Category: Running

Trail Running–January 2026

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The warm weather continues and has allowed us to run in Sedona on dry trails. Trails in Flagstaff, however, tend to be muddy unless you run early enough in the morning when they are still frozen. So we mostly run in Sedona.

Flagstaff FUTS run

Our only run in Flagstaff this month was on New Year’s Day–and it was raining. By the end of the run the trail was getting pretty sloppy.

Public art along the Flagstaff Urban Trail System (FUTS) on a gray, rainy New Year's Day.
Public art along the Flagstaff Urban Trail System (FUTS) on a gray, rainy New Year’s Day.

The Hogs and Chicken Point

This run connects many trails to get a double loop: •Hogwash •Hog Heaven •High on the Hog •Broken Arrow •Chicken Point turnaround •Broken Arrow •Submarine Rock •Broken Arrow

Expansive scenery from the Hogwash Trail in Sedona.
Expansive scenery from the Hogwash Trail in Sedona.
Two runners traverse a sandstone bench on the Hogwash Trail in Sedona. Fortunately it was warm enough that this was water and not ice.
Two runners traverse a sandstone bench on the Hogwash Trail in Sedona. Fortunately it was warm enough that this was water and not ice.

Brins Mesa–Soldiers Pass Loop

A runner ascends the final steps to the top of Cibola Pass. Several large red rock towers can be seen in the distance (Morning Glory Spire on left; Cibola Mitten on the right.
A runner ascends the final steps to the top of Cibola Pass. Several large red rock towers can be seen in the distance (Morning Glory Spire on left; Cibola Mitten on the right.
The calendar says January but the weather has been warm and rainy so it is no surprise that wild flowers (Cliffrose) are already blooming.
The calendar says January but the weather has been warm and rainy so it is no surprise that wild flowers (Cliffrose) are already blooming.
A panoramic view from the top of Brins Mesa looking towards Wilson Mountain.
A panoramic view from the top of Brins Mesa looking towards Wilson Mountain.

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A Visit to Weatherford Trail after the Pipeline Fire

The Weatherford Trail in the San Francisco Peaks has been a popular trail for hikers, mountain bikers (outside the wilderness boundary, of course), equestrians, and trail runners. In the fall, the aspens on the sides of the peaks and especially those in Weatherford Canyon are truly photo worthy.

Start of War Dog Run (walk) on Weatherford Trail.
Start of War Dog Run (walk) on Weatherford Trail.

But in 2022 the Pipeline Fire changed everything. The hillsides were burned leaving only a few lucky surviving trees. The canyon suffered not only the fire but massive flooding in the aftermath. The flooding created 10–20 foot deep gullies on the mountain.

The burned slopes of the San Francisco Peaks quickly come into view on the Weatherford Trail.
The burned slopes of the San Francisco Peaks quickly come into view on the Weatherford Trail.
New growth crowds the Weatherford Trail.
New growth crowds the Weatherford Trail.
It may be early October but there are still many wildflowers.
It may be early October but there are still many wildflowers.
Wildflowers along the Weatherford Trail.
Wildflowers along the Weatherford Trail.
Wildflowers along the Weatherford Trail.
Wildflowers along the Weatherford Trail.
New growth of aspen on the burn scar will result in magnificent displays of fall color in the coming years.
New growth of aspen on the burn scar will result in magnificent displays of fall color in the coming years.

I finally visited a portion of the Weatherford Trail in early October as part of the annual War Dog Run + Walk. The hillsides were covered with the skeleton remains of the trees that burned. But new growth is returning. Once there were stands of ponderosa pine but now there are aspen groves. After just three years these aspen trees stand at five to eight feet tall. And the hillsides are covered in them. Where once a trail traveled through an open forest of ponderosa pine, it now has aspen trees crowding the trail.

A deep gash as the result of flooding on the burn scar.
A deep gash as the result of flooding on the burn scar.

In the years to come these new aspen forests will bring a mountainside of fall color to the south side of the San Francisco Peaks — just as the massive fires in the late 19th century created the magnificent aspen groves in the Inner Basin region.

Stands of aspen trees in the Inner Basin of the San Francisco Peaks are a result of wildfires in the 19th century.
Stands of aspen trees in the Inner Basin of the San Francisco Peaks are a result of wildfires in the 19th century.

Fire is a natural part of the forests here. It is painful when the scar is fresh but, in time, it heals itself.

 

Trail Running in Northern Arizona

Running—especially trail running—is a big part of our lives and we try to run in interesting places. That could be running up mountains, alongside streams, through forests, and in canyons. And I try to take a camera with me when we run. As a minimum, the camera will be a phone but I prefer to take along my Sony RX100 V, a small camera with a 24-70mm  zoom lens. The camera is actually smaller than my phone (smaller length x width, but thicker) so it fits well in my water bottle waist pack.

Here is a collection of photographs taken on the trails we have run this spring in northern Arizona.

The rising sun illuminates the red rocks of Sedona as we prepare to start the run.
The rising sun illuminates the red rocks of Sedona as we prepare to start the run.
Sometimes Dry Creek has water.
Sometimes Dry Creek has water.
A great swimming hole at the turn around point on Wet Beaver Creek.
A great swimming hole at the turn around point on Wet Beaver Creek.
Group run through Carroll Canyon.
Group run through Carroll Canyon.
Spring blossoms along the Elden Springs Trail.
Spring blossoms along the Elden Springs Trail.
Overhanging rock on Hardline Trail.
Overhanging rock on Hardline Trail.
Blooming agave plant on Hangover Trail.
Blooming agave plant on Hangover Trail.
Spring-fed ponds along the Sycamore Canyon Rim Trail.
Spring-fed ponds along the Sycamore Canyon Rim Trail.
Sycamore Canyon Rim Trail overlook.
Sycamore Canyon Rim Trail overlook.
Cluster of oak trees on Apollo Trail in the Mount Elden Dry Lakes (MEDL) trail system.
Cluster of oak trees on Apollo Trail in the Mount Elden Dry Lakes (MEDL) trail system.
View of the San Francisco Peaks on the high point of Space Walk Trail, a part of the MEDL system.
View of the San Francisco Peaks on the high point of Space Walk Trail, a part of the MEDL system.
Tree with carved bench at the top of Space Walk Trail.
Tree with carved bench at the top of Space Walk Trail.
Rock art along a trail in the Red Rock—Secret Mountain Wilderness.
Rock art along a trail in the Red Rock—Secret Mountain Wilderness.
Rocky Mountain Iris along the Arizona Trail.
Rocky Mountain Iris along the Arizona Trail.
Picturesque stand of aspen along the Arizona Trail.
Picturesque stand of aspen along the Arizona Trail.
Running on the Oldham Trail at the base of Mount Elden.
Running on the Oldham Trail at the base of Mount Elden.

It’s not just about the running—it’s also about the beautiful places running can take us.

Edit: fixed typo in title.

 

Trail Running in Sedona

Back in mid-February we did a trail run in Sedona using a combination of both designated and social trails. Early in the run we crossed these beautiful carved channels in the sandstone bed of Dry Creek. It had been a dry winter up until that point so there was no running water but still enough for a few pools that included reflections of the blue sky.

Channels carved into the sandstone of Dry Creek, Sedona, AZ.
Channels carved into the sandstone of Dry Creek, Sedona, AZ.
This is a composite of two photos. We each took a photo of the other then combined them. It works...
This is a composite of two photos. We each took a photo of the other then combined them. It works…

Farther along we passed this small reflecting pool. Since there were only the two of us the best we could do was to each take a photograph of the other running past the pool. A little bit of work in a photo app composited the two images and it looks like a real photograph!

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.