on July 4th to catch the backpacker express shuttle to the South Kaibab trail head for a 4:30 am start. Words really do the Canyon no justice. Only pictures tell the real story.
W
e were able to make the hike down to the Bright Angel Campground & Phantom Ranch at the bottom of the Grand Canyon next to the Colorado River by 10:30 am. It’s a 7 mile hike and a drop in elevation of 4,300 ft plus. We were very blessed to have cloud cover for almost the entire trip down. Only the last hour were we in the sun.
Once at the camp ground we set up camp & headed to the cold clear waters of the Bright Angel creek to cool our heals…knees, ankles, everything! The thermometer later in the day read 120 degrees. A storm came through later in the afternoon that continued the cooling trend. We had a great dinner at the Phantom Ranch canteen & hit the sack early for a 3:30 am wake-up call to hike up the Bright Angel Trail to the oasis of Indian Garden Campground.
Along the way on the Bright Angel Trail we came across a rare viewing of a California Condor. Only recently these enormous throwback birds were almost extinct. The one we saw had an imprinted #60 on its wing. We left Bright Angel at 4:50 am and made the 5 miles to Indian Garden by 8:30 on 7/5. Indian Garden is a true oasis in the middle of the Canyon. Large Cottonwood trees, green vegetation, and a beautiful creek bring relief to the inner gorge oppressive heat.
We rested & napped throughout the day on 7/5. A hearty lunch & a soaking in the creek refreshed & renewed some very tired legs & feet.
After the rest, food, & creek soaking we decided to finish off the last 4.5 mile hike up Bright Angel Trail to the South Rim in a late evening ascent. The promise of a nice bed & shower along with the cool evening, rain enhanced weather seemed very appealing however it would mean hiking the steepest section of the trail in total darkness. We packed up in the middle of an oncoming storm and headed up the trail at 6:30 pm. We estimated the hike would take 3,5-4.0 hours. The good news was that there are 2 rest huts with water at the 3 mile point & the 1.5 mile point along the trail.
It was a beautiful trek with a light sprinkle & cool breeze the entire hike up. Once we came out of Indian Garden the trail is all switchbacks up the Canyon to the South Rim. Making this hike in the heat of the day would have been very tough with the gear we were carrying. From 8:00 pm on we hiked by the light of our head lamps. We made the rim by 10:30 & rented the last room on the South Rim. That shower never felt so good.
This morning we had breakfast at the Bright Angel Lodge and with some last pictures in the daylight of some of the trail we had hiked last night we said our goodbyes to this amazing place. We’re headed to Sedona!
Slight Change of Plans
We had to make a change in our itinerary because the Park camp grounds were filling up and we were not going to get a spot if the backpacked out the West Rim trail and stayed in a backcountry site on Thursday night.
So, we got one of the last spots in the South Campground Thursday morning and then hiked the East Rim trail during the day Thursday. It was a LONG 5 mile hike into the backcountry with numerous switchbacks that climbed up over 1500 ft. After an 1.5 hrs of hiking we saw no one. It took us 6 hours over some of the most breathtaking terrain. (Pics below)
Today we hiked the famous Zion Narrows. It’s a hike that is almost all upstream of the Virgin River into the narrow towering Canyon. The walls rose over 1000 feet above in spots. We rented special water shoes & socks along with a water tight bag to carry our gear & shoulder length poles to support us going through the rapidly moving freezing Virgin waters. At spots we almost had to swim the water was neck-deep in spots. We made it to Orderville Canyon and had to return. Round trip about 4 miles but most of it is wading in waist deep water up-stream for half the hike and it took us 6 hours. We saw several people fall in the rapids and get bounced around pretty good. Had to pull one lady out of the rapids after she fell and could not get back up. Lots of bumps and bruises but she was ok. (Pics below.)
On To Zion!
Our mode of transportation.
Too much fun driving out of Sedona. Very tough to keep eyes on the road.
First view of Zion.
From West Rim/Angels Landing Trail.
We just hiked up those switchbacks – West Rim/Angels Landing Trail.
From the top of Angels Landing.
Angels Landing
Coming back down Angels Landing. It rained on the way up.
Scout Lookout – Angels Landing.
Words really do it no justice!
Our First Day In AZ
We have completed the first leg of our journey! Surprised at how intense the security at BNA was today. Purchased a new book to read on the trip “The Big Burn” – Timothy Egan, http://www.amazon.com/Big-Burn-Teddy-Roosevelt-America/dp/0618968415 the story of Teddy Roosevelt and the massive fires in WA, ID & MT. SWA flight was ahead of schedule & uneventful. Our jeep from Fox-Rent-A Car is a lacking & then our Sprint Portable Wireless WiFi went down (had it for 32 days) & the Sprint Store in PHX @ Metro Center was not very helpful. So, we may not be as connected as we hoped. Probably for the best!
First stop – Montezuma Castle
The Sinagua tribe built this high-rise apartment complex around 700AD. Americans discovered the ruins in 1860 & mistakenly named them after the Aztec King.
