Category: Photography

Trail Running in Sedona-II

As noted in the previous post we had a lot of snow in Flagstaff during the first half of March. That meant if we wanted to do any trail running it had to be elsewhere. And, of course, that means Sedona.

On 22 March the group run was Hangover Trail loop (Munds Wagon Trail, Hangover Trail, Cow Pies Trail).

A brief respite from the near-continuous climbing on the Hangover Trail in Sedona, Arizona.
A brief respite from the near-continuous climbing on the Hangover Trail in Sedona, Arizona.
An expansive view of the Red Rocks of Sedona near the intersection of the Cow Pies and Hangover Trails.
An expansive view of the Red Rocks of Sedona near the intersection of the Cow Pies and Hangover Trails.

The run up Wet Beaver Creek on 29 March was the final Sedona run of the season; we return to running in Flagstaff now that the snow is gone (well, it could return).

This is the turnaround spot on the Wet Beaver Creek Trail. Weather permitting, a few runners make the plunge into the deep pool.
This is the turnaround spot on the Wet Beaver Creek Trail. Weather permitting, a few runners make the plunge into the deep pool.
A narrow ledge on a steep sandstone cliff along the Wet Beaver Creek trail.
A narrow ledge on a steep sandstone cliff along the Wet Beaver Creek trail.

So long, Sedona trail runs!

Edit: Fixed typo.

March was a Snowy Month

As noted elsewhere on these pages this winter has been very dry and warm. That changed in March as a series of storms moved across the southwest. By the time it was over we had accumulated 2.47″ of SWE (snow water equivalent) and 35.6″ of snow. It was greatly appreciated because we are now heading into our dry and windy season (“wildfire season”) and anything that helps to moisten the landscape is appreciated.

Here is a collection of photographs taken during this extended period of snow.

08 March 2025

Clouds cap the San Francisco Peaks just before sunrise (08 March 2025).
Clouds cap the San Francisco Peaks just before sunrise (08 March 2025).
Cross country skiing at Fort Tuthill Park in Flagstaff (08 March 2025).
Cross country skiing at Fort Tuthill Park in Flagstaff (08 March 2025).
Grasses poke through the snow at Fort Tuthill Park (08 March 2025).
Grasses poke through the snow at Fort Tuthill Park (08 March 2025).

14 March 2025

Low clouds race across the Mormon Lake area (14 March 2025).
Low clouds race across the Mormon Lake area (14 March 2025).
Snow covers the tables and benches at a picnic area at Upper Lake Mary near Flagstaff, Arizona (14 March 2025).
Snow covers the tables and benches at a picnic area at Upper Lake Mary near Flagstaff, Arizona (14 March 2025).

15 March 2025

The clouds departed but winds increased resulting in plumes of blowing snow over the San Francisco Peaks (15 March 2025).
The clouds departed but winds increased resulting in plumes of blowing snow over the San Francisco Peaks (15 March 2025).

Then it got warm and everything melted. But the forecast indicates that snow is likely this week so time to get some more photographs.

Kahtoola Uphill Race

Every year in February, Kahtoola sponsors the Kahtoola Uphill Race. The proceeds from this fun event go to Friends of Camp Colton. The race has several distances (1 mile, 600′ vertical; 3 miles, 1550′ vertical; 3.5 miles, 2200′ vertical) and categories (foot traction, skis, and splitboard). And, of course, costumes are encouraged.

Here are a few images taken of both the start of the race and as finishers return to the start.

The start of the Kahtoola Uphill Race.
The start of the Kahtoola Uphill Race.
Racers head up the ski runs of Arizona Snowbowl as part of the Kahtoola Uphill Race. Lack of snow resulted in some changes to the course.
Racers head up the ski runs of Arizona Snowbowl as part of the Kahtoola Uphill Race. Lack of snow resulted in some changes to the course.
Costumes encouraged.
Costumes encouraged.

Twilight Rocket Launch and Noctilucent Clouds

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There was another twilight rocket launch from Vandenberg Space Flight Base that provided a spectacular event visible in Arizona on Saturday evening. The sky was still fairly bright so it was difficult to capture the expanding rocket exhaust in the early moments of the flight. But as the sky eventually darkened I was fascinated by the twisting shapes of the rocket contrail and rocket-induced noctilucent clouds. It was dark enough at this point to shoot longer exposures and create a time-lapse video of the clouds. The colors were magnificent–and very similar to what might be observed from naturally occuring noctilucent clouds at higher latitudes.

Falcon 9 second stage ascends into low Earth orbit and leaves behind a brilliant plume. The tiny point of light trailing the 2nd stage is from the descending 1st stage.
Falcon 9 second stage ascends into low Earth orbit and leaves behind a brilliant plume. The tiny point of light trailing the 2nd stage is from the descending 1st stage.
Falcon 9 second stage ascends into low Earth orbit and leaves behind a brilliant plume. The tiny point of light trailing the 2nd stage is from the descending 1st stage. Note, also, the laminar flow of the gases in the middle of the frame while a more turbulent flow is present in the lower right.
Falcon 9 second stage ascends into low Earth orbit and leaves behind a brilliant plume. The tiny point of light trailing the 2nd stage is from the descending 1st stage. Note, also, the laminar flow of the gases in the middle of the frame while a more turbulent flow is present in the lower right.

Here are a set of images showing the amazing and colorful noctilucent clouds.

As the sky darkens the noctilucent clouds become more visible.
As the sky darkens the noctilucent clouds become more visible.
The colors become more dramatic in this view ~37 minutes after launch.
The colors become more dramatic in this view ~37 minutes after launch.
Dramatic colors are present in this view ~45 minutes after launch.
Dramatic colors are present in this view ~45 minutes after launch.

Finally, a time-lapse video of the launch and wind-twisted noctilucent clouds.

Time-lapse video of the rocket launch and the wind-twisted noctilucent clouds.

The next launch on the schedule is NASA’s SPHEREx and PUNCH missions.

A Foggy Morning in Sedona

A sea of fog surrounds Cathedral Rock in Sedona, Arizona.
A sea of fog surrounds Cathedral Rock in Sedona, Arizona.

It’s been a quiet winter with very few storms so when we finally got a storm  I wanted to try and get some morning sunrise fog shots. I awoke early to check radar and satellite data. I was both surprised and disappointed that my favorite locations appeared to be cloud and fog free. On the other hand, satellite data showed an extensive area of fog and low clouds near Sedona and into the Verde Valley. I quickly headed down Oak Creek Canyon to a location in Sedona that has a great view for these types of events.

A wide-angle shot with Cathedral Rock in the distance. A few minutes later the fog surged northward.
A wide-angle shot with Cathedral Rock in the distance. A few minutes later the fog surged northward.
Fog begins to wrap around red rock buttresses in Sedona.
Fog begins to wrap around red rock buttresses in Sedona.

At first the fog was fairly distant to the south and visibility was very good in all directions. I was able to see Cathedral Rock poking through the fog. But over the next few minutes the fog surged northward and soon I was in the thick of it with low visibility.

Fog and mist partially obscure the red rock buttresses in Sedona, Arizona.
Fog and mist partially obscure the red rock buttresses in Sedona, Arizona.
A zoomed-in shot of the fog obscuring the red rock in Sedona, Arizona.
A zoomed-in shot of the fog obscuring the red rock in Sedona, Arizona.

I headed to another viewpoint hoping there would be some sun shining through the fog. For a few minutes it did. And then the fog thickened again.

Overall I was pretty happy with the fog and photo session–especially since I haven’t had many chances this winter. And the weather forecast looks warm and dry. Boring.