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.
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.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.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.
In a normal year we would not hike up this canyon in the summer because of the threat of thunderstorms and flooding. But this year has been anything but normal when it comes to rain and the monsoon season. So during one of the many long stretches of dry weather we returned to West Fork Oak Creek canyon and hiked up about 5 miles (or about 2 miles beyond the “end of trail” sign) upstream.
Because of the lack of rain some of the canyon vegetation was stressed. Ferns were already withering. Leaves were turning brown and even falling from the trees. The outlook for a vibrant and colorful fall leaf season isn’t looking good.
But the hike was fine and the water was clear and visitor traffic was low–especially beyond the end of trail.
Blackberries can be found at the very beginning of the trail.A primrose peaks out from a field of ferns. This was one of the better looking patch of ferns showing mostly green.Numerous large reflecting pools can be found in West Fork Oak Creek canyon.This is the “subway tunnel” at the end of the maintained trail. Hikers can continue upstream for many miles but there isn’t much of a trail.This is the upstream end of the subway tunnel in West Fork Oak Creek canyon.High walls tower above the stream in West Fork Oak Creek canyon.Upstream there is another set of narrows. This used to be a narrow stream but sand and gravel has dammed the downstream end and now the water is several inches deep.Looking downstream at the pool and the sinuous curves of the canyon.Butterflies and wildflowers in West Fork Oak Creek canyon.A natural amphitheater and wildflowers in West Fork Oak Creek canyon.Monkshood wildflowers.Larkspur wildflowers in West Fork Oak Creek canyon.Lush greenery found in West Fork Oak Creek canyon.A young deer hides in the tall greenery in West Fork Oak Creek canyon.
Our next hike up the canyon will probably be in mid winter when ice covers the stream allowing passage through the various narrows.
On a recent trip between northern Arizona and Colorado I had the chance to photograph several interesting clouds and a rainbow.
Rain showers over Arches National Park with the La Sal Mountains in the distance.Rain showers over Arches National Park with the La Sal Mountains in the distance.
Early in the trip we visited Arches National Park near Moab, Utah. Our timing was good to catch late afternoon light and the setting sun over the beautiful red rock of the park. Fortunately, a few showers were well positioned to catch the light and create an amazing scene. Over a period of about one-half hour the light went from flat to beautiful to shadow–then back to amazing. And then the Sun set and it was over.
Wave cloud (altocumulus standing lenticularis, ACSL) over the Sangre de Cristo mountains in south-central Colorado.Even smaller wave are evident on the larger wave cloud.Another view of the wave cloud over the Sangre de Cristo mountain range in south-central Colorado.
On the return trip we saw a very nice wave cloud (altocumulus standing lenticularis or ACSL) over the mountain of southern Colorado. It remained in place long enough for us to get to the San Luis Valley and the Sangre de Cristo mountain range in south-central Colorado. The juxtaposition of the mountain range and wave cloud made a nice composition. After a few minutes at this location, we continue on our journey and then stopped again to look back at the wave cloud now located to our northeast.
Spray from Treasure Falls near Wolf Creek Pass produces a small rainbow.Cascading water from Treasure Falls near Wolf Creek Pass, Colorado.
Spray from Treasure falls produces a rainbow.
Finally, as we descended the west side of Wolf Creek Pass we stopped at Treasure Falls. After a short hike we arrived at the falls. The Sun was now low enough in the west to create a rainbow in the spray from the falls. Pretty nice!
Snow in April! Actually, it isn’t rare for snow in April in Flagstaff. In fact, it is more likely that there is snow in April than no snow. Over the course of record for Flagstaff (1898–2025), there has been measurable snow in 107 of those years. Only 21 years had no snow or only a Trace of snow.
The snowfall this April, however, has been well above average. To date, there has been 13.5″ of snow (average for the entire month is 7.3″), falling in two events: April 2–3 (4.3″) and April 18–19 (9.0″).
This is good news as we had a dry winter. Our snow season total (July 1–present) stands at 60.3″ compared to an average of 87.6″. It is unlikely that we will catch up to normal as the chances for significant snow decrease rapidly going forward. However, this late influx of moisture (both March and April) has been good in bringing the fire danger down to LOW across the Coconino and Kaibab National Forests.
Here are some photographs from both of these events.
Layers of clouds are draped across the San Francisco Peaks near Flagstaff, Arizona, in the wake of a winter storm (04 April 2025).The rising sun illuminates clouds draped across Mormon Mountain in northern Arizona in the wake of a winter storm (04 April 2025).
Time-lapse video of clouds over the San Francisco Peaks and Mormon Mountain in northern Arizona.
Streamers of fog and low clouds move below the red rocks of Sedona, Arizona (19 April 2025).Streamers of fog and low clouds move below the red rocks of Sedona, Arizona (19 April 2025).Fog and low clouds move below the red rocks of Sedona, Arizona (19 April 2025).Fog and low clouds drape across the red rock spires of Sedona, Arizona (19 April 2025).The rising Sun illuminates mist and fog swirling around the red rocks of the Munds Mountain Wilderness (19 April 2025).Mist and fog swirls around the red rock cliffs and is reflected in a small pool in Munds Mountain Wilderness (19 April 2025).The setup for the previous photograph.Dewdrops adorn this small lupine in Sedona (19 April 2025).Snow adorns the blossoms of this flowering fruit tree in Flagstaff (19 April 2025).Snow on a flowering forsythia bush in Flagstaff (18 April 2025).Snow on a flowering crab apple tree (18 April 2025).Snow and daffodil, Flagstaff (18 April 2025).Snow in the upper reaches of Oak Creek Canyon with the switchbacks of SR-89A below.
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).Cross country skiing at Fort Tuthill Park in Flagstaff (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).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).
Then it got warm and everything melted. But the forecast indicates that snow is likely this week so time to get some more photographs.
