Hike #13 - Day in Sedona Hike #1- Cathedral Rock - Sedona AZ

Hike #13

Date: March 13th
Hikers: Me & Tina

Location: Sedona AZ
Distance: 2 miles
Rating: Moderate/Difficult (climb up the crack)
Time: 2 hours

Cathedral Rock - Back O Beyond Trailhead
http://www.fs.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsinternet/!ut/p/c5/04_SB8K8xLLM9MSSzPy8xBz9CP0os3gDfxMDT8MwRydLA1cj72BTn0AjAwgAykeaxcN4jhYG_h4eYX5hPgYwefy6w0H24dcPNgEHcDTQ9_PIz03VL8iNMMgycVQEADoWIdk!/dl3/d3/L2dJQSEvUUt3QS9ZQnZ3LzZfME80MEkxVkFCOTBFMktTNUJIMjAwMDAwMDA!/?ss=110304&navid=110000000000000&pnavid=null&cid=FSE_003741&recid=55264&ttype=recarea&navtype=BROWSEBYSUBJECT&position=BROWSEBYSUBJECT&pname=Coconino+National+Forest+-+Cathedral+Rock+Trail+%23170

This is crazy.  It is my 13th hike and it is Friday the 13th!

Tina had never hiked in Sedona.  She had visited but not hiked.  So the plan was to hike my all time favorite Cathedral Rock and then go find a new hike in Sedona so I can call this a new hike.  I have a few to choose from. Cathedral Rock is one of my favorite places in the world.  You have to go to the very top and hook a left to get to the vortex spot.  I have hiked this trail probably 20 times over the years.  Different story for everyone that I have taken here.  It is always amazing.  To think I live 1.5 hours from this beautiful spot that people from across the world come to see.  I truly am a fortunate person!

This Rock is the famous one that you see with the water underneath and the rock in the background.  The water is at a different trailhead and the funny part is the water is a babbling river/stream.  Not what it appears in the famous pictures.  We are starting at the Back of Beyond Trail head.

We started the hike around 9.  Parking lot packed.  Got out Red Rock pass for $5 at the Kiosk at the Trailhead.  We started the hike with a group asking about the difficulty.  Tina and I realized it is hard to tell.  We asked if they were hikers and then hesitated and shrugged.  I asked if they were afraid of heights because of the spot in the middle they you do crawl up a crack.  They did not really know what they were doing so I recommended to go at least to the spot where you crawl up.  The views are beautiful and that part of the hike is doable for almost anyone that will take their time.

The wind was blowing a bit as we started the hike.  By the end it was very strong.

I did not plan to use this hike as new but at the Top where the vortex is a German man came up a side I had never done.  I had tried to go down it a couple times but thought it was bushwhacking.  Well this German man who lives in Sedona talked to us for about 15 minutes.  Shared stories of hikes and places. He talked about how great Europe is and how Phoenix is a horrible place to live and hike.   He was a nice guy probably in his 70's and in great shape.  He was up there with us and that was no small feat.  He told us we could go more to the South and then come back around one of the "chicken fingers".  So we decided to do that.  It was a nice diversion and pretty cool.  I had never been that way.

New Spot about 5 minutes North from the Vortex at the Top

On the way down we saw the German man talking to a lady from England who was visiting.  Now we get why the old dude hikes.  He was a happy chatter with the woman from England. Very Cute! We headed back down. Saw lots of first timers.  Told a couple about where to go at the top.  It feels good to be the expert.

It was a great hike.  I am glad Tina was able to experience one of my favorite hikes.

We TXTed Matt and Jim and they were at a Coffee shop over by our next hike.  We decided to meet them and take a short break then head to the Hike off Coffee Pot road.  - Chimney Rock here we come.

Our scramble at the top is on the right side.  Cool how we found a new trail.


Hike #13 - Even a side trail makes it a New Hike! 

Done!