Dan and Hannah Hike Our American Southwest - Flagstaff, Arizona

Flying into Las Vegas (http://www.expedia.com), Hannah and I are no lovers of the city of lights.  In fact, we think a successful time in Las Vegas is the one with the quickest exit.   Four hours away, Flagstaff, Arizona at 6900 feet is our destination.  (http://www.flagstaffchamber.com).  The terrain from Vegas is desolate beyond belief.   It’s brown on brown with brown rock, brown sand, and brown as far as the eye can see.  Our recommendation for staying in Flagstaff is the Hotel Aspen Inn-Suites (http://www.hotelaspenflagstaff.com).  In the morning, their breakfast consists of biscuits (and gravy for Hannah), eggs, home fries, hot coffee, cold cereal, and orange juice.  The USA Today is there at 6:30A.  Life is good.

Our morning walk is to the campus of Northern Arizona University at 34 degrees in late May.  Walking along old Route 66, we soon make the left into the 1950s funky downtown neighborhood that is home to college students.  Five houses to an acre, stuffed furniture on front porches, one story domiciles, and parking on the street.  Before the town wakes up, we have the lawns and quiet streets of the campus to ourselves.  It is the kind of place, when on vacation, you think, Wouldn’t this be a great place to move to for a year?  The elixir of being on vacation, freedom with no responsibility, no set schedule, and no lessons to plan nor papers to grade, gets us dreaming.  Fact is, it gets Dan dreaming.  Hannah is just fine in Maine.

Within two miles of our motel is Flagstaff’s own Urban Trail system including Buffalo Park with a level two-mile trail for walkers, joggers, or bicyclists.  Connected to that park is the Coconino National Forest (CNF) and one section of the 800+ miles of the newly constituted Arizona Trail (http://www.aztrail.org) through ponderosa pines with gentle elevation changes.  A passing unicyclist suggests the gently rolling nature of the trail.

In the CNF, the 7000-8000 feet of elevation is no hindrance to a good pace as the meandering trail, often wide enough for two, heads north.  Shade is plentiful, but sunny breaks abound under totally blue skies to lift the spirits and not dehydrate the body on these clearly marked trails.  If you’ve a grandson or granddaughter looking for a love in an outdoorsy body, Flagstaff is your place.  Upbeat and healthy girls and boys careen on the trails in mountain bikes.  Ninety minutes into the hike, we remove our hiking boots and socks to refresh our feet for the return trip to Buffalo Park.  In short order, we are back in time for an afternoon nap (Dan) or laying in the sun (Hannah).  The Inn Suites has a free happy hour every day.  A couple beers from a keg or some red or white wine, albeit from a box, go down smoothly.   Buffalo Park/Arizona Trail in CNF Hike rating – Very good.

The first Commandment of the Trail – Get a cool looking hat.  If in need of a hiking hat, head to Peace Surplus (http://www.peacesurplus.com) in downtown Flagstaff.  Dan’s recommendation is the award winning Seattle Sombrero (http://www.nextag.com/seattle-sombrero/search-html).  (It is no kin to Seinfeld’s Elaine Benes’ Urban Sombrero.)  The flaps of the floppy hat Velcro to the side for an Australian cool vibe that Dan is known for. 

As always when hiking, know thyself, thy limits, and the conditions.  Be prepared.