As the last bits of Arizona’s late summer fades, the season for the best hiking of the year in Sedona is just around the corner. Though the sun is still pretty warm during the day, as August fades into September, the chill in the air in the early morning gets more and more pronounced, making it tough to resist the urge to be outside. But who would want to? Whether you are enjoying the spectacular views from out on the trail or exploring the shops, galleries and events, the end of summer promises exciting new fall beginnings in Sedona. Take a look at some of the spectacular views that are just waiting to be discovered!
Early Morning Balloon Ride over West Sedona video. #Sedona
Early morning balloon ride over West Sedona. Part 1. Just a few days before Christmas, I took a balloon ride with my buddies from Red Rock Balloon Adventures this week. Great views of Thunder Mountain, Bear Mountain, Doe Mountain, Fay Canyon, Boyton Canyon, Enchantment, Cock's Comb ... This is a video a pieced together of the occasion. It includes filling the balloon and launching.
4.7 Magnitude Earthquake, epicenter 34.977°N, 111.740°W , 7 miles north or Sedona. 11-30-14
Sedona Earthquake
A minor earthquake struck the Sedona area around 11 pm Sunday night. The rumble and shaking lasted about half a minute. It was a 4.7 magnitude Earthquake. Its epicenter was located at 34.977°N, 111.740°W , about 7 miles north or Sedona, near West Fork hiking area in Oak Creek Canyon. Residents of Flagstaff and other nearby towns also felt the quake. Earthquakes along Oak Creek Canyon are not uncommon; however, this is the strongest to shake the area in recent years. No damage has been reported. 11-30-14
Here are links to the latest information on the quake:
Home surveillance video shows the shaking in Flagstaff
Sedona in Cleveland, Sports Illustrated, & The Jerome "J" Gets A Paint Job,
Sports Illustrated online includes a section called "Lovely Lady of the Day," which recently featured swimsuit model Tiffany Toth in Sedona! Check out this lovely lady contemplating the beauty of the red rocks from a plaza at Pinon Point in Uptown, Sedona. The view here includes Giant's Thumb and one of the best views of Snoopy Rock. Here's the link. (Note, although this shot of Ms. Toth is G-rated, please be aware that a few of the linked page are a bit more sexy.)
Sedona, Arizona is featured this week in the travel section of Cleveland.com, the premier news & info. site for the Cleveland area. Here's the link, which includes excellent Sedona Pics and "what to do / what to see" suggestions. Hope we see some Cleveland folks in the upcoming months!
Jerome's "J" gets a paint job! Volunteers recently added a new coat of paint to the white rocks that form the giant "J" on the side of Cleopatra Hill above the town of Jerome. Many visitors to Sedona also visit Jerome, an old mining town located 28 miles west of on State Route 89A. At the turn of the 20th century, Jerome was the second-largest city in Arizona, as well as the most dangerous. The New York Times called Jerome the "most wicked city" city of the West. The finest hotels between St. Louis and San Francisco were here, as well as dozens of bordellos and rowdy saloons. Today, Jerome is a quirky arts-and-crafts destination with roofless buildings, sloped sidewalks that lead to nowhere, and lots of tourists. Here's a link to The Verde Independent's full article and a dozen pictures of the volunteer work on the "J."
Baby bear pushes her brother off tree. #babyanimals #bears #Arizona
Baby bear pushes her brother off tree. Made me laugh. Filmed at Bearizona, in Williams, AZ. Real baby black bears. SedonaWonder.com #babyanimals
SedonaWonder.com Alien Lizard Man
Made me laugh.
Sedona's Girdner Trail featured in AZ Central. & The Leaves Are Falling!
AZ Central's "Arizona Hike" page this week featured Sedona's Girdner Trail. Here's the link. This moderate, 4.5 mile (one way) hike begins at the Cultural Park Trailhead, where one can glimpse the wood-and-steel "skeletal" remains of Sedona's once world-class outdoor performance center. The trail features lots of cottonwood, willow and sycamore trees. Leaf peepers should plan to get there this week if possible. The leaves in Sedona are changing color fast, and the recent cold blast has them dropping to the ground like potato chips. (I borrowed that line from a friend.) Crunch! Bring your camera!
Christmas Deals Already Starting!
Trails Study Completed. But headline is misleading.
Article from AZ Daily Sun on recently completed Red Rock Trails study. The headline -- "Unhappy Trails" suggests conflicts between trail users; however, the study and full article reveals that there are actually very few conflicts between trail users -- biking versus horseback riders verses hikers. The chief need for our red dirt trails appears to be something much less exciting: continued, long-term upkeep & maintenance.
Halloween & Dia de Los Muertos (Day of The Dead) in Sedona, 2014
Trick-or-treating in Sedona traditionally occurs Uptown, where the majority of tourist-oriented stores and businesses are located. It's one of the few nights of the year when there are far more locals walking around the shops than tourists. Below are some snapshots and videos of the evening.
Day of the Dead (Dia de los Muertos), which falls on Nov. 1st and 2nd, is a traditional Mexican holiday for celebrating the lives of friends and family who have passed away. Scholars trace the origins of the modern holiday to indigenous observances dating back to Aztec festivals. Sedona celebrates Day of the Dead, like Halloween, with costumes, art and and public dances. Below are snapshots and videos from Sedona's Day of The Dead celebration this year.
Uptown Sedona Trick-or-Treating, Halloween 2014. SedonaWonder.com
Freaky Fire Dancer Shot. Sedona, Day of The Dead celebration. Sedonwonder.com
Sedona Circus performer at Day of The Dead celebration. Sedona, AZ. SedonaWonder.com
Day of The Dead celebration, Sedona, 2014. DiVoM performance. David Vincent Mills, musician. SedonaWonder.com
Day of The Dead Celebration, Sedona, 2014. Fire Dancers!