Second Stop – Sedona, AZ
The Beautiful & The Not
“The Man Who Walked Through Time”
The Man Who Walked Through Time
The epic story of the first man to walk the length of the Grand Canyon solo – Colin Fletcher. In 1963 he walked from the West end of the Canyon to the East end. His book really paints a picture of the Canyon and it as been said he inspired the modern-day backpacking movement. A great read.
So long to a great employee!
I had to say farewell to a trusted and beloved employee, teacher and partner of FCA. Taylor Clement our Dean of Students is moving to be the Assistant Head of School and AD at Covenant School in Nashville. It’s a bitter-sweet thing to have employees that are in high demand! We trust God. We did when we hired him and we do now as we send him out. God speed young man! Learn all you can.
Preparations Done – UT/AZ
We are packed. Gear checked & re-checked. We have been training for this trip for the last 6 months and now it’s here. Hard to believe. Hiking, cycling, backpacking, reading, studying, ibuprofen, blisters, arthritis, sweat, rain-soaked, bears…Lisa & I have had our share of it all…and she’s going with me anyway. My bride. What a woman!
Backpacking in AZ & UT Here We Come!
Our itinerary is set. Follow our backpacking trip and other musings.
AZ – UT Trip Itinerary:
June 28 Fly BNA – Phx pick up Jeep @ Fox –Rent-a Car
Drive to Montezuma Castle – tour area.
Stay in Cabin @ Oak Creek Terrace Resort, Sedona, AZ
June 29 Drive to Zion National, Springdale Utah
Day Hike – Angels Landing – Zion National Park – 5 Miles
Directions: Take the shuttle bus from the Visitor Center to The Grotto picnic area. The trailhead is located directly across the road.
June 30 Backpack & Camp – West Rim Trail to camp site #3 – 7.5 miles.
Directions: Take the shuttle bus from the Visitor Center to The Grotto picnic area. The trailhead is located directly across the road. Angels Landing & West Rim run together
July 1 Return Hike from West Rim – 7.5 miles
July 2 Day Hike The Zion Narrows – 12 miles
Directions – From the bottom, follow the paved walk way from the Zion Canyon road end to it’s end (approximately a 1 mile walk). From there, walk in the water upstream. Return the way you came.
July 3 Drive to Grand Canyon – Stay @ Yavapai Lodge
Tour the area – locate shuttle bus & trail head for 4:00 am departure on 7/4.
July 4 Hike Grand Canyon South Kaibab Trail to Bright Angel Campground -6.4 miles
Tent Camp @ Bright Angel Campground
July 5 Hike Grand Canyon River Trail to Indian Garden Campground – 4.3 miles
Tent Camp @ Indian Garden
July 6 Hike Grand Canyon Bright Angel Trail to South Rim – 4.5 miles
Drive to Sedona & stay @ Enchantment Resort – Rest
July 7 Hike Long Canyon Trail #63 9.5 miles – Tent Camp – Beaver Creek Camp Ground
July 8 Drive to Wet Beaver Creek Wilderness – Tent Camp
Directions – Access: Wet Beaver Creek Canyon is most accessible from FR 618 off Interstate 17 45 miles south of Flagstaff. Upstream access is possible south of the Apache Maid Lookout Tower from FR 213 and FR 229 off I-17 at the Stoneman Lake Exit.
July 9 Hike – West Fork of Oak Creek – Tent Camp
Directions: Lower: From Phoenix, take I-17 north to Sedona (exit for 179). Turn left on 179 and follow it through the town of Oak Creek to Sedona. At the ‘T’ intersection turn right onto Highway 89A and follow it up Oak Creek Canyon just past mile marker 385 to the Oak Creek Trailhead which is on the left (west). Parking is currently $7 per car, be aware that a Red Rock pass is not valid towards this fee. Also note that the gate to the parking area is locked at 8pm.
July 10 Stay at Canyon Wren in Sedona
Hike Bear & Doe Mountains
July 11 Stay at Canyon Wren in Sedona – Hike Sedona
July 12 Drive to Phx Airport Dept 7:00 pm for BNA
West Rim Trail
West Fork of Oak Creek
About
Headmaster, Franklin Christian Academy. 1978 Baylor Univ. BBA, 08 M.Ed TSU
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Recent
- FCA training for Music City 1/2 Marathon Begins!
- On the train headed to Zurich from Salzburg.
- “The Hills Are Alive With the Sound of Music.”
- Dachau-a visit to horror past. Moving experience & prompting questions.
- Tour of Disney inspired castle, Mad King Ludwig of Bavaria & other sites of Munich
- We made it to Munich & Pension Lindner
- Can you sleep on an international overnight flight? Here’s what I do.
- A long walk home as a 3rd grader in Waco, TX. 50 yrs ago today.
- On our way! Early flight to NY & then on to Munich, Germany
- AdvancED (SACS) Accreditation Conference
- A hike in the Grand Tetons is well… Grand! Cascade Canyon was spectacular.
- 9 Mile Hike to Fairy Falls and a visit to the Grand Prismatic Spring. It was HOT!
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