Category: Of Interest

Places:  Devil’s Bridge in Sedona.

by rustyw20, posted in Of Interest, Places

Had a fantasric hike in Sedona, Arizona yesterday with my wife.

Hiking Desert Trail Sedona Arizona

I will say that this moderate+ trail was well worth the effort (and the beat – it soared to 104F).  You do have areas where a little “mountain goat” is needed, so plan accordingly.  As always, you can never bring enough water.  This is a popular trail and it always amazes me to see folks with one little water bottle.  There was actually a 911 call for a lost man who wandered off after feeling ill.  Altitude and heat are a dangerous combination!

But for the trail itself – fantastic!

Photos speak for themselves 

Hiking Sedona Arizona Devil's Bridge Rusty Ward

Hiking Sedona Arizona Devil's Bridge Rusty Ward

Hiking Sedona Arizona Devil's Bridge Rusty Ward

Hiking Sedona Arizona Devil's Bridge Rusty Ward Old Man

And don’t forget the payoff (this is why you are here):

Hiking Sedona Arizona Devil's Bridge Rusty Ward
“Old Man on the Devil’s Bridge”
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I love when the unusal happens!

by rustyw20, posted in Of Interest

Golfing today with one of my buddies and bull snake decided to crash the party on thr 12th hole.  He didn’t care one bit we were there.

This is a pressure putt…..

But he managed to do more than that.  While we finished the hole and were walking back to the carts, it thought it was a good idea to slither up inside a cart.

Arizona golf – Got to love it!  Even a bizarre cloud formation.

Places: Return to Horseshoe Bend

by rustyw20, posted in Of Interest, Places

Darn you Arizona!  There is so much to see, but you leave us little options but to visit all of your fantastic landmarks multiple times to get a more complete experience.  And what a wonderful problem to have.

A recent trip through Page, Arizona was carefully planned to take in a couple of places at a different time of day (and season) then the last time I was there.  Along with Lower Antelope Canyon, one I had to see again was Horseshoe Bend.  This time at Sunset.

Horseshoe Bend Sunset. Hiking Arizona. Page

Sunset provided a much different experience than the early morning of last summer.

Horseshoe Bend. Hiking Arizona Old Man Hiking

But do not forget that the “wall” that provides the viewing plateau is very underrated and quite impressive on its own.

Horseshoe Bend. Hiking in Arizona. Page. Colorado RiverHorseshoe Bend. Hiking in Arizona. Page. Colorado River

You’ll notice that the 1000 ft. drop to the bottom offers “no guardrails” and many folks often put them themselves precariously close to the edge.

Horseshoe Bend is not the only view of the Colorado River.  Take a quick stop just outside of town for a scenic view of Glen Canyon Dam and the Colorado River.

Other Places to consider:

Monument Valley

Lower Antelope Canyon

 

 

Places: Monument Valley

by rustyw20, posted in Of Interest

I had a wonderful time in Monument Valley with my dad last week.  He has long been a huge fan of Western movies and as I selfishly wanted to see it as well, this was the last stop as part of his 79th birthday present.

I highly recommend taking advantage of one of the many tours available. First and foremost, you get to go to places that are restricted (Not to mention the road is quite terrible in places).  We had a wonderful Navajo guide, who was quite knowledgeable and gave us a great experience.  The 3.5 hour tour went by way to quickly.

But all plans don’t come out as you hope.  Scheduling to be there for sunset, we ended up getting hit by a dust storm that shortened it just a little and took away the blue sky and the desired lighting.  I didn’t need one, but it’s a good excuse to head back and work some more on photography and enjoying the scenery of Arizona (and Utah).

Places: Lower Antelope Canyon

by rustyw20, posted in Of Interest

Spent a couple of days traveling Northern Arizona for my Dad’s 79th birthday.  Though I pushed him pretty hard with a lot of walking, he managed to do alright.  Day one consisted of Wupatki National Park, Sunset Crater, Horseshoe Bend and a guided tour of Lower Antelope Canyon.

It’s hard to believe the variety how diverse Arizona can be within a two hour drive.  Expect an hour plus walk with some mild to a little moderate walking (ladder climbing and some occasional ducking/contortion).  This is the second time I have been – this time in the late afternoon and a previous trip in the early morning.  Definitely a different experience on lighting and the photos you can take.

Both times offer a unique experience and if you are ever near Page, it is well worth making a reservation.  It can be busy, so check well in advance.

New Camera and New Tools – Hiking is about to take on a new perspective.

by rustyw20, posted in Of Interest

With my new Nikon D3400 in hand, I took to the desert to practice with it tonight.  Add a copy of Adobe Lighthouse, it’s almost impossible to produce a bad photo.  O.K., that’s a big lie – I managed to take lots of cruddy photos as I experimented with my first DSLR.

Apache Trail Desert Flower

Apache Trail Saguaro on Trail

But with a pending trip coming to re-visit Antelope Canyon (along with Horseshoe Bend), and first time tour of Monument Valley (at sunset, no less), I am feeling the pressure to at least manage to squeeze in the occasional decent pic.

Overall, with limited lighting, I am quite happy with the camera (less happy with the guy behind the lens).  And with the help of the software and an overgrown desert, the quest to produce adequate photos begins…

 

Apache Trail Hiking Evening Saguaro

 

Sharing the trail…

by rustyw20, posted in Of Interest

With the weather warming up, it is a great time to be sneaking in a quick hike after work before the sun goes down.  But with the warm temperatures, the chance for an encounter with the Arizona critters goes up.  This guy was particularly “hangry”.


This is the first time I ever ran into one that never stop rattling.  Usually, they rattle once, curl and stare you down.  Keep your eyes down and remember they were here first.