Monday, December 21, 2009

A Full Day of Hiking



Hiking (but it was probably more like walking) the Bell Rock/Courthouse Butte Trail

Not far from here, 5 minutes by car, is the parking lot and trail that leads to Bell Rock and Courthouse Butte. Some of you will remember from Segment 1 that we walked up to Bell Rock on our first day in Sedona. About an hour round trip if you are meandering.

The Sedona area is known for its beauty - the sandstone formations of red, beige and orange rise above green forests of juniper, pinon and cypress, all beneath an azure sky (on a sunny day and most days have sunshine). It's gorgeous. People have also been coming here for years to connect to the energy of the place. The energy now has a brand name, Vortex. Definition of Vortex: A Vortex is a place on the planet of increased energy. A place on Earth that is exceptionally alive and healthy. google 'Vortex'. The energy created by a Vortex can be sensed immediately if you are open to it, whether on a physical, mental, emotional or spiritual level. The most prominent energy forces are identified on maps at tourists centers throughout the Sedona area (4 of them). So this is not just a pretty place, but 'it's a powerful one'. Bell Rock is one of the 4 main energy forces identified in the tourist handouts and books.

Anyway, I regress. The whole point of this story was to tell you about our plan to walk up to and hike a bit around Bell Rock and maybe even climb a bit. No big plans for these folks! It was cloudy when we started out but they were high enough that they did not obstruct our view of the mountains surrounding the area. If Bell Rock were your home, this trail would be your drive way. Pretty easy and only a little over a mile to get to the far side of Bell Rock. The path from the parking lot is fine red dirt. Darn pretty. Prior to deciding whether or not we wanted to take the Courthouse Butte Loop, we took the uphill path that was well marked with wire baskets around red rock piles. Cairns in baskets! We climbed to rock plateaus, shaped over mega thousands of years. We went up part way and sat and enjoyed the energy and scenery. We did not, and I repeat, did not venture to the pinnacles ahead although there were folks, in way better shape than we were, that ventured forth. Some to turn back and others to press on. We understand that many a walker, come climber, have added their name to the list of folks happy to make it up... and embarrassed to find they can't get down. They have been saved by Ropes That Rescue. Kinda cute name, don't you think?

All the while I'm thinking, if Jeremy were here, he would have pressed forward (as many do) and he would wind his way up the rocks, hanging on in places, retracing his steps, only to press forward and then he would be waving to me from high atop on of the pinnacles. And I think he was, waving to me, that is.

We decided we wanted to go back down to the main trail, and hike around Courthouse Butte. There was so much good stuff to see ahead. Views that stopped you dead in your tracks. Lee Mountain, Gibraltar Rock, Twin Buttes, to name a few. Great scenery. We were walking right through red rock country. The further we walked, I noticed that the formations begin to look taller, probably because the elevation was dropping again. We came across a dry creek bed but because of previous rains, there were some brick coloured puddles of water that were amazing. There is prickly pear cacti everywhere as well as something they call strawberry hedgehog cacti. Owen and I noticed the smooth mahogany coloured barked bushes (not unlike the arbutus tree trunks/branches but way smaller) and later found out that they are called manzanita bushes. As we came out of the loop and back onto the path, the sun was shining and a huge rainbow encased both Bell Rock and Courthouse Butte. Hikers were just beginning their walk as we were ending ours. We nodded and wished them a good hike. Probably a little over 4 miles under our belt, we were saturated in our satisfaction of a beautiful walk, good exercise and great memory.

I didn't mean to forget, but my sister, Karen was on that walk with us. A little more strenuous than she anticipated but she was a trooper, not one complaint, infact, although she was tired and a little stiff, by morning there were no aches and pains, just smiles.

We have done the hike again, sans Karen, she decided to visit the Chapel of the Holy Cross.

More to come: Owen climbing the 'mound', cliff dwellings and petroglyphs, shopping... Keep coming back and bring a cuppa tea with you because as you can see, you have to almost camp out to get through one of my posts.

1 comment:

  1. Such a beautiful day, Nadine and Owen, one that I will not forget. Peace and grandeur all around with a rest break of t'ai chi which was marvelous. Indeed, no complaints, as you say -- only a bit of sore knees! LOL. (Smiles.) K

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